Hotel demand is again a top concern for members of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association. According to HAMA's fall survey, 77.8 percent of respondents ranked demand as one of their top three concerns at the moment, up from 65 percent in the spring survey released in April. Average daily rate growth and tariffs rounded out the top concerns.
The second highest concern in the latest version of the survey is the trajectory of hotel room rate growth, with 51.9 percent of respondents ranking that as a top concern.
"I think the industry right now is at its highest level of trepidation around maintaining rates or increasing rates," said Chad Sorensen, managing director and CEO of CHMWarnick and president of HAMA. "This is probably the most concern we've had had around rate, and there's been a meaningful shift in the last 90 days."
“With hopes high for a stronger fourth quarter, hotel asset managers by and large continue to maintain an overall optimistic outlook," Sorensen said. “More than 70 percent of our members expect RevPAR increases of 1 to 3 percent, and two thirds actively are pursuing acquisitions. Factor in 80 percent planning renovations in the coming year, and we see a very engaged community with sights on a strong future.”
Fed rate increases/decreases, wage increases and management company performance were the other top concerns for the asset managers.
"Everyone's worried about that going into 2026 with very little growth on the top line," Sorenson said. "And then there's so much pressure to build on the P&L."
Just over a third of respondents (37 percent) believe the U.S. will enter recession in 2025, a decrease from the 49 percent who felt so in the spring 2025 survey.
Approximately 57 percent of respondents have made or are planning to make changes to brand and/or management as part of their current strategy.
In total, 81 asset managers, comprising approximately 33 percent of membership, participated in the survey.
To download a copy of the survey findings, visit https://app.box.com/s/vtnzqejwf8hv799do1tsnetwvw0irpyu.