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1. Landmark Dubai hotel struck as Middle East conflict intensifies
The Burj Al Arab, along with Dubai's international airport and the Palm Jumeirah Island, were among the properties in Dubai hit by Iran's retaliatory strikes on the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reports.
The news agency notes the burgeoning conflict in the Middle East, sparked by Israel and the U.S. attacking Iran, is bad news for businesses across the Gulf, closing ports and airports.
"Elevated oil prices provide a fiscal cushion for producers such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, strengthening revenues and liquidity," Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial, told Reuters. "However, trade, logistics and tourism, particularly in the UAE, would face pressure if shipping risks rise or regional sentiment weakens."
2. Travel stocks, flights disrupted by strikes on Iran
Travel-related stocks tumbled early this morning due to wide spread travel disruptions in the Middle East.
CNBC reports airlines and hotel firms took the biggest hit, with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines each down 6% in premarketing trading.
Throughout the weekend, commercial air travel was largely grounded across the Middle East, Euro News reports.
More than 2,000 flights to and from seven major Gulf airports were cancelled as of this morning.
3. A look at the new Starwood Hotels
Despite their shared identity, the new iteration of Starwood Hotels won't be a carbon copy of the previous version, President and CEO Raul Leal told CoStar News' Bryan Wroten.
“The objective was to send a signal to the world that it’s back,” Leal said of his company's March 2025 rebranding from SH Hotels & Resorts. “It’s not the same Starwood, but it’s certainly a platform for growth.”
While they're looking to get larger, he said that will be done in a "selective, intentional" way, He said the company is also considering adding one more hotel brand to its portfolio, which already includes 1 Hotels, Treehouse Hotels and Baccarat Hotels.
4. Indian hotel firm considers global expansion
As the company sees more of its traditional guests venturing outside India's borders, executives with Lemon Tree Hotels want to do the same, Reuters reports.
The company is planning a three-to-five-year expansion plan as its domestic market grows to the fourth-largest feeder market of outbound travel in the world behind the U.S., China and Germany.
"We would like to go where the Indian traveler is going," Managing Director and CEO Neelendra Singh said to Reuters.
Today, only five of the company's 120 properties are outside India.
5. Ashford execs plan to sell 18 hotels
Hotel real estate investment trust Ashford Hospitality Trust is looking to sell 18 additional hotels in an effort to pay down its debts, CoStar News' Candace Carlisle reports.
Ashford Trust has sold six hotels over the past year for a collective $145 million, has three more under contract to sell with the additional 18 in some stage of marketing or negotiations to sell.
“Opportunistic dispositions will remain a core component of our strategy in 2026 as we believe there are several additional assets in the portfolio that can yield similarly positive impact on leverage, cash flow after debt service and future capital expenditures,” Stephen Zsigray, president and CEO of the company, said during Ashford's most recent earnings call.