Read the latest hotel industry news from around the Americas region.

This is the first time in more than two decades that hoteliers are talking about both a recovery and a recession at the same time, said Apple Hospitality REIT CEO Justin Knight during the "A View from the Top" panel at the recent 2022 Lodging Conference, reports HNN's Sean McCracken.

"I think we have incredibly interesting dynamics for our industry right now, because we are, I think, on the margin continuing to see recovery in our business despite the fact that when you look at the macro numbers for the overall economy there are some troubling areas," Knight added.

Valor Hospitality Partners Global Partner and CEO Euan McGlashan said employers are not only struggling to find available talent, but they're also falling behind on training associates, reports HNN's Dana Miller.

"Right now, I fear ... we're probably in the worst period because people are talking about staff shortages but they're not talking about how, right now in this industry, we're the 'Great Untrained,'" he said. "What's happening is the labor crisis is so bad, people are just taking warm bodies and throwing them straight into action, into the battleground."

McGlashan said Valor Hospitality Partners is leveraging its Future Leaders program across the U.K and U.S., which aims to grow teams internally and increase employee engagement.

Recovery across the U.S. hotel industry has progressed to the point that hoteliers have greater visibility into the near future, which is helping to normalize the budgeting process, reports HNN's Bryan Wroten.

Island Hospitality President and Chief Operating Officer Gregg Forde said the company is forecasting 2023 top-line revenue and examining expenses at the macro level.

“The process this year going into ’23 probably looks more like it ever has to that pre-pandemic time because there’s less of the unknowns,” he said. “You’re able to gauge 2023 expectations a little bit better than obviously we could do the last couple of years.”

As cruise ships ramp up trip options for travelers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, hotels located in large cruise ship markets domestically and internationally are now up against more competition with each other, reports HNN contributor Laura Koss-Feder.

Average daily rates for hotels in the Florida Keys last year were at levels well above inflation and rate increases in other parts of the U.S., according to Hotel & Leisure Advisors' President David Sangree.

"Part of the reason for the very strong increases was that there was very little cruise demand," he said. "As cruises are ramping up again in 2022 and offering very attractive packages for customers, I expect that room rates will temper in Florida and other Gulf Coast areas as leisure travelers will appreciate the value in taking a cruise versus staying at a resort property."

Boutique real estate capital advisory firm Lotus Capital Partners arranged, structured and closed a $191 million financing package on the Four Seasons and Andaz resorts in Costa Rica for a joint venture affiliate of Gencom and Mohari Hospitality, Real Estate Weekly reports. The financing was provided by an affiliate of Blackstone, and is "one of the largest real estate loans ever recorded in the region by a U.S. lender."

“We are thrilled with the outcome of our placement process which generated strong financing interest from some of the most respected lenders within the real estate debt capital community. Lenders were drawn to the institutional partnership, an incomparable asset, and a proven business plan," said Lotus Managing Partner Faisal Ashraf. “Blackstone’s competitive edge was its ability to work with us in designing a flexible capital structure allowing our client to execute smoothly on their business plan."

• Real estate developers The Radco Companies acquired three Courtyard by Marriott hotels along the Gulf Coast in Florida, totaling more than 300 guest rooms. The three properties are in Pensacola, downtown Panama City Beach and downtown St. Petersburg.
• Pacifica Hotels acquired the 117-room Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland for $32.9 million.
• Montage Hotels & Resorts named Shon Kendrick executive chef of Montage Palmetto Bluff.
  
• Hilton Alexandria Mark Center named Isabel Anderson director of sales and marketing.
  
• Perry Lane Hotel in Savannah, Georgia, named Dan Herget as executive chef.
  
• The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort appointed Marguerite Heap as hotel manager.
  
• Pebblebrook Hotel Trust refinanced $2 billion of credit facilities and term loans. The refinancing has resulted in a $650 million senior unsecured revolving credit facilities and three loan terms totaling $1.4 billion.
• Penn Entertainment's new $850 million development project in Henderson, Nevada, will include a $206 million hotel tower, which will be an expansion of the company's existing 309-room M Resort.
• Selina's newest hotel opening includes the Selina Tulum Downtown in Tulum, Mexico.
  

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