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1. UK economy stagnant in July
According to the U.K.'s Office for National Statistics, the country's economy did not grow in July. The BBC reports that June saw a 0.4% expansion.
"The government is under mounting pressure to deliver on its key priority of boosting economic growth ahead of the Budget on 26 November," reads the article.
Per ONS officials, the U.K. is still expected to post growth in the third quarter.
2. US population expected to shrink by 2031
With immigration into the U.S. taking a hit thanks to the current administration's policies, the country's population is expected to decrease over the next several years, Axios reported based on newly revised Congressional Budget Office estimates.
"Deaths are projected to start exceeding births in 2031, two years earlier than previously projected, as a result of the White House crackdown, plus increased funding for immigration enforcement in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, leaving fewer immigrant families to have children and add to the population," reads the article.
3. Demand, rates top concerns for hotel asset managers
Hotel demand is again a top concern for members of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association, reports CoStar News Hotels' Sean McCracken from the organization's meeting in Austin this week.
According to HAMA's biannual survey, 77.8% of respondents ranked demand as one of their top three concerns at the moment, up from 65% in the spring survey released in April.
The second-highest concern in the latest version of the survey is the trajectory of hotel room rate growth, with 51.9% 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."
4. Hotel performance declines in US
The U.S. hotel industry posted negative numbers across performance metrics for the week ending on Sept. 6, according to CoStar data. Occupancy fell 0.5% to 57.7% and average daily rate decreased 0.2% to $149.52. As a result, revenue per available room declined by 0.7% to $86.20.
Houston was the top 25 market with the steepest decline, with occupancy falling 12.4% to 49.8% and RevPAR declining 18.7% to $53.29. Per CoStar, these declines "are largely due to the elevated displacement demand period that followed Hurricane Beryl in 2024."
Meanwhile, St. Louis and San Francisco posted positive performance, with St. Louis seeing a 15.7% increase to 62.1% in occupancy and San Francisco claiming the largest jumps in ADR — a 10.4% growth to $188.17 — and RevPAR — a 24.7% increase to $128.70.
5. Dalata shareholders approve €1.4 billion takeover
Sweden-based Pandox and Norway-based Eiendomsspar's acquisition of Dalata Hotel Group — originally announced in July — was approved by Ireland-based Dalata's shareholders. The bid was valued at €1.4 billion ($1.64 billion), reports CoStar News Hotels' Terence Baker.
Pandox will own 91.5% of Pandox Ireland Tuck while Eiendomsspar will own the remainder. The percentage of votes accepting the deal and various resolutions pertaining to it ranged between 97% and 100%, according to a Dalata news release.