Hotel Owner December 2017 | Page 13

MONTH IN REVIEW GO ONLINE www.hotelowner.co.uk TRUMP Donald Trump’s hotel prices slump by 64% The average price of a room at Trump hotels across the world have dropped by as much as 64% in some locations. Some 300 days after Donald Trump became the USA’s 45th president, analysis from Travel money provider, FairFX, has revealed that the cheapest rooms dropped in price by an average of 26% and the most expensive rooms decreased by 20%, equivalent to around £1,400. Out of 13 Trump hotels and resorts researched around the world, the cheapest room can be found at Trump Las Vegas, where a mini break this weekend (24 November) would cost £232 for two nights. This is over £400 cheaper for the same room type than in January, a 64% reduction. The second least expensive room is at the Trump Panama, priced at £234, a 32% decrease since January. Weekend stays at the Trump Vancouver, Canada, at Macleod House and Lodge in Scotland, at Trump Doonbeg in County Clare Ireland or at the Trump Doral in Florida will fall just short of £400. The average cost for the best available room this weekend is down by £1,374 since January from £6,821 to £5,447, a 20% decrease since Trump’s inauguration. The most expensive room is the Trump Townhouse at £37,907, however this is £10,000 less than inauguration weekend. At £11,007, the Trump Doral in Miami is the second most expensive destination this weekend, although two nights in the Presidential Suite are £2,849 cheaper than they were for the same room in January, equivalent to a 21% decrease. The Trump Waikiki is over £1,000 cheaper, equivalent to 17% off. TRUMP US hotelier removes Trump name from hotel as politics takes toll on brand A hotel owner whose property bore Trump branding has decided to remove the US president’s name from the Trump SoHo hotel as the property has struggled to attract guests since his presidency. The Trump Organization holds a management contract with the Manhattan hotel which allows it to use the Trump name under licence. The remainder of the contract was bought out on Wednesday 22 November by investment company CIM Group, which owns the building, meaning by year-end it will no longer be associated with the Trump brand. The SoHo hotel, which opened in 2010, has had to drop its room rates in a bid to keep them occupied and in May, was set to lay off 12 of its 80 housekeeping staff due to a slow down in business. NEWS ANALYSIS As the year draws to a close, 2018 will be entered with a number of uncertainties for the industry. Closing off a record breaking period of tourism and visitor spend, the prospect of Brexit and the outcome of the CMA investigation could lead to huge changes for hotels. With Europe claiming the title of the most visited destination in the world, it seems however, that there is little need for worry but instead an obligation to anticipate the possibility of restrategising. 1 2 3 4 5 6 INVESTMENTS European hotel investment surpasses £11 billion Total European hotel investment volumes increased by 33% year-on- year, for the third quarter (Q3) of 2017. This contributed to a 16% year- on-year increase on the year-to- date, with hotel transaction volumes exceeding €14bn (£11bn), according to the latest data from global real estate advisor, CBRE. The UK and Germany proved to be the largest markets in the first three quarters of 2017, accounting for 55% of the transaction volume. Deal volumes in both the UK and Spain – the third largest hotel investment market – are already ahead of their respective full- year 2016 volumes. The UK recorded the highest investment transaction levels, which saw volumes reach €2.6bn (£2.3bn) in Q3 2017, up by 195% on the same period last year. The growth was largely driven by various high-profile hotel portfolio sale in London and the regions, including the sale of the 1,059-room Hilton London Metropole and the long-leasehold interest of the 790- room Hilton Birmingham Metropole, to Henderson Park for £500m. Paul Collins, head of hotel investment properties, UK & Ireland, at CBRE, said: “The UK hotel market has seen strong growth which has been supported by favourable exchange rates. Buyers have comprised of UK and international parties, which have included existing players and new entrants to the market.” END: THAT’S ALL. YOU ARE NOW UP TO DATE December 2017 www.hotelowner.co.uk 13