Hotel Deals Increasing in US

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A total of 604 hotels changed hands in the U.S. during the first half of the year, compared to 364 in the same period last year, according to a new report from Lodging Econometrics.

Of all transactions, 216 were hotels sold within portfolios, while 334 were individual hotel transactions. The number of hotels in portfolios sold year-to-date was 400 percent higher than the same period of 2012.

Although more hotel transactions were reported, the volume is far from the record 3,218 hotels set in 2007, the firm stated. But the firm expects a sharp increase in hotel deals.

"Depending on scheduling, the next 12 months could be the highest hotel transaction property transfer period recorded, possibly exceeding the peak set in 2007," the firm said.

During the first half of 2013, selling prices reached $130,119 per room, 15 percent higher than last year, exceeding the previous record of $118,949 per room set in 2007. (Of the total, 508 hotels out of the 604 transactions reported selling prices.)

The time period from late 2012 to 2014 will represent the end of the first upward leg of the real estate cycle, the firm said. 

"It's characterized by near record low interest rates, increased profitability in hotel operations and strong expectations about future business conditions, all of which provides investors an opportune time to dispose of their assets acquired earlier at recessionary lows," the firm states in the report. "It's an attractive time to harvest profits from their real estate appreciation."

The dollar volume for all transactions reached $8.1 billion during the first half, representing the highest two-quarter activity level since 2007. 

Institutional investors, private equity funds and REITs are looking to purchase assets for appreciation opportunity promised in the second leg of the real estate cycle, LE stated. The report also highlighted the high IPO issuance during the first half, reaching its highest level since 2007.