HOTEL OUTLOOK: Some Markets Expect Banner Year; Others Are Stable

NEW YORK CITY-This year, the hotel industry is expected to post the first occupancy increase since 1995, according to Lodging Econometrics, the research division of National Hotel Realty. The question is, what will the new year bring? It depends on what part of the country you’re in. Herewith is a rundown on five major markets covered by GlobeSt.com . For additional information, click on the links below.

Orlando claims the distinction of being home to the most economically priced hotel rooms in the country but that may change a bit next year as 4,700 high-end rooms deliver in the metro area. This influx is being sparked by business travelers attending expositions at the four million-sf Orange Country Convention Center who want lodging with five-star amenities. Among the half dozen hotels slated for debut is the $37-million Westin Grand Bohemian, which will charge an average of $200 to stay for a night in one of its 250 rooms. Marriott International has a two-hotel project that will open with 1,584 rooms. One of them, with 584 rooms, will be managed by Ritz Carlton and charge an estimated average of $350 per night. The other, located next door, will feature 100,000 sf of meeting space. Walt Disney is getting in on the luxury market as well with its 1,307-room Animal Kingdom Lodge near the Animal Kingdom Park, which will bring the entertainment company’s hotels operating on its property to 21.

For the full story, click on:After Years of Building Mid-Price Hotels Here, Developers See Niche in High-End Product