CHICAGO—Bob Habeeb has more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and as chief executive officer of First Hospitality Group, Inc., a Rosemont, IL-based management and development company, he keeps his eye on all the latest developments. Although the economy seems generally healthy, he tells GlobeSt.com that there could be a few clouds on the horizon for the hotel sector. Still, he has some advice for his colleagues, and believes that if they follow it, those clouds won't develop into a storm.

In general, here does the hotel industry stand now?
Generally strong RevPAR growth and ongoing expansion that has blossomed into a development boom have made the lean recessionary times of the late 2000s seem like a distant memory. While there is no reason to think that the next downturn will be anything near as punishing as the last, there are signs that we have seen a market that has already peaked.

What about Chicago's hotel sector?
In Chicago the rate of growth has slowed noticeably in recent months. The Windy City has had a great year so far, but hotel owners and operators who know the market well are concerned–not only about the fourth quarter of 2015, which is expected to remain somewhat sluggish relative to the last two to three years of strong performance, but what will happen next. The expectation is that 2016 might get off to an underwhelming start.