Global hotel investment hit $30 billion in the first half of the year as the sector continues its post-COVID recovery, with some experts suggesting the pace will continue to quicken in the second half of the year.

JLL's Global Hotel Investor Sentiment Survey showed sales volume gains of 66% year-over-year, and just 4% less activity than in the first half of 2019. More than half of investors surveyed by the firm say they will employ a more aggressive investment acquisition strategy this year, and 29% showed interest in over $200 million worth of assets.

Europe, North America and Southeast Asia are investor favorites thus far this year, with Asia Pacific drawing serious institutional investor interest. Hotel transactions in the region hit $3.7 billion in the first half of the year.  And as vaccine rollouts accelerate in North America, JLL says the market is 'opportunistic'; same goes for Europe, where investors are cheered by increasing vaccination rates and the availability and lure of less-dense markets.