Hotel business in 2012: 30 billion$ investment

Hotel business in 2012: 30 billion$ investment

According to the forecasts of the world's leading hotel consulting companies, 2012 promises to be as successful for the industry as the previous 2011. One of the most reputable hotel companies - Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels - predicts that in 2012 the hotel market will again be able to reach 30 billion dollars level.

In 2011, despite the pessimism of market players due to the unstable financial situation, the hotel business was able to show quite good results. Thus, in the volume of transactions in the hotel industry grown by 13% compared to 2010 and reached $30 billion.

Significant growth showed American market, which formerly was considered as stagnant. Moreover, in the United States are looking forward to the successful 2012. Investors, who returned to the market in the second half of 2011, will continue to work here until at least mid-2012.

However, it is expected that the driving force of the hotel industry in 2012 will be China and India. These markets today account for the largest number of new construction projects. There are presented virtually all the world's largest networks. The main players here are Hilton, Accor and IHG, which plans to open hundreds of new hotels in the region.

Among the emerging markets, where investors expect a sharp rise, are Central and Eastern Europe, especially Poland and Russia, and South America.

It is worth noting that the trade market is not always measure of the effectiveness of the tourism industry as a whole. Increase in the number of transactions may serve as a marker of changing priorities and can be a consequence of the appearance of competitive offers for a number of investors. Among the recent examples are deals between the Spanish hotel chain Iberostar, which bought five hotels from one of the world's largest tour operators Thomas Cook. Hotels served as an auxiliary asset for Thomas Cook. British company faced with the debt crisis was forced to sell them in order to concentrate its efforts on maintaining the core business.

Ilya Kalachev

Date: 15/01/2012