daniel lesser
Q3 2024 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey
Daniel Lesser | October 21, 2024
By Daniel H. Lesser 2024 has been a turbulent year thus far as we have witnessed dramatic national and global events that may very well alter the course of history. During this past quarter alone: • Two assassination attempts were made on a former U.S. President who is a major party candidate once again in the upcoming election. • One month prior to this year’s Democratic National Convention, U.S. President Joe Biden, having earned sufficient delegates to be the party nominee, withdrew his candidacy and was replaced by the current Vice President Kamala Harris. • Nearly one year after the horrific events of October 7, 2023,...
Q2 2024 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey
Daniel Lesser | July 22, 2024
By Daniel H. Lesser Despite the Federal Reserve’s aggressive monetary policy aimed at controlling persistent inflation, during the first half of 2024, the U.S. economy continued to demonstrate resilience. While strong growth in many subcategories of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) including consumer and government spending, investment, exports, and employment have many optimistic, the economic outlook is tempered by global geopolitical risks including on-going wars in Europe and the Middle East. Although the U.S. economic outlook remains positive, signs of a softening consumer are mounting within lower-to-middle-income households. While re...
Q1 2024 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey
Daniel Lesser | May 2, 2024
By Daniel H. Lesser While the U.S. economy continues to expand and is currently a major driver of global growth, inflation has recently ticked up after falling considerably from a peak of 9.1% nearly two years ago. Many now perceive that in the near term, the U.S. Federal Reserve will not reduce borrowing costs, and some anticipate a resumption of raising rates by early 2025. Unless a severe economic downturn occurs, interest rates are likely to remain relatively elevated for an extended period. A tight labor market and strong household net worth have led to remarkable resilience in U.S. consumer spending as Americans continue to enjoy...
Q4 2023 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey
Daniel Lesser | February 7, 2024
At the dawn of 2024, a U.S. presidential election looms amidst numerous geopolitical challenges including two major ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East which threaten global economic growth. The good news is, thus far it appears the U.S. economy has avoided recession with many now perceiving continued growth, albeit subdued. Inflation has cooled, the economy continues to add jobs, interest rates appear to have peaked and are anticipated to gradually decline for the next two years. Furthermore, a roaring stock market continues to fuel American consumer expenditures resulting in strong demand for travel including lodging. Despite a re...
Q3 2023 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey
Daniel Lesser | October 26, 2023
By Daniel Lesser Notwithstanding a persistent jittery economic environment and rising global geopolitical concerns, market conditions in the U.S. appear simultaneously shaky and resilient. National lodging sector metrics, particularly average room rates and RevPAR, continue to achieve exceptional results as demand for travel and lodging remains robust. Although overall leisure patronage is trailing off from pandemic highs, due in part to Americans opting for international travel, domestic corporate individual and group meeting business continues to rebound to pre Covid-19 levels. Additionally, inbound international travel to the U.S. conti...
Q2 2023 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey
Daniel Lesser | July 20, 2023
By Daniel Lesser Defying the expectations of many, the U.S. economy has demonstrated resilience driven in part by a solid employment report with stronger-than-expected wage growth during June, along with continued healthy levels of consumer spending. With this said, the U.S. economy has been slowed by the Federal Reserve’s aggressive drive to tame inflation through a series of interest rate hikes that began early last year. Although trending downward, with inflation remaining above its two percent target, the Federal Reserve is on track to raise interest rates again this month and mull another hike as soon as September. Despite elevate...
Q1 2023 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey
Daniel Lesser | April 21, 2023
By Daniel Lesser With continued elevated levels of inflation and interest rates, and fears of an impending economic recession, the U.S. commercial real estate industry continues to find itself in choppy waters. The recent stunning and swift collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), and subsequent failures of Signature Bank (SB), and Credit Suisse Group AG (CS) has created a perceived credit crunch now rippling across the global financial system. The SVB implosion was caused by a three-year monetary policy that began during the COVID pandemic and included enormous sums of government stimulus and near-zero interest rates resulting in a bloat...
Q4 2022 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey
Daniel Lesser | January 16, 2023
By Daniel Lesser Heading into a new year, the U.S. commercial real estate industry finds itself in choppy waters amid fears of a recession, rising inflation, and interest rate hikes as market participants await a course correction. Challenges during 2022 including continued supply chain constraints, increasing labor costs and struggles in attracting talent are anticipated to endure through 2023. Combined with international and domestic geopolitical issues and market volatility, many believe during the near term, the U.S will experience a mild to moderate economic recession. Although inflation appears to have recently stabilized, it remains...
