STR has formed STR Analytics to extend its range of analytical services and creative applications to the hotel industry.
STR Analytics will be directed by Gregory Hartmann, MAI, CHA, from offices in Boulder, Colorado. Hartmann leads a team that includes seasoned hotel data analysts and consulting veterans Steve Hennis and Carter Wilson, along with several senior professionals holding advanced degrees in a variety of business disciplines.
“STR Analytics has been created to better assist consultants, brokers, operators, owners, lenders, hotel company executives and financial analysts in using the STR data more fully as well as obtaining a broader spectrum of insights not previously offered through STR in Hendersonville (Tennessee),” said Mark V. Lomanno, STR’s president.
For more information, read “Hartmann heads STR’s new analytics company.”
STR Global has released global pipeline construction numbers for Middle East/Africa, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Central/South America, and Caribbean and Mexico for December 2009.
Middle East/Africa: Dubai, United Arab Emirates ended the month with the largest number of rooms in the in construction phase of the pipeline at 15,291 rooms. The market also had the most rooms in the total active pipeline with 29,727 rooms.
Among the chain scales, three segments accounted for nearly 70 percent of the total active pipeline. The unaffiliated segment had 25.3 percent of the pipeline with 30,495 rooms; luxury followed with 23.5 percent and 28,308 rooms; and upper upscale was third with 20.9 percent of the total active pipeline and 25,133 rooms.
Europe: London, England, had the most rooms in the total active pipeline with 5,794 rooms. Among the chain scales, upscale accounted for 22.1 percent of the total active pipeline and 22,118 rooms.
Asia/Pacific: Shanghai, China, ended December 2009 with the most rooms in the total active pipeline at 13,723. Meanwhile, the upscale segment accounted for 54,295 rooms and a 23.4 percent share of the total active pipeline.
Central/South America: Among the countries in the region, Brazil ended with the most rooms in the total active pipeline with 8,372 rooms.
In the chain scale segments, three each accounted for more than 20 percent of rooms in the total active pipeline. The economy segment had 5,173 rooms and 26 percent of the total active pipeline; followed by the upscale segment with 4,570 rooms and 23 percent; and upper upscale with 4,058 rooms and 20.4 percent.
Caribbean and Mexico: Among the countries in the region, Mexico reported the most rooms in the total active pipeline with 10,324, and also had the most rooms in the in construction phase with 4,200.
Midscale without food and beverage accounted for the biggest portion of the total active pipeline with 4,165 rooms and 23.8 percent of rooms in the total active pipeline.
Three chain scale segments each accounted for more than 20 percent of rooms in the total pipeline. The economy segment had a 26 percent share of the pipeline with 5,173 rooms; the upscale segment had 4,570 rooms and 23 percent of the total active pipeline; and upper upscale had 4,058 rooms and 20.4 percent.
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. closed on its US$138-million stock offering, the company announced.
There are 12 million shares included in the offering, and the company said underwriters have exercised in full their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 1.8 million shares. The pricing for the offering was US$10 per share.
While Accor won’t report full operating results until next month, the preliminary numbers aren’t pretty for the French hotel company.
Accor said its fourth-quarter hotel revenue dropped by 8.3 percent, while full-year hotel revenue is down 10.1 percent. Overall revenue declined by 7.2 percent to €1.8 billion (US$2.6 billion).
The company did confirm its 2009 operating profit before tax and recurring items guidance of €400 million to €450 million (US$566 million to US$636 million).
Still, there might be hope yet for Accor and other hoteliers who struggled throughout 2009. The United Nations’ World Tourism Organization said global tourism increased during the fourth quarter of 2009, and that international tourism would grow in 2010.
International arrivals grew by 2 percent during the fourth quarter, though international tourist arrivals are estimated to have declined by 4 percent overall in 2009, the UNWTO said. Meanwhile, international arrivals are forecast to grow by 3 percent to 4 percent during 2010.
Read "International tourism on track for a rebound."
Compiled by Shawn A. Turner
