2025/12/14 – 2025/12/28
Korea
- Hyundai E&C Faces Rising Contingent Liabilities: As delays in converting bridge loans into full project financing (PF) persist, analysis indicates that Hyundai E&C’s exposure through bridge-loan guarantees has increased significantly. Hotel-related mixed-use projects such as the Yeoksam-station Le Méridien development and the Itaewon Crown Hotel redevelopment were cited as examples. The pace of maturity extensions and successful conversion to full PF was identified as a key variable in managing risk.
- First Hyatt Place Opens in Busan: Hyatt has opened the 160-room Hyatt Place Busan Yeonsan, marking the debut of the Hyatt Place brand in Busan. Located near Yeonsan Station, a major business and transportation hub, the property is viewed as part of Hyatt’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in key Korean cities. With this opening, Hyatt has expanded the number of Hyatt Place hotels in Korea to six.
APAC
- Hilton Accelerates Strategy Amid Strong Luxury Demand: Hilton is stepping up its strategy as it shifts its previously planned luxury pipeline in the Asia-Pacific region into actual openings, targeting market gaps left by competitors. Against a backdrop of broadly constrained new supply, this approach is interpreted as a move to capture ADR-led growth driven by upper-tier brands.
- Construction Progress at Hotel101 Niseko in Japan: Hotel101 Global announced that structural works have been completed on its 482-room hotel in Niseko, with an opening targeted for December 2026. The hotel is located on a 1.17-hectare site and is approximately a two-minute shuttle ride from nearby ski lifts. The opening is scheduled to coincide with the peak winter tourism season.
Americas
- Stewart Hotel in Manhattan to Be Converted into Rental Housing: Slate Property Group and Breaking Ground announced the acquisition of the 611-room Stewart Hotel in Manhattan for USD 255 million. The building, originally completed in 1929, is slated for conversion into 579 units of permanent rental housing. Full-scale construction is expected to commence toward the end of next year.
- Service Properties Trust Accelerates Hotel Disposals in Q4: Hotel REIT Service Properties Trust disclosed that it sold 66 hotels totaling 8,294 rooms for approximately USD 534 million on a cumulative basis in the fourth quarter of 2025. On a full-year basis, the company sold 112 hotels comprising 14,631 rooms, raising roughly USD 859 million. Proceeds are expected to be used primarily for debt repayment and balance-sheet improvement.
Europe
- Mzaman Acquires Holiday Inn Chester West in the UK: UK-based Mzaman Holdings Group has acquired the 81-room Holiday Inn Chester West, located in northern England, from Autolodge. The suburban property includes a restaurant, bar, and meeting facilities. With this acquisition, Mzaman’s hotel portfolio in the UK has expanded to six properties.
- Sale-and-Leaseback of Kopster Hotel in Northwest Paris: French investment firm Whiterock has acquired the 134-room Kopster Hotel & Résidence Paris Ouest Colombes through a sale-and-leaseback transaction with Lavorel Hotels Group. The deal is viewed as a reaffirmation of the stable, long-term income model supported by lease-based hotel investments in Europe.
