Episode 323: Lodging Real Estate Sector Fundamentals Healthy, but Margins Softening

Conditions in the lodging and hospitality real estate sector are healthy overall, but the combination of ongoing labor shortages, interest rate creep, and high construction costs are acting to soften margins, says Daniel Weede, partner in Morris, Manning & Martin’s hospitality, real estate, and real estate development & finance practices.Speaking on the REIT Report, Weede noted that “there's a lot of optimism in this industry, and I think, at least for the next several years, that's likely to stay.” However, “margins are thinner,” he added.Weede also discussed the potential for consolidation, noting that there will be likely be more merger and acquisition activity in the next 12 to 24 months than seen in the previous 12 to 24 months. “It's a healthy industry, but you've got some players that are doing really, really well, and others that are struggling a little bit.”