Latest news: US RevPAR down 1.9%; Ryman funds Arizona buy; University Hotels launched

US RevPAR down 1.9%. The U.S. hotel industry from May 25-31 reported negative year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar data. Occupancy was 61% (-1.6% YOY); ADR was $151.48 (-0.3% YOY); and RevPAR was $92.45 (-1.9% YOY). Analyst Patrick Scholes of Truist Securities said the comps were concerning for summer leisure. “Last week was a clean comp that included the end of Memorial Day weekend. There was continued bifurcation with luxury relative strength aided by high-end group for early and midweek but a sizable deceleration into the weekend. Limited service, especially the economy chain scale, was very soft. Saturday RevPAR was -5% YOY nationally and soft for all chain scales from luxury -4% to economy -8%. Last weekend’s results are concerning for summer leisure.” Among the Top 25 U.S. markets, St. Louis saw the largest occupancy increase (+11.1% to 64.5%) while New York City (+5.7% to $290.35) and Los Angeles (+5.7% to $189.06) matched for the highest ADR lift. The steepest RevPAR declines were seen in New Orleans (-30.2% to $73.59) and Dallas (-21.5% to $67.25).

Ryman uses senior notes to fund Arizona purchase. Nashville-based Ryman Hospitality Properties, through its subsidiaries, RHP Hotel Properties, LP and RHP Finance Corp., completed the previously announced private placement of $625 million aggregate principal amount of 6.5% senior notes due 2033. The aggregate net proceeds from the sale of the sites are expected to be approximately $614 million after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The partnership intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to fund a portion of the approximately $865 million purchase price for the previously announced pending acquisition of the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa located in Phoenix and to pay related fees and expenses of the Desert Ridge acquisition. The balance of the purchase price of the Desert Ridge acquisition will be funded with the net proceeds of the company’s underwritten registered public offering of 2.99 million shares of common stock at a public offering price of $96.20 per share, which closed on May 21.

University Hotels launched. Newport Beach, California-based A.F. Canta has launched University Hotels. The company said the boutique hotels would blend the luxury hotel experience with a private club focused on health and wellness and that the brand is designed to serve university and hospital communities. Phoenix-based Reliance Hospitality will manage the properties. A.F. Canta said it is currently in discussions with several prominent institutions and expects its first flagship property to open with the club this fall, with the hotel to open in late spring 2026.

Nobu adding in Poland. New York City-based Nobu Hospitality is partnering with Kraków, Poland-based SAO Investments to develop a 100-key Nobu Hotel and an 80-key branded residence in Kraków. This would be Nobu’s second hotel in Poland and its first residential project in Eastern Europe.

Acrophyte selling in Michigan. Singapore-based Acrophyte Hospitality Trust, through its indirect wholly owned subsidiary ARA USH Chicago, is selling for $6.7 million the 127-key Hyatt Place Detroit/Auburn Hills in Michigan to Cheboygan, Michigan-based AHM Hospitality. The hotel opened in 1996 and was last appraised in December for $7 million.

Hilton adds 2 in India. Hilton is partnering with GMR Group and Delhi International Airport Ltd. under its Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels & Resorts brands. The hotels will be located at GMR Aerocity, New Delhi – India’s first global business district. The signing includes the debut of Waldorf Astoria in India’s capital, a 150-key hotel, and the 350-key Hilton at GMR Aerocity, the first Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in New Delhi. The signing also brings Hilton another step forward on its trajectory to grow its luxury presence to 150 hotels in the Asia Pacific region in the coming years.

EasyHotel sale completed. London-based Tristan Capital Partners has completed its acquisition of London-based EasyHotel, through its discretionary fund European Property Investors Special Opportunities (EIPSO 6), in a deal worth over €400 million (£336 million). Over the past few years, Easyhotel has evolved from being a U.K.-focused, asset-light business to a company that now generates two-thirds of its total revenue from outside of the U.K. Easyhotel has a portfolio of roughly 50 hotels and, following the deal, will continue to bolster its presence across Europe, targeting gateway cities in Spain, Portugal and France.

Hilton adds in Greece. Hilton has signed a franchise agreement with Green Properties – Melakis S.A. for the 56-key ÉRA Hotel Heraklion, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, which is scheduled to open in early 2026, will mark the debut of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton brand in Heraklion and further strengthen Hilton’s presence in Greece.