MANHATTAN HOTEL INDUSTRY NYC - 1st EDITION 2011

• The New Year started out on a promising note with the purchase of the Doubletree Metropolitan by U.S. billionaire Robert L. Johnson. RJ Development, controlled by Johnson, founder of the Black Entertainment Television network, paid $335 million for this Midtown hotel with its splendid architecture. Since 2008, Johnson’s company has bought three Manhattan hotels. Johnson purchased the Hilton Garden Inn at 63 W. 35th St. and the Fashion 26 Hotel at 152 W. 26th St. for more than $100 million each. RLJ Development President, Thomas J. Baltimore Jr., explained that the purchases fit the company’s investment plan to buy high-caliber real estate.
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The Maryland-based DiamondRock Hospitality Company has been delving big-time into NYC developments during the first months of 2011. In January, industry reports confirmed that the company was planning to purchase a hotel property under development on West 42nd Street in Times Square. Depending on the number of guest rooms (probable 250 to 300 guest rooms, $450,000 each), the contractual price was to range between $112.5 million and $135 million. In addition, on March 14, Diamond Rock Hospitality Group announced that it had the right of first refusal to buy the adjacent Knickerbocker Hotel.

• The estate of Leona Helmsley sold the New York Helmsley to Host Hotels and Resorts Inc. for $313.5 million. The buyer is a S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company, the largest lodging real estate investment trust, and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper upscale hotels. Host Hotels and Resorts owns 104 properties (62,000 rooms) in the US and nine international assets. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. will take over the management of this Midtown   Manhattan hotel. Host Hotels allocated $50 million for renovations. This luxury hotel, however, is still a good deal considering its prime location and popularity with guests.
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• Barry Sternlicht's Starwood Capital bought 1414 Ave. of Americas for $72 million and planned to turn it to a hotel (its original purpose). Earlier, Ian Schrager and Norman Sturner of Murray Hill Properties wanted to create a hotel at the site on the southeast of W. 58th Street by Central Park. In November 2007, Murray Hill bought the building for $120.5 million. The firm took a loan of $65 million that was transferred to RCG Longview, local mortgage investors, in July 2010. The deed for 1414 Ave. of Americas was signed by an executive from RCG Longview which also took back a $36 million mortgage on the property. Schrager was not involved in this recent project.
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• In a deal that closed in mid-February, Michael Steinhardt and his investment partner, Allan Fried, purchased two former American Stock Exchange buildings for $65 million. The investors paid cash for the properties. Fried said, however, that they might look for financing at a later date. The partners plan a retail complex, 174-room boutique hotel, and 60- story residential tower. Construction is expected to start within a year and the project will take two years for completion. The investor pair did not divulge the expected cost of construction.
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• In March, Starwood Capital and Tribeca Associates agreed to purchase the site of the former Donnell Library on West 53rd Street. The buyers plan to build a $400 million hotel/condominium/library at the location. Originally, Orient-Express Hotels had agreed to buy the site from the New York Public Library for $59 million. Paul White, president and CEO of Bermuda-based Orient-Express, has confirmed that the economic climate at the time interfered with that venture.  In 2011, however, Starwood Capital’s willingness to take on this conversion is evidence of the firm’s confidence in the future of NYC hotels.
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• Boutique hotel owner and operator Morgans Hotel Group Co. have agreed to sell Its NYC Morgans and Royalton hotels to Felcor Lodging Trust (a lodging real estate investment trust). Earlier this week, Felcor announced that it will offer 24 million shares to fund a pending acquisition expected to close during the second quarter. In a U.S. Securities and Exchange filing, the company confirmed their agreement to purchase in the range of 300 upscale hotel rooms in Manhattan for almost $140 million. At the end of last year, the Royalton and Morgans Hotels provided 282 guest rooms. Morgans, one of the original boutique hotel companies, has a heavy debt load and plans to sell a portion of its real estate. The firm will continue to manage both hotels. In the past, larger firms such as Marriott International Inc and Starwood Hotels & Resorts have followed a similar business model. On March 31, Morgans shares were almost flat at $9.85 on Nasdaq but Felcor shares were up 1% at $6.12 on the New York Stock Exchange.

There is no shortage of supply in the New York City hotel market. At least 33 new NYC hotels will open in 2011. More than half of these ventures are independents. The new properties have tremendous potential with the stabilizing market in the Big Apple. The real winners will outshine the competition. Numerous independent hotels have opened since the beginning of 2011.

Mondrian SoHo - One example of an independent property is the unique Mondrian SoHo owned by Morgans Hotel Group Company. This luxurious 270-room hotel opened on March 1 and is off to a profitable start with strong demand and a high occupancy rate. The Mondrian Soho caters to a fashionable clientele.

Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC - Each independent hotel must carve out its own niche in the NYC hotel scene. The 249-room Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC (owned by the Gansevoort Hotel Group), another upscale independent hotel, opened officially in February 2011. This “ultimate urban resort” enjoyed high occupancy following its initial opening in September 2010. This luxury hotel is expected to experience continued success because of its intense focus on providing optimal luxury.

Nolitan Hotel – The NYC hotels under construction hope to share in the profitability of the dynamic market in the Big Apple. The 10-storey Nolitan Hotel, the first hotel located in the Nolita (north of Little Italy) neighborhood, plans to entice people to the dining and shopping possibilities in this distinct area of New York City. Patrik Horstmann, GM of the 55-room Nolitan Hotel is focused on creating an exceptional, customer-friendly establishment. Unique hotels in New York City have an outstanding chance of benefiting from the current market.

32 Pearl St. – A new 80-room Hampton Inn is coming to Lower Manhattan (the second Gene Kaufman-designed Hampton in the area). Prestigious hotelier, Sam Chang, plans the development in an Art Deco residential building that he owns already in the neighborhood. Recently, Chang secured a development loan from Philadelphia- based Hersha Hospitality Trust to proceed with construction. When the establishment opens in late 2011, Hersha Hospitality Management will operate the hotel. Hersha Hospitality Trust owns the Hampton Inn at the South Street Seaport as well as the Holiday Inn on Maiden Lane.

In April 2011, TRYP, part of the Sol Melia group with a huge presence among European business travelers, is opening a 173-room property (345 W 35th St.) near Times Square in Lower Manhattan. NH-Hotels, based in Spain and well-known in Europe and Latin America, have additional property in New York. International investors favor the Big Apple for the same reasons as local investors. At a 2011 ALIS (American Lodging Investment Summit) panel, international hotel operators explained that New York City is the place to make a global statement. Demand is the key word that describes the NYC hotel market.

During 2010, over 30 new properties (6,200 rooms) opened in New York City. Almost 50 million tourists visited the Big Apple last year. This figure represented a 6.8% increase from 2009 and resulted in the sale of 25.7 million room nights. The city set a record for new hotel developments and sales and had an average occupancy rate of 85%.

According to Smith Travel Research, 40 properties (6,500 rooms) are under construction in New York City. As of February 2011, the city has 86,232 rooms in its active inventory. Hotel development is active throughout the five NYC boroughs - Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Recent new openings include the Chatwal New York, Setai Fifth Avenue, Aloft Harlem, W Downtown, Element New York Times Square West, Courtyard New York Manhattan/SoHo, Sheraton Brooklyn, and other superb NYC hotels.

The NYC hospitality market is recovering at a steady pace. An increase in corporate travel is a driving factor behind the continuing growth in New York City hotels. According to STR, hotel occupancies in the leading 25 U.S. markets increased 65% during the first nine months of 2010 compared with the same period in 2009. The Big Apple is a top market.

Since investors are showing interest in the hospitality industry, all signs point to a rebounding market in New York City. ETC advises to "take encouragement from the broad range of positive signals." The recovery predictions have been confirmed by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Research and the European Travel Commission.

Of course, the state of the NYC hospitality industry is not measured by one real estate deal or even ten transactions. The strength of the market is determined by the overall showing with hotel deals in the Big Apple. There is every reason to have the utmost confidence in the NYC hotel market.

Average Hotel room sold in New York City is now $500k per room.