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Articles by David J. Sangree
The surf park resort surge: Market momentum, development trends and attendance growth
HLA analysis finds North America now leads global surf park development, with most projects anchoring mixed-use resorts, but warns that capital intensity, seasonality, and market specificity separate viable investments from enthusiasm. By David Sangree and Stephen Szczygiel Photo by Hotel & Leisure Advisors (H&LA) Surfing has re-entered the mainstream in recent years, driven by Olympic exposure, global media and the allure of engineered waves.
The surf park resort surge: Market momentum, development trends and attendance growth
Surfing has re-entered the mainstream in recent years, driven by Olympic exposure, global media and the allure of engineered waves. With this increased popularity, it should be no surprise that surf parks have evolved in tandem, moving from training facilities into amenity additions that frequently anchor mixed-use developments.
Waterparks Continue To Innovate in 2026
By David J. Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC The waterpark industry continues to demonstrate resilience and steady expansion across the United States and Canada.
Highlights and Key Takeaways from the 2025 World Waterpark Association Show
By David Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC, and Kate Cheung, CHIA Attending the World Waterpark Association’s (WWA) 45th Annual Symposium & Trade Show at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort was an energizing reminder of just how dynamic and forward-thinking the waterpark industry continues to be.
Insights from the 2025 NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum
Despite some strong headwinds in the hotel industry, speakers at the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum painted a cautiously optimistic picture. While average daily rate (ADR) growth is trailing inflation in 2025, occupancy remains relatively steady, which signals underlying resilience in the sector.
Waterpark Industry Poised to Grow and Innovate in 2025
In 2024, waterpark owners and operators continued to face a highly competitive market as new development continues across many regions in the U.S. and Canada. While the growth in total waterpark square footage in 2024 was less than 2023, 2024 saw more new guestrooms developed.
Measuring Economic Impact Is a Win-Win for Developers and Municipalities
Introduction: At a time when financing for hospitality development projects is challenging for developers, it can often mean that some projects won’t ever come to fruition. At the same time, municipalities would like to increase their hotel or resort offerings to attract travelers to their destinations while remaining fiscally responsible.
Waterparks Maintain Momentum in 2024 Amid Growth and New Opportunities
In 2023, waterpark owners and operators saw a more competitive market as attendance levels remained similar to 2022 while ticket pricing growth was more subdued. This occurred due to increased competition from a variety of additional attractions and entertainment venues in the post-pandemic economy. In 2023, 16 indoor waterpark openings and expansions added 480,000 square feet of indoor waterpark space while twelve new outdoor waterparks opened.
U.S. Waterparks Poised for More Growth Amid Robust Recovery
In 2022, waterpark owners and operators breathed a sigh of relief as the industry shifted back to normal in the wake of two years of uncertainty. With the pandemic a rearview concern in 2022, most waterparks continued their recovery to see attendance improve. This robust performance paved the way for new growth in all segments of the industry. Several large-scale projects planned for 2023 and beyond will alter the waterpark landscape at both indoor and outdoor waterparks.
stayAPT Suites to Roll Out 4-Story Prototype in California & Carolinas
New franchises in CA, AZ, MO expand nationwide footprint to 22 states coast-to-coast MATTHEWS, N.C. - Apartment-style hotel brand stayAPT Suites has added franchise partnerships in the following markets: Atlanta-Lithia Springs, Ga. St. Louis-Bridgeton, MO Phoenix-Peoria, AZ Riverside-Palmdale/Lancaster, CA These new franchises, combined with the existing corporate and franchise pipeline of open, under construction, and pre-development projects, expands stayAPT Suites' reach to over 75...
Hotel Industry Leaders Still Face Burning Questions
The collective mindset of the hotel industry is there is now a unique opportunity to change for the better. How this change plays out will have distinct benefits for the future of hospitality and the associates who work in it, according to panelists who participated in the “Bourbon with the bosses” panel at the Hotel Data Conference co-hosted by STR and Hotel News Now.
Noble Acquires Fourteen-Asset Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt Hotel Portfolio
ATLANTA - Noble Investment Group ("Noble") today announced the acquisition of a fourteen-asset Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt hotel portfolio. Noble will invest in physical enhancements across the portfolio while optimizing operations to drive market share and increase profitability.
Whitebridge EMEA Hotels Monitor, Issue 30
Raging inflation may have been on the radar in January this year, but very few foresaw war in Europe and the post-C19 chaos surrounding international travel these last few months. It has been a roller-coaster six months and we hope things will settle down as we head down the back six of 2022. Aside from Doha (decline in ADR) and Moscow (decline in occupancy and GOPPAR), all other markets recorded positive growth in all metrics. The post-C19 recovery was truly gathering momentum in H1 2022.
Europe Hotel Transactions Bulletin - Week Ending 12 August 2022
HVS 3 min read15 August 2022 Choice Hotels International has completed the purchase of Radisson Hotels Americas’ franchise business, operations, intellectual property and three owned hotels for approximately $675 million from Radisson Hotel Group. With this transaction, Choice adds 624 hotels and 68,000 rooms across the US, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean to its portfolio and nine global brands onto its existing 14 brands.
Waterpark Resort Development: Successes and Pitfalls
The waterpark industry continues to flourish in the United States and Canada. While the pandemic slowed demand and growth in 2020 and 2021, 2022 has largely been a return to normal for operators but also for developers and investors looking for new opportunities to leverage the growing popularity of waterpark resorts along with increasing consumer demand for fun, family-oriented vacation options.
Hotel Data Conference sold out for first time since 2019
NASHVILLE - The 14th Annual Hotel Data Conference, presented by IDeaS, has sold out for the first time since 2019 with 712 registered attendees for the event on 10-12 August at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Co-hosted by STR and Hotel News Now, HDC had sold out six years in a row prior to the pandemic. “HDC returning to capacity status is another indicator of the hotel industry’s recovery,” said Amanda Hite, STR president.
Waterpark resort development: successes and pitfalls
BusinessCOVID-19World markets by David J. Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC The waterpark industry continues to flourish in the United States and Canada. While the pandemic slowed demand and growth in 2020 and 2021, 2022 has largely been a return to normal for operators but also for developers and investors looking for new opportunities to leverage the growing popularity of waterpark resorts along with increasing consumer demand for fun, family-oriented vacation options.
US Hotels State of the Union - July 2022
Key Takeaways New this month – nominal consumer credit card balances are at an all-time high, and at a ratio of 2 to 1, the number of job openings to job seekers is the highest in 20 years. ⎻ Macroeconomic indicators are softening. CBRE forecasts a steep decline in GDP growth. Inflation is expected to remain elevated through the end of the year, and unemployment is expected to increase.
U.S. hotel construction continued on a downward trajectory in June
STR 3 min read22 July 2022 While U.S. hotel construction has declined for seven consecutive months, rooms in construction in both New York City and Nashville represent a significant percentage of those markets’ existing supply. Additionally, planning activity continues to rise nationally, albeit at a slower pace, with markets such as Miami, Nashville and Phoenix showing increased interest from developers, according to STR.
Are hotel room rates too high?
Thanks to surging demand, hotel rates have skyrocketed this summer, with some particularly hot markets, such as Hawaii and Florida, reaching record highs. The phenomenon isn't limited to resort destinations, however. According to STR data for the week of June 11, the U.S. hotel industry as a whole saw its weekly ADR reach $155, which marked the second-highest nominal level ever recorded.
Asia Pacific Hospitality Newsletter - Week Ending 24 June 2022
HVS 4 min read29 June 2022 Surrey Hills Hotel in Sydney was Sold for AUD30 Million Sydney’s Surrey Hills hotel was acquired by an onshore hotelier for approximately AUD30 million before opening its doors to customers, which translates to around AUD789,473 per key for the 38-key property. Located at 202-210 Elizabeth Street in Surrey Hills, the six-storey property comprises of two ground floor retail spaces, three outdoor terrace areas and a rooftop with views of the Sydney CBD area.
HVS Europe Hotel Transactions Bulletin - Week Ending 24 June 202
HVS 4 min read29 June 2022 Accor to sell 10.8% stake in Ennismore to Qatari Investors Europe’s largest hotel operator Accor has entered exclusive negotiations to sell a 10.8% stake in Ennismore, a global collection of leading lifestyle hospitality brands, to a Qatari consortium, for a total amount of €185 million. The transaction, which is expected to close in the second half of 2022, would value Ennismore at more than €2 billion.
NewcrestImage Acquires Cambria Hotel Southlake DFW In Southlake, Texas
NewcrestImage has added the 175-room Cambria Hotel Southlake DFW in Southlake, Texas to its portfolio today. The company takes over operations at the property effective immediately, with management being provided by Aimbridge Hospitality. “The Cambria Hotel Southlake DFW is a vibrant, contemporary hotel strategically located to attract both business and leisure travelers,” explained Mehul Patel, Managing Partner and CEO of NewcrestImage.
Highlights From NYU Investment Conference
David Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC had the opportunity to attend the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference on June 6-7 at the New York Marriott Marquis. The following are some key highlights from the conference. ADR growth: The growth in ADR in 2022 has exceeded everyone’s projections for the industry. The actual ADR is above 2019 levels for the U.S. for the past 10 months although the inflation-adjusted ADR is just getting back to 2019 levels since March 2022.
Driving GOP During Inflationary Growth and Rising Labor Costs
High staff turnover has always been one of the biggest management challenges faced by owners and operators in the hospitality industry. But now, as the nation is experiencing record levels of inflationary growth, rising wages, and labor shortages, the hospitality industry is encountering extreme difficulty finding workers. So, how are hotel owners and operators managing rising labor costs and inflationary risk to drive their bottom line during these unprecedented times?
Getting Back to Getaways: 2022 Deloitte Summer Travel Survey
As the COVID-19 pandemic moves through unpredictable ups and downs, intent to travel continues to climb higher. Unhindered by continued news about variants or by rising airfares and hotel rates, travel intent has reached a level that would have been high before the pandemic—46% of Americans are planning a trip involving stays in hotels or other types of paid lodging.
Browning Hotel Properties Selects New Castle Hotels & Resorts to Manage Two New York Properties
RIDGEFIELD, Conn. – New Castle Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel owner, operator and developer, announced that it has entered into an agreement to manage the Hilton Garden Inn Riverhead and Residence Inn by Marriott ® Long Island East End. The two hotels are located next to each other in Riverhead, N.Y., the gateway to Long Island’s Wine Country.
Waterparks Riding a Recovery Wave in 2022
After two years of pandemic concerns that saw many waterparks remain closed throughout 2020 and suffer continued disruption in 2021, 2022 is anticipated to be a pivot back to normal for the industry. As vaccines are now widely available and COVID becomes endemic, waterparks are poised to capitalize on pent-up demand and return to pre-COVID performance levels. While 2021 saw robust growth in pricing at many properties, 2022 will see the industry open a number of expansions and new developments.
COVID-19 Impact On US Waterparks And Waterpark Resorts | By David Sangree & Nuresh Maredia – Hospitality Net
Due to COVID-19, many outdoor waterparks delayed their season openings while others have decided, or were mandated, not to open at all in 2020. Many resorts with waterparks and standalone indoor waterparks were forced to close for several months, and some have yet to reopen. With the largest database of waterparks and waterpark resorts across North America, H&LA has tracked the openings and closings of standalone waterparks and resorts with waterparks in 2020.
U.S and Canada Waterpark and Resort Trends in 2020 | By David J. Sangree – Hospitality Net
At the beginning of 2020, the continuing trend of two decades of growth was expected in the waterpark industry. Major projects will open throughout the United States in both the indoor and outdoor waterpark categories totaling over $1 billion in investment in 2020. Fourteen new standalone waterparks and one resort with outdoor waterpark are anticipated to open. The indoor segment will total square feet of new waterpark space in 17 properties.
Waterparks: Growth Trends in 2019
scroll Diving Into Waterpark Growth Trends in 2019: 2019 will bring growth to the U.S. & Canadian markets as waterparks continue to evolve their attraction mix. By David J. Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC For the ever-growing waterpark industry, 2019 will be another year for robust growth as over $1 billion in investment is slated for indoor and outdoor waterparks and their related resorts.
Hotel & Leisure Advisors Top Five Takeaways From NYU Hotel Investment Conference
by David J. Sangree The sentiment at the 2018 NYU Hotel Investment Conference was very positive for the industry with expectations of continued growth in the coming years. Among the wealth of relevant information from the conference, we identified several key takeaways that highlight the state of the industry in 2018 and beyond: Overall, the feel of NYU was positive, with attendees, panelists, and speakers all expecting and planning for continued growth for the industry.
2018 Waterpark Forecast: Expansion
By David J. Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC Introduction The waterpark industry continues to expand in North America, with more than $1 billion in new investment in indoor and outdoor waterparks and their related resorts in 2018. Nearly 60 expansions and new facilities will open in 2018. We project 14 municipal and eight private outdoor waterparks will open, outpacing 2017’s nine municipal and four private outdoor additions.
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