The resort sector was already high on the radar of hospitality investors and has gained ever more attention as leisure travel is expected to lead the market’s recovery. Philip Bacon from Horwath HTL shares his thoughts on trends and innovation in resorts, guest expectations and the importance of the residential component.

At last month's R&R we heard how the relations between owners, operators, brands, and lenders have evolved during Covid and what lessons can be learnt to better align their interests?

Ramón Aragonés, CEO of NH Hotels and Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels, share their views on the opportunities in leisure as the hospitality sector heads towards post-pandemic recovery.

Branded residential and mixed use assets were very much a focal point of conversations at The Resort and Residential Hospitality Forum this year.

Margarida Almeida, Founder and CEO of Portuguese operator Amazing Evolution, shares her experiences of the Portugal hospitality market ahead of her participation to the Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum (R&R) taking place in the Algarve in October.

Portugal is ripe for a boom in hotel investment, it's a fragmented market with a plethora of opportunities in the resort market, it offers vibrant cities and fantastic locations. We think it will be a hot market for the rest of the year. 

This trend talk will look at travel trends from long-haul source markets such as the USA and Asia: profiles, requirements, intention to travel and more. 

In this week's podcast, Rita Marques, Portugal's Secretary of State for Tourism, joins us to discuss travel and tourism in Portugal the impact of travel restrictions for the country's international tourist sector and their strategy to ensure it remains a prime location for external investors in hospitality and tourism. 

Collaboration across the sector was the main message from Boschmans, it is more important than ever to align operators, investors, assest managers and guests to think and act more sustainably.

Greece's economy relies heavily on tourism and now that travel is coming back, so are opportunities for investors. Georgios Filiopoulos, CEO of Greece’s investment and export promotion authority Enterprise Greece explains why the market ticks all the boxes for the growing leisure hospitality segment.

An inside look at the R&R 2020 Advisory Board meeting

‘The outlook for resorts is generally positive’ says Thomas Emanuel, Director at STR, ahead of his talk at the Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum (R&R). He shares his views on why resorts remain an attractive segment and the data on recovery in key European markets.

This lighthearted and theatrical session explores the intricacies of resort development with performances from the many stakeholders involved. The central character, a land owner, investigates the opportunities and challenges of developing a resort through a series of encounters with various stakeholders.

A landmark project in the Mediterranean, Elounda Hills sets out to be a ground-breaking mixed-use resort integrating branded residences and villas in Crete. Timur Beteev, CEO of developer Mirum Group share how it was conceived and the next steps towards its opening, ahead of their participation to R&R. 

As resorts continue to grow in popularity, with guests and investors alike, providing the opportunity for a spacious and isolated retreat, we review some of the In Focus conversations with operators, owners, advisors and investors who are active in the sector and share their opinions on what’s next for Resorts & Residential.

Edgar Ollé was appointed last week as Managing Director of Spain and Portugal at international hotel property adviser Christie & Co. He shares his thoughts on the opportunities in leisure hospitality and in the Spanish market in particular, ahead of his participation to R&R.

A financier lets her mind wander as she tries to decide whether to invest in a Mediterranean or an Arctic resort. Relive this entertaining and interaction session as she assesses the key investment criteria and considers the outcomes of each proposal. 

We are looking back at the session “Resorts & The Leisure Market” from IHIF with Club Med, Apple Leisure and Wyndham.

We caught up with George Campanellas, CEO at Invest Cyprus, in advance of the upcoming webinar on the 10th September. A destination that has proven it can manage even the most challenging of situations, a global pandemic, as it continues to offer strong opportunities for both local and international investors. The webinar will focus on the major trends that have been pushing the hospitality real estate market forward and are set to gain strength as economies and travel recover. In particular, resorts and mixed-use developments in well-connected destinations such as Cyprus, an exciting and resilient market. 

How to stay on top of key hospitality trends and maintain good relations with partners.

This week on In Focus Julie Rey-Gore, Content Director at Questex Hospitality & Travel, sat down with María Zarraluqui. Global development MD at Meliá Hotels International, to discuss areas of development for the group, why leisure and resorts are leading their recovery, rumours of consolidation and her views on the trends that will have the most longevity after the crisis. Not to be missed!

The industry veteran discusses the long-term impact of the pandemic on the leisure hospitality market ahead of his participation at R&R.

The R&R Advisory Board met virtually on the 24th February to discuss the major trends leading to the recovery of the leisure hospitality sector.  In a meeting hosted by Alexi Khajavi, Mark Cheney, and Julie Rey-Gore, the panel shared their insights on the new travel and development trends, investor sentiment and stakeholder alignment in the new landscape. The overall feeling was one of strong fundamentals in the sector, in which partnerships are increasingly important but where cautiousness must remain. 

A wrap up video edit bringing you some of the top stories from The Resort and Residential Forum in Portugal. We hear from global investors, CEOs and Portugal's Secretary of State for Tourism. Dive in to hear what opportunities lie ahead for this asset class.

So what kind of tourism will emerge after the pandemic? Alexi Khajavi and Patrick Whyte are discussing the return of tourism and travel with a focus on Greece. This week we were joined by Georgios Filiopoulos, CEO of trade and investment agency, Enterprise Greece. 

It seems that ESG is now fully embedded in the day-to-day business of hospitality, from investment to operations and financing, but how do you build a clear strategy that meets ESG goals and legislation?

Greece is internationally recognised for premium holiday appeal with many opportunities for international investment.  Enterprise Greece, a trade and investment agency, supports international investors before project realisation, during project implementation and offer tailer-made after-care services. They also identify and propose investment opportunities in key sectors of the economy, particularly in tourism and real estate.

KSL see a lot of opportunity in resorts, despite strong demand in this sector right now as well as concerns surrounding rising operational costs and inflation.