This story was originally published on Hotel Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Hotel Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: A partnership between investment firms Gencom and Argent Ventures, as well as hotel management company Highgate, acquired the 607-key InterContinental New York Times Square hotel in Midtown Manhattan from sellers Tishman and MetLife Investment Management, according to a release obtained by Hotel Dive. The acquisition — reportedly priced at $230 million, ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - System-wide RevPAR growth was reported at 0.3% for the quarter, impacted by a holiday shift and lapping one-time events from the previous year [6][18] - Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $291 million, in line with expectations, with owned and leased segment adjusted EBITDA increasing by 7% when adjusted for asset sales [20][25] - Total liquidity as of September 30, 2025, was approximately $2.2 billion, including $1.5 billion in capacity on a revolving credit facility [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Leisure transient RevPAR increased by 1.6% year-over-year, with luxury brands seeing approximately 6% growth [6][7] - Business transient RevPAR was flat for the quarter, but improved by 3% in the United States [8][19] - Group RevPAR declined by 4.9%, in line with expectations due to difficult year-over-year comparisons [8][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - RevPAR outside of the U.S. performed well, with Europe seeing positive growth driven by strong international inbound travel [18] - Greater China experienced RevPAR growth due to increases in leisure transient demand [19] - The all-inclusive portfolio reported net package RevPAR growth of 7.6% compared to the third quarter of 2024 [7][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to exceed a 90% asset-led earnings mix in the near term and has a strong development pipeline of approximately 141,000 rooms [10][11] - The introduction of new brands, such as Hyatt Select and Unscripted, is expected to drive growth and enhance the company's market presence [10][11] - The loyalty program, World of Hyatt, surpassed 61 million members, reflecting a 20% year-over-year increase, and is positioned as a key strategic asset [12][15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about forward-looking booking trends, particularly for group business, which is up in the high single digits for full-service U.S. hotels [9][35] - The company anticipates average rates to increase in the low to mid-single digit range in 2026 compared to 2025 [9] - Management noted that leisure demand remains strong, with October RevPAR increasing by approximately 1% in the U.S. and 5% globally [24][75] Other Important Information - The company expects to incur approximately $50 million in restructuring charges this year, primarily recorded in the third quarter [17] - The full-year adjusted EBITDA outlook is expected to be in the range of $1.09-$1.11 billion, reflecting an 8% increase at the midpoint compared to last year [25] - The company plans to return approximately $350 million to shareholders in 2025, inclusive of share repurchases and dividends [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on net rooms growth for 2026 - Management indicated strong organic growth, expecting continued acceleration in signings and a net rooms growth of 6%-7% for 2026 [29][31] Question: Group pace in the U.S. and internationally for 2026 - Group pace was reported to be up in the high single digits, with strong bookings in October, indicating confidence in future group business [35][36] Question: Clarification on G&A expectations - Management expects adjusted G&A in 2026 to be moderately below 2024 levels due to organizational changes and efficiencies [39][40] Question: Capital returns and restructuring charges - The increase in capital returns is attributed to the new agreement with Chase and the restructuring charges factored into free cash flow [42][43] Question: Economic intensity of the master agreement with Home Inns - The partnership with Home Inns is expected to provide significant growth opportunities, with a focus on quality and strategic locations [48][49] Question: Cost program initiatives - The company is moving towards an insight-led and brand-focused organization, aiming for greater efficiency and improved performance [54][56] Question: Confidence in the RevPAR environment for next year - Management expressed optimism about RevPAR growth due to upcoming events like the World Cup and strong leisure demand [71][75] Question: Current sentiment regarding China - Management feels incrementally better about the Chinese market, noting strong performance in luxury brands despite some challenges [77][82]