Profitability is one thing, but out-performing 2019 is the genuine sign of a rebound. Choice Hotels is lucky to not have to worry as much about corporate travel and conventions as some of its competitors.
The competition is brutal when it comes to making new brand deals in a downturn. Smaller companies have to be nimble and appeal in franchise negotiations with lower-cost terms to win out against the global giants.
Lotte may not be a household name in North American hospitality, but it could quickly become one thanks to hotel owners coming out of the pandemic looking for lower branding costs than what the likes of Marriott or Hilton demand.
Big, global hotel companies weren’t exactly pandemic success stories. However, they still want to market the notion there is more value in a global network than going it alone as an independent operator. Getting left out of the expected summer travel boom is what it will take for smaller operators to accept that logic.