I am delighted to welcome you to "Hospitality Hot Topics", our round-up of developments we are seeing in the hospitality sector that we feel will be of most interest to hotel investors, owners, developers and lenders.
After what has been a challenging few years for the hospitality sector, there is real buoyancy and positivity in the market, with plenty of reasons to be optimistic over the next 12-18 months. That said, the announcement of the power for local leaders to levy "tourist taxes", has somewhat tempered the optimism for the sector. I'm sure this will be a significant topic of conversation at the AHC in Manchester next week (and we will address the fallout from that in future updates).
Our team will be in and around the AHC in Manchester next week, so please do get in contact if you would like to meet us while there.
In this edition:
- UK Hotel Financing Market: What we are seeing
- Aparthotels: Regulatory risk of the Building Safety Act;
- International Focus: Ireland – Strong Demand, Strong Opportunity
UK Hotel Financing Market: What we are seeing
The hotel financing market in the UK is in a strong position with a range of debt options available. With the broad spectrum of debt providers active in the UK hotel market comes competition and pricing is becoming more attractive to borrowers. However, risks remain such as with pricing for hedging which is susceptible to the ongoing global shocks.
Aparthotels: Regulatory risk of the Building Safety Act
As the hotel sector continues to evolve for the ever changing consumer needs, there is a risk that certain hospitality assets such as aparthotels may begin to fall within the remit of the Building Safety Act and the Gateways regime.
International Focus: Ireland – Strong Demand, Strong Opportunity
Investors, hotel owners, lenders and operators should take note of the continued strength of Ireland’s hotel sector. Record investment in 2025, strong trading, high occupancy, limited supply and continued investor appetite are supporting the market, while major events are expected to sustain demand through 2026 and 2027. Development challenges are increasing the appeal of existing hotel assets and creating opportunities for acquisition and refurbishment. Lenders across the sector are more active, providing access to finance. Investors and owners should consider opportunities across the hotel lifecycle, while lenders and operators should assess the opportunities created by continued domestic and international investment.
Don't miss
Are you heading up to AHC? Join the AG hotels team for some relaxed drinks in the lobby of the Midland Hotel from 2pm on Monday 14th September 2026.
