Today's hotel operators are increasingly looking to diversify their offerings with a range of different concepts, for example serviced apartments or boutique chains alongside their established brands, as well as branching out into new countries.
New live-work-play concepts are emerging as "a kick against the idea of the traditional hotel", Tony Ryan, managing director of global mergers & acquisitions at JLL says, pointing to The Student Hotel's offering of accommodation, workspace and student housing.
Others are following a more well-trodden path: In 2017, French giant Accor bought Australia-based Mantra to increase its market share in Asia Pacific. In June, Thai group Minor International made a move to boost its European presence with plans to acquire NH Hotel Group for around €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion).
