SAO PAULO — Fast and furious like a samba crowd swell at Carnival, Brazilian hotels haven’t missed a beat in the last eight years, maintaining consistent growth. Brazilian Hotel’s revenue per average room (RevPAR) grew another 8.8 percent in 2012 
compared with 2011. According to Jones Lang LaSalle’sLodging Industry in Numbers Brazil 2013 reportBrazilian hotels are still on investors “hot spot” list as operating results continue to show gains above inflationary rates, with average gross operating profit (GOP) increasing by 7.9 percent compared with 2011 levels.
“We’re projecting sustained growth in Brazilian hotel performance, as the market remains a favored destination among international travelers. Last year, 5.7 million international visitors came to Brazil, which is 4.5 percent more than we experienced in 2011,” said Ricardo Mader, Executive Vice President of Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group in Brazil. “While there are occupancy shifts occurring, the sustained demand coupled with the lack of new hotel development will allow Brazil’s lodging market to hold its competitive advantage.”
Traveler Fluctuations Impact Occupancy and Average Daily Rates
While Brazil is viewed as a positive picture overall, the softened economic growth in 2012 had a negative impact on occupancy rates for hotels, which decreased by 5.6 percent from 2011. The cause of the decline varies for each market; but in general, the segments that showed the greatest decrease were group and individual travel. Upward pressure on travel costs from the growing domestic middle class has also spurred a reduction in weekend travel.
Weekday occupancy rates remained high, reaching peaks from Tuesday to Thursday nights in a number of markets, supported mainly by the commercial business sector. This demand compression has enabled significant growth in average daily rates (ADR), which increased 15.2 percent over 2011.
In 2012, travelers found ADR ranging from above R$380 for luxury hotels to below R$220 for economy and limited service properties. The latter showing the least availability with an average of 149 available rooms compared to 231 and 204 in the luxury and midscale properties respectively.
Firm Forecast for Lodging Market
“The performance of hotels in 2013 has shown similar trends to 2012. With a decrease in overall occupancy and a concurrent rise in average daily rates we expect RevPAR to grow modestly by five to seven percent in 2013, slightly less growth than 2012 levels,” said Clay Dickinson, Executive Vice President of Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group. “Hotel investment in the short and medium term is expected to continue at a healthy pace in the country.”
The diversification of investors has already broadened, yet the proportion of chain-affiliated hotel rooms in Brazil remains low at less than one third, or 28.1 percent of the total available rooms in the country.
This is the third year Jones Lang LaSalle partnered with FOHB, the Brazilian Forum of Hotel Operators, to provide a comprehensive performance analysis of hotels and condo hotels in the Brazil lodging market.The renewed partnership and the strong results of the joint research come at a moment when the entire tourism industry and supply chain parties are coming together to define market. “The 26 hotel chain members of FOHB are investing R$7 billion (2012-2015) in the construction of new housing units, thus creating 16,000 new jobs in the Brazil. That’s why we can say that the lodging industry is prepared both for the upcoming major events and after these events have ended,” said Roberto Rotter, President of FOHB. “Data from the Lodging Industry in Numbers research has proven to be essential tools for the planning and sustainable development of the hotel industry.”
“Although the findings of this year’s Lodging Industry in Numbers revealed that the slowdown in economic growth has led to slight decreases in occupancy, however, recent depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar could counter balance demand as Brazil becomes more affordable to international business and leisure travelers, while encouraging tourists to travel less abroad,” concluded Manuela Gorni,Senior Vice President of Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group.
Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group serves as the hospitality industry’s global leader in real estate services for luxury, upscale, select-service and budget hotels; timeshare and fractional ownership properties; convention centers; mixed-use developments and other hospitality properties. The firm’s more than 265 dedicated hospitality experts partner with investors and owner/operators around the globe to support and shape investment strategies that deliver maximum value throughout the entire lifecycle of an asset. In the last five years, the team completed more transactions than any other hospitality real estate advisor in the world totaling nearly $25 billion, while also completing approximately 4,000 advisory and valuation assignments. The group’s hotels and hospitality specialists provide independent and expert advice to clients, backed by industry-leading research.
For more news, videos and research from Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group, please visit: www.jll.com/hospitality
About Jones Lang LaSalle
Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) is a professional services and investment management firm offering specialized real estate services to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying and investing in real estate. With annual revenue of $3.9 billion, Jones Lang LaSalle operates in 70 countries from more than 1,000 locations worldwide. On behalf of its clients, the firm provides management and real estate outsourcing services to a property portfolio of 2.6 billion square feet and completed $63 billion in sales, acquisitions and finance transactions in 2012. Its investment management business, LaSalle Investment Management, has $47.7 billion of real estate assets under management.
For further information, please visit www.jll.com
About FOHB
About FOHB -The Brazilian Forum of Hotel Operators was created in 2002 and it is an entity that acts in favor of the sector following three main axes: Representation, Development and Information. Its actions include partnerships with the public sector, private enterprise and other entities concerning training and qualification projects, claims and important researches and studies to the sector. Currently FOHB represents 26 international and national hotel chains, adding up to 529 hotels and 85 thousand rooms, in 100 cities, in 23 states and in the Federal District.
More Information: www.fohb.com.br