HVS Market Pulse: , MA

 November 20, 2018  By Brian F. Bisema

Boston is a world‐class city anchored by the healthcare, higher education, technology, and Summary finance sectors. The city continues to strengthen on several fronts. The entrance of new lodging supply was somewhat muted coming out of the Great Recession but has been back Boston continues to in full force in recent years. Because of new supply factors and the insufficient room blocks strengthen on several fronts. made available to the BCEC by in the Seaport District ﴾limiting the all‐important The entrance of new lodging citywide convention calendar﴿, the market area’s rooms revenue metrics have slowed, and a supply has been back in full RevPAR loss is likely in 2019. This article highlights some of the major commercial and developments force in recent years. This occurring throughout Boston and sets forth HVS’s market forecasts for the Boston MSA. article highlights some of the major commercial and hotel

developments occurring throughout Boston.

 Comments

FILED UNDER CATEGORIES Neighborhoods & Major Developments Development & Construction East Boston & Logan Airport Major developments within the East Boston neighborhood include Clippership Wharf, which will comprise Valuations & Market Studies 555,000 square feet of retail space and residences, and the redevelopment of Suffolk Downs, which will turn 161 Economic Trends and Cycles undeveloped acres into 8.5 million square feet of commercial office and retail space, as well as 7,000 to 10,000 Boston Massachusetts residential units. We note that just outside of East Boston in nearby Everett is the site of the 671‐room Encore United States North America Boston Harbor, which is slated for delivery in 2019. Due to its unique profile, being the only casino near , it will likely induce a significant amount of demand into surrounding neighborhoods.

Back Bay Boston’s Back Bay major developments include the Back Bay South End Gateway, which will contain approximately 1.26 million square feet of commercial office and retail space and 600 residences over Back Bay Station; the Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residences, comprising a 215‐unit Four Seasons hotel and 160 Four Seasons‐managed residences; 252 Huntington, which will include 426 residences and the renovation of Huntington Theatre; the Fenway Center development, which will encompass 1.1 million square feet of mixed‐use space and 963 residences; and lastly, Pierce Boston, which will consist of over 320 residential units.

Downtown & Financial District Major projects in the Financial District and Downtown Boston include Hub on Causeway, which will feature 1.87 million square feet of commercial office and retail space, a 270‐unit micro‐hotel, and 440 residences. Also worth noting is the anticipated expansion of TD Garden and improvements to North Station. Bulfinch Crossing will encompass 2.9 million square feet of commercial office and retail space, lodging, and residences. Lastly, the development is expected to comprise 970,000 square feet of commercial office space, lodging, and residential units.

Seaport & South Boston South Boston’s major projects include 399 Congress, a 414‐unit residential complex; Echelon Seaport, which will contain approximately 1.3 million square feet of office and retail space, as well as residential units; and Seaport Square, which will comprise 3.2 million square feet of residential space, approximately four million square feet of retail and commercial space, and a hotel component. Lastly, the 1,055‐room Omni Boston Seaport Hotel will be the largest convention center hotel in Seaport. Due to its proximity to the Boston Convention Center and first‐ class amenities, the hotel will likely induce a significant amount of demand into Seaport and surrounding neighborhoods.

New Supply Overview

New supply has been a significant factor in the lodging market’s sluggish growth in recent years. After annual supply growth factors ranging from 0.0% to 1.0% in the first five years of the post‐recession era ﴾2011 through construction activity has picked up significantly. Although occupancy levels have remained strong, two ,﴿2015 factors have created a drag on the market’s average rate and RevPAR: a﴿ the increased competitiveness, resulting in more‐aggressive pricing strategies, and b﴿ the fact that most of the new hotels opened with rates below the market average, offering minimal public facilities and amenities at a modest quality level.

The following map and table summarize the key hotel development projects underway over the next few years. Worth noting is the 671‐room Encore Boston Harbor in the adjacent city of Everett; upon its expected opening in June 2019, this facility will be the first casino within a ten‐minute drive of Downtown Boston. Although Downtown Boston hotel occupancy levels may be affected by the opening of the property, overall leisure tourism to the area should increase as a result.

From a Valuation Perspective – HVI (Hotel Valuation Index)

Boston remains one of the most highly desirable real estate markets from a domestic and an international standpoint. The market’s strong underlying fundamentals and high barriers to entry bode well for the long‐term investment outlook. Taking into consideration today’s current lending environment, economic strength of the market, and planned pipeline, our forecasts for the Boston MSA are reflected in the following graphs: Change in Value Expected for Boston Boston vs. U.S. RevPAR Change

Boston RevPAR Forecast

Source: https://hvi.hvs.com/market‐region/united‐states/

* Although the HVI cannot tell you what a particular hotel is worth, it does provide excellent “big picture” data, indicating which market areas are experiencing positive trends, and thus may present good investment opportunities. The HVI for the U.S. is a measure of the strength of the lodging industry as a whole and, specifically, the hospitality investment market. The HVI for the various identified markets can provide a basis to evaluate and compare different geographic regions. For more insight on the limitations and applicability of the HVI, please read the message on the HVI home page by clicking on the graphic at the top of this page.

Conclusion and Outlook

New supply will continue to play a role in the Boston lodging market’s performance. RevPAR is on pace to finish 2018 with a sub‐inflation growth factor. In 2019, RevPAR is likely to decline for only the second time in the post‐ recession era. Notable near‐term hotel openings include a second Four Seasons hotel and new affiliates of Hyatt Centric, Moxy by Marriott, citizenM, and Cambria Suites. In addition, the city’s convention calendar is expected to be atypically weak in 2019, another significant factor. The city’s convention center facilities have struggled to operate at their full potential given low numbers of committed room blocks; moreover, the wealth of transient demand in the Seaport District has caused hotels in that area to reduce their room‐block commitments to the BCEC. The opening of a second headquarters hotel in 2021, the 1,055‐room Omni ﴾which recently broke .ground﴿, should be a boon to hamstrung convention bookers

Lastly, with respect to Airbnb, Massachusetts recently passed a bill that will tax and regulate short‐term Airbnb rentals. The bill will place an approximately 17% tax on Airbnb rentals beginning in January 2019. In addition to the new tax, cities and towns will be able to impose their own regulations on Airbnb rentals. While this will likely have limited impact on Boston’s overall hotel occupancy, it will level the playing field in the Boston lodging market.

Erich Baum and Roth Johnson also contributed to this article.

About Brian F. Bisema

Brian Bisema is a Managing Director and Partner with HVS Boston. Brian brings over 15 years of hotel expertise, delivering appraisals, valuations, and consulting services that provide clients with credible results to make confident investment decisions. He has completed hotel valuations and appraisals on hotel real estate with an aggregate value of over $20 billion. For more information, contact Brian at +1 ﴾781﴿ 454‐8930 or [email protected].