Big in Berlin

• There was a curious phenomenon at the recent International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin.

Although there were no standalone serviced apartment or extended stay hotel brands exhibiting at the event – everyone was talking about them.

I had numerous conversations with lenders, investors, operators, lawyers and architects, and they all wanted to talk about serviced apartments and aparthotels. And while the industry wasn’t represented with any stands, the leading players were certainly there in numbers, with representatives of BridgeStreet, Cycas Hospitality, Adagio, Staycity, SACO and more in attendance.

SACO held two well attended events to talk about its plans post-Brookfield acquisition, and an IHIF panel session on serviced apartments was absolutely pack – standing room only!

In terms of investor awareness it’s safe to say the sector has well and truly arrived, and it will be interesting to see if it has a more visible presence on the exhibition floor at IHIF2019.