Bi-monthly insights and news on the hospitality industry's built environment | June 2026 | | From Design to Execution:
What Drives Complex Hotel Renovations | |
Hotel renovations are no longer routine upgrades: they’re complex, high-stakes repositioning efforts shaped by deferred investment, rising costs, and evolving guest expectations. As scope expands, success depends less on design and more on execution where schedule, hidden risks, and decision-making can make or break a project.
Read this article - from our Hospitality industry leader Mark Knott - to see what’s driving today’s more complex renovations, understand where projects most often go off track, and gain practical insight on how disciplined planning and faster problem-solving keep Property Improvement Plans (PIPs) moving forward.
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Project Spotlight: Hilton Anaheim
| | In October 2025, Hilton Anaheim completed a property-wide renovation while remaining fully operational, transforming all 1,574 guest rooms, meeting spaces, dining venues, lobby, and outdoor amenities. The phased project modernized the hotel with refreshed guest experiences, new restaurant concepts, upgraded event facilities, and a redesigned rooftop terrace, reinforcing its position as one of Southern California’s premier convention and leisure destinations. PMA was proud to serve in a project management capacity on this impactful effort! | | |
Keeping Hotels Open Through Major Upgrades
When it comes to hospitality renovation, not all PIPs are created equal. Some are straightforward refreshes with new finishes, updated furniture, and a coat of paint. Others are far more complex, requiring teams to reimagine multiple spaces, manage competing priorities, and execute construction in a fully operational hotel.
We sat down with Alberto Lopez, Project Director at PMA, to explore his experience with those complex PIPs and uncover where the real challenge (and opportunity) lies.
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Travel Demand Improved in Q1 2026
2026 is off to a strong start for the hospitality industry, with hotel leaders sharing that strengthening fundamentals drove RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) gains in the first few months of the year. An increase in travel spending by middle- and lower-income households also contributed to performance gains. In Q1 of 2026, hotel companies expanded their portfolios and pipelines, with conversions overwhelmingly driving system growth.
Check out Hotel Dive’s Q1 earnings coverage, featuring roundups from across the industry and insights into how the remainder of 2026 could play out for the hospitality industry.
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Hospitality-focused Podcast Episode
We’re excited to share that a new hospitality-focused episode of the Built for Impact podcast is in the works! The episode will feature industry leaders discussing perspectives on the trends, challenges, and ideas shaping today’s built environment. Stay tuned!
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Never miss another issue of Hospitality Insights!
| | Project Management Advisors (PMA) is a real estate consulting and project delivery firm that provides clarity and leadership for complex decisions. PMA partners with owners, developers, and investors to maximize the potential of their assets and portfolios, delivering both strategic guidance and hands-on execution across the real estate lifecycle. For more than 30 years, PMA has advised on and delivered billions of dollars in real estate projects nationwide, bringing deep industry expertise, objective insights, and owner-minded leadership to every engagement. PMA recently joined forces with Brailsford & Dunlavey, bringing together two nationally recognized leaders in program management and real estate advisory services. Together, the combined firm offers expanded capabilities across industries and throughout the full project lifecycle, from early-stage strategy and planning through execution and beyond. To learn more, go to pmainc.com/sectors/hospitality and bdconnect.com.
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