Lease, HMA or franchise? Which model is best suited to today’s investor?

In the latest webinar of our co-hosted series with our friends at HVS, AlixPartners and EP Business in Hospitality, we posed the question "Lease, HMA or Franchise – which model is best suited to today’s investor?”

It has always been hard to convince real estate investors that they should look favourably at operational models other than the traditional FRI lease, such as management contracts and franchise agreements. There are a number of reasons for this including perceived risk and value issues. However, to what extent have perceptions and the appetite for risk changed in the post-COVID environment? Which model or models are investors now favouring in terms of future-proofing their portfolios?

We were delighted to welcome a select group of experts who brought their expertise to the fore to provide clarity and insight. Scene-setting presentations by Karen Friebe Head of Hotels, Hospitality & Leisure, and James Fowler, Senior Associate, both of Bird & Bird and Chris Martin, Senior Director at HVS Hodges Ward Elliott, were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Graeme Smith, Partner and Managing Director of AlixPartners.

Panelists included:

• Philippe Bijaoui – Chief Development Officer for Europe, Accor
• Felicity Black-Roberts – Vice President Development, Hyatt
• David Kellett – Managing Director, Invesco
• Jacob Rasin – Vice President Transactions, Pandox
• Sabina Wyss di Corrado - VP Development, Aimbridge Hospitality

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for this important webinar.

Karen Friebe, Head of Hotels, Hospitality & Leisure – Bird & Bird

Russell Kett, Chairman – HVS

Graeme Smith, Managing Director – AlixPartners

Chris Sheppardson, CEO – EP Business in Hospitality