The Hotelier Times Briefing — Nov. 5, 2026
The Hotelier Times · Newsletter
The $31,000 key
A note from the editor
Dear reader,
In October, one hotel key sold for $1.8 million in Scottsdale and another sold for about $31,000 in downtown Portland. Same month, same industry. This week’s stories sit between those two numbers: the Royal Sonesta’s 94% markdown, what a Democratic Congress means for your P&L, the Motel 6 suits every franchisee should read, the Fed’s next move, and our first monthly count of every U.S. hotel sale.
And on Sunday, the families who own most of America’s hotels celebrate Diwali. We wrote the story of how they built this industry. Happy Diwali, and Saal Mubarak.
We cut the rest so you can finish this before the coffee cools. If one of these helps, forward it. If we missed something, reply. I read every note.
Warmly,Nathan Snyder, Editor
6 stories worth your time
$31,000 a key: Portland’s Royal Sonesta sells for about $6.8 million after a $114 million purchase
CoStar data cited by The Oregonian puts the 221-room Royal Sonesta Portland Downtown at about $6.8 million. In 2016, the same building sold for $114 million.
The former Kimpton Hotel Monaco went to Laxmi Hotels Group in an eight-hotel package, and its Minneapolis sister cleared about $13,900 a key. Buyers will bring these prints to your table as comps. Know what they prove and what they don’t.
Key facts
- About $30,800 a key reported price on 221 rooms, our math
- $114 million 2016 purchase price, per SEC filing
- About 94% decline in reported sale price
The Festival of Lights and the front desk: Diwali 2026 and the families who built American hospitality
Diwali falls on Sunday, Nov. 8. For the Indian American families who own most U.S. hotels, it is the biggest night of the year. The history, the five days, and what it means for your property.
Read →
How last night’s election affects your hotel
Democrats won both chambers. Bonus depreciation and 199A are permanent law. Tariffs, a Dec. 11 shutdown deadline and labor are now in play.
Read →
Dozens of lawsuits in East Texas: what Motel 6’s trafficking cases mean for franchisees
Law.com reports 50 TVPRA suits filed in one week, naming the brand and the local franchisee LLC. These are allegations only, but your franchise agreement is part of the argument.
Read →
Two more Fed hikes, $117 oil: what it means for hotel debt
Dallas Fed’s Logan wants at least two more hikes, while the 10-year fell to 4.94%. Fixed-versus-floating math just changed.
Read →
47 U.S. hotel sales in October: median $164K a key
$934.3 million in disclosed volume. Prices ran from $13,900 to $813,000 a key, and six deals were distressed. Your comp depends on your asset class.
Read →No stories in this topic this week.
By the numbers
From this week’s stories Nov. 5, 2026
On the calendar
Diwali (main night Sunday, Nov. 8)Nationwide
BDNYJavits Center, New York
International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF)Berlin
Federal stopgap funding expiresWashington
ALISLos Angeles
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