Why Smart Investors Are Moving While
Others Stall
By Mike "Woody"
Woodward, Chief Growth Officer & EVP, HVMG
There's no shortage of headlines about "uncertainty" in the
hospitality industry. Interest rates, tariffs, weather—you name it. If there's
something to worry about, someone will. But if I've learned anything from the
last few years, it's that the hotel industry is resilient. We're scrappy. We're
smart. And we're always going to find a way.
Good deals don't wait for perfect conditions.
Right now, a lot of owners and investors are sitting on the
sidelines, waiting for screaming deals that don't exist and for interest rates
that aren't coming back. And meanwhile, their dry powder just keeps piling up.
Eventually, they'll get itchy. And when they do, they'll start chasing the same
deals with more aggression and more risk. The smart money? It's buying now.
If you're a buyer with a clear investment thesis, now is a
good time to stay active. While uncertainty may make it tempting to hold out
for a perfect deal, the reality is that hospitality always carries some level
of risk, and opportunities don't last forever. The deals that align with your
strategy today may be the ones that deliver strong returns in three to five
years. Perfection is rare, but well-matched investments are out there.
At HVMG, we're helping our partners find those
opportunities. And we're doing it the way we always have: by going deep, not
wide.
We're not out here trying to talk to 1,000 people. We're
not playing the volume game. We spend our time with the groups we know we
can add value to. That's how we uncover the deals that nobody saw coming—the
ones where an owner we thought would pass says, "That's the perfect asset for
us." You only get that kind of insight when you actually listen.
Relationships are everything. If you truly understand
someone's strategy, you can help them grow it. That's where we shine.
We don't want to be everything to everyone, and we don't
need to be. We're intentional about who we work with. We're in this to be
valuable, not just visible.
That's why we don't just surface deals for our partners. We
work in lockstep with them through the due diligence process to not just find
value in the deal but also to uncover potential roadblocks and hiccups. We
don't paper over red flags; fees aren't worth putting a relationship at risk.
So yes, there's uncertainty out there. But there's also
clarity if you're willing to look for it. Be bold. Get specific. Build the
right relationships. And don't wait for the stars to align. Move when the deal
fits.
And if you're still waiting for interest rates to hit zero
again? Good luck, my friend. That ship has sailed.
