Within the NYC hotel market, the first quarter of 2011 has been filled with endless activity and countless transactions. Indeed, New York City ranked as the top global city for foreign real estate investment for 2011. New York had made third place in the rankings during 2010.

? The New Year started out on a promising note with the purchase of the Doubletree Metropolitan by U.S. billionaire Robert L. Johnson. RJ Development, controlled by Johnson, founder of the Black Entertainment Television network, paid $335 million for this Midtown hotel with its splendid architecture. Since 2008, Johnson’s company has bought three Manhattan hotels. Johnson purchased the Hilton Garden Inn at 63 W. 35^th St. and the Fashion 26 Hotel at 152 W. 26th St. for more than $100 million each. RLJ Development President, Thomas J. Baltimore Jr., explained that the purchases fit the company’s investment plan to buy high-caliber real estate.

? The Maryland-based DiamondRock Hospitality Company has been delving big-time into NYC developments during the first months of 2011. In January, industry reports confirmed that the company was planning to purchase a hotel property under development on West 42nd Street in Times Square. Depending on the number of guest rooms (probable 250 to 300 guest rooms, $450,000 each), the contractual price was to range between $112.5 million and $135 million. In addition, on March 14, DiamondRock Hospitality Group announced that it had the right of first refusal to buy the adjacent Knickerbocker Hotel.

? The estate of Leona Helmsley sold the New York Helmsley to Host Hotels and Resorts Inc. for $313.5 million. The buyer is a S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company, the largest lodging real estate investment trust, and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper upscale hotels. Host Hotels and Resorts owns 104 properties (62,000 rooms) in the US and nine international assets. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. will take over the management of this Midtown Manhattan hotel. Host Hotels allocated $50 million for renovations. This luxury hotel, however, is still a good deal considering its prime location and popularity with guests.

? Barry Sternlicht's Starwood Capital bought 1414 Ave. of Americas for $72 million and planned to turn it to a hotel (its original purpose). Earlier, Ian Schrager and Norman Sturner of Murray Hill Properties wanted to create a hotel at the site on the southeast of W. 58th Street by Central Park. In November 2007, Murray Hill bought the building for $120.5 million. The firm took a loan of $65 million that was transferred to RCG Longview, local mortgage investors, in July 2010. The deed for 1414 Ave. of Americas was signed by an executive from RCG Longview which also took back a $36 million mortgage on the property. Schrager was not involved in this recent project.

? In a deal that closed in mid-February, Michael Steinhardt and his investment partner, Allan Fried, purchased two former American Stock Exchange buildings for $65 million. The investors paid cash for the properties. Fried said, however, that they might look for financing at a later date. The partners plan a retail complex, 174-room boutique hotel, and 60-storey residential tower. Construction is expected to start within a year and the project will take two years for completion. The investor pair did not divulge the expected cost of construction.

? In March, Starwood Capital and Tribeca Associates agreed to purchase the site of the former Donnell Library on West 53rd Street. The buyers plan to build a $400 million hotel/condominium/library at the location. Originally, Orient-Express Hotels had agreed to buy the site from the New York Public Library for $59 million. Paul White, president and CEO of Bermuda-based Orient-Express, has confirmed that the economic climate at the time interfered with that venture. In 2011, however, Starwood Capital’s willingness to take on this conversion is evidence of the firm’s confidence in the future of NYC hotels.

? Boutique hotel owner and operator Morgans Hotel Group Co. have agreed to sell Its NYC Morgans and Royalton hotels to Felcor Lodging Trust (a lodging real estate investment trust). Earlier this week, Felcor announced that it will offer 24 million shares to fund a pending acquisition expected to close during the second quarter. In a U.S. Securities and Exchange filing, the company confirmed their agreement to purchase in the range of 300 upscale hotel rooms in Manhattan for almost $140 million. At the end of last year, the Royalton and Morgans Hotels provided 282 guest rooms. Morgans, one of the original boutique hotel companies, has a heavy debt load and plans to sell a portion of its real estate. The firm will continue to manage both hotels. In the past, larger firms such as Marriott International Inc. and Starwood Hotels & Resorts have followed a similar business model. On March 31, Morgans shares were almost flat at $9.85 on Nasdaq but Felcor shares were up 1% at $6.12 on the New York Stock Exchange.

With an occupancy rate as high as 88.4%, the NYC hotel market reflects a hot industry. New York City room and vacancy rates are highest in the country. STR Global, a company tracking supply and demand data for the hotel industry, reported that New York had the highest hotel occupancy rate among the top 25 U.S. markets as of March 2010. The Big Apple has been the top tourist destination in the US for the past two years. Forty-eight million tourists visited the city in 2010.

The NYC hospitality industry is thriving in this recovering economy. Statistics suggest higher occupancies during the coming year. According to STR, the NYC hotels were bouncing back from the recession at the end of last year.

Year-end revenue came in at 18% more than the previous year. Despite the fact that the early months of the year are often synonymous with a weak market, January and February 2011 showed a rise in all areas. January occupancy (average daily rate) and (revenue per available room) increased as much as 13.4% over January 2010.

During the first month of 2011, the average daily hotel room rate was $217 - a 6.3% rise from January 2010. Hotel occupancy was 66.0% in the first month of 2011. The biggest rise in the average daily hotel room rate was in higher-priced hotels charging more than $325 per night.

The present ADR is $276.07 in New York City. The cost of a room for the night has increased more in New York than anywhere else in the country. During March 2010, the revenue per available room increased 19.1% from the end of 2009 to an average $178.60 per night. The rate rose another 8.2% (biggest increase in the US) as of last December.

There is no shortage of supply in the New York City hotel market. At least 33 new NYC hotels will open in 2011. More than half of these ventures are independents, The new properties have tremendous potential with the stabilizing market in the Big Apple. The real winners will outshine the competition. Numerous independent hotels have opened since the beginning of 2011.

Mondrian SoHo - One example of an independent property is the unique Mondrian SoHo owned by Morgans Hotel Group Company. This luxurious 270-room hotel opened on March 1 and is off to a profitable start with strong demand and a high occupancy rate. The Mondrian Soho caters to a fashionable clientele.

Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC - Each independent hotel must carve out its own niche in the NYC hotel scene. The 249-room Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC (owned by the Gansevoort Hotel Group), another upscale independent hotel, opened officially in February 2011. This “ultimate urban resort” enjoyed high occupancy following its initial opening in September 2010. This luxury hotel is expected to experience continued success because of its intense focus on providing optimal luxury.

The New York City hospitality industry can accommodate varied hotel types including luxury, boutique, and economy brands. Every hotel category can be successful in this thriving metropolis. NYC hotel guests have a variety of needs (corporate and leisure) as well as different budgets.

Business travelers and vacationing guests will require distinct types of hotels. Obviously, specific hotel brands might do better during certain periods such as peak tourist season. Yet NYC hotels are known as consistent high performers.

Nolitan Hotel – The NYC hotels under construction hope to share in the profitability of the dynamic market in the Big Apple. The 10-storey Nolitan Hotel, the first hotel located in the Nolita (north of Little Italy) neighborhood, plans to entice people to the dining and shopping possibilities in this distinct area of New York City. Patrik Horstmann, GM of the 55-room Nolitan Hotel is focused on creating an exceptional, customer-friendly establishment. Unique hotels in New York City have an outstanding chance of benefiting from the current market.

32 Pearl St. – A new 80-room Hampton Inn is coming to Lower Manhattan (the second Gene Kaufman-designed Hampton in the area). Prestigious hotelier, Sam Chang, plans the development in an Art Deco residential building that he owns already in the neighborhood. Recently, Chang secured a development loan from Philadelphia-based Hersha Hospitality Trust to proceed with construction. When the establishment opens in late 2011, Hersha Hospitality Management will operate the hotel. Hersha Hospitality Trust owns the Hampton Inn at the South Street Seaport as well as the Holiday Inn on Maiden Lane.

In April 2011, TRYP, part of the Sol Melia group with a huge presence among European business travelers, is opening a 173-room property (345 W 35th St.) near Times Square in Lower Manhattan. NH-Hotels, based in Spain and well-known in Europe and Latin America, has additional property in New York. International investors favor the Big Apple for the same reasons as local investors. At a 2011 ALIS (American Lodging Investment Summit) panel, international hotel operators explained that New York City is the place to make a global statement. Demand is the key word that describes the NYC hotel market.