Despite further slowdown in London, its major market, the strength and diversity of PPHE Hotel Group Ltd (LON:PPH)’s portfolio has ensured a ‘solid’ Q118 and confidence that 2018 expectations can be met. Although Q1 regional performance is not disclosed, overall 1% RevPAR gain may reflect a marginal dip in the capital, as was the case for the market, which is creditable given a demanding comparative.
Growth in Croatia and Germany was encouraging, if offset by renovation in the Netherlands. Current projects are well in hand, while management looks to exploit flexibility after Waterloo’s sale and leaseback and Arena’s fund-raising. PPHE’s rating underestimates its excess liquidity (£200m+ cash post-Hoxton purchase) and asset backing (fair value c £20/share).
Despite headwinds, Q118 RevPAR was still slightly ahead of a strong Q117. London looks to have braved an above-trend supply of new rooms and pressures on UK household spending and real income growth to deliver yield performance close to that of the market (-1% per STR).
A willingness to cut room rates confirms management alertness to currency-led curbs on the spending power of visitors (per IPS, visits to UK -7% in Q417 vs +10% in Q117). Conditions remain challenging in 2018; GL, London’s largest hotel owner/operator, is newly maintaining ‘a cautious outlook’, in line with our own forecast of flat RevPAR for PPHE.
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