Since completing our recent assignment in the Las Vegas market, the pace and scale of investment across the region have continued to accelerate. Major sports facilities, entertainment districts, cultural institutions, and transportation infrastructure projects are advancing, reinforcing Las Vegas’s position as one of the world’s premier destinations for tourism, conventions, and live entertainment. Las Vegas

H&LA’s David Sangree and Anthony DiPonio were among the more than 2,200 hospitality professionals, investors, developers, and brand executives who descended on New York City for the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum — and here are their top five takeaways. Hotel Performance Is Stronger Than Previous Projections Despite early signs of weakening performance coupled with

Two of Ohio’s leading zoos are moving forward with plans for on-site hotel development. Hotel & Leisure Advisors is working on behalf of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, seeking qualified developers for a minimum 130-room upper-upscale hotel adjacent to the entrances of the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay Waterpark in Powell, Ohio. The proposed hotel

Hotel & Leisure Advisors was recently featured in a CoStar News article exploring the complex world of water park development. President David Sangree shared his expertise on why so many announced projects never break ground — and what it takes to make one succeed. Published by: CoStar News/Kristian Gravenor Published date: May 2026 After years

Dollywood continues to set the pace for regional tourism investment. The park celebrated its 40th anniversary season in 2025 with the debut of The Dolly Parton Experience, the new Wilderness Pass Restaurant, and a 750-space parking expansion. Looking ahead, Dollywood plans to open the $50 million NightFlight Expedition in 2026—an indoor coaster and raft ride

H&LA was proud to provide the feasibility study that helped lay the groundwork for one of the most transformative downtown development projects in Akron’s recent history. Our client, Quaker Square Redevelopment Group, is now moving toward a groundbreaking on their $75 million vision to reimagine the iconic Quaker Square complex. Published by: Crain’s Cleveland Business/Dan

What does it mean when a theme park is suddenly “worth” half a billion dollars less than it was yesterday? For Six Flags, the answer lies in a single accounting term — goodwill — and a formal test that forced the company to reconcile big merger dreams with real-world results. Published by: Los Angeles Daily

On behalf of the Columbus Zoo located in Powell, Ohio (Delaware County), Hotel & Leisure Advisors invites qualified developers to submit initial interest and qualifications for the development of a signature, minimum 130-room, upper-upscale hotel as part of the Zoo’s long-term growth initiative. The proposed hotel (the “Project”) will be located adjacent to the entrances

Since completing our recent assignment in the Cincinnati market, several major public- and private-sector initiatives have advanced, reflecting continued investment in the city’s convention, sports, residential, and entertainment infrastructure. Together, these projects underscore downtown Cincinnati’s ongoing evolution as a more competitive and vibrant urban destination. Cincinnati is making a major reinvestment in its convention and

The Hospitality Business Real Estate Advisory Council will host its upcoming meeting in April at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, convening industry leaders and academic partners to discuss key trends shaping hospitality real estate. David Sangree and Anthony DiPonio will represent H&LA at the event, contributing to discussions focused on development strategy, market positioning,

Since completing our recent assignment in Buckeye, Arizona, the pace of development across Buckeye and the greater Phoenix metro has continued to accelerate. A series of large-scale retail, residential, entertainment, and resort projects are now underway or advancing through planning, reinforcing the area’s rapid growth and long-term market potential. Buckeye’s retail landscape is expanding at

We’re excited to see OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark recognized on TIME’s prestigious World’s Greatest Places of 2026 list—an honor that highlights destinations redefining travel and entertainment around the globe. This recognition not only celebrates OKANA Resort itself but also shines a spotlight on the waterpark industry as a whole, highlighting the creativity and impact

It’s great to see the continued progress of our client Bayou Phoenix, toward redeveloping the former Six Flags site in New Orleans East. The vision for this 200+ acre property includes sports facilities, hospitality, entertainment, and family attractions that will help transform a long-vacant site into a vibrant regional destination. We’re proud to see this

Recently, Travel + Leisure released its list of the 15 Best Indoor Water Parks in America. It’s always exciting to see the indoor waterpark sector receive national recognition, and it’s even more meaningful when many of the featured destinations are projects that H&LA has consulted on. Over the years, H&LA has provided feasibility studies, market

Stephen Szczygiel, CHIA attended the 2026 Creating Epic Destinations Conference held in Grand Prairie, Texas, where municipalities considering or actively advancing indoor waterpark developments gathered alongside operators and industry experts. One of the event’s key takeaways was that today’s most successful waterpark facilities operate as community anchors and event-driven destinations, not just simply water attractions.