Marriott lifts 2025 profit forecast on strong luxury hotel demand

(Reuters) -Hotel operator Marriott International raised its full-year 2025 profit forecast and beat third-quarter estimates on Tuesday as resilient demand for luxury accommodation countered soft sales in its budget and select-service hotels. Sales in Marriott's upscale segments, which include brands such as Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis, cater to economically resilient customers, cushioning the impact of slowing demand in its budget and select-service offerings. Room revenue in its U.S. and Canada luxury business rose 3.5% in the reported quarter. Weaker performance at select-service hotels was largely driven by reduced government spending, the company said. In the past year, Marriott has flagged hits from a fall in the nights booked by U.S. government agencies, as President Donald Trump's funding cuts triggered staff layoffs and tighter travel budgets. Government spending accounted for about 4% of Marriott's U.S. and Canada room nights in 2024. Rival Hilton said last month it was "somewhat" impacted by the U.S. government shutdown, which has stretched into its sixth week amid a deadlock in Washington. Hilton, however, cut its 2025 room revenue growth forecast, adding that the closure was reflected in the outlook. Demand for budget and mid-scale lodgings in the United States has also taken a hit as cost-conscious households pull back on travel spending, worried that a shifting tariff policy, coupled with inflation, would push up goods prices. Marriott now expects 2025 adjusted profit per share of $9.98 to $10.06, the midpoint of which is higher than its earlier forecast of $9.85 to $10.08 per share. The Bethesda, Maryland-based company reported adjusted profit of $2.47 per share during the third quarter, compared with Wall Street estimates of $2.39 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG. Total revenue came in at $6.49 billion, higher than the expectation of $6.46 billion. (Reporting by Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)

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