Hospitality insider Rich Lillis says the hotel industry —especially in Tampa and other parts of the region — is mostly back to pre-pandemic levels.
Rich Lillis knows a thing or two about the hotel industry. He should. He started in the business working at local hotels, rose into management and then transitioned into financing.
Today, he is executive managing director for the U.S. hotel division of Colliers. He’s a frequent speaker on the hospitality industry and works with clients on hotel and resort investment, sales and financing in Florida as well as the East Coast and the Caribbean.
As a Floridian — he lives in Boca Raton — he has deep understanding of what is happening on the Gulf Coast.
Lillis is optimistic about how the industry is recovering after a disastrous 2020 when COVID-19 brought tourism to virtual standstill. He says investors are showing their positivity by snatching up properties along the coast and that hotel owners and operators are holding steady on higher rates to avoid the mistakes of previous downturns. And to keep revenue steady as costs go up.
Today, he is executive managing director for the U.S. hotel division of Colliers. He’s a frequent speaker on the hospitality industry and works with clients on hotel and resort investment, sales and financing in Florida as well as the East Coast and the Caribbean.
As a Floridian — he lives in Boca Raton — he has deep understanding of what is happening on the Gulf Coast.
Lillis is optimistic about how the industry is recovering after a disastrous 2020 when COVID-19 brought tourism to virtual standstill. He says investors are showing their positivity by snatching up properties along the coast and that hotel owners and operators are holding steady on higher rates to avoid the mistakes of previous downturns. And to keep revenue steady as costs go up.
