Premium Assets, Wellness, and AI Drive Hospitality M&A

US hospitality and leisure deal activity slowed in 2026, with volume down 2.5%, but transactions concentrated in premium segments like luxury hotels, wellness resorts, and gaming platforms. Premium hotel segments now represent 73% of hotel transactions, the highest share in two years, driven by pricing power, repeat customers, and AI readiness.

Hospitality Trends reports that US hospitality and leisure deal activity slowed in 2026, with overall deal volume down approximately 2.5% over the past six months versus the prior period. The publication says transactions are concentrating in premium segments such as luxury hotels, wellness resorts, and gaming platforms; premium hotel segments - upscale, upper-upscale, and luxury hotels - now represent 73% of hotel transactions, the highest share in two years. Hospitality Trends reports luxury segments are projected to see a 5.4% rise in RevPAR in 2026. The report attributes rising valuations to pricing power, repeat customers, and properties' readiness for AI integration, and notes total deal value rose after two major casino transactions in late May and early June, with deal value up nearly fourfold even excluding those transactions.