ALIS 2026 Recap: Mamba Mentality Meets Market Reality
Despite weather-impacted attendance, ALIS 2026 delivered focused, high-caliber conversations reflecting a market increasingly centered on execution. The Paramount Lodging Advisors team attended the conference, with Sanjeev Misra, Co-Founder and Managing Broker; Dan Beider, Co-Founder and Managing Broker; Kristin Martin, Senior Managing Director; Subu Thiagarajan, Managing Director; and Raheel Moolji, Managing Director engaging with owners, operators, and capital partners on the forces shaping lodging investment decisions in 2026 and beyond.
Standing outside the conference venue, the Kobe Bryant statue served as an unintentional yet fitting thematic anchor for the week. In today’s lodging cycle, success is defined less by optimism and more by precision. Across meetings and panels, one message consistently emerged: this is a market that rewards preparation, discipline, and execution.
As Raheel Moolji, Managing Director at Paramount Lodging Advisors, noted during the conference:
“In this environment, a Mamba Mentality matters more than ever. Preparation, discipline, and execution are what separate successful outcomes from missed opportunities.”
Key Market Observations from ALIS 2026
Discussions throughout ALIS highlighted a bifurcated capital environment, characterized by the following dynamics:
Capital remains available, but is governed by increasingly rigid underwriting parameters
Buyers are prioritizing durable in-place cash flow and remaining highly selective on value-add opportunities
Asset owners are navigating margin compression driven by flat revenue growth and rising operating expenses
In addition, elevated borrowing costs are reshaping transaction activity. Looking ahead, 2026 transaction volume is expected to be increasingly driven by technical catalysts, including:
Maturing debt
Mandated PIPs
Required capital reinvestment and balance-sheet rationalization
These forces are prompting owners to reassess capital strategies and timing with greater urgency.
Paramount Lodging Advisors’ Perspective
In this environment, Paramount Lodging Advisors continues to emphasize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each asset and ownership structure requires a customized strategy informed by data, market context, and long-term objectives.
Our advisory approach is grounded in:
Comparative benchmarking across relevant peer sets
Forward-looking performance and cash flow analysis
Bespoke capital planning aligned with client-specific goals
The conversations at ALIS reinforced the importance of disciplined underwriting, proactive planning, and experienced execution as the lodging sector enters a more complex phase of the cycle.
Continuing the Conversation
ALIS 2026 underscored the value of in-person dialogue and the importance of staying connected as market conditions continue to evolve. For the professionals we met during the conference, and for those continuing conversations beyond it, Paramount Lodging Advisors remains a trusted resource for strategic insight, transaction execution, and capital advisory.
To learn more about Paramount Lodging Advisors, explore recent transactions, or work with our team, visit: www.paramountlodging.com
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