Recorded live at the 2026 Hunter Conference in Atlanta, this special episode of The Modern Hotelier: Hospitality’s Most Engaged Podcast brings together key voices from the Hunter team to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes in today’s hotel investment market.

In this episode, Host David Millili sits down with Mayank Patel, Sophia Pittaluga, and Kami Burnette to discuss the forces shaping hotel deals right now—from economic uncertainty and rising operating costs to shifting buyer expectations and the growing demand for luxury and lifestyle properties.

The conversation explores the biggest disconnects between buyers and sellers, how macroeconomic factors and local market dynamics are influencing investment decisions, and why financing and renovation costs are playing a critical role in today’s negotiations. The group also looks ahead to what the hotel investment landscape could look like by the next Hunter Conference, including the potential impact of AI on underwriting, asset management, and deal-making.

Plus, they share why the Hunter Conference remains one of the industry’s most important events—bringing together everyone from regional developers to Wall Street investors to spark conversations and close deals.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What hotel owners and investors may be overlooking in the current market
• The biggest buyer vs. seller disconnects affecting transactions today
• Why financing and renovation costs are shaping deal negotiations
• How AI could transform hotel investment and operations
• Why lifestyle and luxury properties are attracting more attention from investors

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2q_byG5bf60

Links:
Mayank Patel

SVP, Hunter Hotel Advisors

Mayank on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayank-patel-2b15206/?skipRedirect=true

Sophia Pittaluga

SVP, Hunter Hotel Advisors

Sophia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiapittaluga/?skipRedirect=true

Kami Burnette

SVP, Hunter Hotel Advisors

Kami on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamiburnette/?skipRedirect=true

Hunter Advisors: https://hunteradvisors.co/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/260

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Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.