Alternative Uses for Hotels – An International Perspective on Emergency Housing (Part 1)

Hotels have always been used for non-traditional stays. Converting hotels leverages existing infrastructure and minimizes cost and time required for construction or setup of emergency housing of all types. In recent years, this usage is more prevalent to the general public due to the recent global pandemic and housing of essential workers, the infirm and recovering, as well as the recent need to support migrants, the unhoused and refugees. Listen as Herrick partner and co-chair of the Real Estate Hospitality group, Yariv Ben-Ari, discusses the practical considerations for these hotel owners and operators with Yaron Ashkenazi, CEO of Caliber Hospitality Trust, and Jonathan Falik, CEO at JF Capital Advisors. In Part 1 of this two-part series, they discuss why owners consider this usage in the first place, community impact and the challenges and opportunities that come from alternative use.