Actually, investing in hotel stocks is quite interesting—especially since last year, it’s clear that the hotel business is recovering significantly.

When it comes to hotel stocks in Thailand, there are several you should keep an eye on. For example, MINT, which operates hotels and food businesses worldwide. What’s good about this company is that it has a wide range of brands, from luxury to mid-range. Last year’s performance was very strong: net profit rose by more than 43% year over year.

Then there’s AWC, which has a hotel portfolio in prime locations across Thailand. It’s a good fit for MICE travelers, and it also has real estate project development related to the hotel business.

CENTEL is also worth watching. This company has a diverse range of hotel brands and is located in major tourist destinations. This year, it plans to open 9 new hotels, both in Thailand and abroad.

ERW and SHR are also interesting in their own ways. ERW has a network of hotels spread across the country and benefits from domestic tourism. SHR focuses on high-end and luxury customers.

When talking about foreign hotel stocks, a standout is Marriott International (MAR), which is the largest hotel group in the world. It has prominent brands such as Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and Sheraton, and it continuously invests in technology and service experiences.

There’s also Hilton (HLT), which has a wide global hotel network. It’s well-managed and scores highly for customer satisfaction. Wyndham (WH) focuses on budget and mid-range hotels—an area with a sufficiently large number of players.

When choosing to buy hotel stocks, you need to look at many factors. The first is financial performance—check trends in revenue and profit growth, as well as gross and net profit margins. Also review the debt-to-equity ratio to assess financial strength.

Another equally important factor is operational indicators, such as the occupancy rate—the higher, the better—along with the average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR). These metrics indicate how well the hotel is being managed.

You also need to consider external factors. Track tourism trends both domestically and internationally, and analyze the impact of changes in the economy, politics, or other situations. The hotel’s location is also very important. Tourist attractions that are popular and easy to access help the business perform better.

Hotel branding matters, too. Hotels with strong brands often have a competitive advantage. Companies with a variety of hotel types and properties in multiple locations generally face less risk. The ability to adapt to changing circumstances also affects long-term success.

For trading hotel stocks, Thai investors have several options. The first is to trade through the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). Open an account with a securities company and you can place buy and sell orders directly. The advantages are convenience and speed—no need to worry about exchange rates, and the costs are lower. The downside is that the range of available stocks is limited.

The second option is to buy units in a mutual fund that focuses on investing in hotel stocks. The advantage is that it has a team of experts to manage it, reducing risk and diversifying investment across multiple stocks. It’s suitable for people who don’t have time to follow the market. The downside is higher fees, and you cannot control the portfolio directly.

Another option is to use a broker service that provides trading in hotel-related stocks or ETFs. This offers flexibility in opening and closing positions, and you can profit from price decreases or increases. However, the risks are higher, so you need to be careful about fees and the use of leverage.

Overall, this year appears to be a good year for hotel stocks both in Thailand and abroad, because tourism is recovering. The government has policies to promote tourism, and international travelers are returning. But remember that investing involves risk. Global economic conditions, politics, or unforeseen events can all have an impact. You should follow news updates from reliable sources and monitor each company’s performance regularly.