Article Originally Published in HotelBusiness.com
Hotel owners are facing one of the most demanding operating environments in decades. Interest rates remain high, property valuations are resetting and the costs of running a hotel—particularly energy—continue to rise. Meanwhile, guests have elevated expectations, lenders are more selective and the pressure to maintain profitability in an uncertain market has never been more significant.
In this climate, hotel owners can no longer afford to delay strategic upgrades that make their properties more efficient, resilient and competitive. Sustainable innovation is no longer nice to have; it’s quickly becoming essential for long-term success. Fortunately, hotel owners now have a powerful tool to help them implement these upgrades without draining their reserves or disrupting cash flow: CPACE financing.
Energy is among the most volatile and burdensome line items in a hotel’s operating budget. The rising cost of utilities—from climate control to lighting to laundry—cuts directly into margins. According to recent projections, U.S. natural gas prices alone are expected to increase by nearly 50% in the coming year. These rising costs can add up fast for hotels, especially older properties.
However, energy costs are also one of the most addressable threats. Owners who invest in energy-efficient systems, solar panels, HVAC upgrades or water conservation measures can significantly reduce operating expenses. More importantly, they gain more control over those expenses, becoming less reliant on grid pricing and utility volatility.
This is where CPACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing comes into play. CPACE enables hotel owners to access long-term fixed-rate financing for eligible improvements like energy efficiency, renewable energy and resiliency upgrades. Unlike traditional loans, CPACE is repaid through a special property tax assessment over a period that can extend up to 30 years. That means no upfront capital outlay, non-recourse financing and the potential to pass along costs to future owners if the asset is sold.
By using CPACE, hotel owners can make the upgrades they need today without disrupting operations or tying up cash reserves.
These improvements do more than reduce costs. Properties that are upgraded with efficiency and resiliency in mind tend to command stronger interest from guests, brand partners and investors. As consumers become more conscious of sustainability and more sensitive to comfort and reliability, hotels that can market lower carbon footprints, modernized systems and energy independence stand out in a crowded market.
There’s also growing evidence that sustainability enhances asset value. Properties that have made these upgrades are often better positioned for refinancing or disposition. Buyers are looking closely at operating expenses and capital needs. A hotel with a new roof, efficient systems and solar capabilities is far more attractive than one that faces deferred maintenance and high utility bills.
Sustainable innovation also offers protection against increasingly frequent and severe weather events. Hurricanes, heatwaves, floods and freezes can cause major disruption. Hotels that integrate battery storage, microgrids and storm-resistant features can maintain operations, reduce damage and serve as safe havens in times of crisis. That kind of resilience doesn’t just protect the bottom line—it enhances a hotel’s reputation and guest loyalty.
Hotel owners don’t have to tackle everything at once. The key is starting with the most impactful and cost-effective improvements. CPACE makes that possible. It’s an accessible scalable financing solution that aligns with the long-term nature of hotel ownership and investment.
In a tightening market where margins are under pressure and capital is harder to come by, CPACE offers hotel owners a path forward. It provides a way to modernize properties, cut expenses, increase competitiveness and build resilience—all without adding traditional debt to the balance sheet.
Today’s environment demands more from hotel owners. With sustainable innovation and the strategic use of CPACE financing, those demands can become an opportunity—not just to survive but to grow stronger and more competitive in the years ahead.
Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is a direct balance sheet lender focused on funding first mortgage bridge loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity investments, and commercial property assessed clean energy (CPACE) financing. Jared Schlosser is responsible for Peachtree's hotel originations platform and its CPACE program.
Hotel Investment Today | Phoenix — Operators, brands, lenders talk about strategy, market conditions at the start of 4Q25.
Despite the myriad challenges facing owners, operators and developers in attendance at last week’s Lodging Conference, they are recently battled tested from the pandemic and big picture feel pretty good about the future of the hotel business.
Development is ongoing, management is resolute and there is hope for a rebound from negative RevPAR trends looking past the first quarter of 2026.
Hotel Investment Today held multiple interviews during the conference and here is a roundup of some of those newsworthy meetings:
Jared Schlosser, head of originations and C-PACE, Peachtree Group. With banks making a fundamental shift away from direct hotel real estate loans, according to Schlosser, this diversified commercial real estate investment firm, has completed more than $2 billion in private credit transactions through September 2025 across 77 deals, marking a record year.
Schlosser said the firm is on pace to approach $2.5 billion for the full year, a notable increase from 2024 that underscores the expanding role of private credit in commercial real estate as traditional lenders remain cautious in a market shaped by tighter liquidity and ongoing volatility.
ATLANTA (Oct. 13, 2025) – Peachtree Group (“Peachtree”), a diversified commercial real estate investment firm, has completed more than $2.0 billion in private credit transactions through September 2025 across 77 deals, marking a record year already. The firm is on pace to approach $2.5 billion for the full year, a notable increase from 2024 that underscores the expanding role of private credit in commercial real estate as traditional lenders remain cautious in a market shaped by tighter liquidity and ongoing volatility.
“Our ability to consistently execute at a high level is a direct function of the ecosystem we’ve built over the last 18 years,” said Greg Friedman, Peachtree’s managing principal and CEO. “Our vertically integrated credit platform that spans origination, underwriting, servicing and asset management enables us to be proactive where many are reactive, delivering certainty and stronger out comes for our borrowers and investors.”
Banks, which traditionally account for half of commercial real estate lending, have tightened credit standards or pulled back entirely. That shift has opened new opportunities for private credit lenders like Peachtree to offer flexible financing for acquisitions, construction, refinancings and recapitalizations.
“We are seeing strong demand from institutional-quality borrowers looking for certainty of execution in a disrupted lending market,” said Michael Harper, Peachtree’s president, hotel lending. “This year’s growth underscores our ability to deliver creative capital solutions across asset classes, including hotels, multifamily, industrial, office and land.”
Peachtree has originated approximately $1.1 billion in hotel loans this year, selectively leaning into multifamily, office and industrial, where dislocation or supply constraints are creating compelling opportunities for well-structured credit investments.
Notable transactions completed included:
· $68.2 million first mortgage loan for the AC hotel in Seattle, Wash.
· $59.0 million first mortgage loan for the AC/Element Riverwalk hotel in San Antonio, Texas
Private credit activity is expected to remain strong, driven by a wave of debt maturities, continued tighter bank lending and the need for refinancing or recapitalization of projects nearing stabilization.
“With nearly $3 trillion in U.S. commercial real estate debt maturing by 2028, private credit lenders are positioned to step into a market hungry for capital,” said Jared Schlosser, head of originations and CPACE at Peachtree. “Our ability to provide flexible capital at scale, even in complex situations, positions us as a trusted partner for borrowers navigating today’s market.”
In 2024, Peachtree deployed $1.6 billion in credit transactions, representing a 54% increase from the prior year, and making the firm one of the largest investor-driven commercial real estate lenders in the United States, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Peachtree offers a full range of financing options, including permanent loans, bridge loans, mezzanine financing, CPACE, preferred equity and triple net lease financing, providing tailored solutions across the capital stack.
“As we continue to scale our lending platform, we remain focused on serving borrowers with creativity, certainty and speed, which have long defined Peachtree’s approach to private credit,” Schlosser said.
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Atlanta Business Chronicle - Last month, Atlanta-based real estate investment firm Peachtree Group closed its largest-ever credit deal — a $176.5 million clean energy loan for a massive renovation aimed at restoring the glory of a Las Vegas hotel and casino.
In July, the firm demonstrated the breadth of its business with a $42 million loan to finance Banyan Street Capital’s purchase of Atlanta Financial Center, a Buckhead office property being considered for partial redevelopment.
The transaction is the latest in a series helping drive Peachtree toward another record year, even as commercial real estate faces ongoing volatility in debt markets — conditions that reward private lenders able to move quickly.
“Peachtree Group’s success comes from our team’s willingness to be creative, gritty and decisive in a volatile market,” Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO of Peachtree Group, told Atlanta Business Chronicle. “We aren’t afraid to lean in and make quick calls when others hesitate.”
He adds that such an approach doesn’t mean recklessness.
“Our discipline in the process gives us the conviction to act with confidence,” he said. “That balance has been the linchpin to our success, turning disruption into opportunity and allowing us to keep building an investment platform that delivers value through every cycle.”
Founded in 2007, Peachtree employs more than 3,000 people nationwide and is a regular on the Inc. 5000. It is widely recognized as a top player in hospitality and commercial real estate.
...“We are well on our way to another record year of originations,” Friedman wrote.
