Sowell Financial Services LLC expanded its investment in Braemar Hotels & Resorts by 12.8% during the second quarter, bringing its total shares to 71,171. This move reflects a $174,000 stake in the NYSE-listed hospitality firm.

Across Metro Manila, international hotel brands are multiplying at a striking pace, driven by new infrastructure and local demand. Yet this expansion comes at a time when foreign tourist arrivals are on the decline, underscoring a paradox in the Philippine hospitality sector.