Bridge Insights The Bridge blog Updated Sep 21, 2026

Bridge Insights

Deal structures, lender behaviour and market reads from the desk that funds hotels and consumer brands.

All articles

Minibar and Loan Market Update from Bridge Industry Insights

Minibar and Loan Market Update from Bridge, September 2026

The Fed’s first hike since 2023, a new Bridge index showing hotel construction costs outrunning the market, RevPAR growth that is all rate, the October 1 SBA change, and a $29 million non-recourse close.

Sep 21, 202615 min read

Hotel financing 44 hotel floor plan drawings spread Hotel Financing

Construction Loan Draw Schedule: How Draws, Inspections and Retainage Work in 2026

A construction loan draw schedule sets milestone-based payments, inspections, and retainage so lenders fund in stages, not a lump sum.

Sep 17, 20267 min read

Hotel financing 13 framed hotel structure with steel Hotel Financing

How much does it cost to build a hotel in 2026: Current Ranges and Benchmarks

Building a hotel runs about $170K to $1.6M+ per key in 2026, per HVS medians by chain scale. See cost breakdowns and loan sizing math.

Sep 17, 20266 min read

Hotel financing 06 roadside motel with a long Hotel Financing

Motel loans: The 2026 Guide for Hotel Owners

Motel loans in 2026 run 9%-9.75% for SBA 7(a) and 8%-11% for bridge debt, sized by LTV, LTC, DSCR, and debt yield across six loan types.

Sep 17, 20267 min read

Illustrated retail aisle lined with made brands and shelf-ready signs Industry Insights

Net 30, August 2026: We launched a $500M fund

Bridge now lends its own balance sheet and can fund before the PO exists, why August wrecks CPG cash flow, and the math on funding inventory with equity.

Aug 6, 20266 min read

Hotel and office district from a rooftop at blue hour Hotel Financing New

Why Generalist Lenders Size Your Hotel Loan 18% Smaller

Hotel cash flow normalization recovers loan proceeds generalist lenders miss. See where 18% disappears and the four moves that put NOI back on the page.

Aug 4, 20268 min read

Consumer brands 27 sacks of whey powder and CPG Financing New

Whey, Cocoa, and Ingredient Cost Spikes: Inventory Financing for Protein Brands

Whey protein price swings and cocoa spikes threaten locked retail margins. A decision framework for when inventory financing to forward-buy beats a bigger PO facility.

Aug 4, 20269 min read

Hotel financing 02 full service hotel tower on Hotel Financing New

When Not to Use SBA: Five Hotel Deals Where Private Capital Wins

When does a non-SBA hotel loan beat SBA on cost, speed, or eligibility? See the 5 hotel deal types where private capital wins, plus a worked $480K example.

Aug 4, 20266 min read

Hotel financing 03 extended stay hotel with a Hotel Financing New

When a Hotel Bridge Loan Saves the Deal (and 5 Active Lenders)

Learn when a hotel bridge loan saves a deal, when it backfires, how bridge-to-permanent financing works, and the five hospitality bridge lenders active in 2026.

Aug 4, 202611 min read

163 retail inventory bin replenishment pexels CPG Financing New

What is inventory financing? How it works, rates and types

What is inventory financing, how it works, rates, and the main types, explained with advance rate ranges and a comparison table for product businesses.

Aug 4, 20267 min read

047 retail supermarket aisle shopper pexels CPG Financing

Walmart’s Modern Soda Reset Explained (and How to Fund Your Slot)

Walmart Modern Soda set explained for emerging brands: what the reset is, its 4,300-store footprint, how brands get in, and how to fund a chainwide launch.

Aug 4, 20266 min read

Warehouse club steel racking rising above the sales floor Industry Insights

What Is Asset-Based Lending? Inventory as Collateral

Asset-based lending explained: how the borrowing base and advance rates turn your receivables and inventory into a flexible, growing business credit line.

Aug 4, 20268 min read

Insights in your inbox.

One email a month on hotel and consumer brand financing. No filler, unsubscribe any time.

Which financing do you follow?