[LOS ANGELES]

HOTEL owners and operators are catching the attention of US shareholder activists as surging property values spur investors to press for higher returns at companies seen as laggards.

Strategic Hotels & Resorts, owner of Manhattan's JW Marriott Essex House, is under pressure from Orange Capital to consider a sale. Morgans Hotel Group, an operator of boutique properties, is being targeted by both billionaire Ron Burkle and an activist firm after a shareholder ouster of its board. Chatham Lodging Trust last month rejected a takeover bid from a top investor that is considering more moves.