India Hotels Projected to See 23% Growth Over Pre-Pandemic Levels

STR reported China hotel RevPAR for the week ended 11/19. RevPAR was up 9.8% year over year in China while down -37.6% versus the same week in 2019. Absolute occupancy was 53.3% for the week, up from 46.6% during the comp week last year.

CapitaLand’s Ascott Limited unveiled its refreshed Somerset brand. This is the second largest brand in Ascott’s Global Portfolio. Some of Somerset’s brand signatures include their signature scent, lobby wall features, associates known as Guardians, their Signature Themed Suites, Eco Play Area and Gym and being part of the green travel movement with the Somerset Sustainability Passport Programme. The Signature Themed Suites include Family Suites, Jungle-themed suites, Forest-themed suites, Tatami-themed suites, Arcade-themed suites and Pet-friendly themed suites. The Somerset brand refresh is part of Ascott’s Brand360 strategy, a groupwide exercise to strengthen its expanded brand portfolio through sharpened brand stories and the introduction of signature experiences and programs unique to each brand. The Citadines brand refresh was introduced in September 2022.

Crisil Ratings said the Indian hotel industry is likely to witness 23% growth in revenue this fiscal over the pre-pandemic level, driven by a strong recovery in business travel and continued traction in leisure travel. Higher average room rates and occupancy will help the industry log a strong improvement in profitability to around 34% this fiscal compared to 24% in the pre-pandemic period. Revenue is expected to increase 23% over the pre-pandemic level as business travel has picked up since the much milder Omicron wave in January 2022, fueling demand in the MICE segment. Crisil believes improvement in international business travel in the second half of this fiscal will strengthen the industry’s performance. They expect occupancy to rise to 73% this fiscal while ARR will increase 8-10 percent. The gap between demand and supply will aid the improvement in ARR.

Le Meridien Hong Kong, Cyberport announced its reopening following and extensive renovation. The transformation includes newly designed guestrooms, restaurants as well as meeting and event spaces and pet-friendly environments. Dubbed the chic 5-star lifestyle hotel of the future, it embraces sustainability and smart technology. The new design is styled to integrate seamlessly with the Cyberport surroundings and immerse guests in an aspirational ambience. The hotel has 170 guest rooms and suites, completely updated with a contemporary, thoughtful design complemented by views of the ocean and verdant surrounding hills. Some rooms have been designed for longer stay guests and even include the Kara Smart Fitness Mirror with built-in virtual trainers and workout programs. On the fourth floor is a smart farm-to-table hydroponics green wall, growing micro-greens and herbs for the restaurants and bar. There are four choices for culinary and cocktails, an oasis-like outdoor swimming pool, two fitness hubs, function rooms, meeting facilities, a bridal room and multiple outdoor green spaces.

Marriott International announced the JW Marriott brand is coming to Auckland, NZ, taking over the Stamford Plaza, an existing hotel on Albert Street in the CBD. A $20 million refurbishment is currently being undertaken in phases. The hotel will reopen to the public as JW Marriott Hotel Auckland on December 16 with full renovations expected to be completed by mid-2024. The hotel will have an indoor heated swimming pool and large fitness center, spa and sauna plus a 100-seat buffet restaurant as well as a smaller specialty dining venue. The company plans to introduce a JW Garden, designed to support the kitchen, growing fresh produce and herbs.

Hilton announced the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Kyoto Shijo Karasuma marking the debut of the Hilton Garden In brand in Japan. The new opening marks a milestone for Hilton as the company’s six hundredth hotel in Asia Pacific, cementing them as the fastest-growing hotel company in the region. The hotel is located in central Kyoto, close to UNESCO World Heritage Site Nijo Castle. Amenities will include self-service laundry facility, fitness center and The Shop.

Accor announced the signing of a new ibis Styles hotel in BSD City, the emerging urban center in Greater Jakarta. Scheduled to open its doors in the second quarter of 2024, ibis Styles Serpong BSD will be located 15 minutes from Indonesia’s largest convention center. The hotel will have 165 rooms with a selection of suites. The 12-story hotel is expected to be a hub for meetings and events with a grand ballroom and breakout meeting rooms. There will be an all-day restaurant, swimming pool/kids pool and a fitness center. The hotel is scheduled to open its doors in the second quarter of 2024.

Accor’s Mercure brand announced the debut of the initial phase of its new resort in Rayong, Thailand. Located on the Kingdom’s eastern seaboard, Mercure Raytong Lomtalay Villas and Resort offers 51 rooms, suites and villas, as well as a pool-bar, restaurant, meeting rooms and spa facilities. A grand launch will take place upon the completion of the resort’s garden wing next year which will include an additional 133 rooms, suites and villas, four restaurants and bars along with expansive meeting, conferencing and event facilities. The ocean wing is now open with the garden wing and the broader resort complex slated for completion in 2023. This Accor’s tenth Mercure-branded property in Thailand.

Hyatt’s Andaz luxury lifestyle brand will make its debut in Thailand when the Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach opens in Q1 2023. The resort has been woven into the site of a private family estate at Tawanron Beach. The hotel was originally expected to open by the end of 2022. The resort will have 204 room sand suites starting from 50 square meters, arranged in intimate clusters around the gardens. The Lagoon Access rooms let guests step right into the resort pool, the Pool Suites allow guests to have a private dip at any time and the Beachfront Suites are set directly on the sand. Two heritage houses have been transformed into the resort’s most highly prized accomodations: a duplex four-bedroom Manor House and six bedroom Presidential Heritage House, each with private pools, courtyards, butler service and ocean views. The resort will have six restaurants and bars, three pools, the Panpuri Spa and more.

Radisson Hotel Group announced the expansion of its portfolio in Thailand with the signing of Radisson Resort & Spa Hua Hin, an upscale beachfront resort with Destination Group, anticipated to open in February 2023. This marks the expansion of Radisson Hotel Group’s partnership with the Bangkok-based private equity real estate investment company and follows their signing and opening of the Radisson Resort & Suites Phuket in September 2022. The 243-key Radisson Resort & Spa Hua Hin will become the group’s sixth property in Thailand. The resort is nestled on Thailand’s golden gulf coast, a 2.5 hour drive from Bangkok. The resort will feature eight restaurants and bars, an outdoor pool, a beach club with private beach access, a spa, fitness center, meeting spaces and kids club.

Personnel Moves

Leisure Hotels Group has appointed Sanjay Sood as chief operating officer. Sood has spent the last 34 years managing some of the largest hotels in India and abroad. Previously he served as general manager at various IHCL and Marriott properties along with several leisure properties in India and abroad.

Fortune Hotels announced the appointment of Sumita C Majumdar as head of human resources and learning & development. She had been with ITC Hotels for over 16 years.