Singapore to Welcome The Standard and Aloft Brands

Occupancy rates at hotels in Macau rose by 25.4 percentage points in January year over year, reaching 74%. The dropping of entry requirements and the Chinese New Year holiday resulted in 3 star hotels seeing the highest occupancy rate at 79%, up 26.8 percentage points from January 2022. The 4 star hotel occupancy rate was 70.1%, up 11.7 points and 5 star was 73.9%, up 25.4 points. Room rates were up a whopping 41.8% to MOP1,180 (US$146). The MGTO expects February hotel occupancy to be even higher with rates the first two weeks at 75.5%.

The Standard Hotel is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2023 near Orchard Road in Singapore, across from Shangri-La Singapore along Orange Grove Road. The five star hotel will have 143 rooms, a lobby bar, infinity pool as well as a pool bar. Singaporeans should expect a local twist with the hotel to reflect the country’s nature as a Garden City.

Hiap Hoe has entered into a franchise agreement with Luxury Hotels International of Hong Kong to operate two hotels at 16 AH Hood Road and 1 Jalan Rajah and rebrand them as Aloft Singapore Novena. The two hotels to be rebranded are Wyndham Singapore at Zhongshan Park and Days Hotel by Wyndham Singapore at Zhongshan Park. The rebranding of the two hotels is expected to begin in 3QFY2023 when the company’s current management contract expires. The exercise is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year. The opening will mark the Aloft brand from Marriott’s arrival in Singapore.

Vietnam’s first Autograph Collection from Marriott’s hotel is the Vinpearl Landmark 81 Autograph Collection, located on the upper floors of Vietnam’s highest skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City. The hotel is located from floors 47 to 71 at the 461 meter high The Landmark 81 on the west bank of the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City’s Binh Thanh district. The hotel has 223 rooms and suites. The 488 square meter Presidential Suite is on the sixty-eighth floor while on the seventy-first floor is a club lounge, the highest in Vietnam. There are 10 meeting rooms and three sky-high terraces on floors 48, 66 and 69. The Sky Studios on the sixty-ninth floor are an exclusive collection of three intimate rooms and a sky terrace.

Radisson Hotel Group announced the opening of Radisson Resort & Spa Hua Hin on Thailand’s gulf coast. This is part of Radisson’s South-East Asian expansion strategy, introducing the Radisson brand to another of the region’s most desirable destinations. The upscale resort is nestled along the Cha-am Beach and features 243 rooms and suites with six different accommodation types. That includes Family Suites with bunk beds and children’s amenities. The hotel includes an outdoor pool with a water slide, water sports activity hub, fitness center, spa, skate park and direct beachfront access. There is a diverse collection of dining and social venues and six function spaces. The owner and operator of the resort is Destination Hospitality.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the Regent Hong Kong will reopen for guests in June. The hotel has been under construction for the past two years and underwent extensive renovations. The Regent will offers a Classic Harbourview Room with views of the iconic Victoria Harbour. The hotel will offer several dining options including a steakhouse and buffet, located just 30 minutes by car to Hong Kong International Airport.

IHG also announced they signed a management agreement with Palau Coral Club to open Hotel Indigo Palau in Q4 2024 or Q1 2025. This will be IHG’s third hotel in Micronesia, with a location on Malakal Island. The hotel will feature 200 guest rooms, an all-day dining Neighborhood Café and separate restaurant, a sunset bar by the pool, meeting rooms for 60 people, a resort center, swimming pool, spa and gym and more.

Accor said they are partnering with Dalian Culture & Tourism Group to create Fairmont Dalian, a hospitality experience at Zhongshan Square in Dalian, Liaoning province, Northeastern China. The four story heritage building features European Renaissance Baroque Architecture and is designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. Accor’s Fairmont unit will oversee an eco-sensitive restoration and careful preservation process. Following the upgrades and refurbishments, the 70 room luxury hotel, Fairmont Dalian, is planning to receive guests in October 2023. The property will include a Fairmont Gold Lounge, a ballroom, numerous meeting rooms and signature restaurants. Wellness facilities will include a swimming pool and a fitness center. The location is just 30 minutes from Dalian Airport.

Accor’s Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is also considering three seaside destinations for locations for new hotels or resorts in the Philippines. Business Mirror said Fairmont’s CEO, Mark Willis, said he thinks Boracay, Mactan or Palawan would make great locations to consider for introducing a second Fairmont hotel and a first Fairmont resort, should the opportunity arise. Currently they manage the 280 room Fairmont Makati.

Huvafen Fushi Maldives announced plans to commence renovations in the second quarter of 2023 and will reopen this coming September. The rooms will be given a fresh look. All 44 bungalows will be refurbished and two new ‘Two Bedroom Ocean Pavilions’ will make their debut. The renovations are part of a scheduled plan to improve the facilities and improve the facilities and services provided by Huvafen Fushi. The resort will close on May 15 and reopen on September 1.

Mohegan said it has committed to contribute up to US$142 million in additional funding between now and September 30, 2023 to ensure completion of its Korean integrated resort project Inspire. Mohegan confirmed this with an Equity Commitment Letter signed on February 16. The additional funding provides for certain non-dilutive equity capital contributions to Inspire as needed to complete the project. Mohegan also committed up to US$23 million for development costs or pre-opening expenses if those costs exceed budgeted amounts and available contingency funds.

Personnel Moves

Oyo Hotels & Resorts announced management changes as they once again attempt to go to the public markets for an IPO. Abhinav Sinha, who is currently the global COO and has also led the product division, will be handed the role of chief product and technology officer as the two units merge. He will replace current CTO Ankit Mathuria who will be leaving the company in June. Anuj Tejpal, global chief merchant officer, will be given the responsibilities of the India merchant teams. Shreerang Godbole, who was recently elevated to the role of chief service officer, has been given additional charge of the data science division. Gautam Swaroop, who is currently CEO-International, will take over Weddingz, Oyo’s wedding organizing arm. This was all given to the media by sources.

Marriott International, Inc. announced its organizational structure and executive appointments designed to tap its talented leadership bench and accelerate the company’s growth. Marriott announced the appointment of Drew Pinto to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue & Technology Officer. Pinto will lead sales, revenue management, distribution channels, digital, and information technology for Marriott. In addition, the company announced that long-time Marriott executive Peggy Fang Roe has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. Roe will be responsible for developing and executing key aspects of the company’s global consumer strategy, including evolving their portfolio of brands, the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, and developing the end-to-end customer experience using AI, and innovation to fuel future growth. Marriott further announced Tina Edmundson has been appointed President, Luxury, a role that underscores the company’s commitment to the growth and leadership of its preeminent luxury brand portfolio. The company also announced the return of Yibing Mao, who has been appointed President, Greater China. Yibing will lead the next chapter of growth for Marriott in Greater China. In addition, Chief Financial Officer, Lenny Oberg, will the company’s Global Development organization, which is responsible for the strategic growth of the company’s 30 lodging brands. Oberg is being appointed Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Development.