The Singapore Tourism Board said the number of visitors arriving in the first quarter of 2023 reached 2.9 million, representing 62% of its 1Q19 visitation figure. That exceeds the 1.5 million visitor arrivals STB reported in the entire first half of 2022. The average length of stay of each visitor during the quarter grew from 3.34 days in 2019 to 3.97 days. STB hopes to attract between 12 million and 14 million international arrivals in 2023 which would be more than double what arrived in 2022. 2019 arrivals totaled 19.1 million, and 14 million would be 74 percent of that figure.
STR reported on China hotel data for the week ended April 1. China hotel RevPAR rose 153.9% year over year for the week against easy comps. When compared with the same week in 2019, RevPAR was up 6.2% which is a turn for the positive.
One of the largest newspapers in Japan conducted a survey with the findings showing 47% of Osaka residents were against the Integrated Casino Resort plan from MGM and Orix. 37% were in favor. This survey was done ahead of the Osaka mayoral election and Osaka prefectural gubernatorial election which will be held on April 9. Actually those numbers are better than we expected. We thought well over 50% were against the casino plan. The survey showed 51% of those aged 18 to 29 supported the plan. 60% of those aged 70 or older were against it. This project most likely will not even open until after 2030 even though the two parties keep saying 2029. The reality is the entire IR plan for Japan has had so many setbacks and so many delays that we would not even be surprised if neither of them ever open.
The Bulgari Hotel Tokyo has opened its doors. The hotel opening seemed to be overshadowed by multiple news reports about what actress Anne Hathaway wore to the party there but outside of that, the hotel is located flors 40-45of Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, a new skyscraper overlooking the Tokyo Station, the Imperial Palace Gardens and the city. The new hotel offers 98 luxurious rooms and suites including the 400 square meter Bulgari Suites. The Bulgari Hotel Tokyo is home to a variety of signature-dining options. On the forty-fifth floor is the Rooftop Bulgari Bar and Terrace Gardens with a terrace giving views of Mount Fuji. The fortieth floor includes two ballrooms and a 110-meter Terrace Room. The luxurious 1,000-square-meter Bulgari Spa offers nine treatment rooms and a 25-meter indoor pool alongside a fitness center. Looking ahead there are four additional Bulgari Hotels set to open in Rome, Miami, the Maldives and Los Angeles between 2023 and 2026.
The first facilities of Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s Studio City Phase 2 development on Cotai in Macau opened today. The Studio City Indoor Water Park and new hotel tower, Epic Tower, opened to the public. This is the first major expansion of Studio City since it first opened in 2015. The Studio City Indoor Water Park is an all-weather, all-year-round indoor water park featuring 16 attractions, seven water slides, indoor-outdoor surfing simulator, two wave pools and a 250 meter action river called Starlight Rapids. The connecting Outdoor Water Park is scheduled to open on April 28. Epic Tower is the first of two new hotel towers at Studio City, adding 338 suites to the property’s hotel room inventory. Other features of the hotel will include a pool and fitness center, an infrared room, Himalayan salt sauna room and a spa. The US$1.3 billion Studio City Phase 2 development is opening in stages following a series of delays during the pandemic.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of Ramada Encore by Wyndham in the Indian city of Indore in India. The 100 room Ramada Encore by Wyndham Indore, Nipania includes a lobby lounge, all day restaurant and bar, meeting and event spaces, business center, outdoor rooftop swimming pool and wellness areas.
Royal Orchid & Regenta Hotels has secured a new license agreement for the Royal Orchid Brindavan Garden Palace & Spa located in Mysore, India. The initial license agreement expired on March 23, 2023 but the new licensing agreement for 10 more years was secured. The heritage hotel overlooks the Brindavan Gardens. The hotel has 24 grandeur rooms, the Garden Café, C Ks multi-cuisine restaurant and the Elephant Bar. For recreation the hotel has a giant chessboard, swimming pool, spa, pool table, karaoke and a PlayStation. The hotel is said to be frequented by celebrities with reservations typically made many months in advance.
Accor announced the signing of an agreement with Melbourne, Australia identity, Albert Dadon of Ubertas Group to open a Mercure on Melbourne’s St. Kilda Road. The hotel opened its doors on March 1. Following a complete refurbishment, the hotel now meets Mercure’s design standards. The hotel offers 145 rooms, including 20 two-bedroom apartments, a full-size gym, car parking, and a restaurant and bar adorned with eclectic artworks throughout the guestrooms, lobby and common areas. Mercure Melbourne St. Kilda Road is Accor’s thirty-eighth hotel in Melbourne. Accor has 19 international brands across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia.
Personnel Moves
CBRE Hotels said Pumpkin Island Eco Resort has been listed for sale for only the second time in 62 years. This provides the opportunity to acquire a private Great Barrier Reef Island with an operating and profitable eco-resort. Wayne and Laureth Rumble appointed CBRE Hotels to steer the Expressions of Interest campaign on the Australian island property. CBRE recently brokered a $24 million sale of Dunk Island, sale of Lizard Island, Long Island and the sale of Hook Island. Pumpkin Islands is located in the Great Barrier Reef’s Keppel group of islands, 14 kilometers off the coast of Yeppoon. The 6.07ha island features secluded beaches and benefits from a sub-tropical climate. It offers seven self-contained villas which can accommodate up to 34 people in total, as well as a manager’s residence and a staff guesthouse. Amenities include a licensed beachfront bar and sunset lounge venue with a library, fire pit and activities hut.
The Phuket Hotels Association announced the appointment of Jayne MacDougallas its new Executive Director, effective April 3. MacDougall has been the Phuket Hotels Association’s Environment Chair since 2017. The announcement follows the recent reappointment of their senior leadership team, including Bjorn Courage as President, Brett Wilson as Treasurer and Daniel Meury as Secretary.
