Tokyo's Domestic Tourism Rebounds to 2019 Levels

Tokyo media reports suggest the number of domestic tourists who visited Japan’s capital in 2022 has bounced back to pre-pandemic levels. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government estimated that about 542.67 million Japanese tourists visited Tokyo last year, down only -0.1% compared to 2019, NHK reported. Japanese domestic tourists are estimated to have spent roughly 4.62 trillion yen (US$32.7 billion) which is also back to pre-pandemic levels. Officials estimated that about 3.31 million foreign tourists visited Tokyo last year, about -78% less than the 2019 level.

Macau’s average hotel occupancy rate reached 89% in June, up by 54.5 percentage points year over year. The occupancy rate of three-star hotels was over 96%, while five-star hotels reached 89.1%. The Macau Government Tourism Office said the average daily rate for a five-star hotel room in Macau in June was MOP1,491.3 ($186), up 102% from June last year. The general average room rate for Macau’s three to five-star category was MOP1,305.4 ($163) in June, up 118.6% from the prior year period. In the first half of 2023, Macau welcomed over 11.64 million tourists, a daily average of more than 64,000. The average hotel occupancy rate in the first 6 months was 82%, only -8.8 percentage points below the first six months of 2019. In the first six months, five-star hotels’ occupancy reached 81.7%, four-star hotels were 77.4%, and three-star hotels were 88.7%, occupied. The first six months of 2023 also saw average daily room rates at MOP1,247 ($155), up by 58.2% year over year.

Beyond Stay, a mass premium leisure hotel and resort chain in India, has raised Rs 1.5 crores at a valuation of $2 million in a Pre Series A investmentround led by Anant Singhania and a group of high net worth individuals, including Atul Joshi of Oyster Capital and other participants. Beyond Stay has more than 25 hotels and resorts across North, Central, and Western India, catering to themes such as wildlife and hills of western India. Their expansion plans will take them from 400 keys to 1,000 keys. The funds raised in the Pre-Series A round will be used to expand Beyond Stay’s presence in new locations and to enhance its technology infrastructure to provide a better experience to its customers.

Pride Hotels Group announced the signing of Pride Express in Dwarka in the western state of Gujarat in India. October 2023 is when the property is expected to open, all part of Pride Hotels Group’s plans to have 100 properties and over 10,000 rooms by the end of 2030 in India. Earlier this month, they announced the signing of Pride Hotel Rajkot, and the company is focusing on expanding the Pride Biznotel, mid-market hotels brand.

Sydney, Australia’s inner-city suburb of Surry Hills will see a newly designed hotel in August. The new Adge Hotel + Residences is putting the finishing touches on the property before it officially opens next month. La Vie Hotels & Resorts has been appointed as the hotel operator to manage the hotel on behalf of owners Cienna Group. The new hotel will sit alongside the former Cambridge Hotel, which will also rebrand to Adge Hotel + Residences and is currently undergoing a significant renovation. Together the hotels form part of a $65 million transformation of the site. Adge Hotel + Residences will open next month with 93 guest rooms, in addition to the 12 existing two-bedroom apartments that offer open-plan living and dining, fully equipped kitchens, and large wraparound balconies. When the former Cambridge Hotel is renovated early next year, ADGE Hotel + Residence will have a total of 242 guestrooms and also house an Italian-style restaurant with a well-known chef.

As a follow-up to a previous story on Australian hotel development, the vote by councilors on whether to approve a luxury boutique hotel within an existing resort’s grounds in Noosa Springs has been postponed. GH Australia, the owner of Noosa Springs, said they applauded the decision by Noosa Council to delay taking a vote on the development application. The company had been seeking approval to build a 106-room, five-star hotel on its property. GH Australia has requested a halt to the decision-making process as it did look like it was going to be voted down after the General Committee meeting of the council had resolved to reject the application. The delay gives GH the opportunity to convince councilors of the benefits of the hotel proposal.

Songtsam, a luxury boutique hotel collection and Destination Management Company located in the Tibet and Yunnan Provinces of China, announced the soft opening of Songtsam’s first low-carbon hotel, the Songtsam Linka Retreat Lake Basong Tso in Tibet. The official opening of the 122-room and suite Retreat is set for mid-September. This will be Songtsam’s 16th and largest property. The Songtsam Linka Retreat Lake Basong Tso is in the historic Jieba village. During the soft opening, there will be 41 guest rooms available, including superior rooms, deluxe rooms, family two-bedroom rooms, deluxe two-bedroom rooms, and deluxe two-bedroom suites. Guests will be able to enjoy a lobby bar, restaurant, bar, spa, gym,  and an Arc’teryx co-branded living room as well as a conference room.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced they signed a management agreement with Almuhaysin Group to open the first Regent Hotel in the Middle East. The hotel is set to open in mid-2024 in one of the most prestigious waterfront locations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Regent Jeddah will provide uninterrupted views of the Corniche and Jeddah’s Formula 1 racetrack. The hotel will feature close to 182 rooms facing the Red Sea. At the top of the 29-story hotel will be five spacious penthouses. The hotel will feature a 1,500 square meter spa by Raison d’Etre, a 200 square meter health club, and indoor and outdoor pools in addition to an array of epicurean experiences, including three concept eateries and a lounge.

Equinox Hotels said it was selected by Red Sea Global to unveil Equinox Resort Amaala, a luxury resort experience in Amaala along the Red Sea coast in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The Equinox Resort Amaala is set to open as part of the first phase of development at Triple Bay, located adjacent to the Triple Bay Marina Yacht Club. The resort will include 128 luxurious guest rooms and suites, several culinary concepts, a Beach Club, spa, magnesium salt rooftop pool, and a signature Equinox Fitness Club.