The Philippines Dept of Tourism said they foresee a strong recovery for Philippine tourism and believes they will surpass industry targets this year. From January to July this year, foreign tourism receipts are Php 286 billion, consistent with the over 66% tourism international arrivals recovery they have seen. That is higher than the ASEAN average of 54%. The DOT said that as of August 10th, the Philippines had received 3,376,514 foreign visitor arrivals, already more than 70% of the country’s 4.8 million baseline industry target for the entire year.
Macau had 2,759,544 visitor arrivals in July, up 24.9% over June. Of those, 1,910,371 arrivals were from mainland China, up from 1,444,933 in June. There were 660,878 arrivals from Hong Kong. Regarding the foreign arrivals that the Macau government has been pushing but having little success getting, there were 129,756, up 8% from June. The Philippines led the source market for those arrivals with 31,096. For the first seven months of 2023, Macau has welcomed a total of 14,405,421 visitors, up 310% year over year.
Hilton plans to open more than 730 properties in mainland China in the next decade, betting on surging demand from the nation’s middle class amid a rebound in tourism. Hilton opened 100 properties last year. Hilton’s occupancy rate for these hotels and resorts in the Asia Pacific region in the second quarter of 2023 was 69.9%, with RevPAR up 79% year on year.
The 251-room Ying’nFlo, Wesley Admiralty, Hong Kong, will open on September 1st. Ying’nFlo is the new fun and no-frills brand from Langham Hospitality Group. The Admiralty property will be the brand’s second Hong Kong address. Ying’nFlo has an innovative all-in-one mobile app allowing guests to check in and check out, use their phones as digital keycards, and allows them to communicate with staff before and during their stay.
Gavin Faull, head of Swiss-Belhotel International, announced they signed a deal with CTG Hotel, part of the China Travel Group, the biggest tourism enterprise in China. The deal could help Swiss-Belhotel expand its chain of hotels from 125 to 530 in the next seven years. The strategic partnership aims to develop a platform for CTG Hotel and Swiss-Belhotel to develop dual branding cooperation and diversified business development in China and abroad. Swiss-Belhotel operates 125 hotels and projects under 16 brands in 19 countries in Central Asia, Indonesia, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand, with 10 regional management hubs. They are committed to substantially increasing their operating portfolio to over 530 properties by 2030.
Accor has partnered with Global Premium Hotels Limited to debut the Handwritten Collection in Singapore. The Hotel Faber Park Singapore – Handwritten Collection is set to open in the fourth quarter of 2023. Singapore’s Mount Faber will be the setting for Handwritten Collection’s inaugural hotel in Singapore. The hotel includes 194 rooms and amenities, including a restaurant, lobby bar, and swimming pool. Accor has a long-standing strategic partnership with Global Premium Hotels Limited and its related party, operating 16 hotels in Singapore, 5 hotels in Australia, and 2 hotels in the United Kingdom under the MGallery, Movenpick, Mercure, Novotel, ibis Styles, and ibis budget brands.
Accor also introduced its first Grand Mercure property in Agra, India, a city known for its rich cultural heritage and the Taj Mahal. The new property is strategically located in Fatehabad, a short drive from the tourist site. The Grand Mercure Agra is scheduled for a grand opening in September 2023 and will have 168 rooms. The culinary offerings will include an all-day restaurant, elegant bar, and alfresco terrace restaurant. The hotel will offer a meeting space of 300 square meters alongside amenities, including a fitness center, a spa, and a swimming pool. The hotel is owned by Mr. Laxman Das Goyal and his Shree Sarnam Real Estate, which operates diverse business ventures in glass manufacturing, real estate, and hospitality and already operates two properties in Agra. Accor currently operates 58 properties in India under the Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, Pullman, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, and ibis brands.
Lemon Tree Hotels announced the opening of its sixth property in Gujarat, India, under the Lemon Tree Hotel brand. The hotel features 42 rooms and suites, complemented by a multi-cuisine coffee shop, a fitness center, and a swimming pool. Carnation Hotels, the hotel management arm of Lemon Tree Hotels, manage the hotel.
Hyatt Hotels announced the opening of Hyatt Place Vijayawada, the debut of the Hyatt Place brand in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The hotel offers 81 rooms, including two suites, and was developed by RVS Conventions Private Limited. The hotel’s amenities include two eclectic dining options, the Market, and 6,602 square feet of versatile event spaces.
Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa unveiled a major, multi-million dollar enhancement project. The five-star family lifestyle resort on Vietnam’s central coast has introduced many new family-friendly facilities, including some of Southeast Asia’s biggest kids’ clubs. The cornerstone of the revitalized family concepts is Camp Hyatt, a 3,655 square meter multi-zone wonderland that includes aquatic splash zones, aerial rides, immersive activities, arts & crafts, and more. The four distinct indoor and outdoor play zones – Earth, Water, Fire, and Wood- will fully engage youngsters. The transformation project also enhanced the resort’s accommodations and added more dining experiences. There are 19 Pool Villas with three bedrooms available, all with light-filled living spaces, private pools, gardens, and kitchen equipment. Vive Oceane, the only beach club in Danang, opened in July. The resort also upgraded its Italian restaurant.
TUI Hotels & Resorts said they signed 13 additional TUI Blue hotel projects in Asia and Africa, expanding further outside its core focus of European destinations. The 13 new management and franchise agreements were signed with international partners and took the total number of planned hotel openings in those regions to 22 hotels in 13 countries. Countries with hotels in the pipeline for 2024 include China, Vietnam, The Gambia, and Cambodia, with openings during the year totaling seven. TUI has more openings planned in the Maldives, Senegal, Spain, Chile, Bali/Indonesia, Turkey, Curacao, Austria, Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
