In the Q2 2023 Asia Pacific, excluding China, Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics, analysts state that the region is at an all-time project high of 1,936 with 401,766 rooms in the total pipeline at the quarter's close. The Asia Pacific region, excluding China, had 172 hotel projects/26,748 rooms open in the first half of the year, with another 227 new hotel projects/44,514 rooms expected to open in the second half, bringing the total forecast for new hotel openings to 399 hotels/71,262 rooms in 2023. The LE forecast anticipates new hotel openings in 2024 in Asia Pacific, excluding China, to settle in at 392 new hotel projects/79,649 rooms, with another 318 new hotel projects/61,153 rooms anticipated to open in 2025.
Asia Pacific Construction Pipeline Ending Q2 2023
| Status | Projects | Rooms |
|---|
| Under construction | 944 | 215,775 |
| Scheduled to start in the next 12 mos. | 292 | 53,417 |
| Early planning | 700 | 132,574 |
Asia Pacific Construction Development Activity by Type Ending Q2 2023
| Type | Projects | Rooms |
|---|
| Luxury | 228 | 46,305 |
| Upper upscale | 348 | 78,336 |
| Upscale | 426 | 92,702 |
Asia Pacific Construction Pipeline by Country
| Country | Projects | Rooms |
|---|
| India | 480 | 57,161 |
| Vietnam | 237 | 85,168 |
| Thailand | 156 | 39,199 |
| Indonesia | 207 | 34,605 |
| Japan | 164 | 33,183 |
Asia Pacific Construction Pipeline by City
| City | Projects | Rooms |
|---|
| Bangkok, Thailand, | 65 | 17,088 |
| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, | 41 | 11,879 |
| Jakarta, Indonesia, | 48 | 9,409 |
| Melbourne, Australia, | 43 | 8,252 |
| Phuket, Thailand | 31 | 8,370 |
Asia Pacific Construction Pipeline by Company
| Company | Projects | Rooms |
|---|
| Marriott International | 280 | 60,566 |
| Accor | 206 | 47,052 |
| IHG Hotels & Resorts | 164 | 34,227 |
| Wyndham Hotels & Resorts | 134 | 31,606 |
| Hilton Worldwide | 94 | 21,455 |
Asia Pacific Construction Pipeline by Brand
| Brand | Company | Projects | Rooms |
|---|
| Ramada Inn | Wyndham | 53 | 7,385 |
| Novotel | Accor | 50 | 10,364 |
| Marriott | Marriott | 44 | 11,081 |
| Holiday Inn | IHG | 44 | 9,798 |
| Hilton | Hilton | 29 | 9,049 |
The Philippines Hotel Sales and Marketing Association said opening 30,000 new hotel rooms within the next five quarters will likely cause a further shortage in hotel staff. The problem seems to be that so many workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic found positions in other industries, including being snapped up by cruise operators.
Macau has surpassed Hong Kong to become Chinese travelers' most popular travel destination in 2023. The China Tourism Academy said the number of mainland Chinese visitors received by Macau is nearly twice as much as Hong Kong. The first half of 2023 saw Macau welcoming about 50.9% of all outbound Chinese travelers, while Hong Kong received nearly 26.7%. An estimated 40.4 million mainland tourists went to outbound destinations in the first half of this year. 94% of outbound travelers chose Asian regions or countries as their destinations. East Asia and Southeast Asia received the most outbound tourists. Besides Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, other neighboring countries such as Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam are preferred by mainland Chinese tourists.
Accor has partnered with Amchase Phuket HP (Thailand) Ltd to debut the Handwritten Collection in Thailand with the Andaman Beach Hotel Phuket – Handwritten Collection, set to open in the fourth quarter of 2023. The hotel offers 161 guest rooms, each featuring a private balcony. The property rebranding marks the debut of Thailand’s inaugural Handwritten Collection. Amenities include a swimming pool, spa, fitness center, all-day dining restaurant, other dining outlets, and a bar.
Accor also announced its latest addition to the Mercure portfolio in India, Mercure Lucknow. The newly signed hotel is under development by Meghalaya Hotels Pvt. Ltd and is scheduled to open in April 2024. Mercure Lucknow Ekana Sportz City will be strategically located next to the Ekana International Cricket Stadium. The hotel will have 110 rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby bar, a spa and fitness center, and more.
Lord Hotels and Resorts announced the opening of Lords Inn in one of the largest princely States of Gujarat in India, Jamnagar, at Moti Khavdi. Lords Inn is near the Reliance Industries Complex and National Highway. The hotel has 58 contemporary rooms and suites with a mix of deluxe and executive rooms, suites, and other facilities like a restaurant, banquet hall, lawns, spa, café, board room, gym, and swimming pool. Lords also announced the launch of Kankidham Lords Inn at Kanki, West Bengal. Kankidham Lords Inn in Eastern India offers 46 rooms.
Reliance Industries entered into an understanding with The Oberoi Hotels and Resorts to manage three properties across India and the UK jointly. These properties include the upcoming Anant Vilas Hotel in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, Stoke Park in the UK, and another planned, unnamed hotel project in Gujarat. The company stated that Anant Vilas in Mumbai has been conceived as the first metro-centric property as part of the luxury “Vilas” portfolio run by The Oberoi Group.
Renest Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of its newest property, Renest Calangute Goa, which will open to the public in October 2023. The hotel is just a 10-minute drive from Candolim Beach and offers 30 rooms. The hotel includes a swimming pool, spa, and outdoor furniture, with the cornerstone of Renest Calangute Goa’s hospitality being its restaurant, Tribe.
Personnel Move
Elysium Resorts Malaysia announced the appointment of Mr. Yogendran Devarajan as the Group General Manager. The appointment comes as Elysium Resorts Malaysia sets its sights on opening eight new resorts across Malaysia. Devarajan has been in the hospitality industry for 19 years, previously as the Vice Secretary of the Malaysian Association of Housekeepers.