Western Australia has introduced mandatory registration for all Short-Term Rental Accommodations, effective July 1, 2024, enhancing regulations and transparency in the sector. The STRA Register is expected to open on July 1, 2024, and requires all properties, both hosted and unhosted, to be registered by January 1, 2025. The new legislation also supports proposed changes to planning requirements, requiring unhosted STRA properties in the Perth metropolitan area to have development approved if rented out more than 90 nights in a 12-month period.
The Macao Government Tourism Office, long known for being conservative in their projections, seems to be getting much more aggressive. They are predicting Macau will receive an average of 150,000 inbound tourists per day during the upcoming Labor Day break. This year’s holiday in Mainland China spans five days from May 1 to May 5, making it a longer holiday period. This extended duration is expected to attract more Mainland tourists to Macau. There is expected to be a multi-entry visa between Macau and Hengqin for Mainland tour groups announced soon which will help the MGTO accomplish their goal. The MGTO also said that, based on data from the first quarter, the organization’s goal of receiving two million international tourists throughout the year will be exceeded.
Sands China reported yesterday that major renovation works at Sheraton Grand Macao are now underway while a revamp of the second casino at The Londoner Macao will begin in May. The result will be significant disruption to business the rest of this year. They saw that already in 1Q24 with their hotel room count down by up to 600 rooms as a result of renovation at The Londoner. The US$1 billion Phase 2 renovation of The Londoner Macao includes the Sheraton. The hotel’s first tower will be complete by the end of this year and its second by May of 2025. Renovations of the second casino at Londoner are also scheduled for completion by December.
Marriott International and HMI Hotel Group announced a signed agreement to rebrand seven existing HMI properties in five major cities across Japan to Marriott Hotels and Courtyard by Marriott. This is part of HMI’s strategic repositioning, aimed at revitalizing and realigning these properties with the latest trends in global hospitality. The Grand Hotel Hamamastu will become Hamamastu Marriott; Hotel Heain no Mori Kyoto will become the Kyoto Marriott; Hotel Crown Palais Kobe will be Kobe Marriott and Rizzan Seapark Hotel Tancha Bay will be rebranded to Okinawa Marriott Rizzan Resort & Spa. The properties planned to become Courtyards include: Hotel Pearl City Kobe becoming Courtyard by Marriott Kobe; Hotel Crown Palais Kokura to be Courtyard by Marriott Kokura and Hotel Crown Palais Kitakyushu will be the Courtyard by Marriott Kitzkyushu.
The freehold interest in the Pacific Hotel Brisbane has been sold to Gold Coast-based Singh Enterprises for $44.8 million. CBRE Hotels negotiated the sale on behalf of Perth-based Pacific Hotels Group following an Expression of Interest campaign. Singh Enterprises is a family company with a mix of assets including self-storage, service stations, significant investments in the poultry sector and hotels. This deal follows others in Brisbane including the sales of Incholm by Ovolo, Quest Chermside and the Sofitel Brisbane last year, all of which were negotiated by CBRE Hotels. The 12 story, 4 star Pacific Hotel Brisbane comprises 179 guest rooms and suites of various configurations. The hotel amenities include a restaurant and bar, multiple conference and event spaces, outdoor swimming pool, gym, guest laundry and 78 car spaces over four levels. CBRE said the Brisbane supply pipeline includes 1,556 rooms either currently under construction or proposed in Brisbane but only 452 will open in the immediate future. Occupancy in the market is forecast to be in the mid-70% range with ADR of around A$246.
The Fern Hotels and Resorts opened a new hotel in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan in India. SKK The Fern – An Ecotel Hotel, Jaisalmer opened with 104 rooms. Fern’s portfolio has increased to 16 hotels operating or in development in the state. CG Corp Global is the parent company of Fern, which currently operates more than 100 hotels in 85 locations across India.
Indian Hotels Company announced the signing of a Taj-branded resort in Pushkar, Rajasthan. IHCL partnered with Master Resorts and Spa Private Limited on the 110 key Taj Pushkar, located just minutes from Pushkar Lake and the Brahma Temple. Its offerings include an all-day diner, a specialty restaurant and a chic lounge. There is a swimming pool, gym, spa facilities and over 7,500 square feet of ballroom space complemented by flexible meeting areas. With this hotel, IHCL will have 28 hotels across their Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta and Ginger brands in Rajasthan including eight more under development.
Japanese and Vietnamese investors have joined the One World urban area project in Binh Duong in Vietnam. The project has a total value of more than US$1 billion and has a land fund of nearly 50 ha in the town of Thuan An, adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City. Three Japanese companies, Sumitomo Forestry group, the Kumagai Gumi company and urban development company NTT, represent 49% of the shares in the project with Vietnamese Kim Oanh Real Estate Group have the rest. The project has six parts – buildings including a conference and exhibition center, AEON shopping mall, five-star hotels and an international school.
Personnel Moves
Skycity Entertainment Group named Jason Walbridge as its new CEO, expected to start in early July. In the meantime, the New Zealand and Australian casino resort company will have Callum Mallett as Interim CEO. Walbridge is currently a strategic adviser to Aristocrat Leisure.
Choice Hotels Asia-Pac named Adil Moosa as its Senior Manager, Corporate Development and David Silcock as Senior Manager, Development Australia New Zealand.
JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu announced the promotion of Ms Nikita Ramchandani as the Multi-Property Vice President for the Marriott International Mumbai Market. She will also remain as the General Manager of JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu.
