Visitor Spending in Macau Soars by 36%

The total spending of visitors to Macau, excluding gaming, grew by 35.9% year on year to MOP20.35 billion in 1Q24. That is also 20.2% higher than pre-pandemic 1Q19. The Statistics and Census Service said MOP16.43 billion was from overnight visitors, up 33% year on year while same day visitors’ spending was up 48.5% to MOP3.92 billion. By visitor source, per-capita spending by visitors from mainland China was down -31.6% to MOP2,665. When compared with 2019, per-capita spending of visitors from mainland China was up by 44.1%. Shopping comprised 48% of the total spend in 1Q24, followed by accommodation at 23.3% and food & beverage at 20.9%.

Knight Frank said developers should stop building beachfront hotels in Vietnam as there is a risk of oversupply and 20 million four and five star hotel rooms are sitting vacant. The property consultant said that last year there were 12.6 million international visitors to Vietnam. Pre-pandemic that number was at 18 million. Knight Frank said that assuming 30% of them traveled in pairs and booked double rooms for seven nights at four to five star beachfront hotels and resorts, that would only fill up a third of the currently available rooms. They warned of the risk of oversupply with low occupancy rates and large numbers of new hotels being building in tourist places like Phu Quoc Island and Ha Long Bay. So far in 2024 there has been nearly 6.2 million foreign visitors, up 68.3% year on year in the first four months. Domestic tourism has been struggling due to expensive airfares. Knight Frank said what has been doing well in Vietnam has been the luxury hotel market, attracting attention from foreign investors. Knight Frank believes the market is particularly attractive to international investors because they can maintain high prices throughout the year thanks to a steady flow of guests and lower operation costs compared with large-scale projects.

Anantara Hotels & Resorts from Minor Hotels said a run of recent openings across Europe, Middle East and Asia has propelled the brand portfolio to over 50 properties for the first time. They are making that milestone with a reimagined brand identity. Their name is transitioning from Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas to Anantara Hotels & Resorts. Other changes impact design elements, brand signatures, a refined service culture and a new tagline, ‘Unforgettable Journeys’. The recent new openings propelling them past 50 properties include Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas in Thailand, Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort and Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel. Later this year the brand will make its debut in India with Anantara Jaipur Hotel with a new opening in Bali before the end of the year and Zambia in early 2025.

South Korea-based Hotel Lotte Co said they resumed global expansion, set to open new hotels at home and abroad, including its premium boutique hotel chain L7 in Seoul. Hotel Lotte said they are also in talks with the owners of two hotel properties in South Jeolla Province to manage and operate them as its hotel brands. In Vietnam they are considering opening L7 hotels in cities such as Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang. In the U.S. it reopened the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago as L7 Chicago by Lotte last month. They purchased the hotel in 2022 for US$36 million. Hotel Lotte is also planning to open a new L7 hotel in Busan in Korea. Lotte Hotels & Resorts is accelerating the expansion of its hotel operations across the world after it was forced to slow down its global drive due to Beijing/Seoul diplomatic rows over the deployment of a US anti-ballistic missile defense system in Korea in 2016 and then Covid-19.

San Miguel Corp is set to build an airport express hotel next to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 north wing in Manila, Philippines. The Department of Transportation said the new NAIA Infrastructure Corp plans to expand two of the existing four passenger terminals. The north wing of Terminal 2 will be extended towards the Philippine Village Hotel and Nayong Pilipinio area. The south wing will be extended toward Terminal 1 following the relocation of the International Cargo Complex and the fuel farm. Once complete, NAIA is expected to handle 60 million passengers annually, up from the current 32 million.

The Malaysian Federal State Putrajaya recently welcomed the new Moxy Putrajaya from Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott said they are seeing a significant change in travel trends there with the burgeoning demand for experiential travel, as young travelers seek immersive experiences that lead to a deeper sense of connection and cultural enrichment. They also see the rise of remote working and flexible working arrangements, encouraging business professionals to extend their business trips to incorporate leisure activities, known as bleisure travel.

Sarovar Hotels announced the re-launch of Estuary Sarovar Portico, Poovar Islands in India as Estuary Sarovar Premiere, Poovar Island following an extensive renovation encompassing the hotel’s accommodations, public spaces and F&B outlets. The renovation project was initiated a few years ago and reportedly has breathed new life into the hotel, resulting in refurbished guest rooms, suites, cottages and villas along with refreshingly new public spaces, enhanced amenities, new menus, upgraded mini-bar amenities and an exceptional breakfast experience. The hotel has also refreshed its service offerings.

ITC’s Fortune Hotels announced the signing of a second property in Siliguri, West Bengal in India. Fortune Park is expected to open in March 2025. The brownfield project is located on 1.47 acres of land and will feature stylish rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, banquet and meeting spaces, and other premium facilities tailored to enhance the guest experience. This is Fortune Hotels’ second signing in Siliguri, considered the gateway to Northern India.

Pride Hotels Group announced the launch of Pride Elite Wellness Resort Becharaji, offering a blend of cultural enrichment and modern wellness amenities. The resort is located in the historic town of Becharaji, Gujarat in India, nestled near notable landmarks such as the sacred Sakeshwar Jain Temple and Modhera Sun Temple. This is Pride Hotels Group’s first venture into the wellness resort domain. The new Pride Elite Wellness Resort Becharaji features 92 rooms, a refreshed swimming pool, a gym and a lush green lawn which is ideal for weddings and events. The property includes a dedicated meeting room for conferences, outdoor games and wellness treatments, a unique offering from Rishivan Vivekananda Wellness Center. The hotel is expected to open in June.