Hilton Expands in Southeast Asia With 11 New Hotels

Hilton announced the signing of 11 new properties across Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, including the debut of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton in Southeast Asia. In Thailand the signings include KROMO, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hilton Bangkok Grand Asoke, Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom, and Hilton Garden Inn Rayong. In Vietnam, the Tapestry Hoi An, Hilton Hanoi West, and Hilton Garden Inn Mui Ne Beach were signed, and in Indonesia, the signings included the Conrad Jakarta, Hilton Bandung Padalarang, Hilton Manado and the Hilton Garden Inn Manado. Hilton said they have more than 100 hotels trading and under development in Southeast Asia and are on track to surpass 1,000 trading hotels by 2025. As of the first quarter of 2024, Hilton continues to hold its largest development pipeline in company history with 892 hotels signed across Asia Pacific.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of a management agreement with Siddhya Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd for the development of Holiday Inn Resort Kufri. The hotel is set to open in 2026 in one of the most scenic towns in the district of Shimla, Kufri in North India. Holiday Inn Resort Kufri will have 100 rooms including 10 exclusive suites. There will be four F&B outlets and a spa, four meeting and event spaces, a gym, pool, and retail spaces. IHG currently has 45 hotels operating across five brands in India.

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts announced the opening of its second hotel in Kerala – The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel. The first property was The Leela Kovalam, A Raviz Hotel. The new property is located a two-hour drive from Thiruvananthapuram airport and is perched on the banks of the Ashtamudi Lake. The resort includes 93 rooms, suites, and experiential houses with guests being able to choose between the Tower Win or Heritage Wing or the two available private plunge pool villas. The two experiential houses offer the THARAVADU Experience, namely Erattupetta and Anchal. The resort houses four dining venues, the Kerala Ayurveda and Spa, outdoor swimming pool, fitness center and more.

Minor Hotels announced Layan Life by Anantara, a world-class medical wellness concept within the grounds of Anantara Layan Phuket Resort. The new purpose-built facility, set across 1,767 square meters, is scheduled to open in Q3 this year and will offer a blend of medical technologies and Rajasamnak (royal style) Thai healing additions. The facility is split across two stories with the lower level including a 220 square meter gym, 60 square meter yoga studio, 35 square meter Pilates studio, mediation rooms and a hydrotherapy area with vitality pools, saunas, and steam room. The upper floor houses medical and holistic facilities, rooms for consultations, physiotherapy, TTM, aesthetic treatments, IV procedures, and medical treatments. Outside there is the Active Zone with tennis courts, a Muay Thai ring, climbing wall, outdoor fitness area with water sports, and a selection of cultural excursions.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the opening of Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka in Osaka, Japan. The 167-room lifestyle hotel features self-activated touchpoints, vibrant social spaces, and a trendy design aesthetic with a neighborhood feel. The arrival experience includes Talk Shop, a lively area with an all-day lounge, workspace, coffee shop, eatery, grab-and-go artisanal market, and cocktail bar, all rolled into one. Other facilities include a 24-hour fitness center and coin laundry located on the 2F.

Anson Group received approval for a $104 million high-rise hotel just 450 meters away from the site of the Sydney institution Golden Century they bought for $50 million. The new 16-story hotel project will rise beside Capitol Square light rail stop at Haymarket.

New Silkroad Culturaltainment Limited took a while to realize it but they have finally come to the conclusion they have no chance of success at their Megaluck Casino on Jeju Island in South Korea. They are dumping their 72% stake in Megaluck Company Limited to Yu Cheng Kuo for US$3.6 million. Yu currently holds a 7% stake in Megaluck. The price follows a valuation by an independent valuer of the casino share stake. New Silkroad said they are trying to mitigate ongoing losses in the entertainment segment. They have lost over US$46 million in the past three financial years.

Personnel Moves

Hilton Hotels announced Daniella Tonetto was appointed to the position of Senior Commercial Director, Australasia, effective July 1. Her most recent role was as Director – Hotels at Axsia HTL. Her new role will have her spearhead the delivery of top-tier commercial performance in the Australasia region for Hilton, driving the development and implementation of strategies in order to optimize revenue. Her role is pivotal to achieving commercial targets and expanding market share across Australasia as Hilton continues to grow its role in the region. Hilton has 32 hotels operating in Australasia with 11 more hotels in the pipeline.

Sunset Hospitality Group announced the appointment of Philipp Knuepfer as the new Chief Operating Officer of Sunset Hotels & Resorts. Philipp joins SHG with over 20 years of experience in the luxury hospitality sector, tasked with supporting the growth of Sunset Hotels & Resorts while overseeing global operations. He joined SHG from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where he was Area Vice President and General Manager, managing the Group’s portfolio across Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. The new Sunset Hotels & Resorts is aiming to develop, open and operate 20 new hotels by the end of 2025.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association ratified its new PATA Executive Board. Peter Semone has been formally endorsed to serve as Chair of the Association’s Executive Board for another second term. Semone is most well known as the founder of the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality vocational school. Suman Pandey, President of Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure is the new Vice Chair, while Luzi Matzig, Chairman of Asian Trails Ltd in Bangkok is the new Secretary/Treasurer of PATA.

Hotel and Lodging Performance

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