Thailand Extends Hotel Fee Waiver to Boost Tourism

Thailand's cabinet agreed to extend a waiver on operating fees for hoteliers for two more years. They said this shows support for the recovery of the country's tourism sector. The exemption of the annual fee of 40 baht per hotel room from July 2024 to June 2026 will cost the government 54 million baht (US$1.47 million) in lost revenue. Waiving the fee will help reduce expenses for hotel operators still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Marriott International signed an agreement with Makris Group for the first mainland Luxury Collection property in Australia. The Marina Mirage Gold Coast, a Luxury Collection Resort, is scheduled to open in 2027. The hotel will have 122 keys and is planned for the Marina Mirage mixed-use precinct. The Makris Group is spearheading the development of the resort, on a site they have owned since 2013. The resort will have an array of local award-winning restaurants and boutiques, wellness, health and beauty facilities, a new state-of-the-art marina and a limited selection of villas and residences. The Luxury Collection property will join other Marriott International names on the Gold Coast, including the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa and Sheraton Grand Mirage Gold Coast.

The first new hotel at Melbourne Airport in 20 years will soon add 464 three and four star rooms to the location. A $230 million hotel will open on July 1, resulting in no shuttle being needed to check in and out and to get to the airport. Melbourne Airport covers 2,741 hectares, bigger than Kingsford Smith and the new Western Sydney site combined with all the terminal buildings under one roof.

Radisson Hotel Group announced the signing of 10 new hotels in South Asia in just four days. The signings are across brands, including Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson Individuals and its brand extension Radisson Individual Retreats. The group also entered five new markets and will be the first to open internationally branded hotels in Jawai (Rajasthan), Sagar (Madhya Pradesh), Yavatmal (Maharashtra), Ooty (Tamil Nadu) and Calicut (Kerala). The Radisson Blu Hotel, Nathdwara Stadium Rajasthan will feature 234 luxurious rooms, India's first Cricket Stadium Hotel with 75% of the rooms offering exclusive views of the main cricket field. The two signings under its Radisson brand are Radisson Sagar and Radisson Mohali while Radisson Individuals Retreat signings include Aaramgarh Jawai Resort and Spa, a member of Radisson Individuals Retreats and Nilgiris Ooty Resort, a member of Radisson Individuals Retreats. There are also three conversions under the Radisson Individuals brand in Yavatmal, Udaipur and Gwalior. Radisson Hotel Group has over 180 hotels in operation and development in India.

AppleOne Group is partnering with Radisson Hotel Group to build the first five-star hotel and international branded residences in Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines. The 717-room hotel will be named Radisson Blu Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Residences and will be located in the city's uptown area. The newest venture is an addition to AppleOne's growing hotel portfolio beyond the Visayas, after Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort in Cebu, Mahi Center where Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan and JW Marriott Panglao Island Resort and Residences in Panglao. This is also the first five-star luxury hotel and residences in Bohol province. AppleOne said this is their first partnership with Radisson Hotel Group but they are in talks for another project.

India Hotels Company announced the signing of a Taj-branded hotel in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, a greenfield project. The 150-key hotel is located in the heart of the city and will feature an all-day dining restaurant, two specialty restaurants, a bar, and J Wellness Circle Spa. The hotel will also have over 10,000 square feet of banqueting space. With the addition of the hotel, IHCL will have 26 hotels in Uttar Pradesh, including 13 under development.

Frasers Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Frasers Property, announced its debut in Taiwan with the launch of Fraser Residence Taipei, a premium serviced apartment complex featuring 200 units. The property is scheduled for completion in 2027, located in the Beitou District, north of Taipei City, near the neighborhood of Tianmu, 30 minutes away from Songshan International Airport. Planned amenities include a heated pool, fitness center, yoga studio, meditation rooms for recreation, meeting spaces and a business center. This is part of Frasers Hospitality's ongoing expansion across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The company owns and operates over 100 serviced apartments and hotel residences in more than 20 countries.

Dusit International signed a partnership agreement with VillaCarte Group, a Phuket, Thailand – based real estate development company with a diverse portfolio of villas, apartments, hotels, bars and restaurants, to manage a dual-branded luxury hotel and apartment complex at the heart of VillaCarte's Layan Verde Project on the west coast of Phuket. The property is being developed 800 meters from Bang Tao Beach where Dusit has operated the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket resort for over 30 years. Layan Verde spans over 108,000 square meters and comprises 15 mid-rise buildings. The Dusit Collection – Layan Verde hotel is set over five buildings and comprises 398 rooms. It is the first property to be signed under Dusit's new luxury Dusit Collection brand. The company will also manage another five buildings comprising 388 rooms under Dusit Residences – Layan Verde.

Personnel Move

Star Entertainment Group has named former Crown Resorts CEO Steve McCann as its new CEO and Managing Director as it tries to convince various regulatory bodies in Australia that they should be able to keep their casino licenses after many years of missteps and rule-breaking. McCann spent a year guiding Crown Resorts' remediation efforts before the company was acquired by Blackstone Group, the second former Crown executive to be hired by Star after Jeannie Mok was named as Group COO. McCann will join Star on July 8.