Hyatt in Talks to Buy Standard International 

STR reported China hotel data for the week ended July 13. China hotel RevPAR was down -13% year over year. It was up against a +40.6% comp result in 2023. Hotel occupancy for the week was down -3.6% year over year.

The Macao Government Tourism Office said the number of visitor arrivals the first six months of this year was about 16,729,000, an average daily number of 921,918. That is up 43.6% from the same period in 2023 but is still only 82.5% of the first half of 2019 levels. 1.17 million of the visitors were foreign, only 67.2% of pre-Covid levels. The average hotel occupancy rate in the first six months of 2024 was 84.3%, down 7.2 percentage points from 2019 but there are more hotel rooms now.

The opening date of the first Australian hotel from The Standard has been announced. StandardX Melbourne will launch in Fitzroy on August 8th. This will be the world debut of the group's StandardX brand, described as the "rebellious younger sibling of The Standard." The StandardX will have a lower price point on rooms, considered to have a more relaxed energy. Instead of encouraging guests to stay in and party like the original Standard, the new brand offers the perfect launchpad from which patrons can explore their surroundings. The Melbourne hotel won't have the Boom Boom Room, the well-known nightclub from The Standard's New York High Line location but will have The Roof, a guests-only Mexican-inspired bard and diner on the roof of the building. There will also be a Thai restaurant. The new hotel will have 125 rooms, starting with the "Cozy King" with the top room being the 48 square meter Suite Spot. Following this launch, Standard International plans to expand the brand to Bangkok and then onto others. The question now is who will be doing the expansion? A Bloomberg story reported that Hyatt Hotels Corporation is in advanced talks to acquire Standard International. Hyatt would not comment specifically, just saying their strategy is to have asset-light growth through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Read more about this at Skift.

Accor's TRIBE Auckland Fort Street hotel is set to open its doors in the summer of 2024-2025. This will be the design-led midscale brand's first foray into New Zealand, located in the heart of Auckland near Britomart and the Commercial Bay precinct. The new destination will feature 60 guestrooms, a lobby bar, terrace and social hub. Accor is partnering with hotel owner CP Group to introduce the one-of-a-kind concept to New Zealand. The TRIBE brand currently has 15 hotels open and operating worldwide with another 40 in development.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of the new Wyndham Semporna Resort in Sabah, Malaysia. The hotel is owned by Goldstone Holdings. The new addition for Wyndham will feature 188 villas overlooking the eastern coast of Sabah, Malaysia and is expected to open in 2026. This will be the first internationally branded resort in the city of Semporna and the first large-scale overwater villa property developed in Semporna. The resort will feature infinity pools, a variety of dining options and a state-of-the-art gym. Prior to getting to your villa, all with ocean views and direct access to the sea, guests will check in at the welcoming reception lobby.

Melia Hotels International Group introduced the Gran Melia Nha Trang in Vietnam, the first Southeast Asian destination for the Gran Melia Hotels & Resorts brand. Prior to this opening, the brand managed and operated 14 resorts across six countries globally. Vietnam becomes the seventh country and first in Southeast Asia. The resort has 98 beach villas, inspired by Indian Creek, the famous billionaire peninsula in Miami in the US. The crown jewel of the Gran Melia Nha Trang is said to be the 10 mansions in the Limited Edition Mansion, including The Coral Villas and The Coral Artistry. The investment group of the resort includes KDI Holdings Group, Hyundai E&C, HA and Minotti.

Elephant Asset Management announced the opening of Hotel Garo in Tokyo, Japan, located five minutes from the Keikyu-Kamata station or 20 minutes by car from Haneda Airport. The hotel concept is described as "Stay in a museum" as guests can stay surrounded by artworks created by emerging artists in Japan. GARO means gallery in Japanese and there are more than 10 oil paintings and calligraphy works in a living room, bedrooms and on the stairs. The newly renovated property offers the Japanese traditional atmosphere with two Japanese-style bedrooms with tatami mats; a thoughtfully decorated living room with two spacious and style sofas; fully-equipped kitchen and more.

Radisson Hotel Group announced the opening of Grand Mirage Dhanbad in India, a member of Radisson Individuals. The hotel is nestled in the heart of Dhanbad, considered an emerging hospitality market. It features rooms and suites and premium on-site amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center that is open 24 hours a day. The hotel includes Visa, the Regent, and the Tea Atelier as its dining options. There are versatile meeting and event spaces and more. The hotel is owned by Gharonda Properties Pvt Ltd.

Ramee Group of Hotels announced the signing of a property in the historic city of Dwarka. The hotel is situated just 1 km from the Dwarkadhish Temple. The hotel will feature 65 rooms and a range of top-tier amenities including an on-site restaurant, cozy coffee shop and a spa. Also open to guests will be a modern fitness center and swimming pool. Ramee Group of Hotels said the signing of this new hotel reaffirms their aggressive expansion plans and broader vision to enhance travel experiences and provide exceptional service to guests across India.

Indian Hotels Company signed its fifth Ginger-branded hotel in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region of Thane, Maharashtra. IHCL said the greenfield project embodies Ginger's lean luxe design philosophy, offering guests a blend of work and leisure in vibrant, contemporary spaces. IHCL is collaborating with Jagdale Infrastructure Private Limited on the new hotel. The 200-key Ginger Thane is located in the heart of the business district, close to retail centers. The hotel features Qmin, IHCL's signature all-day diner as well as other amenities. With the addition of this hotel, Indian Hotels Company will have 35 hotels, including 12 under development in Maharashtra.