IHG Debuts Garner Brand in Thailand

STR reported China hotel data for the week ended August 24th. China hotel RevPAR for the week was down -4.1% year over year. Last week's RevPAR results were up against a tough +50.4% comp in the year-ago week. For the week, China hotel occupancy was up 2.5%, while ADR was down -6.4% year over year.

Accor has signed partnership renewal agreements for more than 40 hotels in Australia, comprising 5,500 keys. Accor Pacific partners have also invested more than $450 million in hotel renovations and refurbishments since the beginning of 2022. Its 40th renewal was with Silversea Investments, a long-term franchise agreement that will see significant investment to refurbish Novotel Sydney Parramatta and Mercure Sydney Parramatta which will be rebranded to Novotel Sydney Rosehill upon completion of the renovation. Trilogy Hotels now manages the hotels. The Sunshine Coast's premier five-star hotel, Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, also extended its partnership with Accor and the property will soon announce renovation plans. Accor has a network of more than 350 hotels in Australia, operating there for more than 30 years. They operate 19 international brands and over 400 hotels across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia.

IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan announced a landmark partnership with Hotel Management International Ltd., operator of a diverse portfolio of properties across Japan. HMI will rebrand three hotels to the ANA Crowne Plaza brand. The three Crown Palais hotels total 539 rooms. They will undergo extensive renovations as they convert to ANA Crowne Plaza Kochi, ANA Crowne Plaza Chiryu and ANA Crowne Plaza Hamamatsu. These hotels will join the ANA Crowne Plaza portfolio in Japan which currently includes 20 hotels.

IHG Hotels & Resorts said they are bolstering their presence in the Thai market by introducing conversion-friendly brand, Garner, while continuing to expand its mainstream brand portfolio. Garner is their newest brand and it was launched last year. Currently, there are four Garner hotels around the world with three more set to open in Japan. Thailand is in the pipeline, which currently has 79 hotels in total, with the hopes of signing contracts with local individual hotels this year. More than half of IHG's open hotels and nearly 50% of those in the pipeline in Thailand are mainstream brands. Upcoming openings include Holiday Inn Express Phayathai later this year and Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Asoke next year. IHG's goal is to double its overall portfolio in Thailand to over 70 hotels in the coming years.

Radisson RED Danang has debuted on Vietnam's central coast, the brand's debut in South East Asia Pacific. Situated on Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Danang's main oceanfront road, the new upper upscale hotel features 167 rooms and suites. The suites offer 64.5 square meters of space with separate living areas and a balcony with uninterrupted ocean vistas. The hotel has an outdoor pool, steam room, sauna and heated jet pool as well as a fitness center. The third floor includes the Meeting Hub and food and beverage options include all-day dining restaurant Brasserie, the Rooftop Bar and the Coffee Lounge. The hotel is expected to complement Radisson's other Danang property, Radisson Hotel Danang.

Radisson Hotel Group also announced another milestone in its Asia Pacific expansion strategy with the signing of Park Inn by Radisson Melbourne Carlton, a contemporary and fully connected hotel that will mark the upper-midscale brand's debut in Australia. The newly converted property is expected to open its doors in 4Q24. Park Inn by Radisson Melbourne Carlton will be situated in the suburb of Parkville, surrounded by universities, hospital precincts, recreation centers and leisure attractions, just 3km from Melbourne's CBD. The conversion of the existing hotel will take place with a complete renovation and redesign to align with Park Inn by Radisson's international standards. Park Inn by Radisson Melbourne Carlton will feature 89 rooms, ranging from 25 square meter Standard Rooms to 34 square meter Deluxe rooms. There will be a gym, pool, meeting rooms, all-day dining restaurant and grab & go café.

Dusit Hotels and Resorts has formed a strategic alliance with Generator and Freehand Hotels, a developer and operator of experiential hostels and boutique hotels across Europe and the United States. The collaboration aims to combine their development resources to foster sustainable international growth for both brands. As part of the partnership, Generator and Freehand Hotels will utilize its network and expertise in creating lifestyle hybrid accommodation models within the affordable lifestyle sector in Europe and the US. The initiative will focus on identifying opportunities to introduce Dusit Hotels and Resorts in major European cities such as London, Paris and Rome as well as in US destinations such as New York, Miami and Los Angeles. Dusit intends to capitalize on its established presence in Asia and the Middle East to explore opportunities for introducing Generator and Freehand's boutique hotel-hostel hybrid model in key urban locations, including Bangkok, Manila, Kyoto, Dubai and Abu Dhabi as well as in island destinations, including Phuket and Bali.

BWH Hotels announced the opening of Best Western Chaweng Samui, what they are calling a milestone in their expansion strategy in Thailand. This is the brand's inaugural property on the Thai resort island. The hotel is nestled in the center of Chaweng, Koh Samui's tourist district, a short walk from Chaweng Beach. It features 67 contemporary rooms and suites, an indoor swimming pool, an all-day dining restaurant, located a 10-minute drive from Samui International Airport. BWH Hotels now offers 21 hotels and resorts across Thailand.

Personnel Move

The World Travel & Tourism Council announced the appointment of Gaurav Bhatnagar as Regional Vice Chair for India. Bhatnagar is the Joint Managing Director and Co-Founder of TBO.com.