Wyndham to Soon Open 300th Franchise in China

The Macau Statistics and Census Service said the hotel occupancy rate rose by 6.3 percentage points in September to 84.7%. The average occupancy rate for the first three quarters of 2024 rose by 4.8 percentage points to 85.4%. There were 144 hotel establishments in Macau as of September, up 7 year on year but the number of rooms decreased by -3.3% to 44,000. In the first nine months, five star hotels' occupancy rate was 87.5% with four-star at 81.2% and three-star hotels' occupancy averaging 82.9%. Total hotel guests rose by 11.2% to 10.9 million.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said they signed nearly 600 direct franchise agreements across China in five years and opened nearly 300 direct franchised hotels in that time frame. In 2019 they reacquired direct franchising rights to the Days Inn brand in the country. Wyndham is the largest US-based hotel company in China by number of properties, with a footprint spanning more than 1,600 hotels and more than 180,000 rooms across 13 of its 25 brands. Wyndham said that in the first half of 2024, they signed direct franchise agreements for more than 70 hotels in key markets, including Beijing, Jiangsu and Guangdong. China is on track to become the world's largest travel and tourism market by 2035 and Wyndham plans to stay on top.

Perth Airport, in collaboration with Accor, will open the first hotel on the airport estate under Accor's Pullman Hotels & Resorts brand. The Pullman Perth Airport is scheduled for completion in 2027. The eight-floor hotel is expected to have 240 rooms and suites and include premium amenities such as a rooftop restaurant and bar, lobby lounge café, a gym, sauna and versatile meeting and co-working spaces, located near the airport terminals. The project is part of the airport's $5 billion capital investment program. Accor's Pullman brand has 22 airport hotels already under its belt and the brand has a strong footprint in Australia and New Zealand. The Pullman Perth Airport will become Accor's fourth airport hotel in the Pacific.

Queensland's beachside Noosa is set to be revived as the five-star Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort undergoes a major renovation. The 176-room hotel is owned by the Laundy and Karedis families and is about to start a full renovation. At the same time the beachside city of Noosa will be getting another hotel as planning approval was given for a 153 room, 29 suite, four 3 bedroom villa hotel on a 2.4ha site fronting 3-7 Serenity Close at Noosa Heads. The property will include a 50-meter swimming pool plus a smaller pool in a private garden, wellness facilities and function spaces. The resort will be called The Calile Noosa with construction scheduled to begin in early 2025 and take three years.

Hilton announced plans for a new property in Palm Cove, Queensland. The new Hilton Palm Cove Cairns Resort & Spa will be Hilton's third property in Far North Queensland. The company signed a management agreement with Tyche Asset Management to develop the 140 room resort, located 25 minutes from Cairns and 40 minutes south of Port Douglas. The new Hilton property will undergo refurbishment before its scheduled opening in the first quarter of 2026. When open the resort will include an outdoor pool, two dining outlets, all-day restaurant, two bars, a kids club, fitness center, spa and 450 square meters of function and meeting space. This is Hilton's fourth new hotel signing in Australasia this year.

Mayapada Hospitality Holding announced the opening of Holiday Inn Express Bali Sunset Road. This is the fourth hotel in Indonesia developed and owned by the Group and marks the second Holiday Inn Express property in Bali for IHG Hotels & Resorts. The Holiday Inn Express Bali Sunset Road features 72 rooms and suites and will officially welcome guests on November 1, just a 15-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport. The hotel offers the brand's Next Generation design scheme, including 70 rooms and two suites, each with a private balcony. Javabica's JB Café offers snacks and beverages, there is a 24-hour fitness room and an outdoor swimming pool along with board and meeting room and a ballroom for events. Next up for Mayapada Hospitality will be the opening of voco Bali Seminyak on December 1.

The Fern Hotels & Resorts announced two new properties in Gujarat – The Fern Sattva Resort in the Little Rann of Kutch and The Fern Residency in Porbander. With the new openings, The Fern now has a total of 38 properties across Gujarat in India, either operational or soon to be ready to accept guests. The Fern Sattva Resort, Little Rann of Kutch has 47 rooms, a multi-cuisine restaurant and a bar. Recreational facilities include a gym, spa, swimming pool and game zone with meeting rooms, banquet facilities and an expansive lawn for events. The Fern Residency, Porbandar has 45 rooms, a vegetarian multi-cuisine restaurant, gym, swimming pool, spacious banquet halls, children's play area and sea tours.

Sarovar Hotels, in partnership with Prabhu Group, announced the opening of Cloud9 Sarovar Premiere, Palolem Goa, a premium retreat capturing the essence of the scenic coastal paradise. The resort is located at the confluence of the Talpone River and Arabian Sea with easy access to Palolem Beach, considered one of Goa's finest beaches. The hotel has 160 rooms and suites, a pool, Hebe Spaand a range of dining options. The property also offers banqueting facilities. This is Sarovar Hotels' seventh hotel in Goa and second in collaboration with Prabhu Group. Sarovar Hotels Pvt Ltd currently manages over 125 operational hotels in 80 destinations in India and overseas with brands such as Sarovar Premiere, Sarovar Portico, Hometel and Golden Tulip brands. Sarovar is part of Group Du Louvre.

Lemon Tree Hotels announced its latest signing – Keys Select by Lemon Tree Hotels, Amritsar. The property will be managed by Carnation Hotels Private Limited and is expected to open in FY2027. Keys Select by Lemon Tree Hotels, Amritsar will have 45 rooms, a restaurant, rooftop lounge, meeting room, swimming pool, fitness center and other public areas, located 13 kilometers from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport. Lemon Tree has a portfolio of more than 180 hotels of which more than 110 are already operational and there are more than 70 hotels set to open in India and internationally.