The Standard Debuts in Singapore, Yotel Debuts in Japan

The Macao Government Tourism Office said they expect Macau hotel occupancy to remain high amid the festive break encompassing Christmas and New Year's. Last week hotel occupancy reached 90%. The MGTO believes the various celebratory events scheduled for the Christmas season, plus the other events to mark the 25th anniversary of Macau's handover, should help boost the city's inbound visitor volume. December 2023 had an average 91.2% occupancy, with five-star hotels reaching an occupancy rate of 91.5%. As of December 7, YTD visitation had reached 32.5 million, up 25.7% year over year.

Hilton unveiled its first flagship property in the Delhi National Capital Region with the grand opening of Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre. The hotel, developed in partnership with Baani Group, marks Hilton's second collaboration with the group following the DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square. The hotel is located within 24 kilometers of Indira Gandhi International Airport. The hotel features 223 rooms and suites, numerous culinary destinations, 2,000 square meters of meeting and event space, Executive Lounge, CEO Lounge, outdoor pool, and a 24/7 fitness center.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the soft opening of the Hotel Indigo in Auckland, New Zealand, will take place on December 23rd. The soft opening will include 54 rooms, of the total 225 rooms, located on Albert Street in the heart of Auckland's vibrant midtown. The full opening is expected in early 2025, with the dining venues slated to open from March 2025 onwards. The boutique hotel will occupy 27 floors of a 41-story tower that also houses exclusive sky residential apartments and penthouses. This is the fifth Hotel Indigo property in Australasia for IHG. The Hotel Indigo Auckland is a partnership with IHG and Ninety Four Feet, an Australian family property development, investment, and construction company, based in Melbourne.

Berjaya Land Berhad (Bland) announced the signing of a hotel management agreement, through its subsidiary BHR Okinawa Management GK, with IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan. The management agreement brings the ANA Crowne Plazabrand to Okinawa, Japan. Bland's announcement was that the 123-room ANA Crowne Plaza Resort Okinawa Uruma Hills will officially join the IHG system in early 2025 following a renovation to incorporate the hallmarks of the Crowne Plaza brand. The hotel has been operating as the ANSA Okinawa Resort. IHG has plans to double its portfolio in Japan.

YOTEL Tokyo Ginza has opened, the first YOTEL in Japan. The new build 244-room hotel has a prime position in central Ginza, the core dining and shopping district. The launch is YOTEL's third hotel in Asia. The company said Asia and the Middle East are their focus for new openings, with hotels planned for Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Saudi Arabia's new city of NEOM.

The Standard, Singapore, officially opened its doors on December 15, 2024. The hotel is described as a stylish retreat nestled in the heart of the city on Orange Grove Road. The Standard, Singapore, has 143 rooms with views of the city's skyline and lush greenery. The hotel includes a rooftop pool, a serene garden, signature restaurants and bars and more.

Oxley Holdings Limited announced the soft opening of Shangri-La Phnom Penh, the first Shangri-La hotel in Cambodia. The hotel is located near the Royal Palace and other key attractions, as well as government offices and embassies. The hotel will house 303 guestrooms and suites, and features a range of high-end amenities, including the highest rooftop bar in Cambodia – Altitude, with a sky pool overlooking the panoramic views of the city along with a Chinese restaurant – Shang Palace. The hotel will feature health and wellness offerings, event spaces and meeting facilities. The phase one soft opening will include a select number of guest rooms and dining options.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Indra Traders, is set to expand its footprint in Sri Lanka's hill capital Colombo at the start of 2025 with the launch of the Kandy Myst by Cinnamon. The new addition to the brand's portfolio is strategically located on Kandy Katugastota Road and includes 215 contemporary rooms and the largest inventory in Kandy. In addition to the 215 rooms, it will feature 18 interconnecting rooms designed for family groups and business travelers, an infinity rooftop pool and a sky bar. Dining options will include both buffet and a la carte cuisine and a café to welcome both hotel guests and local patrons.

ITC Ltd said the company has set January 1, 2025, as the effective date for the demerger of its hotel business after receiving an approval order from the National Company Law Tribunal.

Personnel Moves

Radisson Hotel Group announced the promotion of Pankai Saxena to Area General Manager, West India, Radisson Hotel Group, South Asia, alongside his role as General Manager, Radisson Blu Pune Kharadi.

Minor Hotels announced the appointment of Mark Hodge as Cluster General Manager for the Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort and Elysia Wellness Retreat in the heart of the Hunter Valley in NSW, Australia. Hodge was most recently General Manager Hotel & Residences at the very troubled Star Entertainment Group.