New Four Seasons Properties in Dalian, China and Okinawa, Japan

Macau saw an increase in the number of operating hotels in January of 16, totaling 141. The total number of available guest rooms grew by 20.4% year over year to 46,000. The average occupancy rate rose 14.5 percentage points year on year to 85.9% with the number of guests in hotel establishments rising by 55.7% year on year to 1,320,000. That was an increase of 7.4% compared to January 2019.

Asset World Corp outlined plans to invest in projects estimated at US$1 billion this year. This year, 18 new projects valued at US$528 million are set to launch in Thailand. The ventures include retail development, restaurants and three hotels. AWC is expecting RevPAR in Thailand this year to top 2019 levels even with a slight year-over-year ADR drop expected. AWC has 22 hotels totaling 6,029 rooms, under brands from nine international hospitality groups such as Marriott, Accor, Hilton, Melia, IHG, and Okura. Awaiting shareholder approval is the potential development of a luxury hotel with a wellness concept on Sukhumvit Soi 38 in Bangkok, new hotels at the Lannatique project in Chiang Mai, and other hospitality developments.

The all-new Four Seasons Hotel Dalian is the first international luxury brand to open in the Chinese city in the past decade. The hotel is surrounded by harbor views and panoramic vistas in the Donggang harbor district in the city center. The hotel has 254 guest rooms and suites on floors 23 to 36. The hotel’s public spaces include the 41st-floor lobby, spa, wellness center, and indoor pool on the 38th floor. The hotel includes various food and beverage options highlighted with the city’s most elevated tea service with the Skyline Afternoon Tea offered in the Lobby Lounge on the 41st floor. Exclusive to certain guests, the Executive Club Lounge is on the 33rd floor. Other amenities include more than 2,200 square meters of meeting and event space on the building’s lower floors and the Spa and fitness center on the 38th floor. The owner of the Four Seasons Hotel Dalian is China Green Development Investment Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Grid Corporation of China.

Berjaya Land Bhd is expected to complete the development of the Four Seasons Resort & Private Residences Okinawa in 2027. They believe if they sell all the condo residences and villas, they can make between US$400 million and US$450 million profit after tax. The Four Seasons Okinawa is Berjaya Group’s second hotel on the island, following the opening of Ansa Resort Okinawa in November 2019 in Urama. The Four Seasons Okinawa development costs are expected to be US$1.12 billion. The project spans 32 acres and includes 127 resort rooms, 124 condo residences, and 28 private villas.

Travel + Leisure Co. announced the acquisition of the 36-room Ryokan Yushi Chikumakan resort. TNL will rebrand the property to Club Wyndham Chikumakan Nagano. The Ryokan resort features a mix of Western and traditional Japanese styles and offers a contemporary dining room with multiple private dining areas, featuring Shinshu specialties and seasonal ingredients, a snack bar, indoor and outdoor onsen with natural hot springs mineral water, several open plan resting spaces, and three banqueting halls that can cater for groups up to 130. This will be their first Club Wyndham property in Japan and 19th property overall across the country.

Pan Pacific Hotels Group brings its modern upscale Parkroyal brand to Malaysia with the opening of Parkroyal A’Famosa Melaka Resort. The 213 key resort is nestled within tropical gardens and will offer activities and collaborations inspired by the rich culture of Melaka. This is the first property in Melaka and the sixth in Malaysia under PPHG. Parkroyal A’Famosa Melaka Resort is within a 5-minute drive to A’Famosa Waterworld and Safari Wonderland. The resort features 213 rooms and suites in a variety of room types for business travelers, leisure seekers, and families. Each room features an al fresco balcony while the property’s amenities include extensive facilities and F&B offerings. Some of those facilities are the SUASANA Spa, ballroom and seven meeting rooms, swimming pool, dedicated kid’s pool, playroom, and gymnasium.

Hylla Vintage Hotel has been inducted into the Leading Hotels of the World, becoming the first property in Southwest China to join the exclusive network of luxury independent hotels. The hotel is nestled in the historic heart of Lijiang, situated at the base of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the southernmost glacier in Eurasia.

Chalet Hotels, part of K Raheja Corp group, has acquired the Courtyard by Marriott Aravali Resort for Rs 315 crore. The 158-room property is spread over eight acres and has been on the market for about a year now. The resort was owned by the family of RC Juneja, co-founder and chairman of Mankind Pharma, via Ayushi and Poonam Estates LLP. This was the Mankind family’s first hospitality venture. They also have the 141-room Westin Resort & Spa Himalayas. Chalet Hotels wants to add about 800 rooms to its offerings, earmarking Rs 2,000 crore as current capital work-in-progress. They are aiming to have about 5,000 rooms in the next three to four years in its entire portfolio.

Accor plans to double its room count in India in the next three years in the premium, midscale, and economy segments. They plan to open a hotel every week this year in Asia excluding China. Accor will open 674 rooms in the PME segments this year across locations such as Panjim, Candolim, New Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru, and Chandigarh. In India, Accor offers more than 11,000 rooms across 61 hotels and has 30 properties with 5,453 rooms in the pipeline. Accor said they had a record last year in India with 11 signings and are expecting 2024 to set another milestone.

Personnel Moves

Hilton announced the appointments of Nong Xia as President of Development for Greater China & Mongolia and Maria Ariizumi as Vice President of Development for South East Asia. Xia comes to Hilton after experience with H World Group, Starwood, Hyatt, and Groupe Pierre Vacances et Center Parks. Ariizumi was previously with Swire Hotels, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Marriott International, and Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting.