Hyatt Plans 200 More Hotels in Asia Through 2032

The Philippines welcomed more than 4.8 million international visitor arrivals through the first 10 months of 2024. While they are well on track to exceed the 2023 total of 5.5 million, the country will be short of its goal of 7.7 million international visitor arrivals for the full year 2024.

The Indian hospitality industry is expected to grow by 7% to 9% in the current FY25 financial year. Icra said this would be driven by domestic leisure travel, demand from MICE, including weddings and business travel, with spiritual tourism and tier-2 cities expected to contribute significantly. Icra expects the pan-India premium hotel occupancy to be at around 70%-72% in FY25 while the pan-India premium hotel average room rates rise by 8% to Rs 7,800 to Rs 8,000. RevPAR is still expected to be 8%-12% below the FY2008 peak this year (FY24). Supply is expected to increase at a compound annual growth of 4.5% to 5% over the medium term. That would still lag demand.

Hyatt Hotels is expanding its footprint in Asia with a pipeline of more than 200 hotels scheduled to open over the next five to eight years. Hyatt expects the expansion to bring their total hotel portfolio in the Asia-Pacific region to over 500 hotels. That would be a gain of 67% from more than 300 hotels at present. They anticipate growing demand from the region's young, affluent travelers.

Marriott International's Luxury Collection announced the opening of The Sira, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Lombok. The resort is a 90-minute drive from Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport, nested in the heart of West Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia. This is the third Luxury Collection property in the country. The Sira, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Lombok has 46 suites and 14 pool villas. The palatial 1,400 square meter Beach House is a villa with three bedrooms that opens to a private, blue-tiled plunge pool with direct beach access, easily transformed into one of Lombok's most beautiful venues for weddings and intimate celebrations. The Sira's crown jewel is their Presidential Suite, a two-story sanctuary with a full-sized rooftop infinity pool and three bedrooms, set in 1,000 square meters of living space. F&B options include three restaurants and bar. Other amenities include a fitness center, a two-level 70-meter outdoor infinity pool and The Spa as well as dedicated event space.

The Standard will open its first branch in Singapore by the end of this current month. The Standard, Singapore, will also be the third branch in Southeast Asia following initial openings in Thailand's Bangkok Mahanakhon and Hua Hin. The new Singapore brand is located several steps from the Orchard Road shopping district and the 165-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site Botanic Gardens. The hotel will have over 140 rooms across eight floors. The Garden on the lower floor will have a pathway leading to the pool area. The culinary offerings will be led by Kaya, inspired by Japan's Izakaya bars. The Standard, Singapore opening is scheduled for November 28 and is already accepting bookings.

Club Paradise Palawan in the Philippines is now called Discovery Coron, while Discovery Shores Boracay now simply goes by Discovery Boracay. The Discovery Hospitality Corp announced rebranding plans for most properties in their group. The rebranding is said to not just focus on the name change but also on improving services, among which is its renowned butler experience. Discovery Coron is undergoing enhancements, too. That includes the construction of the new Sinag restaurant, set to open later in 2024 as well as the expansion of room offerings and treatments for the Glow Spa. Discovery Boracay is among the premier luxury hotels in the island's relatively quieter Station 1.

City Developments Ltd, together with its partner in China, Lianfa Group, was awarded the tender for a mixed-use development site in the Xintiandi area of Shanghai's Huangpu district. The tender for the 27,994 square meter site was awarded for 8.9 billion yuan (S$1.7 billion). CDL unit, Chenghong Shanghai, holds a 51% stake in the joint venture acquisition while a unit of Lianfa Group holds the remainder. The mixed-use site comprises two plots of land separated by a public road in the middle, with both having a total permissible gross floor area of 76,027 square meters. 77% of the GFA can be for residential use with at least 19% for commercial purposes and 4% for public amenities. The preliminary design includes 102 high-rise residential units, 92 luxury villas, a 100-room boutique hotel and over 5,000 square meters of retail space. Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, and it is estimated to be completed by 2030.

KS Hotels and HMD Asia expanded their boutique hospitality portfolio with the acquisition of the La Residence hotels located in Prabang, Laos and Siem Reap, Cambodia. Both properties were previously managed by Belmond Group. La Residence Phou Vao is situated on a hilltop overlooking Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site. HMD Asia took over the management on November 1. La Residence D'Angkor in Siem Reap is set to undergo a transformation and is currently closed for renovation. It will reopen in the fourth quarter of 2025 under the management of HMD Asia.

Personnel Moves

Back in August, Resorts World Sentosa's Director and Chief Casino Officer Andrew MacDonald was banned for entering competitor Marina Bay Sands, accused of trying to poach customers. He had previously held the title of Chief Casino Officer and Senior VP at Marina Bay Sands. Over the weekend, it was announced MacDonald stepped down from his positions at Genting Singapore's Resorts World Sentosa, leaving to resume personal interests. That is the official statement, but is it a coincidence or a fallout from the August controversy?

Stanford Le began his new position as CEO of Crown Sydney. Le replaces Mark McWhinnie. Le was most recently President and CEO of Snoqualmie Casino in Seattle in the United States.