Alan Woinski

Vietnamese travelers are said to be opting for outbound tours due to the significant increase in the price of domestic flights as the holiday season approaches, according to travel agents and tour operators. The South China Morning Post said hotel room rates in Hong Kong are surging ahead of the Labour Day holiday. The number of visitor arrivals to Macau in March rose by 271.4% year over year to 1,956,867, according to the Statistics and Census Service.

According to the latest STR U.S. bubble chart update , for the four weeks ending April 15, recovery growth across a range of industry indicators took a small backstep, with occupancy falling from the prior month. Each of the four world regions showed a year-over-year decline in hotel construction activity , with Asia Pacific coming closest to its 2022 comparable, according to March 2023 pipeline data from STR. The Hospitality Asset Manager Association released the results of its Spring 2023 Industry Outlook Survey .

Fitch Ratings said China’s domestic travel has seen a significant uptick in the first quarter of this year and is likely to gain momentum in the second quarter. Trip.com said the first round of outbound travel fever in China is coming ahead of the May Labor Day . The construction of Galaxy Entertainment’s Raffles at Galaxy Macau and Andaz Macau , as well as the resort of the phase 3 hotel project for the Cotai casino , is basically complete.

Truist gave their 1Q lodging earnings preview . While they continue to see macro over micro with the main driver/wildcard coming from the economic impact of high interest rates and inflation, at a minimum they expect results to be in-line but more likely ahead. The Kayak Miami Beach hotel could be seized in a $13.68 million foreclosure lawsuit. The ART Hotel Denver, Curio Collection by Hilton announced the completion of its $3 million property-wide refresh to its 165 rooms and suites, 7,500 square feet of flexible meeting and event spaces, fitness center, private dining and public spaces.

STR said China hotel RevPAR for the week ended April 15, was up 155.1% year over year. Marriott International announced it signed agreements with Vinpearl for an additional seven hotels and resorts in Vietnam , comprising more than 2,500 rooms. The Ascott Limited , a unit of CapitalLand Investment Limited, has achieved its target to secure 160,000 units by 2023 with the  signing of over 4,000 units in 1Q this year .

Upper upscale hotels, the property types most associated with business travel, are well represented in the U.S. development pipeline . According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index Travel Study 2022-2023, satisfaction across all four industries measured, airlines, hotels, car rentals, and online travel agencies, is up . STR reported US lodging data for the week ended 4/15. US hotel RevPAR was up 8.6% year over year.

The total number of esports hotels in China exceeded 20,000 by the end of February this year, with the occupancy rate reaching an average of 60%. Trip.com said the interest in travel to mainland China has bounced back since the country resumed foreign visa applications. HVS Anarock’s latest report on India says occupancy will improve to 66% at hotels in 2023.

B of A Securities initiated coverage on Hilton Grand Vacations with a Neutral rating and $50 price target. OYO plans to expand its market presence in the U.S. with an addition of over 100 hotels in CY2023. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Park Hotels to $13 a share from $14 while maintaining their Equal Weight rating.

Bloomberg published an article saying foreign investors are buying up Japanese hotels at a scale unseen in almost a decade , as the nation’s tourism recovery, weak currency and low-interest rates drive an appetite from abroad. As expected, the Japanese government wasted no time in approving the Osaka prefecture Integrated Casino Resort plan once the Governor was reelected and the first poll came out showing a favorable view. Accor is expanding its presence in Japan with the signing of ibis Styles Tokyo Ginza East , centrally situated in the shopping and entertainment district of Ginza.