Mandarin Oriental

Notable are the predictions of 3% to 8% hotel rate hikes in 2024, with Asia leading in occupancy growth. Accor's execution of management agreements for 69 properties across Asia, enhancing its portfolio with over 16,500 keys, is a major development. The reopening of the Mandarin Oriental Singapore after a multi-million dollar transformation underscores significant refurbishment investments in the industry.

The Philippines is close to reaching its annual goal of 4.8 million tourist arrivals, with nearly 4.1 million arrivals in the first 10 months of 2023. South Korea remains the top source of inbound tourists. Hotel prices in Malaysia may increase by 30% due to a rise in the Sales and Services Tax, excluding food and beverages or telecommunications. Consumers are expected to pay higher room rates. Sri Lanka anticipates its best tourism year in 2024, with exceeding arrival and revenue targets for this year. Plans to accommodate higher arrivals include expanding accommodation in Colombo and other areas.

Choice Hotels has urged Wyndham Hotels to consider a merger, but Wyndham has firmly declined any interest in the proposal. The chairman of Wyndham revealed they almost acquired Choice Hotels 20 years ago. The U.S. construction pipeline shows growth, with over 5,700 projects and 672,000 rooms, driven by a strong upper midscale chain scale presence. Renovation and conversion projects are on the rise, and new hotel openings are expected to increase in the coming years. Several hotel and resort projects are underway, including Westin Washington, DC Downtown, Opry Entertainment Group's renovation in Austin, Four Seasons expanding its Private Retreats collection, and Tommy Bahama's debut resort in California. Additionally, new developments in Florida, Rhode Island, and Indiana are on the horizon.

The Royal Thai Government is granting temporary tourist visa exemptions to Chinese and Kazakhstani passport holders from September 25, 2023, to February 29, 2024, to boost tourism revenue. Macao expects a high number of visitors during the upcoming Golden Week, with hotels projected to have near-full occupancy due to the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Holiday. Galaxy Macau has opened Andaz Macau, the largest Andaz hotel in the Hyatt brand's portfolio, featuring 700 rooms, artworks, and a direct connection to the Galaxy International Convention Center and Galaxy Arena.

Australia and New Zealand hotels saw revenue rise during FIFA Women's World Cup, especially in Wellington and Auckland. Singapore Expands Hotel Hiring: Singapore permits hiring from six new countries to meet growing hotel sector demands. Macau's tourism recovers with high visitor counts and new hotel offerings, including Raffles Hotel.

Malaysia is on track to surpass its international tourist target with an expected 18 million visitors, while Hong Kong saw a significant MoM increase in July, driven largely by visitors from Mainland China. Key developments include the Marriott's expansion in China and India , the transformation of Sydney's former Department of Education building into a luxury hotel, and Damac International's progress on its Maldives resort. JLL India reported mixed hotel performance, Blackstone is reinvesting in Japanese real estate due to favorable market conditions, and A bsolute Hotel Services has made key management appointments.

Choice Hotels and IHG saw new 52-week highs after reporting their earnings. Service Properties Trust also had a positive day with a 4% stock increase. IHG introduced a new conversion-focused brand in the mid-market. Marriott acquired and integrated the City Express brand. Hilton introduced a new hotel in Times Square. Several other hotel groups, including Charlestowne Hotels, 21c Museum Hotels, and Six Senses, announced new properties or renovations. Tru by Hilton opened in Mississauga, Ontario. TUI is actively expanding its hotel portfolio. Mandarin Oriental and Six Senses revealed new luxury resorts in Italy and Greece, respectively. Personnel news highlighted new appointments at LBA Hospitality and Barriere.

DJIA and S&P 500 rose, Nasdaq was up, and the 10-year treasury yield decreased. Airbnb Co-founder Joe Gebbia sold over $1 billion worth of stock, while ABNB reached a 52-week high. U.S. hotel RevPAR increased, new hotel constructions and acquisitions were announced, and a hotel opening was delayed in Portland.

Stock market performance: DJIA was up 86 points, Nasdaq up 158 points, and S&P 500 rose 33 points, while lodging stocks mostly declined. Wells Fargo raised target prices on lodging stocks, including RHP, APLE, HST , and DHR , maintaining their ratings. Various hotels underwent renovations, including Courtyard Louisville Airport and Chancellor's House Hotel , while new hotels were announced, such as the Hampton Inn & Suites in Pittsburgh and Riversuites in Philadelphia.

Stock market indices, including the DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500, experienced declines on Friday, while the 10-year treasury yield saw a slight increase. Barclays expects some REITs, such as Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and DiamondRock , to be disproportionately impacted by below-expectation revenue per available room (RevPAR), while they believe Apple Hospitality will outperform. Oppenheimer slashed price targets on several lodging stocks, including Chatham Lodging Trust , RLJ Lodging Trust , Braemar , and Apple Hospitality , while maintaining their Outperform ratings on these companies.