Mercure Hotels

The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the country has decided to resume outbound group travel to selected countries including Sri Lanka early next month. The Philippines Dept. of Tourism said it is aiming to attract 4.8 million foreign visitors in 2023, almost double the 2.6 million in 2022. The initial goal in 2022 was 1.7 million arrivals. Sri Lanka Tourism is looking at attracting 1.5 million tourist arrivals for 2023. They are optimistic about achieving revenue of US$2.8 billion from tourism for this year.

STR said China hotel RevPAR the week ended 12/24  was down -21.9% year over year and down -38.9% versus the same week in 2019. Marriott International said its transformation of the Sheraton Hotels & Resorts brand  continues to build momentum across the globe. TFE Hotels  will launch into 2023,  opening three new-build hotels  in the first half. The  Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne  will open in Australia in February.

Accor announced its list of highly anticipated properties that will open in 2023 . Marriott International announced it expects to reach 50 hotels in Thailand by mid-2023, including adding an anticipated eight hotels next year. Anantara Veli Maldives Resort reopened on December 1, following nine months of extensive renovations.

STR reported China hotel RevPAR for the week ended December 3. RevPAR was down -2.6% on a year-over-year basis while down -40.2% against the same week in 2019. More reports are coming out about China’s decision to roll back Covid-Zero rules . The latest STR report, commissioned by Arabian Travel Market, conducted at the end of September 2022, suggests the GCC region now has over 170,000 hotel rooms under active development.

STR reported China hotel RevPAR for the week ended 11/19. RevPAR was up 9.8% year over year in China while down -37.6% versus the same week in 2019. CapitaLand’s Ascott Limited unveiled its refreshed Somerset brand. This is the second largest brand in Ascott’s Global Portfolio. Crisil Ratings said the Indian hotel industry is likely to witness 23% growth in revenue this fiscal over the pre-pandemic level, driven by a strong recovery in business travel and continued traction in leisure travel.

STR reported China hotel RevPAR for the week ended 11/12 was up 17.5% year over year. China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced it would continue to suspend outbound tours by mainland travel agencies. In the recent China Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics , LE analysts report that China’s total hotel construction pipeline, at the close of Q3 2022, stands at 3,604 projects/684,288 rooms.

Shanghai ordered mass testing of all 1.3 million residents amidst another lockdown, Wuhan locked down 900,000 people for at least five days, while in Macau the MGM Cotai casino resort was locked down after a dealer tested positive. The hospitality sector in India  is looking at rapidly adding managed hotels to its portfolio. Hong Kong -based Langham Hospitality Group has launched an upper midscale brand called Ying’nFlo .

Accor said they signed an agreement with Panthers Group for a new five-star Pullman hotel at the Penrith Panthers precinct in Western Sydney . InterContinental Khao Yai is a new resort in Thailand , located in Nakhon Ratchasima province in Khao Yai National Park . IHG , in cooperation with Bao Quan Investment & Construction Joint Stock Company , will open its first Crowne Plaza hotel in Vinh Yen City in the northern province of Vinh Phuc this November.

The South China Morning Post painted a picture in Hong Kong of hotels slashing rates to fill rooms now that quarantine stays are gone. Accor announced the signing of a management agreement for a new dual-branded hotel in Thailand’s capital. A new $35 million hotel on Kaikoura’s waterfront has launched. The four-story, 120-room hotel in the New Zealand town has a restaurant and art gallery open to the public, located on the town’s esplanade.

Fitch Ratings revised the Maldives’ outlook to Negative from Stable while affirming its Long Term Currency Issuer Default Rating at B-. Hilton announced plans to expand the presence of Conrad Hotels & Resorts through Conrad Singapore Orchard . Singapore’s Far East Organization is planning to develop a new hotel in Sydney’s Rocks district , with a proposal to redevelop the Clocktower Square with a luxury new property.