Novotel

Marriott International opened its 50th property in Malaysia, the Penang Marriott Complex, featuring three hotels, while announcing plans to shift six Samhi Hotels in India to managed operations by October 2024.

IHG Hotels & Resorts is expanding its presence in Thailand by introducing its new brand, Garner, and aiming to double its hotel portfolio in the country.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) laid out tourism recovery scenarios for the Asia Pacific, predicting a slow recovery with 2024 arrivals still 31% below 2019 levels, and a range of outcomes for Thailand by 2026.

International visitor arrivals to Vietnam increased by 58.4% to over 8.8 million in the first half of 2024, with South Korea being the largest source market.

Fitch Ratings projects China outbound tourism to the Asia Pacific region will recover to 86% of pre-Covid levels in 2024, with full APAC tourism recovery expected by the first half of 2025.

ITC shareholders approved the company's plan to spin off its hotel business, retaining a 40% stake, with overwhelming support from minority shareholders.

Accor has opened its 700th hotel in China, the Sofitel Shanghai North Bund, coinciding with the Sofitel brand's sixtieth anniversary and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

Hilton aims to triple its India portfolio to 75 hotels in three to four years, expanding into emerging markets like Ayodhya and introducing luxury brands, with a focus on tier-I markets and the growing wedding segment.

India's hospitality sector in 2023 saw a record investment of $401 million, marking a near fourfold increase from 2022, with robust growth in hotel transactions, signings, and openings, particularly in tier-two cities, and an optimistic revenue growth forecast for FY2025 driven by spiritual tourism.

Blackwells Capital attempted to buy Braemar Hotels & Resorts, failed, and is now trying to elect four directors to BHR's board despite owning a minimal amount of shares, facing opposition and legal action from BHR.