SureStay

Sri Lanka aims to attract three million tourists in 2024, with new hotel developments and significant growth in Indian visitors leading the way.

Global tourism rebounded strongly in 2024, with international arrivals reaching 98% of pre-pandemic levels, driven by post-pandemic demand, increased air connectivity, and growth in key regions like the Middle East, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

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.

In May, Indonesia saw a 20.1% year-over-year rise in foreign tourist arrivals to 1.15 million, with hotel occupancy reaching 54%, the highest since December 2023.

Malaysian budget hotel owners are raising room rates due to increasing operational costs and taxes, amidst pressures from unlicensed accommodations.

Taylor Swift's concerts in Singapore led to record hotel performance in March, with significant increases in occupancy, average daily rate, and revenue per available room.

In 2024, the Maldives surpassed 500,000 visitors, led by China as the top source, followed by Russia, Italy, and the UK, with an average stay of 7.8 days.

A new report for 2023 shows 85% of markets with RevPAR higher than 2019. In terms of top-line performance, that means most markets have recovered from the significant declines caused by the pandemic.

Hilton announced LivSmart Studios by Hilton is the official name of its new studio apartment-style, extended-stay hotel brand. LivSmart Studios already has more that 350 deals in various stages of negotiation.

Morgan Stanley favors C-Corps over hotel REITs for their growth potential and downside protection, while Barclays upgraded Park Hotels and Resorts due to its high dividend yield. Choice Hotels missed estimates, and the potential acquisition by Wyndham remains uncertain, with suggestions for possible negotiation tactics.   Various hotels reported earnings and developments, with openings, auctions, and construction plans in different regions, including California, Texas, and North Carolina.