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Asia-Pacific
China Moves to Ease International Travel Requirements
Chinese authorities signaled a move to ease international travel requirements, just a couple of days after President Xi reiterated his Zero-Covid policy. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Sun Hung Kai Properties announced plans for a new Four Seasons hotel in historic Suzhou, China . Marriott International’s Ritz-Carlton brand announced the Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne will open its doors in the first quarter of 2023. -
Asia-Pacific
Accor to Add Five-Star Property in Sydney
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. -
Asia-Pacific
Singapore Expects to Recover 80% of Pre-Covid Visitors
Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth said Singapore’s visitor tally this year should be on the higher end of their 4 million to 6 million projection from July. According to September 2022 data from STR , Middle East & Africa was the only world region to show an increase in overall hotel pipeline activity at the end of the third quarter. JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group’s Hotel Investment Highlights Asia Pacific 2H22 said a combination of pent-up demand, a resurgence of cross-border transactions, and a buoyant travel industry will lift Asia Pacific hotel investment to over US$10.7 billion in 2022. -
Asia-Pacific
China RevPAR Last Week Down YoY
Hotel RevPAR in China was down -35.5% year over year while down -52.5% when up against the same week in 2019. Hyatt Hotels announced the opening of Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu , marking the debut of the lifestyle brand in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Absolute Hotel Services Group announced the first Absolute Collection property in Vietnam with the signing of Lamia Bao Loc Resort. -
Asia-Pacific
Hong Kong Hotels Slash Rates
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. -
Asia-Pacific
China Won’t Ease Zero-Covid Policy Anytime Soon
The commentary from President Xi at the National Congress in Beijing certainly did not sound like the Zero-Covid policy that has hampered tourism and business travel in and outside of China is going to change anytime soon. Anantara Chiang Mai Resort recently hosted an event to celebrate the renovations at the property. Chatrium Hospitality is set to unveil Chatrium Grand Bangkok on November 28, 2022. The hotel is located in the city’s Siam area and is an enhanced version of Chatrium’s luxury collection. -
Asia-Pacific
Maldives’ Outlook Downgraded Despite Tourism Recovery
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. -
Asia-Pacific
China Likely to Keep Zero-Covid Strategy in Place
STR reported China hotel data for the week ending 10/8. China hotel RevPAR was down -16.5% year over year (Golden Week). When compared with the same week in 2019, RevPAR was down -12.7%. People’s Daily , considered the Communist Party’s way of getting the message out to the Chinese, said China should stick with its zero-Covid strategy . Hyatt Place Huangshan Train Station , the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Huangshan, is officially open. -
Asia-Pacific
Sydney Hotel ADR Highest Since February 2018
STR said Sydney’s monthly hotel performance reached a pandemic-era high, according to preliminary September 2022 data from STR. Singapore international visitor arrivals continue to be strong but The Business Times said the momentum appears to have slowed down in recent months. InterContinental Sydney announced the completion of its extensive renovation program to welcome the hotel’s next chapter. -
Asia-Pacific
Golden Week Covid Outbreaks Slow Recovery
While Golden Week was a bit tarnished for hoteliers in China , it created a breeding ground for Covid cases and that was not a disappointment. The number of Adelaide hotel rooms filled in one night hit a new high last month. For Macau , a Covid boom means new quarantine and other measures, bringing down the mood after there were 163,000 mainland visitors entering the city during the seven days of Golden Week.