Asia-Pacific

A rebound in foreign tourist arrivals into Thailand  is pushing up the nation’s hotel occupancy rate from a record low during the pandemic. Hotel industry experts are predicting an influx of international tourists in the Philippines in the final quarter of 2022, particularly in Manila, Cebu and Clark. ITC Hotels in India could soon be spun out of conglomerate ITC. The chairman of the parent company told reporters they are exploring alternate structures for ITC Hotels, in line with industry recovery dynamics.

Hyatt Hotels Corp announced plans for its continued growth in the Asia Pacific market. They unveiled a robust pipeline of landmark luxury and lifestyle hotels and resorts. CEL Australia has listed The Sebel Hotel Mandurah for sale as Western Australia reopens to the world post-pandemic. Andrew Tan’s flagship property firm Megaworld is opening a new Belmont Hotel within the 30-hectare Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

Bloomberg reported that hotel rooms in Singapore are now the most expensive in almost a decade. Radisson Hotel Group said they are aiming to accelerate growth across Thailand. The Tongsai Bay, the first five-star luxury hotel to be built on Koh Samui, has embarked on an innovative refurbishment and development program to celebrate its 35th anniversary as a luxury eco-haven.

Ennismore announced the signing of TRIBE Bangkok Sukhumvit 39. Thai property developer Boutique Corporation has partnered with Oakwood and launched Oakwood Studios Sukhumvit Bangkok. InterContinental Hayman Island Resorts announced the opening of a new extension – 12 new free-standing Beachfront Pavilions.

STR reported China hotel RevPAR was up 48.2% year over year against very easy comps. When compared with this week in 2019, RevPAR was down -20.4%. Absolute occupancy in China last week was 59.1% versus 43.1% in the same week last year. Chengdu reported 1,000 Covid cases and the Southwestern city in China has pretty much been sealed off. About 70% of the flights have been suspended to and from the city. Hong Kong is targeting an end to hotel quarantine in November , ahead of a summit of global bankers and an international rugby competition.

Tomorrow is the first day that foreign citizens from 41 countries will be allowed to enter Macau  since the start of this crisis. The travelers will still have to undergo seven days of quarantine in a designated hotel followed by another three days of self-health monitoring. Control of theme park  Huis Ten Bosch Park in Japan  is being transferred to Hong Kong-based asset management firm  PAG . IHG Hotels & Resorts  announced the opening of its  600th hotel in Greater China with the debut of Kimpton Bamboo Grove Suzhou.

China’s southern city of Shenzhen has three neighborhoods that are the latest to be locked down due to the spread of Covid. June data from the Australian Bureau of Stations reveals outbound travelers are growing at almost three times the rate of inbound as Australians continue to flock overseas . Macau’s hotel occupancy rate fell by -25.6 percentage points year on year on July to 38.1%. That was down a percentage point from June.

STR reported China hotel RevPAR for the week ended 8/20 was up 89.7% year over year, up against an easy -43.4%. Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism said that while tourism is recovering, almost 50% of businesses in Cambodia’s main tourism hub of Siem Reap are still closed . In India, mid-sized hotel brands have embarked on aggressive plans and are signing up hotels at a record pace, encouraged by a major turnaround in performance across the country.

The Singapore government said indoor masks will no longer be mandatory from August 29 on and that masks will only be worn in medical facilities and on public transport. The bigger…

Vietnam’s tourism sector  is forecast to record US$11.1 billion in revenue in 2024, which would  exceed the 2019 tourism revenue number  of US$10.8 billion. Hotelivate said Tier-III cities with resort locations in India have seen the strongest recovery amid a rebound in leisure tourism. Accor is expanding its presence in the Philippines  with the signing of two new properties in Clark City.