Total international visitor arrivals to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area are forecast to recover to the pre-pandemic levels at close to 130 million by the end of 2024. This is according to research from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management anticipates a notable resurgence in visitor arrivals to Macau, Hong Kong, and cities within the Greater Bay Area of mainland China. The longer-term tourism demand for the next five years indicates the total number of domestic visitor arrivals in the GBA, as well as visitor flows within the region, will fully recover to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024. By 2027, they expect the GBA as a whole to witness over 335 million domestic visitor arrivals along with 195 million inbound visitor arrivals. Visitor flows within the GBA are projected to reach 200 million.
Taiwan’s travel industry expects inbound tourism to recover, with five new luxury hotels opening this first half of 2024. The five hotels expected to open soon are the Sotetsu Grand Fresa Taipei Ximen, voco Chiayi, Wen Wan Resort, InterContinental Taichung, and Episode Daan Taipei. The largest is voco Chiayi, with 370 rooms. The hotel expected to have the highest average room price is the Wen Wan Resort at NT$25,000 (US$800) per night. That resort will have only 93 rooms, each with a view of Sun Moon Lake and the only hotel in the area offering hot springs, expected to launch this summer. These new hotels are also forcing existing hotels to upgrade. Howard Plaza Hotel Taipei announced yesterday they will spend billions on renovations and re-launch itself as a premium luxury hotel – The Howard Taipei, Autograph Collection (Marriott) by mid-2026. Taiwan’s tourism administration is targeting 12 million international tourists this year, up from 6.4 million in 2023.
IHG Hotels & Resorts said their InterContinental Hotels & Resorts unit made its debut in New Zealand’s largest city with the opening of InterContinental Auckland. The hotel anchors the one billion dollar Commercial Bay lifestyle precinct, which houses the city’s latest upscale office, retail, social and dining hub. The hotel is one of the first globally to showcase new offerings and experiences introduced as part of InterContinental’s extensive global brand evolution announced in 2023. The hotel offers 139 guestrooms and suites, with the majority accentuating the finest aspects of Auckland with scenic city and water views, set on the 6th to 11th floor. Advieh Restaurant & Bar is the hotel’s all-day dining destination. The Club InterContinental Lounge is expected to open in June 2024. The hotel will also open a 24-hour fitness center with direct access to Commercial Bay which features some of the country’s most premium retail outlets, as well as a rooftop bar on level 21, opening later this year, independently owned by Five Fellas.
Radisson Hotel Group announced plans to open a new beachfront Radisson Resort, situated in Anyer, Indonesia. The 150-key Radisson Resort Anyer is tucked away on a peaceful private shoreline and is set to introduce modern hospitality within the tropical ambiance of Indonesia when it opens in 2027. The hotel will have 120 rooms and 30 tent villas. It will feature private beach access, a beach club and swimming pool, all-day dining restaurant, bar, gym, kids club, meeting rooms, a spa and wellness center. The hotel is being developed by PT Usaha Jayamas Realty.
Accor announced the Chinese debut of Adagio, Europe’s long-stay aparthotels brand. Accor signed the 168 room, midscale serviced residence hotel, Adagio Chengdu, Jianyang. The property is expected to open by the end of 2025 in the Star Lane Urban Commercial Complex in Jianzhou New City, within the heart of Eastern New District of Chengdu. Adagio is known as Europe’s market leader with nearly 130 aparthotels in 16 countries.
Airai Global Corporations, backed by investors from Malaysia and Singapore, will invest a significant amount in the development of a massive integrated resort in Palau in Oceania over the course of 10 to 15 years. The state government of Airai and AGC signed a cooperative agreement for the development of the integrated resort in Airai, one of the 16 states of Palau, covering an area of 44 square kilometers. The resort will include opulent resorts, waterfront villas, buildings, a marina, seaport, theme parks and medical facilities spread across nearly 5,000 acres. The blueprint for the plan is still in preparation.
A grand opening was held on Friday for the YOHO Treasure Island World Hotel and the YOHO Resorts World Shopping Centre. The Macau property, adjacent to Rotunda de Ferreira do Amaral, combines shopping and hotel segments. The five-star hotel comprises 600 rooms, including Macau’s first Garden Onsen Suite. The shopping mall already has nearly 90% of the space leased.
ITC’s hotel group, Fortune Hotels, announced the launch of its new upscale hotel, Fortune Hosur, in the historic city of Tamil Nadu. Nestled in the heart of the industrial district of Krishnagiri, Fortune Hosur is located off the Bangalore-Chennai highway. The hotel encompasses 107 spacious rooms and includes an array of F&B outlets including all-day dining restaurant Zodiacand the Neptune bar. Wellness facilities include a fully equipped and modern gym, restful spa and a pristine outdoor swimming pool. Guests coming to Hosur will be treated to a blend of amenities ranging from wellness pursuits at the gym and tranquil spa and relaxation at the swimming pool. Versatile banquet venues and ample green lawns make the hotel a setting for corporate events, weddings and memorable social functions. Up next for Fortune Hotels will be the opening of a new property in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, taking the number of hotels in the state to six.
Cygnett Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd announced the opening of a new property in Jaipur, marking it as the hotel chain’s second property in the Pink City. The Cygnett Style Ganga is strategically situated in Jaipur’s Jagatpura area. The hotel features 45 rooms with the full-service budget hotel offering C Pavillion, an all-day dining venue and a rooftop swimming pool. The forthcoming additions of a Rooftop Restro Bar, Spa and Gym will offer even more amenities to guests.
Personnel Moves
Hilton announced the appointment of Candice D’Cruz as VP of Luxury Brands for Asia Pacific. Candice will be based in Singapore and will be responsible for luxury brands Waldorf Astoria, LXR Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels across Asia Pacific. Candice joins Hilton from Marriott International where she most recently served as VP of Luxury Brand Management and Marketing for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
