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Asia-Pacific

Indian Premium Hotels Projected to See 80 Percent Rise in Revenue

A Crisil Market Intelligence report predicted the revenue of premium hotels in India will rise 80% this current fiscal year. The Macao Government Tourism office said the number of mainland visitors to Macau reached 50% of pre-pandemic levels while the rebound of Hong Kong visitors is even stronger. The MGTO also said they completed the approval process for the Raffles at Galaxy Macau hotel tower, part of Cotai’s Galaxy Macau Phase 3 project.
North America

Hotel Industry Expected to Weather Potential Recession

Deutsche Bank issued a report, commenting on what they think the trading action in gaming and lodging stocks are telling them. Jefferies believes the primary issue affecting stock prices in the group the past week is the banking crisis, notably the pressure on regional banks and its prospective prospective impact on financing of new properties. Most economists agree the U.S. will experience a recession to some degree in 2023, but hotel industry analysts say sustainable job growth, strong hotel rates and demand, and the yet-unrealized wave of international travelers will help the industry keep its head above water.
Asia-Pacific

Phuket Gets Boost From Russian Travelers

Malaysia reopened its borders nearly a year ago and finally its hotel industry is getting back to pre-pandemic occupancy levels. The resort island of Phuket in Thailand has seen a surge of Russian travelers in the high season. That adds to a jump in regional visitation from India , Malaysia and Singapore . Reuters published an article on how the belief that airline stocks and online travel agencies would be the best Chinese travel reopening play was wrong.
North America

SVB Collapse Doesn't Impact Booking or Pricing

Truist said they have seen no noticeable changes to overall corporate booking and pricing trends in the first 10 days following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank . On March 20, Membership Collective Group commenced trading on the NYSE under its new name and ticker, Soho House & Co Inc. / SHCO. In a joint venture, NewcrestImage and Hospitality Capital Partners have acquired 16 hotels with a total of 2,155 rooms for $137.3 million from Service Properties Trust .
North America

U.S. Hotel Performance Stays Strong

The DJIA rose 75 points, Nasdaq was up 117, the S&P 500 gained 12 points and the 10-year treasury yield was down another .09 to 3.41%. Lodging stocks were mixed. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust gave a 1Q operating update, showing the quarter is in line with their recent guidance. Tourism to and from the U.S . has gradually recovered in 2022 without fully returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Commerce Department.
Asia-Pacific

Marriott Talks APAC Map Quest 

STR reported China hotel data for the week ended March 18. China hotel RevPAR rose 134% on a year-over-year basis, up against an easy -46% comp result in 2022. Marriott International announced the milestone opening of  hotel number 1,000  in Asia Pacific , signaling its continued confidence in the long-term growth potential of the region. Sabre said they have found strong demand among Chinese outbound travelers, despite high airfare costs.
North America

U.S. Interest Rate Increase Pushes Lodging Stocks Lower

STR gave U.S. lodging data for the week ended 3/18. US hotel RevPAR rose 10.4% year over year. When compared with the same week in 2019, US hotel RevPAR was up 20.8%. We can’t tell if the markets genuinely hate U.S. Fed Chief Jerome Powell or if the guy should just have a stand-in for his press conferences. Redburn Partners lowered its rating on InterContinental Hotels Group to Sell. UBS Group downgraded shares of Melia Hotels International from a Buy rating to a Sell rating.
Asia-Pacific

Hong Kong Sees 1 Million Visitors for First Time Since 2019

The Hong Kong Tourism Board announced Hong Kong saw a provisional visitor arrival of 1.462 million in February, three times what arrived in January. Indian Hotels Company announced the opening of Ginger Chennai, OMR in Tamil Nadu in India. The World Trade Center Association and the Merlin Group have partnered to develop a World Trade Center in the Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority area, Salt Lake, West Bengal.
North America

Aimbridge Acquires 71 Terrapin Management Contracts

Aimbridge Hospitality has acquired the management arm of Terrapin Hospitality , with 71 hotels located in 21 states. This aggregates to over 8,100 keys transitioning to Aimbridge management. B.Riley lowered their price target on Ashford Inc. to $14 from $18, they maintained their Neutral rating on the stock. IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of a new Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hotel in Glendale, California .
Asia-Pacific

Nepal's Bust of a Peak Season

Nepal hotels are complaining they are not seeing the deluge of reservations they would expect at this time of year. Asset World Public Company Limited signed a hotel management agreement with IHG to launch the Kimpton Pattaya and further demonstrate confidence in Thailand’s tourism industry. ANA Holdings and IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan signed a comprehensive commercial agreement.
North America

Red Roof to Add 50 Properties This Year

Red Roof will open 50 properties, new builds and conversions , in 2023, representing 60% year-on-year growth. The Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association wants the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of short-term rental regulations in Clark County, Nevada. The newly minted penny stocks, VCSA and SOND, both traded down to new lows, dropping another -4% and -7% respectively. SLNA hit a new low, down another -7%.
Asia-Pacific

Vietnam to Relax Visa Rules to Boost Visitors

Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed his cabinet to relax certain visa requirements in a bid to attract more foreign tourists to the country. The Economic Times said many more hotels will be signed in India this year  compared to last year with some chains even considering doubling their signing numbers from last year. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced strong growth in Asia Pacific as it closed out 2022, diversifying its offerings for guests and owners across the region.