-
Asia-Pacific
OYO Plans to Repay Debt Prior to IPO
IHG Hotels & Resorts ventures into Thailand’s Golden Triangle with luxury properties, while Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok undergoes extensive renovations. Six Senses opens a new resort in the Maldives, and Accor expands its portfolio across the Pacific region. OYO plans to alleviate debt through a buyback process before its long-anticipated IPO, while Indian Hotels Company inaugurates Ginger Mumbai Airport and Sarovar Hotels & Resorts debuts in Gujarat. Atmosphere Core introduces new hires and strategic shifts in the Maldives, emphasizing culinary strategies and upcoming projects across various brands and locations. -
Asia-Pacific
The Ascott Limited Unveils The Crest Collection in Asia
China hotel RevPAR for the week ending October 14th increased by 73.4% YoY, with a -35.5% comp from 2022, but was still down -18.3% compared to the same week in 2019. The Ascott Limited introduced The Crest Collection brand in Asia, opening three properties in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia with heritage-themed hospitality experiences. Various hotel developments and transactions include Royal Orchid & Regenta’s new property in Mysuru, a 4-star hotel sale in Vadodara, Lemon Tree Hotels’ franchise agreement in Vadodara, Kenilworth Hotel’s upcoming project in Coimbatore, Bong Sen Corp’s plan to sell assets in Vietnam, and BWHSM Hotels’ expansion in Bangkok. Pride Hotels Group appointed Chandrashekhar Belose as Corporate Chief Engineer, focusing on sustainability measures. -
Asia-Pacific
Accor Plans 30 New Hotels in India Within Five Years
Chinese tourists flocked to the Middle East during Golden Week, benefiting destinations like Dubai, Thailand, and Singapore. Plans were unveiled for a hotel in Braddon, Australia, with a unique design inspired by canyons, featuring 119 suites and retail tenancies. Accor plans to open 30 new properties in India, focusing on tier 2 and tier 3 cities, introducing additional brands like Swissotel, Movenpick, and Handwritten Collection. -
Asia-Pacific
Vietnam’s Visitation Rate Is 69% of Pre-Covid Levels
In Vietnam, foreign tourist arrivals for the first nine months of 2023 increased significantly by 4.7 times compared to the previous year, with a 13.4% decrease in September from August. Cambodia witnessed a 251% year-on-year increase in foreign visitors for the first eight months of the year, targeting 4.5 to 5 million arrivals in total for the year. Macau’s visitor arrivals during Golden Week exceeded 150,000 on the third day, with plans for Galaxy Macau Phase 4 to open in 2026 with fewer hotel rooms than initially planned. -
Asia-Pacific
Thailand’s Ambitious Plan to Attract 40 Million Tourists in 2023
Chinese hotel RevPAR surged by 59.6% YoY but remained 5.1% below 2019 levels for the week ending September 16th. The Philippines is close to surpassing its 2023 tourist arrival target, with 3.87 million foreign visitors contributing Php316.9 billion in revenue. Thailand aims to attract a record 40 million tourists in 2023 through visa-free systems, promotional efforts, and expanding direct flights, targeting international travelers with a focus on Chinese visitors. -
Asia-Pacific
IHG to Add 58 Hotels in Southwest Asia Over Five Years
Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix expects lower attendance in 2023 but higher receipts compared to pre-Covid levels, with foreign attendees driving up hotel room rates. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is expanding into New Zealand, adding three properties to its portfolio in the Oceania region. Mana Hotels expands beyond Rajasthan with a new homestay in Rishikesh, while IHG Hotels & Resorts plans to add more hotels to its Indian portfolio, with a focus on Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands. -
Asia-Pacific
Asia Pacific Hotel Pipeline Hits All-Time High
In Q2 2023, the Asia Pacific hotel construction pipeline reached a record high of 1,936 projects with 401,766 rooms. Luxury, upper upscale, and upscale projects dominated the pipeline. Countries with the largest pipelines are India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan. Macau has surpassed Hong Kong as the preferred travel destination for mainland Chinese travelers in 2023, receiving nearly twice as many visitors. Around 50.9% of outbound Chinese travelers chose Macau, while Hong Kong received about 26.7%. Mainland Chinese tourists prefer destinations in East Asia and Southeast Asia. Accor is expanding its hotel offerings. They are introducing the Handwritten Collection in Thailand with the Andaman Beach Hotel Phuket, opening a Mercure hotel in Lucknow, India, and launching Lords Inn hotels in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and Kanki, West Bengal. Accor has also partnered with Reliance Industries and Renest Hotels & Resorts for new properties. -
Asia-Pacific
Hilton to Open 730 Properties in China
The Philippines Department of Tourism anticipates surpassing industry targets for tourism recovery this year, with foreign tourism receipts of Php 286 billion from January to July, reflecting over 66% international arrivals recovery, outperforming the ASEAN average of 54%. Macau experienced a significant 24.9% increase in visitor arrivals in July, totaling 2,759,544, with mainland China contributing 1,910,371 arrivals. The Philippines led the source market for foreign arrivals, contributing to Macau’s total of 14,405,421 visitors for the first seven months of 2023, marking a 310% YoY growth. Hilton plans to open over 730 properties in mainland China in the next decade, capitalizing on rising demand from the middle class amid a tourism rebound. Hilton achieved a 69.9% occupancy rate in the Asia Pacific region during Q2 2023, with a remarkable 79% year-on-year increase in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR). -
Asia-Pacific
Malaysia and Hong Kong See Significant MoM Tourism Bumps
Malaysia is on track to surpass its international tourist target with an expected 18 million visitors, while Hong Kong saw a significant MoM increase in July, driven largely by visitors from Mainland China. Key developments include the Marriott’s expansion in China and India , the transformation of Sydney’s former Department of Education building into a luxury hotel, and Damac International’s progress on its Maldives resort. JLL India reported mixed hotel performance, Blackstone is reinvesting in Japanese real estate due to favorable market conditions, and A bsolute Hotel Services has made key management appointments. -
Asia-Pacific
Macau and Hong Kong Boom While Vietnam Slumps
Vietnam’s condotel market remains sluggish with excess inventory, unlikely to recover before 2025. Grand Ho Tram Strip casino resort introduces Ixora Ho Tram Fusion luxury residences to boost sales. Guangdong , China experiences high visa applications for Macau and Hong Kong due to increased tourism.