Indonesia

A 60 member House committee in Thailand that is tasked with considering the possibility of developing Thailand’s first legal casinos continues to have trouble completing the task at hand.

The tensions with the Maldives have Indian tourists diverting to other coastal tourist destinations and Sri Lanka is already reaping the benefits, surpassing Maldives in the number of tourists for the first time.

Fosun International was reported by Reuters to be exploring the sale of a minority stake in Club Med, targeting a valuation of US$800 million for the whole business. Reuters said Fosun has been in discussions informally with potential buyers and advisors about the sale but no firm bid has emerged.

Taiwan’s travel industry expects inbound tourism to recover, with five new luxury hotels opening this first half of 2024.

In 2023, the Taj brand strengthened its presence in key metro and commercial cities, including Delhi, Cochin, Dhaka, and Bhutan. Vivanta and SeleQtions collectively added 17 hotels while Ginger signed agreements for six new hotels.

Savills Vietnam predicts a substantial increase in hotel real estate supply in Vietnam, focusing on Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, due to new projects from 2024 to 2026.

Sydney hotels achieved their highest occupancy levels on New Year’s Eve at 94% followed by 93.8% on December 2nd. There were only two days in the month when occupancy was not above the 60% mark.

There are notable expansion and renovations worldwide, including the opening of the Hyatt Place Bodh Gaya in India, the launch of Mondrian Hong Kong, and the extensive refurbishment of Peppers Marysville in Australia's Yarra Valley. Osaka, Japan, aims to attract 20 million visitors annually with the new MGM Osaka resort. Mandarin Oriental announces plans for three unique resorts in Setouchi, Japan.

STR reported a 54.2% increase in China's hotel RevPAR compared to last year, with Jakarta hotels reaching record occupancy and RevPAR levels, boosted by events like a Coldplay concert. Accor announced the opening of five new properties in Asia, along with the first Movenpick by Accor destination in Qingdao, China, as part of a strategic alliance with Sunmei Group, planning over 400 new properties across China. IHG, Radisson, and Wyndham announced new hotel openings in Amritsar, Surat, Goa, and Cebu, with IHG's voco Amritsar Airport and Radisson's Uday Palace Navsari targeting diverse locations.

Notable are the predictions of 3% to 8% hotel rate hikes in 2024, with Asia leading in occupancy growth. Accor's execution of management agreements for 69 properties across Asia, enhancing its portfolio with over 16,500 keys, is a major development. The reopening of the Mandarin Oriental Singapore after a multi-million dollar transformation underscores significant refurbishment investments in the industry.