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Asia-Pacific
Marriott Promises 100 Properties in India by 2025
STR reported China hotel RevPAR, the week ending April 8, was up 108.5% on a year-over-year basis. It was up against an easy -49.5% comparable in 2022. STR said Melbourne’s hotel occupancy was the highest for any month since February 2020 in March 2023. Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano was interviewed at the HICSA Conference in Bengaluru, India this week. He said Marriott plans to expand to at least 10 new cities in the country in the next two years with over 100 properties . -
Asia-Pacific
Fosun Expects Sustained Chinese Tourism Boom
Hotels were reported to be full in parts of the Philippines during the Holy Week break. The Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern District said Macau received over 300,000 visitors during the four-day Easter holiday period . Fosun Tourism expects a sustained boom in Chinese tourism in the second and third quarters. Fosun is planning expansions in resort projects in China’s tier I and tier II cities. -
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. -
Asia-Pacific
Asian Hotels Begin to See Chinese Tourists Returning
UNWTO’s forward-looking scenarios for 2023 suggests global international tourist arrivals could reach 80%-95% of pre-pandemic levels this year. Cambodia is expecting to receive up to four million international tourists this year, accelerated by China announcing its reopening policy. 2022 brought some 2.28 million international tourists to Cambodia with China making up only 106,000 of them. The Macau Hotel Association warned that local hotels may need to cap their maximum guest capacity at 70% to 89% during the Lunar New Year holiday period due to a shortage of staff in operations. -
Asia-Pacific
Thailand May Add Tourism Fee and Expand Domestic Hotel Subsidy
Hotels in Thailand still want the government to accelerate the launch of the new phase of the domestic stimulus scheme even with an influx of Chinese tourists expected to show up. Hyatt Hotels announced the opening of Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach , the debut of the Andaz brand in Thailand . IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened its first Crowne Plaza hotel in Bangladesh in partnership with Doreen Hotels & Resorts -
Asia-Pacific
Thailand Drops Vaccination Entry Policy
Thailand rescinded its entry policy which requires visitors to show proof of a Covid-19 vaccination, citing sufficient immunization levels in China and the rest of the world. Vietnamnet reported thousands of people lined up at the Mong Cai border gates this past weekend to cross into China. The main requirements to cross were removed on December 31. The first Marriott International property to open on the North side of Phu Quoc in Vietnam has launched. -
Asia-Pacific
Macau Announces End to Zero-Covid Policy
Macau follows what China’s leadership tells them to and now it is confirmed that Zero Covid is dead. ONYX Hospitality Group unveiled plans to strengthen its serviced apartment brand, Shama . The Novotel Bali Benoa has reopened following a major renovation that will reposition the beachfront resort. -
Asia-Pacific
China Likely to Keep Zero-Covid Strategy in Place
STR reported China hotel data for the week ending 10/8. China hotel RevPAR was down -16.5% year over year (Golden Week). When compared with the same week in 2019, RevPAR was down -12.7%. People’s Daily , considered the Communist Party’s way of getting the message out to the Chinese, said China should stick with its zero-Covid strategy . Hyatt Place Huangshan Train Station , the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Huangshan, is officially open. -
Asia-Pacific
Sydney Hotel ADR Highest Since February 2018
STR said Sydney’s monthly hotel performance reached a pandemic-era high, according to preliminary September 2022 data from STR. Singapore international visitor arrivals continue to be strong but The Business Times said the momentum appears to have slowed down in recent months. InterContinental Sydney announced the completion of its extensive renovation program to welcome the hotel’s next chapter. -
Asia-Pacific
Europe Will Supersede APAC as Leading Travel Region
A new report from international travel industry analysts, the Centre for Aviation , predicts the Asia Pacific region will no longer be the world’s largest travel region by the end of 2022. Hyatt Hotels announced the opening of the Fuji Speedway Hotel in Shizuoka, Japan , the first property within The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand in Japan. Business Line reported Accor plans to divest its stake in Indian ventures , opting to go asset-light through management contract deals.