Japan

Radisson Hotel Group expands its portfolio in the Asia Pacific region, adding over 60 hotels in Vietnam , India , Thailand , the Philippines , and China . IHG Hotels & Resorts introduces Vignette Collection to Phnom Penh , Cambodia, with the upcoming opening of Vignette Collection Phnom Penh Odom, following the success of Six Senses Krabey Island. Hilton opens Conrad Shenzhen in China's Qianhai business district, featuring 300 rooms and providing elevated luxury accommodations in the city's financial center.

Hotel RevPAR in China increased by 41.5% for the week, compared to a year ago. New hotel openings include InterContinental Shenzhen WECC in China, Novotel Rayong Star Convention Centre in Thailand , and INNSiDE by Melia hotel in Bangkok . NH Collection brand will debut in the Maldives with NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort , and Mondrian Singapore Duxton has opened in Singapore's Chinatown.

Japan's hotel sector has seen a significant increase in overseas investment, reaching $691 million year-to-date. Construction and finance costs have led to the cancellation or delay of hotel projects in Australia, resulting in a reduction of almost 1,000 planned hotel rooms. Macau experienced a 270% year-on-year increase in visitor arrivals in May, with Mainland China being the largest source of visitors.

American visitor arrivals to Japan increased by 3.6% in the first four months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2019, making the U.S. the only Western nation, apart from Mexico, to experience a rise in tourism to Japan. Hongkong Land unveiled its $8 billion Shanghai West Bund Financial Hub project, which will include office buildings, luxury residential apartments, hotels, a public art center, and retail spaces. The development will be completed in three phases by 2027, and Hongkong Land plans to roll out 10 new developments in China in the next five years. Macau Legend Development announced its intention to sell its Laos gaming operation for $45 million to a Japanese citizen, as the company has faced financial difficulties and its owner has been arrested. After the sale, Macau Legend will have remaining plans to build a hotel and casino in Cape Verde.

Thai hotel occupancy rates drop below 50% as government campaign termination impacts domestic and international markets. IHG Hotels & Resorts opens voco Ma Belle Danang in Vietnam . OYO plans to add 300 hill station hotels to its portfolio by August 2023 and aims for 1,800 new hotels overall.

Marriott International partners with Hiap Hoe Limited to bring the Aloft Hotels brand to Singapore, opening the largest Aloft branded hotel in the world with 785 rooms in Zhongshan Park. Pan Pacific Hotels Group unveils its flagship hotel, Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore, featuring terraced greenery and a unique Atelier-in-Residence program, along with three dining concepts and a gin distillery. Gran Melia Nha Trang in Vietnam is set to open as an all-villa property with private pool villas, Asia's first outpost of the Spanish restaurant Hispania, and a range of wellness offerings.

The global hotel industry is seeing increased activity with notable transactions in Vietnam, Macau, Japan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Thailand, and India. Key deals include Marriott International's operation of seven hotels from Vinpearl in Vietnam, Accor's new Novotel in Nara, Japan, and DoubleDragon's launch of the largest hotel in Bonifacio Global City in the Philippines. Several hotel brands are expanding their footprints, with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts signing two agreements with Fulcrum Ventures Asia and Marriott International's Fairfield brand entering Agra, India.

Chinese domestic tourism rebounds strongly, reaching 119% of pre-pandemic levels during the May Day holiday, while international travel remains slow. Fitch Ratings highlights the encouraging recovery trajectory of the domestic tourism industry, driven by pent-up demand and limited outbound flight options. Despite the increase in domestic trips, spending remains nearly flat due to factors such as low-income travelers, visits to lower-tier cities, and short-distance trips.

A white paper on the Corporate Travel Management Market said some 84.5% of companies in China are expecting an increase in domestic travel business budgets for 2023 . Cambodia is making plans to finish developing large tourist areas along its coast on the Gulf of Thailand. Dusit Hotels and Resorts is set to expand its global and domestic footprints by opening three hotels in the next 30 days, including two new properties in Bangkok.

Fitch Ratings said China’s domestic travel has seen a significant uptick in the first quarter of this year and is likely to gain momentum in the second quarter. Trip.com said the first round of outbound travel fever in China is coming ahead of the May Labor Day . The construction of Galaxy Entertainment’s Raffles at Galaxy Macau and Andaz Macau , as well as the resort of the phase 3 hotel project for the Cotai casino , is basically complete.