Kuala Lumpur

Cambodia's tourism, rebounding to 82.5% of 2019 levels in 2023, aims to boost Chinese visitation, focusing on initiatives including potential mutual visa-free policies and increased flights.

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.

Hilton reported a solid earnings report yesterday and said full year APAC RevPAR was up 587% versus 2022. It also said Beijing, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur were standout markets for them.

Banyan Tree Group is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the change in name to Banyan Group. The company said the brand shift reflects the group’s evolution into a dynamic, multi-brand hospitality powerhouse.

The Tokyo Edition, Ginza, designed by Ian Schrager and Kengo Kuma, is now open with 86 guestrooms, including 10 suites. It follows Edition's first Japan venture with the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, and features large standard rooms and a blend of old and new architecture. IHG Hotels & Resorts and Accor announce multiple global openings for 2024, including luxury and premium hotels in various locations like France, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Thailand, and others.  Banyan Tree and China Vanke are dissolving their joint ventures, with Banyan Tree acquiring and selling stakes in different ventures for a combined 480 million yuan.

IHG chose Kuala Lumpur as the site of its 150th Hotel Indigo. The new hotel features unique amenities like a living vertical garden and a large-scale installation made from recycled plastic bottles. Pro-invest is preparing to sell an $800 million hotel portfolio, including eight Holiday Inn Express properties across Australia and New Zealand. Best Western is launching its first Aiden property in Southeast Asia in Phu Yen, Vietnam.

Today's report highlights significant growth in global search results for inbound travel to China, with Trip.com noting a nearly 40% increase in 3Q23. New properties and expansions are underway, including The Grand Mercure Lampung Hotel in Indonesia and the first Four Points by Sheraton in Kuala Lumpur. The Imperial in New Delhi is undergoing a significant reinvention, including refurbishing historical furniture and revamping its food and beverage operations.

Wyndham Grand debuts in Kuala Lumpur and Hilton's Curio Collection enters India, while Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point launches after a significant refurbishment. Hyatt and IHCL plan extensive expansions in India, while Genting invests in Sentosa. The Westin Tokyo undergoes a major makeover, and Candeo Hotels integrates a historic temple in Osaka.

Sentosa Island in Singapore is on track to recover its pre-pandemic visitor numbers within one to two years, with new projects like Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa and Sentosa Sensoryscape expected to boost visitation. Macau SAR experienced a -28.6% decline in visitor arrivals in September, but it anticipates a potential increase in October, aiming to reach 24 million visitors by the end of the year. Accor has become the world's largest player in extended-stay hotels outside of the United States, offering various brands such as Novotel Living and Adagio, with plans to open new properties in different locations.

The 434-room Conrad Seoul, a Hilton-branded hotel in South Korea, is back on the market for $750 million. Hyatt Hotels Corporation has inaugurated the Hyatt Place Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia's first Hyatt Place and the first international hotel in the Bukit Jalil area. Iconic Penang Sdn Bhd is developing the Iconic Marjorie Hotel, a 298-room five-star Marriott property in Penang, Malaysia.