Kyoto

A new report says that hotel franchising is rapidly expanding in Southeast Asia, providing local hotel owners significant growth opportunities despite market challenges.

Six Senses Kyoto, the brand's first urban hotel in Japan, has opened in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, featuring 81 rooms and suites, a spa with unique treatments, and diverse dining options.

Marriott International and HMI Hotel Group are rebranding seven HMI properties across five major Japanese cities to align with global hospitality trends.

The Maldivian tourism sector experienced a significant revenue decline last year, with resort revenue dropping by $529 million and total tourism revenue decreasing from $5.4 billion to $5 billion, attributed partly to a shift towards guesthouses over traditional resorts.

India's hospitality sector in 2023 saw a record investment of $401 million, marking a near fourfold increase from 2022, with robust growth in hotel transactions, signings, and openings, particularly in tier-two cities, and an optimistic revenue growth forecast for FY2025 driven by spiritual tourism.

Berjaya Land Bhd plans to expand its presence in Japan by developing at least ten Four Seasons hotels and resorts, starting with the groundbreaking for the Four Seasons Resort & Private Residences Okinawa.

Chinese travelers flocked to tourist hotspots across Asia over the Lunar New Year break, with visitor numbers and spending in destinations including Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia exceeding pre-Covid levels.

The Singapore Tourism Board said tourism receipts in 2023 surpassed their forecast. This was driven by key markets such as Indonesia, China and Malaysia, the top three contributors in 2023 with 2.3 million, 1.4 million and 1.1 million visitors respectively.

Marriott International had the pleasure of debuting their Moxy Hotels brand in India while also expanding their JW Marriott brand to the city of Surat, Gujarat.

Macau expects 28 million visitors in 2023, nearing 74% of 2019 levels, with predictions for further growth in 2024. New hotel developments and renovations across Asia , including the Courtyard by Marriott in Kyoto , Japan , and the Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel in Thailand . Radisson expands in South-east Asia, targeting markets like Sri Lanka and the Philippines , while Sun Siyam Pasikudah in Sri Lanka and Lemon Tree Hotels in Karnataka, India , announce new properties.