Melbourne

STR reported strong hotel performance in China, with an 88.7% year-over-year increase in RevPAR for the week ending October 28th. The region is showing signs of rapid post-pandemic recovery, reaching occupancy levels similar to Europe and America. Macau recorded over 22.72 million visitor arrivals, with a recent increase in daily arrivals, and the first 10 months of the year reaching 68% of 2019 levels. Various hotel-related developments and partnerships were announced by brands like IHG, Accor, and CapitaLand Ascott Trust across Asia, including new property openings, divestments, and expansions, highlighting continued growth in the region's hospitality industry.

ForwardKeys data reveals that Asia Pacific destinations have seen a travel recovery of over 50% of pre-pandemic international arrivals in the first three quarters of the year, with fourth-quarter bookings improving. Marriott International has opened three premium brand hotels in Vietnam, expanding its portfolio to 19 hotels in the country. S Hotels and Resorts will invest $27 million in renovating resorts in Thailand and Fiji, including upgrades to three SAii Resorts and Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, with renovations starting in 2023 and premium rooms available for booking from December 2023.

Asian ultraluxury resort companies are expanding into Japan to cater to wealthy overseas travelers and take advantage of the weak yen, with Soneva Holdings planning to open resorts in Japan by 2027 and investing 100 billion yen in new properties. Foreign investment in Japanese hotels increased significantly in recent years, with 2022 seeing a sixfold increase compared to the previous year, and an expected total of 128.5 billion yen in investments in the first six months of the current year. International hotel brands like InterContinental, Wyndham, Marriott, Hyatt, and Accor are actively expanding their presence in various regions, including India, Vietnam, China, Thailand, and Australia, offering a diverse range of accommodations and amenities.

Efforts to attract Chinese tourists to Southeast Asia are falling short, with drops in arrivals to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam; Thailand's visa exemption offers a temporary boost. Numerous hotel developments across Asia include expansions by Amora Group, partnerships in Malaysia and Indonesia, and potential property transformations in Singapore and Australia. DigiPlus Interactive Corp. aims to resurrect a $500 million casino resort on Boracay Island, hoping for favorable response from the Marcos administration.

Hotel RevPAR in China surged by 77.2% year over year due to Golden Week, with a 53.2% increase compared to 2019. Japan's hotel industry saw an elevated average daily rate in July but struggled with occupancy recovery. Melbourne's hotel industry reported a decline in RevPAR in September despite increased occupancy, and October occupancy is on par with the previous year.

Macau's Golden Week holiday saw a surge in visitors, with over 932,000 arrivals and high hotel occupancy rates, mainly driven by mainland Chinese tourists. Indonesia plans a significant expansion in its tourism sector, aiming to attract up to $8 billion in investments for specific destinations. Several new hotel properties by Accor and Hilton are announced in countries including Australia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.

Global hotel businesses are rebounding to pre-pandemic levels except in Asia-Pacific. Vietnam lags in recovery with reduced Chinese tourism and increased flight costs, despite aggressive hotel development since 2016. Macau's August hotel occupancy averaged 88.7%, with significant visitor growth during the Golden Week, particularly from mainland China, showing signs of a robust recovery to near 2019 levels. Wyndham Hotels unveils its first Auckland hotel, Espire Hospitality launches the ZANA Forest Resort in India, and Ascott Limited partners with Vimut Hospital in Thailand to offer combined lodging and healthcare benefits.

Macau hotels experience high demand during Golden Week, with standard rooms sold out for at least three nights at 22 casino-associated properties, some offering rooms at around US$400 per night. Samhi Hotels raises Rs 1,370 crore through an IPO, with plans to use the proceeds for debt repayment and corporate purposes, resulting in a 7% trading increase from the IPO price. Blue Chandra Pte Ltd. also sells 50% of its equity holdings in SAMHI. Marriott International opens a Four Points by Sheraton resort in the Philippines and rebrands Le Meridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort in Thailand, while Hilton debuts the Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa. Hyatt announces the construction of the Hyatt House South Melbourne in Australia for a 2025 opening.

The Royal Thai Government is granting temporary tourist visa exemptions to Chinese and Kazakhstani passport holders from September 25, 2023, to February 29, 2024, to boost tourism revenue. Macao expects a high number of visitors during the upcoming Golden Week, with hotels projected to have near-full occupancy due to the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Holiday. Galaxy Macau has opened Andaz Macau, the largest Andaz hotel in the Hyatt brand's portfolio, featuring 700 rooms, artworks, and a direct connection to the Galaxy International Convention Center and Galaxy Arena.

Singapore's August visitation decreased by -7.8% compared to July, with 1.31 million visitors. Total eight-month arrivals remain nearly -30% lower than 2019. Accor SA aims to sign approximately 125 hotel partnership projects in China this year, with plans to introduce the Orient Express brand. Hilton plans to expand its Hilton Garden Inn brand throughout the Asia Pacific region, with a new regional room prototype introduced in Australia and New Zealand.