-
Asia-Pacific
Many of Thailand’s Budget Hotels Are Struggling
China hotel RevPAR increased by 50.4% YoY, outperforming a 48.2% comparison and growing 19% compared to 2019, driven by strong recovery. Thai hotels, especially those with three stars or less, faced severe impact from interest rate hikes, uncertain tourism outlook, and competition, prompting calls for regulatory changes. New luxury hotels are opening in historic Japanese and Vietnamese destinations, while major hotel chains like Accor and Melia are expanding their portfolios in Singapore and Vietnam. Additionally, Meriton Suites is expanding luxury offerings across Australia. -
Asia-Pacific
Hilton to More Than Double Its Luxury Hotels in Asia Pacific
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 generated $2.98 billion in travel and retail spending in NSW, boosting the economy and drawing record audiences to hospitality venues. Hilton plans to open 25 new luxury hotels in the Asia Pacific region, including its Waldorf Astoria brand in countries like Malaysia, Vietnam, and India. Hotel Properties received approval for a S$1-2 billion project to redevelop prime properties on Orchard Road. The redevelopment includes twin skyscrapers, retail, office, residential spaces, and a performance theater, making it Orchard Road’s largest property redevelopment. -
Asia-Pacific
China’s Travelers Favored Singapore and Indonesia in July
Chinese Hotel Performance: Hotel RevPAR in China increased by 37% compared to the same week last year, despite a strong 107.7% increase from a year ago. In comparison to 2019, RevPAR rose by 16.9%. Chinese Travelers in Singapore : Chinese tourists were the largest source of visitors to Singapore in July, doubling their numbers from June. Singapore experienced a 104.2% increase in visitor arrivals from China, contributing to a 95.3% year-on-year rise in total arrivals for the month. Hotel Openings and Expansions : Accor is partnering with Sarin Hotels for a new Sebel hotel in Wellington, New Zealand; Hotel Marvell, Byron Bay’s first five-star hotel, is opening with luxurious amenities; Melco Resorts’ W Macau hotel will open in Macau’s Studio City with 557 rooms; and Narai Hospitality Group is set to open Lub d Japan Osaka Honmachi, expanding their presence globally. -
Asia-Pacific
Dusit Aims to Double Portfolio to 100 Hotels by 2025
HCMC’s hospitality market remained gloomy in H1 2023 due to slow international tourist arrivals. Ascott Limited is refreshing its hotel-in-residence model, catering to varying lengths of stays with hotel services and amenities. Dusit International expands in Japan with Dusit Thani Kyoto and plans massive expansion in China and India . -
Asia-Pacific
Philippines’ Largest Hotel Complex, Grand Westside, to Open Tower in 2023
Bloomberry Resorts ‘ new integrated resort in Quezon City , Philippines, Solaire Resort North, is facing further delays, potentially pushing the opening from the first quarter of 2024 to the second quarter. Philippines developer Megaworld is set to open the country’s largest hotel complex, Grand Westside Hotel, in Manila’s Entertainment City, with the first tower opening before the end of the year and the second tower in 2024. Discovery World Corp has opened a five-star resort hotel, Discovery Samal, in Limao, Philippines, featuring 128 hotel suites and extensive facilities, aiming to boost tourist arrivals in the region. -
Asia-Pacific
Oyo Enters Premium Resorts Category With New Brand
China’s summer resort tourism market reaches 1.2-1.5 trillion yuan as residents seek refuge from heat waves. The Philippines Bureau of Immigration expects a 20% increase in tourist visa extensions with the launch of its electronic services platform. SC Capital Partners acquires a portfolio of 27 resort hotels in Japan , focusing on revenue increase and refurbishment works. -
North America
Vietnamese Hotel Closures and Sales Amidst Tourism Challenges
Hotels in Vietnam, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, are experiencing closures and are being listed for sale due to lower-than-expected visitors, revenue, and the need for capital expenditure. Centara Hotels & Resorts is entering the Japanese market with the opening of Centara Grand Hotel Osaka, featuring 515 rooms, world-class dining options, and extensive meeting facilities. The Philippines conglomerate Alliance Global Group plans to allocate Php4 billion for the expansion of Manila’s Newport World Resorts, part of a broader Php70 billion investment for 2023. -
Asia-Pacific
Surge in Global Summer Travel Bookings
Summer travel bookings on Trip.com have surpassed 2019 levels, with intra-regional travel leading the way and significant increases in Asia and European markets. Top booked cities in Asia include Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taipei , while European users show interest in hotels in Asian and Middle Eastern destinations such as Bali, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Marrakech. Forecasts by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) indicate strong growth in international visitor arrivals across Asia Pacific destinations, although full recovery is expected to vary by scenario and region, with China projected to reach pre-pandemic volumes by 2024. -
Asia-Pacific
Chinese Domestic Tourism Surges During May Day Holiday
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. -
Asia-Pacific
Oyo May Have Turned Cash-Flow Positive
How high will be too high for May Day Golden Week in China as reports continue to pour in about terrific business, soaring room rates, and enormous train ridership. The Macau Government Tourism Office said they were predicting 70,000 visitors a day during the holiday period. Oyo said it turned cash flow positive in the fourth quarter of FY2023 in an internal note to employees .