Sydney

CoStar and STR analysis reveal Australia's hotel market normalization as leisure demand plateaus and corporate business strengthens. Occupancy and ADR figures show progress compared to last year but remain slightly below 2019 levels. Choice Hotels APAC reports positive Q2 results in Australia and New Zealand, adding new deals and Ascend Hotel Collection locations. Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya opens, featuring music-themed rooms; DoubleDragon Corp starts construction on its first overseas hotel in Hokkaido, Japan. Macau experiences impressive hotel occupancy rebound in July; IOI Properties partners with Marriott for a new hotel in Singapore's Marina View property; juSTa Rudra Resort & Spa to open in India; The Greenwood Hotels and Resorts Group invests in Northeast India expansion; The Roxy Impiana Hotel prepares for opening in Kuching, Malaysia.

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.

China has a hotel construction pipeline of 3,666 projects with 678,965 rooms. Mid-level upscale and upper midscale projects are active. Hilton, IHG, and Marriott lead the franchise companies. Vietnam's luxury hotel supply grew 6.2% in H1 2023, with 235 five-star and 354 four-star hotels. The country served 4.3 million overnight visitors. Accor plans 10+ new hotels in India and supports unbranded hotels with the Cozzet Collection.

Australia and New Zealand hotels saw revenue rise during FIFA Women's World Cup, especially in Wellington and Auckland. Singapore Expands Hotel Hiring: Singapore permits hiring from six new countries to meet growing hotel sector demands. Macau's tourism recovers with high visitor counts and new hotel offerings, including Raffles Hotel.

Malaysia is on track to surpass its international tourist target with an expected 18 million visitors, while Hong Kong saw a significant MoM increase in July, driven largely by visitors from Mainland China. Key developments include the Marriott's expansion in China and India , the transformation of Sydney's former Department of Education building into a luxury hotel, and Damac International's progress on its Maldives resort. JLL India reported mixed hotel performance, Blackstone is reinvesting in Japanese real estate due to favorable market conditions, and A bsolute Hotel Services has made key management appointments.

China hotel industry shows strong rebound: RevPAR up 36.9%, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 5.4%. Hong Kong hotels attract investors with discounts up to 30%, driven by cash-rich buyers seeking business district properties. Vietnam's tourism recovery gains momentum: July international arrivals tripled compared to last year, reaching 79% of 2019 levels.

Accor Pacific's partners have invested over $300 million in hotel renovations and refurbishments across various locations in the Pacific region to enhance guest satisfaction and maintain a leading position in the industry. Centara Udon in Thailand underwent renovations and now offers remodeled facilities, new dining options, and event spaces. S Hotels and Resorts PCL is set to open SO/ Maldives , a new resort on a private island with beachfront and over-water pool villas, and various dining venues in November 2023.

Tokyo domestic tourism bounced back to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, with 542.67 million Japanese tourists visiting, but foreign tourists declined by about 78% compared to 2019. Macau 's hotel industry showed significant recovery in June 2023, with an 89% average occupancy rate, and daily room rates increased by over 100% year over year. Beyond Stay , an Indian hotel chain, raised funds in a Pre Series A investment round to expand its presence in new locations and improve its technology infrastructure.

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.

Hotel industry in China shows strong recovery with a 60.4% increase in RevPAR compared to the previous year, despite a slight decline of -5.5% compared to 2019. Prominent hotel openings and expansions include Hotel Morris Sydney in Australia, JW Marriott Auckland in New Zealand, Hotel101 projects in Metro Manila and Cebu-Mactan in the Philippines, and Mondrian brand's global expansion. Anantara unveils luxurious villas in Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort in the UAE, while IHG Hotels & Resorts announces the first voco resort in Egypt's North Coast, and Six Senses Amaala prepares to launch a captivating resort in Saudi Arabia as part of the Vision 2030 program.