Thailand

On Thursday, China’s new top leadership body reaffirmed Beijing’s “dynamic zero” Covid-19 policy in their first meeting since the Communist Party’s Congress last month. Chinese hotel operator Atour raised $52 million in an initial public offering in the United States. Indian Hotels Company said they plan to emerge as the most iconic and most profitable company in South Asia by 2025 and that plan is on track.

Goldman Sachs said the Chinese government still needs to keep its Zero-Covid policy until probably the April-June quarter. Some 39 buildings of the No.2 Island of the Ocean Flower Island , an artificial archipelago in Danzhou , South China’s Hainan Province developed by China’s debt-ridden Evergrande Group will be repurposed. Vietnam’s second-biggest listed developer, No Va Land , is firing staff and seeking urgent asset sales.

Marriott International will be adding about 13-14 hotels in India under different brands in the next 12 months. Hong Kong has continued to loosen Covid restrictions , now targeting eventgoers. Hilton announced the signing of an agreement with Wondergrain Exports Private Limited to launch DoubleTree by Hilton Amritsar .

STR reported China hotel RevPAR the week ended October 29 was down -17.1% year over year. When up against the similar week in 2019, hotel RevPAR fell -44.8%. The South China Morning Post published an article on medical tourism being ramped up in Asia. The article focused on Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia  courting medical tourists. Bali is seeking to attract world-class hospitals to the tropical island, adding medical treatment to its roster of offerings.

The rumors about Covid in China  have reached epic proportions including 20,000 people testing positive at the Foxconn plant, thousands of holidaymakers locked in Shanghai Disney and more. Marriott International announced the signing of an agreement with Australian property developers Pelligra Group and Giannarelli Group . IHG Hotels & Resorts has officially opened its first Crowne Plaza Resort in Micronesia.

Accor said they signed an agreement with Panthers Group for a new five-star Pullman hotel at the Penrith Panthers precinct in Western Sydney . InterContinental Khao Yai is a new resort in Thailand , located in Nakhon Ratchasima province in Khao Yai National Park . IHG , in cooperation with Bao Quan Investment & Construction Joint Stock Company , will open its first Crowne Plaza hotel in Vinh Yen City in the northern province of Vinh Phuc this November.

The commentary from President Xi at the National Congress in Beijing certainly did not sound like the Zero-Covid policy that has hampered tourism and business travel in and outside of China is going to change anytime soon. Anantara Chiang Mai Resort recently hosted an event to celebrate the renovations at the property. Chatrium Hospitality is set to unveil Chatrium Grand Bangkok on November 28, 2022. The hotel is located in the city’s Siam area and is an enhanced version of Chatrium’s luxury collection.

Macau saw 65,677 visitor arrivals over the weekend in the first two days of the National Day Golden Week. Marriott International announced their JW Marriott brand opened the JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort Suites, an all-suite luxury retreat nestled in a serene beachside setting on southern Thailand’s Andaman coast. Hilton Grand Vacations announced the grand opening ceremony for The Beach Resort Sesoko, a Hilton Club.

Dajia Insurance Group Co has put three hotels in the US up for sale, hoping to generate US$1.3 billion to take advantage of an expected surge in leisure travel and resort business. U.S. hotel operator Standard International is betting on Thailand’s post-pandemic tourism recovery. Bloomberg said Standard is hoping to power an expansion in Asia that will see it open properties in popular and less-explored destinations. The new $340 million dual-tower Docklands development in Melbourne, Australia will include a huge rooftop infinity pool, spanning 35 meters when it opens in 2026.

The Wall Street Journal published an article on how  Asia Pacific may have reopened to tourism, but the recovery is slow . Oyo Hotels filed new financial documents with the Securities and Exchange Board of India. Japan plans to resume visa-free air tickets in October and  Taiwan plans to open its borders from mid-to-late October.