Vietnam

STR said during the seven-day Lunar New Year holiday period, China’s hotel average daily rate surpassed 2019 levels . In the recently released China Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics , analysts report the country’s total hotel construction pipeline, at the close of the fourth quarter, stands at 3,581 projects/675,074 rooms. Morgan Stanley said Macau’s hotel occupancy and daily room rates are showing unprecedented strength in the post-Chinese New Year period with at least two hotels fully booked through February and many others close to capacity.

Marriott International’s Ritz-Carlton is presenting a newly elevated experience at The Ritz-Carlton Club across its Asia Pacific hotels, joining a successful launch in Mainland China last summer. Hanwha Hotels & Resorts signed a memorandum of understanding with Lodgis Hospitality Holdings to forge a strategic partnership to mutually boost each of their hotel and resort portfolios. New Zealand’s Sotheby’s International Realty is listing an exclusive Queenstown  development site, expected to sell for more than $40 million.

STR reported China hotel RevPAR for the week ended January 28 was up 177.8% year over year. When compared with the same week in 2019, China hotel RevPAR was up 66.6%. STR said Southeast Asia sits at the lower end of recovery compared to other STR-defined subcontinents. They are above Northeastern Asia in terms of occupancy and average daily rate in 2022. Dusit Hotels and Resorts will add 14 hotels and resorts to their portfolio this year across China, Greece, India, Japan, Kenya, Nepal and Thailand .

The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the country has decided to resume outbound group travel to selected countries including Sri Lanka early next month. The Philippines Dept. of Tourism said it is aiming to attract 4.8 million foreign visitors in 2023, almost double the 2.6 million in 2022. The initial goal in 2022 was 1.7 million arrivals. Sri Lanka Tourism is looking at attracting 1.5 million tourist arrivals for 2023. They are optimistic about achieving revenue of US$2.8 billion from tourism for this year.

Hotels in Thailand still want the government to accelerate the launch of the new phase of the domestic stimulus scheme even with an influx of Chinese tourists expected to show up. Hyatt Hotels announced the opening of Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach , the debut of the Andaz brand in Thailand . IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened its first Crowne Plaza hotel in Bangladesh in partnership with Doreen Hotels & Resorts

STR reported China hotel RevPAR rose 6.9% year over year the week ended January 7. RevPAR, when compared to the same week in 2019, was down -39.6%. While the Macao Government Tourism Office is predicting visitor arrivals of just 50,000 a day for Chinese New Year week, hotel room rates across Macau are said to be surging with standard rooms now regularly priced above HK$8,000. Colliers International said they are expecting hotels in the Philippines will complete some 3,900 rooms, a record high for developers , as they anticipate the projected recovery in global travel in 2023.

The Chinese Embassy in South Korea has suspended issuing short-term visas for South Korean visitors. This is considered the first retaliatory move against nations imposing Covid-19 curbs on travelers from China. The newly inaugurated Fushoushan Farm Guesthouse in Taiwan is fully booked for the Lunar New Year and 228 Peace Memorial Day holidays. Marriott International’s Tribute Portfolio continues to expand its footprint in Singapore with the opening of The Serangoon House .

Thailand rescinded its entry policy which requires visitors to show proof of a Covid-19 vaccination, citing sufficient immunization levels in China and the rest of the world. Vietnamnet reported thousands of people lined up at the Mong Cai border gates this past weekend to cross into China. The main requirements to cross were removed on December 31. The first Marriott International property to open on the North side of Phu Quoc in Vietnam has launched.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman told the media that many foreign nations had responded warmly to the country’s newly relaxed Covid-19 regulations. The Macau government said that, as of this Sunday, they will officially end all quarantine requirements for all nationalities entering Macau. Vietnam said its tourism sector raked in about US$408.3 million in revenue during the three-day 2023 New Year holiday .

Adelaide hosting the Australian Football League’s Gather Round and LIV Golf in April 2023 has resulted in a boost in the market’s hotel occupancy on the books. 35.7% of Americans surveyed are aware that Japan is now open for travel with Asian Americans at 57% and 41.3% of those living in Western US. BWH Hotels Group said they are continually expanding with six new signings of properties in Pakistan and Vietnam .