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Asia-Pacific
China Sees RevPAR Surge 54% Year-Over-Year
STR reported a 54.2% increase in China’s hotel RevPAR compared to last year, with Jakarta hotels reaching record occupancy and RevPAR levels, boosted by events like a Coldplay concert. Accor announced the opening of five new properties in Asia, along with the first Movenpick by Accor destination in Qingdao, China, as part of a strategic alliance with Sunmei Group, planning over 400 new properties across China. IHG, Radisson, and Wyndham announced new hotel openings in Amritsar, Surat, Goa, and Cebu, with IHG’s voco Amritsar Airport and Radisson’s Uday Palace Navsari targeting diverse locations. -
Asia-Pacific
Marriott’s Northern Marianas Venture Marks Milestone Expansion
Marriott expands into CNMI with the first Marriott hotel in the Northern Marianas Islands in 2025, partnering with Honest Profit International Ltd for management. YOHO Treasure Island Resorts World Hotel in Macau announces its official opening after a four-month soft opening period, offering 600 rooms initially, and Melia Hotels International plans to open ME by Melia hotel in Guangzhou, Asia Pacific, in 2027. DigiPlus Interactive Corp backpedals on plans to develop land in Boracay, Philippines, after a public dispute with former partner Galaxy Entertainment Group. -
Asia-Pacific
Booking.com to Face Class Action Lawsuit in Japan Over Payment Delays
Samaras Construction plans to build a high-end hotel in Adelaide, Australia, featuring 175 luxurious rooms, a lavish lobby, a hotel-style bar, and a restaurant. Pan Pacific Perth is undergoing a $50 million refurbishment of its luxury hotel and convention spaces in Adelaide, including guest rooms, suites, and convention facilities. Keppel has completed the divestment of Sedona Hotel Yangon in Myanmar for $57.4 million, while Galaxy Entertainment Group is not re-entering a resort project in the Philippines. -
Asia-Pacific
Hard Rock in Malaysia Set to Be Asia’s Largest
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. -
Asia-Pacific
Vietnam’s Visitation Rate Is 69% of Pre-Covid Levels
In Vietnam, foreign tourist arrivals for the first nine months of 2023 increased significantly by 4.7 times compared to the previous year, with a 13.4% decrease in September from August. Cambodia witnessed a 251% year-on-year increase in foreign visitors for the first eight months of the year, targeting 4.5 to 5 million arrivals in total for the year. Macau’s visitor arrivals during Golden Week exceeded 150,000 on the third day, with plans for Galaxy Macau Phase 4 to open in 2026 with fewer hotel rooms than initially planned. -
Asia-Pacific
Thai Hotels Association Warns Regulations Will Hurt Tourism
The Thai Hotels Association (THA) expresses concerns about new regulations that exclude accommodations with up to eight rooms and 30 guests from the hotel business, anticipating a 15% to 20% loss in tourism revenue and increased safety risks. The THA believes these regulations have more disadvantages than benefits, while the Tourism Council of Thailand supports them. Speculation grows regarding the legalization of casino gambling in Thailand within three years, attracting international and regional operators. The text emphasizes the importance of the government’s approach to legalization, as it could affect investor interest, citing examples from other countries like Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan. New World Hotels & Resorts, an upper-upscale hotel brand under Rosewood Hotel Group, is actively expanding in Asia. They plan to have 18 operating hotels by the end of the year, with two more opening in 2024. The brand is entering various markets, including Mainland China, Vietnam, and Japan. -
Asia-Pacific
The Women’s World Cup Hotel Booking Bounce
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. -
Asia-Pacific
Indian Premium Hotels Projected to See 80 Percent Rise in Revenue
A Crisil Market Intelligence report predicted the revenue of premium hotels in India will rise 80% this current fiscal year. The Macao Government Tourism office said the number of mainland visitors to Macau reached 50% of pre-pandemic levels while the rebound of Hong Kong visitors is even stronger. The MGTO also said they completed the approval process for the Raffles at Galaxy Macau hotel tower, part of Cotai’s Galaxy Macau Phase 3 project. -
Asia-Pacific
WTTC Calls Out 5 APAC Cities for Post-Covid Rebound Success
The World Travel & Tourism Council reported positive signs of recovery for the Asian travel and tourism sector with five major metropolises seeing a significant economic rebound . Macau visitor arrivals in January doubled year on year, reaching nearly 1.4 million, but a hospitality and tourism management professional has warned Macau will only see half of the yearly pre-pandemic visitors this year . Accor announced plans to open a Mercure property in Tokyo, Japan. Mercure Tokyo Hibiya will be housed within the existing Uchisaiwaicho Heiwa Building, close to JR Shimbashi and Uchisaiwaicho stations . -
Asia-Pacific
China Eases Some Zero-Covid Policies
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.