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North America
IHG Brings Wonderland Experience to Select Hotels
Park Hotels & Resorts announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 and a special top-off dividend of $0.78, totaling nearly $635 million returned to shareholders in 2023. R New and renovated Holiday Inn properties opened in Mansfield, Ohio, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. LuxUrban Hotels signed agreements to operate two New York City hotels. -
Asia-Pacific
New StandardX Brand Will Debut in Melbourne
Singapore saw a significant rise in international visitor arrivals in October, notably from China and Indonesia. Meanwhile, The Philippines plans to develop 48 new hotels by 2028. Several hospitality brands announced major expansions, including The Standard International’s new The StandardX in Melbourne, Australia, and Accor opening Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport. Indian Hotels Company formalized a partnership for a new Vivanta hotel in Kochi, India, and Crowne Plaza in Chennai, India will be replaced by luxury apartments. -
Asia-Pacific
Trip.com Reports Surge in China Inbound Travel Searches
Today’s report highlights significant growth in global search results for inbound travel to China, with Trip.com noting a nearly 40% increase in 3Q23. New properties and expansions are underway, including The Grand Mercure Lampung Hotel in Indonesia and the first Four Points by Sheraton in Kuala Lumpur. The Imperial in New Delhi is undergoing a significant reinvention, including refurbishing historical furniture and revamping its food and beverage operations. -
Asia-Pacific
China’s Hotel Pipeline Inches up 3% Year Over Year
Amara Holdings received a voluntary cash offer at 60 cents per share from a consortium linked to Albert Teo, Amara’s CEO, other members of his family, and private equity investor Dymon Asia. In the Q3 2023 China Construction Pipeline Trend Report by Lodging Econometrics , at the end of the quarter, China’s total construction pipeline reached a record high of 3,720 projects with 686,017 rooms, up 3% by projects and unchanged by rooms year-over-year. Dusit International has signed HMA and RMA agreements with Ziogreen Private Limited to manage four properties amidst the beautiful landscapes of Karnataka state, southern India . -
North America
Acapulco Hotel Owners Vow to Reopen After Hurricane
Apple Hospitality REIT reported a modest beat in 3Q results but lowered 4Q guidance due to higher expenses, offsetting improved RevPAR guidance. STR reported that for the week ending November 4, US RevPAR was down by -2.1%, with a -4% decrease in occupancy, and a -7.4% drop in Group RevPAR. Latin America’s hotel construction pipeline shows growth with 579 projects and 95,144 rooms in Q3 2023, up 6% in projects and 5% in rooms year-over-year, with Mexico leading the way. -
Asia-Pacific
Asia’s Hotel Market Expands with Key Partnerships
STR reported strong hotel performance in China, with an 88.7% year-over-year increase in RevPAR for the week ending October 28th. The region is showing signs of rapid post-pandemic recovery, reaching occupancy levels similar to Europe and America. Macau recorded over 22.72 million visitor arrivals, with a recent increase in daily arrivals, and the first 10 months of the year reaching 68% of 2019 levels. Various hotel-related developments and partnerships were announced by brands like IHG, Accor, and CapitaLand Ascott Trust across Asia, including new property openings, divestments, and expansions, highlighting continued growth in the region’s hospitality industry. -
Asia-Pacific
Ultraluxury Resort Boom in Japan
Asian ultraluxury resort companies are expanding into Japan to cater to wealthy overseas travelers and take advantage of the weak yen, with Soneva Holdings planning to open resorts in Japan by 2027 and investing 100 billion yen in new properties. Foreign investment in Japanese hotels increased significantly in recent years, with 2022 seeing a sixfold increase compared to the previous year, and an expected total of 128.5 billion yen in investments in the first six months of the current year. International hotel brands like InterContinental, Wyndham, Marriott, Hyatt, and Accor are actively expanding their presence in various regions, including India, Vietnam, China, Thailand, and Australia, offering a diverse range of accommodations and amenities. -
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. -
North America
Hotel Rates Expected to Continue Rising Globally in 2024
CBRE U.S. Hotels State of the Union (October 2023) shows August RevPAR declined by -0.7%, with a -1.7% occupancy drop. Total revenue growth outpaced RevPAR growth in July by 2.5%. U.S. loan origination decreased, and hotel job openings continue to decline. Hotel rates are expected to rise globally in 2024, with potential increases of up to 17.5% in some cities, according to American Express Global Business Travel’s Hotel Monitor 2024. The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index was down -2% in September. Year-to-date, the Hotel Brand sub-index increased by 23%, while the Hotel REIT sub-index decreased by -1.5%. -
North America
Puerto Vallarta Will Get an All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy
Somm Hotel and Spa in Woodinville, Washington, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, is set to open in the summer of 2025 as part of a $700 million development. Home2 Suites by Hilton Houston/Katy in Texas completed renovations, featuring upgraded guestrooms and amenities. The Balbin Bros. Cigar Factory in Tampa, Florida, is undergoing transformation into a 70-room boutique hotel, aiming to open by March 2025 while preserving its historical value.