Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts

The market liked this conclusion: both companies’ stock prices rose, with Choice Hotels up 6% and Wyndham Hotels 2%, indicating investor relief – or strategic reassessment.

Katerina Giannouka has left Jumeirah Group, one year into her time as CEO. Thomas Meier, CEOO, will serve as Interim CEO again.

Wyndham’s Board rejects Choice Hotels’ unsolicited offer to acquire WH, backed by the Asian American Hotels Owners Association’s opposition. Hilton to open its first Tapestry Collection hotel in Los Cabos in 2024, alongside another project in La Paz. Preferred Hotel Group aims to expand its Beyond Green brand in Mexico, targeting 75 sustainable hotels globally.

Marriott International blew away estimates and like Hilton , reported a great earnings report on a not-so-great day in the market. Ashford Hospitality Trust reported 1Q results, more or less in line with expectations on the hotel level. Marriott, Hilton and IHG continue to dominate the U.S. hotel construction pipeline according to the recently released United States Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics.

STR reported China hotel RevPAR for the week ended March 11. Hotel RevPAR in China was up 85% year over year for the week. STR said Sydney WorldPride 2023 drove the market’s hotel average daily rate and RevPAR above pre-pandemic levels while occupancy remained slightly below 2019. The director of the Macao Government Tourism Office told a tourism forum that Macau welcomed an average of around 57,000 visitor arrivals each day in February .

Reuters published an article on how the hoped for, fast out of the gate, revenge travel by the Chinese following the demise of Zero-Covid has not occurred. Instead of a stampede, it has been more like a fast walk . South Korea and Australia were left off the next list of 40 countries to which China will resume outbound group tours as of tomorrow . Macau authorities are easing measures for entry to mainland China for visitors coming from Hong Kong , aimed at further improving circulation between the SARs and the mainland

Morgan Stanley changed price targets on its covered hotel companies . Hilton’s PT was lowered to $167 from $171, while Wyndham’s PT was upped to $90 from $87. Chatham Lodging Trust announced they repaid in full three mortgages with outstanding principal of $73.3 million and a weighted average interest rate of 8%. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos at Costa Palmas will begin taking reservations for its ultra-luxury Private Retreats collection soon.

Bloomberg said Fosun is also considering strategic options for French luxury resort chain Club Med SAS and could seek a value of about $1.5 billion for the business. Shanghai Disney Resort remains closed, two weeks after Covid-19 cases caused operations to cease. Marriott International announced plans to expand its select service portfolio in Greater China with the expected addition of 30 hotels in the segment by the end of 2023.

Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida  is pledging to increase inbound tourism spending to more than 5 trillion yen per year. OYO  has introduced an improved flagship  patron-facing app – CO-OYO . The Economic Times reported on  the comeback of “big fat weddings” in India .

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.