Asia-Pacific

STR reported China hotel RevPAR for the week ended 11/5 was up 4.4% year over year. China’s Covid cases continue to surge with 8,824 new domestic cases reported on Wednesday. The state-run Xinhua news agency said authorities need to take a more targeted approach to tackling Covid outbreaks. Ratings agency Icra said they expect premium hotel inventory in India to increase 3.5% to 4% in the current fiscal year with an addition of around 15,500 rooms amid a recovery in demand.

STR’s global bubble chart for October 22 showed Singapore standing out in the Asia Pacific region while noting continued, steady recovery for most of the world. HG Hotels & Resorts announced a partnership with Shenzhen Bay Area Urban Construction and Development Co. Ltd. to develop a new luxury and lifestyle hotel. The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong officially opened The Fullerton Spa , offering best-in-class wellness treatments for Hong Kong guests and travelers.7

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.

Looking at  India's  hotel sector , JLL  said contracts in  mid-market and budget brands  grew 74% between January and September 2022 as compared to the same period in 2019. Marriott International’s St. Regis Hotels and Resorts brand announced the opening of the St. Regis Goa Resort. Bengaluru-based real estate developer MS Ramaiah Developers and Builders  plans to invest about Rs 1,100 crore over two years across real estate sectors in Karnataka, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh .

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.

Shanghai ordered mass testing of all 1.3 million residents amidst another lockdown, Wuhan locked down 900,000 people for at least five days, while in Macau the MGM Cotai casino resort was locked down after a dealer tested positive. The hospitality sector in India  is looking at rapidly adding managed hotels to its portfolio. Hong Kong -based Langham Hospitality Group has launched an upper midscale brand called Ying’nFlo .

STR said China hotel RevPAR fell -35.8% for the week ending October 22   on a year over year basis. It is doubtful the RevPAR comps in China will look much better in coming weeks as Covid outbreaks following Golden Week are spurring closures and lockdowns. Best Western Hotels & Resorts signed a strategic partnership for two beach apartment buildings on Vietnam’s southeast coast .

Chinese authorities signaled a move to ease international travel requirements, just a couple of days after President Xi reiterated his Zero-Covid policy. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Sun Hung Kai Properties announced plans for a new Four Seasons hotel in historic Suzhou, China . Marriott International’s Ritz-Carlton brand announced the Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne will open its doors in the first quarter of 2023.