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Blackstone announced the final close of its Blackstone Real Estate Partners X fund with $30.4 billion of total capital commitments, the largest real estate or private equity drawdown fund ever raised. Truist lowered their target price on Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, saying they have concerns over 2024 San Francisco conventions along with rising hotel-level costs. Celebrating its five-year anniversary, the Hard Rock Hotel Dayton Beach in Florida debuted a multimillion renovation including refreshed guestrooms and youth club and revamped memorabilia.

STR reported  China hotel RevPAR, the week ending April 8, was up 108.5% on a year-over-year basis. It was up against an easy -49.5% comparable in 2022. STR said Melbourne’s hotel occupancy was the highest for any month since February 2020 in March 2023. Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano was interviewed at the HICSA Conference in Bengaluru, India this week. He said Marriott plans to expand to at least 10 new cities in the country in the next two years with over 100 properties .

Heading into the upcoming 1Q earnings season, JP Morgan said they expect relative upside in 1Q23 RevPAR results and, for the C-Corps, at least in-line net rooms growth with both operating metrics benefiting from improvements in China. A record number of loyalty program members should help hotel brands lower their customer acquisition costs, increased direct-to-consumer engagement and offset any occupancy shortfalls during an economic downturn. Corporate travel spending is tracking toward full recovery to 2019 levels by 2024 or 2025 , but higher costs and climate concerns will keep trip volumes smaller than pre-pandemic levels in real terms.

STR said Southeast Asia’s hotel industry is seeing the return of MICE . While leisure travel has shown the most resilience in the region, much of the recent demand in Southeast Asia can be linked to MICE travel and events. The Singapore Tourism Board said the number of visitors from India rose by 3.5x in the first quarter of 2023, year over year. IHG Hotels & Resorts announced plans to expand its presence in Asia through developments in Nepal and Indonesia .

Craig-Hallum initiated coverage of LuxUrban Hotels with a Buy rating and a $10 price target. A New York hotel union reached a deal with hotel owners and operators, boosting the wages of hospitality workers by $7.50 an hour, the largest increase in the union’s 100-year history . Beginning this month, Waldorf Astoria Orlando in Florida will undergo a comprehensive, multi-phase re-imagination expected to debut in December 2023.

Hotels were reported to be full in parts of the Philippines during the Holy Week break. The Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern District said Macau received over 300,000 visitors during the four-day Easter holiday period . Fosun Tourism expects a sustained boom in Chinese tourism in the second and third quarters. Fosun is planning expansions in resort projects in China’s tier I and tier II cities.

NewcrestImage has plans to acquire more than 100 hotels this year , reported CoStar. So far in 2023, the company has finalized its purchase of a 45-hotel portfolio in 11 states. Key International and Shaner Hotels announced the grand opening of the 156-suite SpringHill Suites by Marriott Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront in Florida . Midas Hospitality announced the opening of the 170-room Residence Inn by Marriott , the first hotel to be built in Clayton, Missouri, in 30 years.

Macau saw over 93,000 tourists come to the SAR on Saturday over the Easter weekend. Macau tourism officials continue to try to narrow the gap between current visitation and 2019. Macau average hotel occupancy was about 75% in March . Officials are expecting up to 90% occupancy during the upcoming Labor Day holiday. Accor has 56 operating hotels in India . They entered the country almost two decades ago in 2004. Accor’s vision is to have 200 in five years’ time.

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts  announced Rosewood Residences Hillsboro Beach , located two miles from both Boca Raton and Pompano Beach, Florida . The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, Autograph Collection has completed the initial phase of a comprehensive renovation led by Rockwell Group . Simon Property Group purchased the Hampton Inn & Suites at Phillips Place from Phillips Place Hotel Investors for $42 million.

The Bulgari Hotel Tokyo has opened its doors. The hotel is located on floors 40-45 of Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, a new skyscraper overlooking the Tokyo Station, the Imperial Palace Gardens and the city. The Singapore Tourism Board said the number of visitors arriving in the first quarter of 2023 reached 2.9 million, representing 62% of its 1Q19 visitation figure . STR reported on China hotel data for the week ended April 1. China hotel RevPAR rose 153.9% year over year for the week against easy comps.

Club Med said it was beginning a new chapter. Taking inspiration from the original Club Med philosophy, creating simple moments of happiness, the lifestyle brand will be providing a more premium, family-friendly and eco-conscious experience. Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts with a Buy rating and $79 price target. STR reported US lodging data for the week ended April 1. US hotel RevPAR was up 10.9% year over year.

Banyan Tree Group , closing out the 2022 fiscal year with 63 properties across its global portfolio of 10 hospitality brands, expects to get to 113 hotels by the end of 2025 . Radisson Hotel Group announced the opening of Lewit Hotel Pattaya , a member of Radisson Individuals in the beach resort town of Pattaya. The grand opening of Ember Hotel , a boutique lifestyle hotel located at Khao San Road in Bangkok, Thailand was announced.