Bangkok

Chinese tourists are showing decreased interest in Japan and Thailand, partly due to Japan's Fukushima wastewater release and negative perceptions from movies about Thailand. Consequently, Singapore, Europe, South Korea, Malaysia, and Australia have become more popular destinations. M Social opens its first hotel in Suzhou, China, and Indian Hotels Company plans to expand its Ginger brand across India. Other developments include the opening of the Ramada Encore by Wyndham in Amritsar, India, and new properties in Goa and Hong Kong under different brands. Sun Siyam Pasikudah in Sri Lanka reopens after renovations, and Berjaya Land Bhd secures a loan for developing the Four Seasons Resort in Okinawa, Japan.

IHG Hotels & Resorts ventures into Thailand’s Golden Triangle with luxury properties, while Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok undergoes extensive renovations. Six Senses opens a new resort in the Maldives, and Accor expands its portfolio across the Pacific region. OYO plans to alleviate debt through a buyback process before its long-anticipated IPO, while Indian Hotels Company inaugurates Ginger Mumbai Airport and Sarovar Hotels & Resorts debuts in Gujarat. Atmosphere Core introduces new hires and strategic shifts in the Maldives, emphasizing culinary strategies and upcoming projects across various brands and locations.

China hotel RevPAR for the week ending October 14th increased by 73.4% YoY, with a -35.5% comp from 2022, but was still down -18.3% compared to the same week in 2019. The Ascott Limited introduced The Crest Collection brand in Asia, opening three properties in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia with heritage-themed hospitality experiences. Various hotel developments and transactions include Royal Orchid & Regenta's new property in Mysuru, a 4-star hotel sale in Vadodara, Lemon Tree Hotels' franchise agreement in Vadodara, Kenilworth Hotel's upcoming project in Coimbatore, Bong Sen Corp's plan to sell assets in Vietnam, and BWHSM Hotels' expansion in Bangkok. Pride Hotels Group appointed Chandrashekhar Belose as Corporate Chief Engineer, focusing on sustainability measures.

The World Travel & Tourism Council predicts that it will take about a year for popular tourist destinations worldwide to see a significant return of Chinese visitors, with challenges like visa and passport difficulties slowing the process. IPK's survey indicates a strong travel recovery from China, particularly to Europe, in 2024, with around 50% of respondents planning to travel abroad in the next year. Europe is the preferred destination, while travel to the US is less frequent due to limited flight options and geopolitical factors. Dusit International announces the launch of two new hotel brands, Dusit Collection and Devarana – Dusit Retreats, aiming to offer unique and authentic travel experiences and expand into untapped markets. Additionally, Lemon Tree Hotels opens a new property in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, featuring suites and rooms, a restaurant, bar, banquets, and a fitness center.

China's hotel industry saw a significant year-over-year increase in RevPAR, up 58.1% compared to a decline in the previous year. Hong Kong's tourism sector experienced a gradual recovery, with August visitor arrivals reaching 84% of pre-pandemic levels. Wharf Hotels introduced Maqo, a new premium lifestyle brand, expanding its portfolio and aligning with its "25 by 2025" growth vision. Maqo's inaugural hotel will be in Changsha, China, and it aims to provide unique, edited experiences for its guests.

Singapore's August visitation decreased by -7.8% compared to July, with 1.31 million visitors. Total eight-month arrivals remain nearly -30% lower than 2019. Accor SA aims to sign approximately 125 hotel partnership projects in China this year, with plans to introduce the Orient Express brand. Hilton plans to expand its Hilton Garden Inn brand throughout the Asia Pacific region, with a new regional room prototype introduced in Australia and New Zealand.

In Q2 2023, the Asia Pacific hotel construction pipeline reached a record high of 1,936 projects with 401,766 rooms. Luxury, upper upscale, and upscale projects dominated the pipeline. Countries with the largest pipelines are India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan. Macau has surpassed Hong Kong as the preferred travel destination for mainland Chinese travelers in 2023, receiving nearly twice as many visitors. Around 50.9% of outbound Chinese travelers chose Macau, while Hong Kong received about 26.7%. Mainland Chinese tourists prefer destinations in East Asia and Southeast Asia. Accor is expanding its hotel offerings. They are introducing the Handwritten Collection in Thailand with the Andaman Beach Hotel Phuket, opening a Mercure hotel in Lucknow, India, and launching Lords Inn hotels in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and Kanki, West Bengal. Accor has also partnered with Reliance Industries and Renest Hotels & Resorts for new properties.

Foreign investors like Goldman Sachs, KKR, and Blackstone have invested $2 billion in Japanese hotel deals this year, driven by a hotel business rebound and favorable exchange rates. Hilton plans substantial growth in Southeast Asia, introducing a new Hilton Garden Inn prototype and adding seven new hotels in Malaysia, including new brands like Curio Collection and Waldorf Astoria. Accor expands across Asia with 30 new hotels, focusing on markets like Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India, while also partnering to introduce the Swissotel brand to Malaysia with Swissotel Genting Highlands.

HCMC's hospitality market remained gloomy in H1 2023 due to slow international tourist arrivals. Ascott Limited is refreshing its hotel-in-residence model, catering to varying lengths of stays with hotel services and amenities. Dusit International expands in Japan with Dusit Thani Kyoto and plans massive expansion in China and India .

Accor Pacific's partners have invested over $300 million in hotel renovations and refurbishments across various locations in the Pacific region to enhance guest satisfaction and maintain a leading position in the industry. Centara Udon in Thailand underwent renovations and now offers remodeled facilities, new dining options, and event spaces. S Hotels and Resorts PCL is set to open SO/ Maldives , a new resort on a private island with beachfront and over-water pool villas, and various dining venues in November 2023.