Singapore

Radisson, Wyndham and IHG Expand Presence in Thailand

Radisson Hotel Group plans to open more premium and luxury hotels in Thailand , Cambodia , Laos , and Vietnam over the next five years, with a focus on popular tourist destinations such as Bangkok , Phuket , Chiang Mai , and Samui Island . Wyndham Hotels & Resorts aims to open over 15 hotels with 5,000 additional rooms in Thailand to catch up with the country's tourism industry recovery, but they don't expect a return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024. IHG Hotels & Resorts continues to expand its Hotel Indigo brand in Thailand , with plans to open the Hotel Indigo Bangkok Thonglor in 2026, offering 250 rooms, restaurants, a bar, swimming pool, gym, and meeting spaces.

Thai Hotel Rates Plunge

Thai hotel occupancy rates drop below 50% as government campaign termination impacts domestic and international markets. IHG Hotels & Resorts opens voco Ma Belle Danang in Vietnam . OYO plans to add 300 hill station hotels to its portfolio by August 2023 and aims for 1,800 new hotels overall.

Sydney's Newest Boutique Hotel

Hotel industry in China shows strong recovery with a 60.4% increase in RevPAR compared to the previous year, despite a slight decline of -5.5% compared to 2019. Prominent hotel openings and expansions include Hotel Morris Sydney in Australia, JW Marriott Auckland in New Zealand, Hotel101 projects in Metro Manila and Cebu-Mactan in the Philippines, and Mondrian brand's global expansion. Anantara unveils luxurious villas in Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort in the UAE, while IHG Hotels & Resorts announces the first voco resort in Egypt's North Coast, and Six Senses Amaala prepares to launch a captivating resort in Saudi Arabia as part of the Vision 2030 program.

New Marriott and Pan Pacific Properties in Singapore

Marriott International partners with Hiap Hoe Limited to bring the Aloft Hotels brand to Singapore, opening the largest Aloft branded hotel in the world with 785 rooms in Zhongshan Park. Pan Pacific Hotels Group unveils its flagship hotel, Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore, featuring terraced greenery and a unique Atelier-in-Residence program, along with three dining concepts and a gin distillery. Gran Melia Nha Trang in Vietnam is set to open as an all-villa property with private pool villas, Asia's first outpost of the Spanish restaurant Hispania, and a range of wellness offerings.

Hilton Debuts in China's Hainan Island

Hilton, InterContinental, Melia, Wyndham, Accor, Hyatt, and Marriott are among the hotel chains expanding their presence in various cities across Asia-Pacific. New hotel openings and renovations are bringing luxury accommodations and unique experiences to destinations like Hainan Island, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney , and more. From all-women managed hotels to rooftop pools and innovative dining options, these developments cater to the diverse needs of travelers seeking comfort, convenience, and memorable stays.

Surge in Global Summer Travel Bookings

Summer travel bookings on Trip.com have surpassed 2019 levels, with intra-regional travel leading the way and significant increases in Asia and European markets. Top booked cities in Asia include Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taipei , while European users show interest in hotels in Asian and Middle Eastern destinations such as Bali, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Marrakech. Forecasts by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) indicate strong growth in international visitor arrivals across Asia Pacific destinations, although full recovery is expected to vary by scenario and region, with China projected to reach pre-pandemic volumes by 2024.

Hotel Recovery Is Uneven Worldwide

STR's global report reveals positive RevPAR growth in most markets, with notable gains in occupancy, particularly surpassing 2019 levels in half of all markets. Israel, Singapore, Greece, Italy, and Ireland emerge as top performers in terms of RevPAR among countries with over 50,000 rooms, indicating strong tourism and hotel demand. Summer approaches with rising occupancy rates in 40 out of 48 countries , signaling a promising season for the hospitality industry worldwide. However, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia experience significant declines in RevPAR compared to 2019.

Vietnam’s Booming Hotel Sector

The global hotel industry is seeing increased activity with notable transactions in Vietnam, Macau, Japan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Thailand, and India. Key deals include Marriott International's operation of seven hotels from Vinpearl in Vietnam, Accor's new Novotel in Nara, Japan, and DoubleDragon's launch of the largest hotel in Bonifacio Global City in the Philippines. Several hotel brands are expanding their footprints, with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts signing two agreements with Fulcrum Ventures Asia and Marriott International's Fairfield brand entering Agra, India.

Chinese Domestic Tourism Surges During May Day Holiday

Chinese domestic tourism rebounds strongly, reaching 119% of pre-pandemic levels during the May Day holiday, while international travel remains slow. Fitch Ratings highlights the encouraging recovery trajectory of the domestic tourism industry, driven by pent-up demand and limited outbound flight options. Despite the increase in domestic trips, spending remains nearly flat due to factors such as low-income travelers, visits to lower-tier cities, and short-distance trips.

Singapore Has Another 1 Million Visitor Month

The Singapore Tourism Board said 1.13 million tourist arrivals were recorded in April, the second consecutive month of more than a million arrivals. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism believes they may attract 10 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, surpassing the target of 8 million previously set. Savills Hanoi said the hospitality industry of Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi is on the mend on the back of surges in both international and domestic tourist arrivals .