HMA looks back at some of the year’s highlights.

 

 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts puts Asia Pacific firmly at the forefront of its development plans announcing that the majority of the 80-100 hotels it intends to open this year will be in the region. Not surprisingly, China is the major geographic focus with the hotel company stating it will open 30 hotels in the country during the year, including first hotels under its Luxury Collection brand. Sheraton will be the major brand focus with approximately half of 2010’s openings falling under the Sheraton brand, it added. Another major hotel company with its sights firmly set on Asia this year is IHG, which said it would introduce its boutique Hotel Indigo brand to Asia during the year with a first property in Shanghai. Luxury hotel group Kempinski, meanwhile, unveils plans to launch a China-specific new brand and open 12 new hotels in China over the next three years. And finally, Hong Kong Poly University revealed the name of its under-development teaching hotel - The Hotel Icon is set to open in March 2011. 

 

 

Resort operator Club Med makes its entry into China during the month with a first resort in Sun Mountain Yabuli. Looking to the Middle East, meanwhile, is The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, which reveals it will enter the region with a hotel in Abu Dhabi in 2013. In other news, IHG takes a swipe at rival Hilton with its new loyalty program, Cambodian firm Grand Lion Group enters the hospitality sector via a management agreement with Marriott, and an innovative industrial design company unveils its ambitious concept for a hotel in the sky. Finally, good news for the region comes from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which states more people are now traveling within the Asia Pacific than in North America. 

 

 

Starwood’s CFO predicts that as much as a quarter of its total business could come from Asia in the next few years, up from 15% at present. Also looking at development is Carlson Hotels, which during the month unveils its 2015 growth strategy via which it plans to expand its portfolio by at least 50% and to reposition its Radisson brand. It’s a good month for Thailand hotel management company Amari, which unveils its new formation as Onyx, but not so good for Singapore-based hotel management company Banyan Tree, which is forced to respond to mismanagement allegations. In China, hotels in Hainan are instructed to regulate room prices after rates rocket during the Spring Festival holiday, and separately China state-owned enterprises are told to exit the hotel business. 

 

 

Starwood chooses China for the opening of its 1000^th hotel and also announces its intention to expand its India portfolio by 60% by 2013. Also on an expansion drive this month is Accor, which unveils plans to open more than 40 hotels in Asia Pacific in 2010. Meanwhile, W Hotels opens its first W retreat in the region. In other news this month, the UAE’s Jumeirah Group launches its new lifestyle brand Venu, and Qatari Diar buys Singapore Raffles for a reported S$384 million. Finally, Singapore enjoys its second major opening of the year with the Marina Bay Sands. 

 

 

As a result of the political protests, occupancy rates slump at hotels in Bangkok and several of the city’s top hotels including the Dusit Thani temporarily close. On a brighter note, Carlson signs an agreement for 75 new properties in the Asia Pacific region by 2013 and debuts its Radisson Blu brand in the region. Also expanding in the region is the Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, which announces 11 new properties in the pipeline for China. It’s a good month for Hilton, which opens its largest hotel in Asia Pacific – the Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk. May also sees Holiday Inn launch a US$100 million ad campaign to support its brand revitalization, and Accor launch a China-specific franchise model for its economy brand ibis. 

 

 

Building on the launch of a first property in China, resort operator Club Med unveils its expansion strategy for the country. Meanwhile, Jumeriah Group chooses Shanghai for its first hotel under its new lifestyle brand Venu, and Shangri-La launches a new global brand campaign. June is not such a good month, however, for Hilton after its hotel in Chongqing is shut down on reports of a prostitution ring. Finally, June sees the launch of Hotel Management Asia’s first conference – the one-day Hotel Technology show – which takes place alongside IHIF and Hospitality Design + Expo in Macau.