IHG plans internal succession, Mandarin Oriental looks to new blood. Interesting contrast
Category: NEWS
Higher Prices Push Thailand RevPAR Above 2019 and Offset Occupancy Decline in Maldives for Minor Hotels
Bangkok hotel performance has finally surpassed 2019 level. But hotels in the Maldives are feeling the heat as travelers have wider choices now. At least that’s what Minor Hotels’ 4Q22 performance shows
Super Apps Aren’t the Future of OTAs, Says Agoda’s CEO
Agoda’s CEO Omri Morgenshtern is doubling down on tech innovations, including a game-changing “persistent booking” capability and a new solution for hotel chains to monitor how their wholesale discounted rates are being distributed. But a shortage of tech talent may hobble progress
Regent Bows out of Singapore as IHG Continues to Revive Brand
Hilton will rebrand the Regent Singapore as a Conrad hotel, a bummer for IHG which is resuscitating Regent. It sparks the perennial question, is there a place for Regent today? Chances are, this time it will be different and the brand will live on. Here’s why
Hyatt Launches Ryokan Brand With Conservation-Minded Partner
There are thousands of ryokans in Japan and the customer experience can be unforgettable in a good or bad way. Kiraku is passionate about preserving undervalued assets in Japan for future generation. That makes Hyatt’s partnership with it to launch a ryokan brand, Atona, worth watching
Nobu and AWC to Prove Chalk and Cheese can go Together
Nobu Hospitality and Thailand’s Asset World Corp are dipping their toes into a new relationship where they are more different from each other than alike. With luck, this might turn out to be a box office hit.
Accor Takes a Leap of Faith in Franchising Movenpick in China
Accor is taking a leap of faith in giving exclusive rights to a partner it has never worked with before — big though Sunmei may be — to develop a brand that is relatively an unknown in China, and under a franchise model for the first time. The upside can be huge, likewise the risks. But under CEO Sebastien Bazin, what is Accor if not a risk-taker
All Exclusive is the new All-Inclusive and it’s Coming to Asia
The all-inclusive rage in the US and Europe is coming to Asia. Accor has already signed two Rixos resorts in Vietnam. But hold your horses — after four decades, Club Med has only nine resorts in operation in Asia, excluding China. Yet may be more competitors is what it takes to turbo-charge all-inclusive in the region
Asian Hotel Groups Take Bold Steps to Reform Loyalty Programs
Independent chains in Asia are as cognizant as global mega chains of the need to transform loyalty programs. They may even have better ideas
Benchmarking Against 2019 is a “low” bar, say India Hoteliers
India has joined a thin band of Asian countries that can wave goodbye to Covid-19’s most-asked business question: When can we get back to 2019 levels? For other Asian countries, that’s still the question although some are racing ahead of others