Hilton has appointed Nong Xia as president of development for Greater China & Mongolia and Maria Ariizumi as vice president of development for South East Asia.
Nong will lead Hilton’s development strategy in Greater China, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his tenure with H World Group, Starwood, Hyatt, and Groupe Pierre Vacances et Center Parcs. A Chinese native, he will leverage his deep industry and market expertise to drive Hilton’s expansion in Greater China.
From left: Nong Xia and Maria Ariizumi
Ariizumi will spearhead Hilton’s growth in South-east Asia with the knowledge gained from her time with Swire Hotels, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Marriott International, and Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting.
PATA’s newly released Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts report is forecasting a 109.9 per cent recovery of international visitor arrivals (IVAs) by the end of this year under a mild scenario.
Recovery under a medium scenario, however, would only materialise at the end of 2025.
PATA forecasts that full recovery would only materialise after 2026
With world events remaining volatile, a severe scenario remains possible; recovery would strengthen more slowly to 2026, and remaining 13 points below the 2019 level by the end of the forecast period.
Across all three scenarios, growth in IVAs into and across Asia-Pacific is predicted to be driven by Asia, the Americas and Europe. Under the medium scenario, those three source regions are predicted to account for almost 92 per cent of all IVAs generated into and across Asia-Pacific in 2024, increasing marginally by 2026.
Under the mild and severe scenarios, those proportions are predicted to differ only very marginally at this aggregate level.
In tracking source markets performance into and across the total Asia-Pacific region, the PATA study ranks China, the US, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Macau as the top five contributors of travellers in descending order.
China outbound numbers are expected to be in the range of 109 million for 2024, with a market share of 17.7 per cent among the top 10 source markets.
In studying IVAs into 22 destinations in Asia alone, PATA forecasts a 107.4 per cent recovery by the end of this year under the mild scenario and 100.4 per cent recovery by end-2025 under the medium scenario. With a conservative lens, full recovery would only materialise after 2026.
Within Asia, the destination sub-regions of North-east Asia and South-east Asia are predicted to receive the majority share of IVAs in 2024 – 52.9 per cent and 31.9 per cent respectively. China will contribute the lion’s share of IVAs into Asia – 105.4 million expected.
In presenting the projections during a webinar on February 7, Haiyan Song, associate dean, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, noted that increased openness and connectivity are the key to North-east Asia’s continued recovery, while South-east Asia would require improvements in intra- and inter-connectivity such as new flight routes and relaxed visa processes.
Look farther ahead, Song said North-east Asia could expect 330 million visitors by the end of 2026, while South-east Asia could receive 157 million along the same timeline – both under the medium scenario.
PATA researchers noted that intra-Asia travel flows are forecasted to remain the backbone of IVAs across Asia, rising from a 76 per cent share of all arrivals in 2024 to almost 79 per cent by the end of 2026.
Fellow webinar speaker, Caroline Bremner, head of travel research at Euromonitor International, shared that rail travel, festivals/leisure events, and museums/cultural sites would attract the most tourism spend in 2024.
Bremner described the year 2024 being a “new growth era” for travel amid challenges of an economic slowdown, characterised by cities thriving on the back of culturally immersive experiences, sustainable developments and digital transformation, as well as resilience in luxury travel.
In February, Okinawa City published a guidebook, Okinawa City Go, which introduces the charms of Okinawa City as well as provides tourists various useful information about the city.
The guidebook will be made available sequentially at Okinawan restaurants around Japan, as well as accommodation facilities, restaurants, sightseeing facilities, local specialty shops and other locations, especially in Central Okinawa.
Okinawa City has a new guidebook for tourists featuring attractions and useful information about the city; Ishigaki in Okinawa, pictured
It is also available online on the Okinawa City tourism website KozaWeb.
The guidebook is featured in Japanese, English, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, and Korean.
European hotel company Deutsche Hospitality is rebranding to H World International to drive the expansion of its ownership group, H World, outside of China.
All of H World International’s brands will be part of the H Rewards global loyalty programme and online booking platform, including Steigenberger Icons, Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels, Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts, Jaz in the City, House of Beats, IntercityHotel, Maxx and Zleep Hotels.
From left: Conduit House’s Grant Healy and H World International’s Oliver Bonke
Also joining the family is Ji Hotel, one of H World China’s fastest-growing midscale brands with the recently-opened Ji Hotel Orchard Singapore, the first property outside of China.
H World International comprises Europe, Middle East, India & Africa (MEIA), as well as Asia-Pacific.
To kick-start its growth in Asia-Pacific, H World International has teamed up with Conduit House, a fully integrated hotel operator and hospitality asset manager in Asia to leverage on its Asian expertise, relationships and networks for H World International’s growth plans.
Oliver Bonke will serve as CEO H World International alongside the executive leadership team of the former Deutsche Hospitality. Oliver Bonke and Choon Wah Wong, CFO H World International, will remain managing directors of the Steigenberger Hotels GmbH.
H World International also recently signed five new properties – in Asia-Pacific, there is the Montien Surawong Bangkok, a Steigenberger Hotel which will offer 475 rooms, followed by the Maxx Huay Yai Villa, Pattaya, Thailand comprising 108 villas and with an expected opening towards the end of 2025.
In the MEIA region, the company will launch the 90-key Steigenberger Resort Byoum Lakeside in Egypt in late 2025, following the recent opening of the Intercity Hotel Bawshar in Muscat, Oman.
In Europe, the Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts brand announced the addition of the renovated and historical Bielefelder Hof in Germany, while economy brand Zleep Hotels has openings in Horsens, Denmark as well as Lausanne and Zürich, Switzerland. Agreements for two further Zleep Hotels were recently signed for the Zleep Hotel Bern, set to open in late 2025, and the Zleep Hotel Göppingen in Southern Germany, which is expected to open in 2026.
Hong Kong Airlines (HKA) will resume its regular direct flights to Kagoshima from March 31, operating thrice weekly flights on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
This service follows the launch of Fukuoka service in April and the reintroduction of Kumamoto route in December last year, offering travellers a network connecting northern and southern Kyushu.
Hong Kong Airlines will resume direct flights to Kagoshima from March 31
Since last year, HKA has progressively launched and resumed services to multiple destinations in Japan, including regular flights to Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagoya, Tokyo (Narita), Osaka, Okinawa, Sapporo, and seasonal flights to Hakodate and Yonago.
Langham Hospitality Group (LHG) has launched its loyalty and experiences platform, Brilliant by Langham, which features exclusive benefits with preference-led offerings for its guests.
Brilliant went live on February 29 and will serve as LHG’s sole loyalty programme. It replaces the group’s existing loyalty programmes, Langham Supper Club and 1865 Privilege by Langham, both of which ceased operations on February 28. Members from the closed programmes will have their past loyalty rewarded with an invitation to join Brilliant at higher starting membership tiers.
The new Brilliant by Langham loyalty programme replaces the group’s existing Langham Supper Club and 1865 Privilege by Langham programmes
Brilliant will deliver more rewarding, personalised and captivating journeys across 30 participating hotels under LHG’s renowned brands – The Langham Hotels & Resorts, Cordis Hotels & Resorts, Eaton and Ying’nFlo, as well as Toronto’s Chelsea Hotel.
Signing up for Brilliant is free and all members receive special room rates and discounts at over 100 restaurants. Members also earn status and award points for their stays and use of amenities. The former determines members’ tier levels while the latter can be redeemed for a range of accommodation, dining and soon wellness rewards.
Beyond traditional perks, Brilliant will introduce personalised experiential offerings, from whimsical excursions and cultural immersions to wellness and culinary delights. Such offerings include private cooking lessons and dinners with celebrity chefs, behind-the-scenes dance and musical performance encounters, nature walks with guided mindfulness sessions, off-the-beaten-path tours hosted by local guides, traditional crafting workshops with seasoned artisans, themed tea parties, and more.
LHG CEO Bob van den Oord commented: “By creating a system that enables us to offer guests immediate benefits, learn more about their preferences, compensate them for repeat business and craft bespoke experiential offerings for them, we have significantly enhanced our ability to build great memories.”
Japan’s Tokyo DisneySea is set to launch its eighth themed port, Fantasy Springs, on June 6 this year.
Fantasy Springs consists of three areas inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios films: Frozen Kingdom, Rapunzel’s Forest and Peter Pan’s Never Land, as well as the latest Disney-themed hotel, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel.
Artist’s impression of Frozen Kingdom, one of the three areas within Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea Park
Fantasy Springs is nestled between Lost River Delta and Arabian Coast at Tokyo DisneySea. Guests will be welcomed at the Fantasy Springs entryway with an archway adorned with Disney Animation characters such as Peter Pan, Anna, Elsa and Rapunzel. The themed port also features motifs of a variety of other beloved characters.
The new area will comprise attractions, restaurants, a merchandise shop, and more.
To enter Fantasy Springs and enjoy its new attractions, a Standby Pass (available free of charge) or Disney Premier Access (available for a fee) for eligible attractions in Fantasy Springs will be required.
To celebrate Sunway Group’s 50th anniversary this year, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur Hotels is offering exclusive stay packages for a quick family getaway this March.
The Enjoy ‘March’ More stay packages feature discounts of more than 50 per cent off room rates at Sunway Resort Hotel, Sunway Pyramid Hotel and Sunway Lagoon Hotel, complimentary dining vouchers at Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza and Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes, spa vouchers, and more.
Families can enjoy fun this March at Sunway City Kuala Lumpur Hotels
Priced from 399 ringgit to 1,350 ringgit (US$84 to US$285), all packages include accommodation, complimentary breakfast buffet, and access to all of Sunway Resort Hotel’s leisure facilities – Waterventure, Wonderland Explorers, Health Club and swimming pool.
Hotels in the Philippines are bracing for the impact of the proposed 100 pesos (US$1.78) hike in the daily minimum wage of private sector workers, a bill unanimously approved by the Philippine Senate with a twin bill under consideration by the Congress.
Benito Bengzon Jr, executive director of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association – one of the many groups that formally oppose the legislated wake hike – said it will impact particularly the micro and small enterprises, with some people being displaced.
Benito Bengzon Jr, third from left, said the wage hike will have most impact on the micro and small enterprises
“(However) we really like to look at it from a legal perspective. There’s already a legal and working mechanism that has been in place for a very long time… that studies and recommends wage hikes for each and every region in the country,” he said at the recent Hotel + Accommodation Industry Summit Philippines.
Bengzon pointed out: “The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards is under the law, and regional tripartite boards just recently granted wage hikes in different regions.”
Economists said the proposed hefty wage hike – an additional manpower cost to hotels to the tune of about US$600 per employee per year – will make businesses raise their prices or reduce manpower, causing higher inflation and interest rates that will penalise the poor that the proposed bill purports to help.
At the same Industry Summit, Eugene Yap, president of Hotel Restaurant Association of the Philippines and general manager of Bayview Park Hotel Manila, foresaw a “wage distortion” from the proposed wage hike as the salaries of employees receiving higher pay will have to be adjusted.
Saying that the 100 pesos wage hike is just applied to businesses “with no added value equivalent” to businesses and their clients, Yap said they will have to look at how to raise their prices without pricing themselves out of the market, turning to foreign and other markets capable of absorbing or covering up the legislated wage hike.
Saudi Arabia has received international recognition and applause from UN Tourism and the WTTC for welcoming over 100 million tourists in 2023, surpassing its previous target set for 2030.
Having achieved this milestone seven years ahead of the initial goal, the Ministry of Tourism has announced that the Kingdom has now set a new ambitious target of welcoming 150 million tourists by 2030.
Saudi Arabia has set a new target of 150 million tourists by 2030 after surpassing its previous target last year; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, pictured
Tourism has proven to be a significant contributor to the nation’s economy, with domestic and international tourists spending over 250 billion riyals (US$66.6 billion) in 2023. This expenditure represents over four per cent of GDP and seven per cent of the non-oil GDP reflecting the crucial role of tourism in diversifying Saudi Arabia’s economy.
The tourism sector in the Kingdom has marked significant qualitative leaps, with the total number of tourists, both domestic and international, reaching 106.2 million in 2023. This represents an increase of 56 per cent compared to 2019 and a substantial 12 per cent surge compared to 2022. Among these, the number of international tourists reached 27.4 million, showing a substantial 56 per cent increase from 2019 and a 65 per cent rise compared to 2022.
Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb commented: “Tourism is a key pillar in the nation’s economic transformation under Vision 2030, creating jobs and revenue for the Kingdom. The tourism ecosystem continues to operate in line with the national tourism strategy by developing diverse tourist destinations. Our aim is to enrich the experiences of tourists, diversify options for both local and international visitors, and enhance hospitality facilities along with other services provided.”
European hotel company Deutsche Hospitality is rebranding to H World International to drive the expansion of its ownership group, H World, outside of China.
All of H World International’s brands will be part of the H Rewards global loyalty programme and online booking platform, including Steigenberger Icons, Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels, Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts, Jaz in the City, House of Beats, IntercityHotel, Maxx and Zleep Hotels.
Also joining the family is Ji Hotel, one of H World China’s fastest-growing midscale brands with the recently-opened Ji Hotel Orchard Singapore, the first property outside of China.
H World International comprises Europe, Middle East, India & Africa (MEIA), as well as Asia-Pacific.
To kick-start its growth in Asia-Pacific, H World International has teamed up with Conduit House, a fully integrated hotel operator and hospitality asset manager in Asia to leverage on its Asian expertise, relationships and networks for H World International’s growth plans.
Oliver Bonke will serve as CEO H World International alongside the executive leadership team of the former Deutsche Hospitality. Oliver Bonke and Choon Wah Wong, CFO H World International, will remain managing directors of the Steigenberger Hotels GmbH.
H World International also recently signed five new properties – in Asia-Pacific, there is the Montien Surawong Bangkok, a Steigenberger Hotel which will offer 475 rooms, followed by the Maxx Huay Yai Villa, Pattaya, Thailand comprising 108 villas and with an expected opening towards the end of 2025.
In the MEIA region, the company will launch the 90-key Steigenberger Resort Byoum Lakeside in Egypt in late 2025, following the recent opening of the Intercity Hotel Bawshar in Muscat, Oman.
In Europe, the Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts brand announced the addition of the renovated and historical Bielefelder Hof in Germany, while economy brand Zleep Hotels has openings in Horsens, Denmark as well as Lausanne and Zürich, Switzerland. Agreements for two further Zleep Hotels were recently signed for the Zleep Hotel Bern, set to open in late 2025, and the Zleep Hotel Göppingen in Southern Germany, which is expected to open in 2026.