AFL Grand Final pushed Melbourne hotel room rates to September record
Melbourne hotels hit record September ADR (AUD242.11) and RevPAR (AUD182.99), driven by the AFL Grand Final, NFL's Australia debut, and the Melbourne Royal Show.
News
India Selected to Host WTTC Global Summit 2027, the World’s Most Important Tourism Event
India beat 21 other destinations to host the 2027 WTTC Global Summit in Delhi, as WTTC forecasts the country's travel and tourism economy will nearly double to $527 billion by 2036.
Fall foliage will lift Japan’s hospitality market
Japan hotel rates are rising sharply for the autumn foliage period, with 19 of 22 destinations above annual averages, led by Nagoya (+31%) and Kanazawa (+28%), as domestic demand offsets slowing inbound tourism in 2026.
By Joe Hanly, Writer and Content Creator, Lighthouse
At 21, WiT Singapore asks what's left for travel companies to own in the age of AI agents
WiT Singapore's 21st edition put agentic AI at the centre of debate, with speakers converging on trust and human connection as the last defensible assets for travel brands.
The Changing Shape of Indonesia’s Hotel Market
Indonesia's hotel market shows strong ADR growth but stagnant occupancy, with luxury outperforming and midscale under pressure from new supply, contrasting with demand-led recovery in Vietnam and the Philippines.
Beyond the Peak: What the Australian Accommodation Barometer Reveals About Beating Seasonality
A survey of 250 Australian accommodation operators finds that digital travel platforms, flexible pricing, and event-driven travel are the top strategies for smoothing seasonal demand gaps.
By Todd Lacey, Regional Manager of Oceania, Booking.com
Niseko Hotel Supply Rises 46% in 2026 as Summer Rates Climb, C9 Hotelworks Reports
C9 Hotelworks' 2026 Niseko review shows 46% hotel supply growth and rising summer ADR, with the market's investment case shifting toward year-round demand beyond its dominant winter season.
An Overly Long and Critical Review of the World’s 2nd Best Hotel
A critical review of Capella Bangkok, recently ranked #2 in the world by 50 Best Hotels, examining whether the property lives up to its top-tier reputation.
By Ryan Walker, CEO, investor, educator, and luxury hotel reviewer, TSMA Consulting, Inc.
Pair of events highlighted growth month for Adelaide hotels
Adelaide hotels hit a record August RevPAR of AUD139.13, up 7.3% year-over-year, driven by a Clash Tribute concert and the Day Hospitals Australia National Conference.
Asian Games 2026: Nagoya hotel prices hit their peak in a subdued year for Japan
Nagoya hotel rates for the week of Sept 21 hit JPY 48,399, 123% above the city's 2026 annual average, driven by inventory removal for athletes rather than a major demand surge.
By Jonathan Gough, Content Team Lead, Lighthouse
Bigger Budgets, Smarter Trips: South East Asia’s Next Travel Growth Wave
Hilton's South East Asia Pulse Check of 3,000 travelers finds 59% plan to spend more per trip, with Gen Z and Millennials driving frequency and spending growth across six regional markets.
Bangkok named world’s best workcation city for 2026 in IWG’s annual Work from Anywhere Index; Singapore and Kuala Lumpur rank among Asia’s top cities as flexible working reshapes travel and work
IWG's 2026 Work from Anywhere Index ranks Bangkok first globally, with Singapore (17th) and Kuala Lumpur (32nd) also featured, as 48% of workers plan to extend trips by working remotely.
India's Tourism Success Story Is Just Beginning – Unlocking International Travel Can Make It a Global Tourism Powerhouse
WTTC's 2025 EIR shows India's travel and tourism sector generated $263.6B and 46.2M jobs, with the sector forecast to reach $527B by 2036 as international spending remains underdeveloped at 14%.
June events lifted Sydney hotel performance
Sydney hotels posted June 2026 RevPAR of AUD180.77, up 3.7% year-over-year, with VIVID Sydney, the Al Shami concert, and the Sydney Film Festival driving peak occupancy of 92.7% on June 6.
HVS ANAROCK MONITOR, June 2026
India's hotel sector showed strong year-on-year gains in May 2026 vs. May 2025, with healthy ADR growth and occupancy recovery driven by domestic travel, corporate demand, and MICE activity.
Beyond The Gen Z Myth: Four Distinct Luxury Mindsets Reshaping Travel in Asia Pacific
Marriott's Luxury Group surveyed 2,800 affluent travelers across 8 Asia Pacific markets, identifying four Gen Z archetypes that are redefining luxury through wellness, disconnection, heritage, and tradition.
PATA Mid-Year Update: The Numbers Behind Asia Pacific's Tourism Growth - China’s Volume, Vietnam’s Velocity
PATA and PolyU project Asia Pacific international arrivals to hit 789.2M by 2028, reaching 115.6% of 2019 levels, with Vietnam and Mongolia among the fastest-growing destinations.
PATA and Hong Kong PolyU
The India Hospitality Market: Domestic Demand and Growth Beyond Metros
India's hospitality market, anchored by 2.9 billion domestic tourist visits in 2024, is expanding fast into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, but talent gaps and regional fragmentation are testing operators' ability to scale.
By Noxolo Behane, Thought Leadership Writer, EHL
Rethinking How Hotel Performance Is Evaluated
A PolyU study of 53 GBA hotels finds none achieved efficiency between 2015-2019, and argues standard DEA models overstate performance by ignoring product diversification.
How Vietnam is Redrawing the Southeast Asian Tourism Map with Near-50% Increase in International Search Interest
Agoda data shows nearly 50% year-on-year growth in international accommodation searches for Vietnam in 2025, driven by visa reform, expanded air routes, and infrastructure investment.