Despite turbulence in the global economy, 2011 was a triumphant year for the region, with markets setting new records. In this update: tourism trends, hotel market performance and the China Outbound Market. Much has been said about the China outbound tourism market and its potential economic impact in the past year.
This research article is intended to provide answers to perhaps the most frequently-asked questions in the past 15 years that HVS New Delhi has been operational. Around mid-last-year, during one of my trips to the Tourism Ministry, I was once again asked if HVS could carry out some research to scientifically quantify the number of hotel rooms required in the coming years; and also determine the potential employment generation that was likely to result from the addition of these rooms. We have put together all our available resources and databases of historical data to estimate these numbers and have further estimated the total capital requirement for this growing sector till 2021.
What will be the key legal issues facing the hotel industry in China next year? We asked Dr. Ulrike Glueck (pictured) , Managing Partner of the Shanghai office of the international law firm CMS, and her Senior Associate Hugh Zhou, to share their expectations with The Hotel Yearbook. What will be the key legal issues facing the hotel industry in China next year? We asked Dr. Ulrike Glueck (pictured) , Managing Partner of the Shanghai office of the international law firm CMS, and her Senior Associate Hugh Zhou, to share their expectations with The Hotel Yearbook.
“China is no longer the ‘sleeping giant’ in the outbound travel and tourism business,” says Giovanni Angelini, former CEO of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and now head of Angelini Hospitality in Hong Kong and Vice Chairman of Dusit Overseas Company Ltd. It is fully awake, and in a very short period of time has become the fastest-growing travel market in the world. With his in-depth knowledge of the region, this seasoned executive gives the Hotel Yearbook a practical and useful overview.
The tumultuous years of conflict are now behind the Sri Lankan tourism and hospitality industry. Since 2009, the $400 million tourism industry has picked up and will soon revisit its days of glory. With projected growth in the industry high, technology will be a key asset as hotels prepare to tackle increasing demand while enhancing operational efficiency. Until recently, only hotel chains and large hotels leveraged technology. As technology gets more affordable and the sector matures, hotels, from small and standalone to chain and boutique should leverage technology to book guests, personalize their stay and get insights into guest requirements for future visits.
Interest among Chinese investors in U.S. hotels has grown substantially over the past two years for reasons economic, social, and political in nature. How is this trend coinciding with the U.S. lodging industry's recovery from the downturn? A few weeks back I wrote an article examining the growing trend of Chinese tourism to the U.S. Another trend that deserves attention is the flourishing interest among Chinese investors in U.S. hotels. Sales of U.S. hotels to Chinese investors based in either the U.S. or China have soared since 2009.
As the American and European economies continue to struggle, Western hotels and travel companies have been turning to emerging countries for expansion and growth. And nowhere are there greater opportunities than in China, the biggest growth market in global tourism, according to the BBC.
The Hotel business never ceases to amaze me - especially when a property sets their mind and hearts into doing it right - instilling a great service culture into the operation. And no more obvious and pleasing is this, than when you encounter staff delivering service beyond ones normal expectations.
Budget hotel chains in China are expanding rapidly to meet the needs of a growing business travel market. Leading domestic brands Home Inns, Jin Jiang Inns, 7 Days Group and China Lodging Group will open hotels throughout China, focusing on second- and third-tier cities, such as provincial capitals. By the end of 2011, if their plans pan out, they will rival some of the biggest hotel brands in the world.
Although I technically live in Hong Kong, which is adjacent to what's now often referred to as the Gaming Capital of The World - Macau, I still need a compelling reason to hop on a ferry and take the one-hour ride over. That opportunity came up recently when HTNG's Asia-Pacific Member's Meeting was held at The Four Seasons Hotel.
This article summarizes the key tourism statistics of Mauritius and outlines the current enhancements towards its further tourism development. The island of Mauritius, with approximately 1.3 million inhabitants (2009 United Nations estimate), is located in the Indian Ocean some 2,000 km off the southeast coast of Africa (Mozambique), about 800 km east of the island of Madagascar, and some 11,000 km off the west coast of Australia.
This annual publication highlights the current trends and future opportunities for the hospitality industry across major cities in India. HVS has now been at the forefront of providing in depth consultancy services to the Indian hospitality industry and tracking trends in it for the past 14 years. After observing two economic downturns and a historic growth period, we are in a position to offer a unique perspective on the cyclicity endemic to the hospitality industry as well as the process of recovery that it currently finds itself in.
A couple of weeks ago, I made a weeklong Business trip to India. In fact it was my first time to visit India, and I was full of excitement and also worry. Worry because I'd heard so many horror stories about upset stomachs, poverty, lack of infrastructure and the possibility to pick up some unwanted infection. So as a precaution, I visited my doctor who after some research on the CDC website gave me the appropriate shots and a course of anti-Malaria tablets. Armed with those and some emergency rations (mostly protein bars, nuts and some dried fruits), I embarked on my adventurous journey to Chennai and Mumbai.
While three flight hours south in Macau, the Pacific Asia Travel Association hosted its annual PATA Travel Mart, over 500 delegates gathered in Beijing on September 15-16 at the so far largest China Travel Distribution Summit. This key event for travel executives looking to understand how to distribute and market online to Chinese consumers, focused on the theme of “China, Consumer, Content”. For global companies, China is no longer the future. It is the present. China’s market share in the global tourism world is rapidly growing, and with over 420 million Internet users, China has the most online users in the world.
Where Everybody Knows Your Name.... is the theme song from the 1980s hit television sitcom Cheers. The melody kept humming at the back of my head when I returned to the Ritz Carlton Pu Dong (Shanghai). Without missing a beat, The Bellboy outside of the Hotel's front doors ran up to me as soon as he caught sight of me trundling up the pathway with my roller-bag, and blurted out in perfect pitch - "Welcome Back - Mr. Ronson". I should not have been surprised by this. I am absolutely convinced that my mug shot had been pre-circulated to 'The Ladies and Gentlemen' of the Ritz Carlton Pu Dong after I documented my experience during my first visit. But to their credit, they lost no time to make sure all memories of that stay were no more.
The evolution of the golf markets in China has been dramatic over the past several years. This evolution, coupled with the prospects of economic growth, the global economic recession and the overbuilding of the golf markets in North America, bring an allure to the prospects for golf in China. For those in the golf industry that were not the early adapters in China, many are now investigating the possibility of business growth in China.
Last year, Macau overtook the Las Vegas Strip as the world’s No. 1 gaming revenue market. But how are casino hotels in Macau handling this growth? Can they keep up with new competitors in Asia and how do they compare to legendary Las Vegas?
2009 has been a bad year for China’s hoteliers, says DAMIEN LITTLE, Director of HORWARTH HTL in Beijing. “2010 can only get better.” But, he asks, will hoteliers have to cut room rates to bring about this “improvement”?
This article addresses the ten "game changers” that have influenced the Indian hospitality sector in the past decade and will continue to do so in the years ahead. The year 2000 was an important one for HVS India; we grew from a team of two members to four. The year 2010 is also an important one as we have grown ten-fold in as many years. Our growth story seems to mirror that of the Indian hospitality sector.
Marriott International’s strategy for India includes a heavy emphasis on the Courtyard by Marriott brand, according to the company. Courtyard, Marriott’s “upper moderate” product, is critical to Marriott’s growth in India, said Rajeev Menon, Marriott’s area VP for India, Pakistan, Maldives & Malaysia. Four Courtyards recently opened in India: The 164-room Courtyard by Marriott Hyderabad; the like-sized Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad in Gujarat; and the 199-room Courtyard by Marriott Gurgaon each opened in November. The Gurgaon property is Marriott’s first foray into the National Capital Region of Delhi.