Frasers Hospitality to Open Capri Residence in China Square Central in 2019

Singapore-based Frasers Hospitality is set to open a hotel residence at China Square Central in Singapore under its Capri brand to cater to young business travellers worldwide. Distributed across a gross floor area of 16,000 square metres, Capri by Fraser China Square will offer 304 lifestyle-focused rooms. New technologies will be incorporated throughout the property and these include; a chatbot with an app which guests can utilise to make reservations, check-in or request for housekeeping, motion sensors that monitor guest occupancy and housekeeping requests from the app, and RFID tags that will be attached to items to be washed with robots picking up trolley carts to streamline the linen delivery process. Slated to open in the first quarter of 2019, Capri by Fraser China Square is one of eight Capri properties in the pipeline that will all open by 2021. Capri currently has eight existing properties in Southeast Asia, Australia, China and Europe.

Wyndham Hotel Group Opens First Property in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Wyndham Hotel Group has debuted in Kuala Lumpur with the opening of the 107-key Ramada Suites Kuala Lumpur City Centre. Signed under a franchise agreement, Ramada Suites Kuala Lumpur City Centre was previously the Invito Hotel Suites. The new hotel is strategically located within the Suria KLCC retail precinct and offers 107 apartments, with one- and two-bedroom configuration. Other facilities in the property include an outdoor infinity swimming pool, a 24-hour gym and an all-day dining restaurant and bar. Ramada Suites Kuala Lumpur City Centre represents the first of five new Wyndham Hotel Group set to open in Malaysia before the end of 2019. Other properties include the 170-room Ramada Resort Lumut, the 257-key Days Fraser Business Park Kuala Lumpur, the 322-key Ramada Encore Meridin Johor Bahru and the 322-key Ramada Meridin Johor Bahru.

Japan to Introduce Departure Tax from 2019

Starting from 7 January 2019, a departure tax of 1,000 yen (US$9.30) will be imposed on travellers leaving the nation by plane or ship. The new departure tax is the first permanent levy to be introduced since the land value tax that was established in 1992. Termed as the “sayonara tax”, the new levy will be applicable to all travellers, both Japanese and non-Japanese, excluding children under the age of two or transit passengers who depart within 24 hours of arrival. The funds from the departure tax will be utilised for the enhancement of tourism infrastructures, global tourism campaigns and the promotion of destinations in rural Japan. The nation recorded a total tourist arrival of over 28.6 million in 2017, a 19.3 per cent increase over the previous year. Japan has set a target of 40 million tourist arrival in 2020, the year of the Summer Olympics.

Mercure Brand Debuts in Downtown Karamy, Xinjiang, China

Accor Hotels Group recently announced the opening of Mercure Karamy in Karamy, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. With a premier downtown location, Mercure Karamy enjoys easy access to all corners of the city, including Karamay’s airport and railway station. The hotel features 128 spacious guestrooms with 24-hour air cleaning systems, high-speed wireless network, international satellite channels and modern separate bathrooms. An all-day dining restaurant on the first floor offers both buffet and à la carte options during the three meal periods, and seven luxury private dining rooms on the second floor serves delicate Chinese and Western food and local dishes. In addition, the hotel has several ballrooms with flexible space layout to cater for small-, medium- and large-sized meetings and wedding banquets.

Absolute Share Price Performance, as on 13 April 2018