YTL Hotels has announced the first property under its new brand, Kasara, which promises luxurious yet authentic experiences: Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse in Hokkaido. Kasara will also expand its portfolio to include properties in Koh Samui, Thailand and Pulau Tiga, Borneo, where it weaves local influences, cultures and traditions with luxury amenities. In the coming future, authentic experiences await the Kasara guest, alongside stunning properties in exotic locations all over Asia. Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse will open its doors on 1 December.

Thailand’s MICE continues to grow stronger as major international conferences and events scheduled to take place in Thailand from 2H2014 to 2015 will go ahead as planned even while Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) continues to attract more events into the country. By October 2014, such events are expected to attract at least 50,000 visitors and by the final quarter of the 2014 fiscal year, a total of 157,930 high-quality business travellers. There are 15 other bids Thailand has recently won that will draw almost 10,000 international visitors in total. TCEB revised its forecast for Thailand’s MICE industry this year, predicting 87.2 billion baht (US$2.7 billion) in revenue and 888,210 MICE travellers.

Avani will grow fastest compared to other brands of Minor Hotel Group (MHG) and push its upscale Avani brand across Asia, the Middle East and Africa in the next few years. The group has identified noted a growing demand for the four-star brand, which positions itself as offering “affordable luxury with contemporary living space for leisure and business”. Currently operating with 5 Avani properties in Asia, MHG plans to expand with 2 more properties in Bangkok, another in Seychelles and Bali after. MHG currently has 110 hotels across 14 countries. In 2012, it announced its plan to double in size over five years, from about 80 hotels to 150.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has inked a franchise agreement with Pro Invest to manage the first Holiday Inn Express in Brisbane. The 226-key Holiday Inn Express Brisbane Spring Hill will be situated close to the 'Golden Triangle' in Brisbane’s central business district, providing easy access to business, retail, entertainment and leisure options. As the third-most populous city in Australia, Brisbane has immense growth potential as it sees steady increase in the number of domestic and international travellers. The building of the new property is a significant milestone for IHG.