Malaysia based Pacific Regency Hotel Group has announced plans to expand their Asian portfolio. The group is to debut the Pacific Express Hotel brand in June and aims to increase this to four properties by year-end 2014, including a property in Shenyang, China. The long term goal for Pacific Regency is to open in three new properties every three years through new acquisitions, refurbishment of old hotels and management agreements.

Commencing with the rebranding exercise of the 50 room Passage on Lam Yai Beach, Koh Samui into the Movenpick Resort Laem Yai Beach Samui, Movenpick Hotels and Resorts have a strong outlook for growth in Thailand. Currently, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai are present in the brand’s portfolio, with Hua Hin, Samui, Bangkok and Phuket in the pipeline. While the Swiss company is focusing their expansion plans in Thailand, anticipating nine new hotels in the next few years in the country, similar developments will gradually be implemented in the region, including Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The regions’ average occupancy increased 1.2 points to 68.8% with average daily rate dropping 2.7% to US$118.44. This has resulted in a slight decrease in revenue per available room of 1.6% to US$81.46. This overall decrease in the last month was attributed to the strong influence of political situations in both India and Thailand on regional performance in the last month. The largest occupancy increases were registered in Seoul and Shanghai with the most significant drop being in Bangkok. ADR growth was led by Osaka, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, all registering double digit growth. The outlook for the year ahead remains positive.

Archipelago International Hotels, Resorts and Residences, already one of Indonesia’s largest and most prolific hotel operators, is gearing up to expand the Alana brand across Indonesia. Following the successful opening of the first Alana property in Surabaya, three additional properties are slated to open in Yogyakarta in September 2014, Solo in mid 2015, and Sentul City, Bogor in 2016. The hotels are expected to have 269, 248, and 271 rooms respectively, and offering multiple food and beverage options and ample, state of the art meeting spaces. Besides the Alana brand, Archipelago International is aggressively expanding their Aston and Quest brands.