| Featured in this Asia Pacific Hospitality Newsletter - Week Ending 23 July 2004 |
| Ritz-Carlton to add one in China | Return to Headlines |
| The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is set to add a hotel to its portfolio in China. The construction of the Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou is expected to begin end of 2004 and with an anticipated opening date of early 2007. The Ritz Carlton Guangzhou, located in Tianhe District, will comprise 353 luxurious guestrooms and 120 serviced residences. In addition to this project, two Ritz-Carlton properties are currently under construction in Beijing and are scheduled to open in late 2006. | |
| Accor to expand Ibis brand in Australia | Return to Headlines |
| Accor Group plans to develop a hotel in Australia under its Ibis brand. The hotel will be located in Wollongong, New South Wales and is scheduled to open in mid-2006. The hotel will comprise 153 rooms as well as a restaurant, bar and 60 car parking places. The Hotel Ibis Wollongong will be the first international hotel in Wollongong. | |
| IHCL launches a new chain of budget hotels – The Indione | Return to Headlines |
| Indian Hotels Co Ltd (Taj Group of Hotels) has recently announced the launch of indiOne™ hotel, at Whitefield, Bangalore. The hotel is the first of its kind in India and targets the budget traveller with room rates in the range of US $18 -20. Over the next 12 months, the group expects to add 12-14 indiOne properties in the country. The group has estimated a total investment of US $ 32 million in the so-called people hotels. | |
| Chinachem to develop hotels in Hong Kong | Return to Headlines |
| According to The Standard, Chinachem Group plans to convert three industrial blocks into hotels in Hong Kong for HK$800 million, including construction costs and the land premium. The projects include a 35-storey, 300-room hotel built on a 12,450-sq-ft site in Kwun Tong; a 19-storey, 150-room hotel in Mong Kong with a total gross floor area of 43,500 sq ft and a 29-storey hotel at 55-57 Wong Chuk Hang Road with 300 rooms. | |
| Visitor Arrivals to Singapore up 117% in June | Return to Headlines |
| According to the Singapore Tourism Board, the city-state welcomed 686,597 visitors in June 2004, an increase of 117% compared to the same period last year which was impacted by the SARS epidemic. Singapore is likely on track to achieve its target of attracting 7.6 million visitors this year. The main feeder markets are China, Indonesia and India, accounting for 39% of all arrivals, followed by the Philippines and Thailand. The average hotel occupancy rate in June was 84 %, an increase of 28% points from 2003. | |
| Thistle to sell six hotels in London | Return to Headlines |
| According to Channel News Asia, Singapore-based investment firm BIL has appointed UBS Investment Bank to sell its six hotels in London. The hotels belong to Thistle, wholly owned by BIL, which is in turn controlled by Malaysian tycoon Quek Leng Chan. Last month, Thistle sold two UK hotels for 55 million pounds in cash. The latest hotel sale is expected to be completed by the end of September. | |
