| Featured in this Asia Pacific Hospitality Newsletter - Week Ending 08 October 2004 |
| Hotel Princess Kyoto to rejoin Nikko International | Return to Headlines |
| JAL Hotels Company, Ltd. has signed an agreement with Kyocera Realty Development to bring back the Hotel Princess Kyoto under its Nikko Hotels International chain after a two-year absence. Hotel Princess Kyoto was recently renamed and opened as Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto in October 2004. The hotel has been undergoing an extensive refurbishment of the lobby, restaurants and all of the 216-guest rooms. In addition, new facilities have been added, including a chapel, a new French restaurant, a spa and new shops. The hotel was operated by JAL Hotels since its opening in April 1994 until August 2002. Ownership and management rights of the hotel were acquired by Kyocera Realty Development Co., Ltd. in February 2004. | |
| Visitor Arrivals to Thailand up 28% | Return to Headlines |
| According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, visitor arrivals to Thailand increased significantly by 28% in the first half of the year compared to 2003 to record 5.51 million arrivals. The figures also indicated an increase of 23% and 53% in business travelers and convention delegates. Arrivals from China rebounded by 40% compared to 2003, Malaysia, 45%, India, 60%, Russia, 34% and the US 24%. The strong increase was primarily due to the low base in the first half of 2003. | |
| Mercure Hotel Ginza opens for business | Return to Headlines |
| The Mercure Hotel Ginza opened on October 1. The 209-room hotel is located close to Ginza-dori, in Ginza district. The Mercure brand is Accor mid-market brand, with some 750 hotels in 45 countries, including hotels in Paris, London, Berlin, Brussels, Bangkok, Singapore and Sydney. | |
| Furama Hotels’ expansion in the region | Return to Headlines |
| According to the Business Times, Hotel Management Company Furama Hotels International (FHI) is seeking a stronger foothold in the region. The company has taken over the management of the previous Novotel Apollo Hotel at Havelock, Singapore. The hotel has been renamed Furama Riverfront. Quoting FHI business development manager Kevin Ng, the company hopes to clinch 5-10 sales contracts first next year, before trying to convert them into management deals after reaching a certain comfort zone with the hotel owners. The company is in discussion with an Australian hotel chain and is also looking at the Indochina and South-east Asian markets. FHI is aiming for 20-30 sales or management contracts in three to five years' time. | |
| Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong up 25.6% | Return to Headlines |
| Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong reached 2,066,469 arrivals in August 2004, the highest record ever. The figure represented an increase of 25.6% compared to the same month last year. The increase was primarily driven by visitors from Mainland China to record 1.24 million arrivals. Furthermore, hotel marketwide occupancy registered a high of 90% in August compared to last year’s 88% during the same period. The average achieved hotel room rate is HK$749, a notable improvement on the HK$630 recorded for this period in 2003 and HK$677 in 2002. | |
