Banyan Tree in Vietnam: Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts will manage Pegasus Investment and Consultancy’s development of the 240-room Dhawa Quy Nhon Vietnam. Expected to be completed in 2023, the resort will be sit under Singapore-based Banyan Tree’s Dhawa brand. With an estimated total investment value of S$100 million US$75 million), Dhawa Quy Nhon Vietnam is the second phase of Pegasus Education Tourism Development. The development’s first phase kicked off with the opening of Outward Bound Vietnam in 2016 and its third phase will comprise eco-residences. Pegasus Education Tourism Development spanning about 60 hectares with its own beach front.
Wyndham adds Caribbean resort: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts will open the Turtle Island Beach Resort, Trademark Collection by Wyndham in Belize. The hotel, operated by Wyndham Hotels & Resort’s management division, is set on a private island on the west side of Ambergris Caye, just five minutes by boat from San Pedro Town. Owned by Castle Capital Investment, the resort marks the third Wyndham-branded hotel in Belize and the second hotel on the island to convert to the Trademark Collection by Wyndham.
Luxor names ownership partner for Ocean Casino resort: Atlantic City, New Jersey-based Luxor Capital Group, the primary owner of Ocean Casino Resort, is pursuing a partnership with the Detroit, Michigan-based Ilitch organization. Subject to regulatory approvals and final closing conditions, the Ilitch organization would own, through an affiliate, up to 50% of Ocean Casino Resort, with Luxor owning the rest.
New owners for England’s oldest hotel: A couple from Texas are the new owners of what is thought to be England’s oldest hotel, the Old Bell in Malmesbury. Kim and Whit Hanks have also agreed to buy the neighboring Abbey House Gardens, once home to the Naked Gardeners and famed for its clothes optional days. They plan to reopen the hotel on May 17.
Rosewood’s ‘Sense of Place’: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts will unveil a new video – A Sense of Place – as the latest interpretation of the brand’s guiding philosophy and an “ode to the unlimited potential that travel unlocks.” Created in partnership with creative agency Studio Dangin, the short film takes viewers on a journey to Rosewood’s destinations around the world, highlighting the leading role of local culture and heritage in the Rosewood experience, as well as the thoughtful personal touches each and every guest enjoys along the way.
China’s road to recovery: The number of domestic trips in China during the upcoming May Day holidays will likely surpass the level of 2019, a year before the COVID-19 pandemic, industry experts predicted on Tuesday, as one of the hardest-hit sectors by the virus rolls toward a full-fledged recovery. However, tourism income could remain below pre-coronavirus level, with a recovery of about 60% to 70% from the 2019 level expected, as consumer spending remains relatively sluggish, experts noted.
Maharashtra hotels prepare for lockdown: Hotel operators across Maharashtra in India are staring at a near-total wipeout of revenue following strict orders to keep their properties shut on weekends. Hoteliers are staunchly protesting the move as weekends usually generate 60% to 70% of the week’s income. Maharashtra has more than 10,500 branded and unbranded hotels, ranging from basic one-star properties to five-star business hotels and luxury resorts. The pandemic dealt a huge blow to its hospitality sector, according to research and consultancy company HVS.
Europeans hungry for travel: A new report from the European Travel Commission indicates that European desire for travel has climbed to its highest level since the survey started, in September 2020. Some 56% of total respondents plan to take a trip by the end of August. And 22% of all surveyed Europeans intend to travel between May and June.
U.S. Travel touts California reopening plan: U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on the “Beyond the Blueprint” reopening plan announced today by the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom:
“The governor’s reopening plan is tremendous news for some of the hardest-hit areas of the economy, especially the conventions and large meetings sector that has been completely shut down for 14 months.
“It is fully possible to safely hold conventions and large meetings while observing prescribed health standards and practices, and California’s new guidance allowing such gatherings up to 5,000 people is in full agreement with current science and the CDC’s assessment that it is safe for vaccinated individuals to travel. Other states should follow this example of a science-driven reopening, especially as more and more Americans get vaccinated.
“We do have concerns about the new guidance’s mandate that international convention attendees be vaccinated. While the travel industry strongly encourages everyone to be vaccinated as the most effective path to a full economic reopening, a vaccination should not be a requirement to travel—and is unnecessary in this case because of the CDC’s current mandate that international visitors have a negative COVID test.
Puerto Rico reopening airports, increasing bookings: Recently released data by traveler intelligence company Adara indicates Puerto Rico is making an early impact in the tourism recovery for the U.S. and the Caribbean region with bookings up nearly 25% from a year ago, totaling US$112 million in hotel bookings since January. As of April 1, after nearly a year of being shut down, two international Puerto Rican airports — Mercedita International Airport in Ponce and Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla — resumed commercial activity to accommodate the increased bookings. In comparison, the rest of the Caribbean and Mexico are booking 25% below a year ago, while the rest of the U.S. is booking 40% below.
Legal challenge to indoor hospitality gets fast-tracked: A legal challenge by hospitality leaders to let bars and restaurants in England fully reopen sooner than the roadmap allows will be expedited, a High Court judge has agreed. The British government now has until April 16 to file evidence of why indoor hospitality should only open from May 17, at the earliest. Permission for the case to go to a judicial review — that could also be expedited — will then be made in the week starting April 19, according to a High Court judge.