The latest news on deals, developments, data and more.
Hoxton expands to Australia. Ennismore and developer Alfasi Group have signed a deal for The Hoxton in Melbourne, Australia. The hotel is part of the Matchworks precinct in Cremorne. Due to open in 2027, the country's first Hoxton will feature 198 rooms, three food and beverage outlets, a hybrid event space centred around a shared pantry and a gym. Hoxton operates 16 hotels, including recent openings in Charlottenburg (Berlin), Brussels, a second hotel in Amsterdam and Vienna. Hoxton is also opening soon in Edinburgh and Florence, and recently announced The Hoxton in Oslo as the brand's first Scandinavian deal.
Hilton enters Guyana. Hilton has signed a dual-brand agreement for the Hilton Georgetown and DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Georgetown, its first hotels in Guyana. Owned by an affiliate of The Asset Group and managed by Hilton, the two properties will have a combined 411 rooms and will be part of an oceanfront mixed-use business and entertainment complex being built in Guyana's capital city. The new DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Georgetown will offer 158 suites. The complex will also feature a conference center with a 25,900-square-foot ballroom and 10,800-square-foot meeting room. With over 225 hotels open in CALA and over 170 scheduled to open, Hilton plans to expand into eight new countries and territories in the region over the next few years, including Bermuda and Paraguay in 2024 and Guyana in 2027.
InterContinental returns to Serbia. IHG Hotels & Resorts is returning to Serbia for the first time in 20 years, partnering with Delta Holdings to open InterContinental Belgrade by the end of 2026. The hotel will feature 203 rooms, a sky pool, a rooftop restaurant and bar and a terrace offering fine dining. The hotel will be located in the Delta District, a new mixed development in Belgrade's business and financial centre. IHG operates three properties in Serbia, all in the capital. InterContinental Belgrade will join approximately 20 open and under development properties in the Balkans in Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia and the Republic of North Macedonia.
New data on Southeast Asian travel. According to a new report by Hotel Rebate, India, the consumer profile of the Southeast Asian travel industry is changing due to the rise of breakisure and wellness travel. In addition, various policy reforms that make travel easier for Chinese nationals are increasing outbound travel from China. Although the total number of outbound tourists in 2024 is forecast to be nearly 25 million below 2019 levels, the gap in travel spending is narrowing due to a shift from group travel to individual travel. Interestingly, Chinese tourists are spending less on shopping and more on hotels, food and beverage, and experiences. Currently, South Korea and Japan attract the majority of China's outbound travel demand due to low airfares, with Indonesia also becoming more popular. Outbound travel from India, Indonesia's second largest sending market, has exceeded 2019 levels but remains modest compared to the country's potential. A key opportunity for many countries lies in increasing short-haul connectivity within Asia.
Leisure remains strong in Europe. Cheval Collection's latest travel survey shows that leisure demand is growing, with 72% of 2,600 respondents (75% of whom are British) planning at least three trips in the next 12 months, up from just over 45% last year. The survey also found that over 75% of guests prefer to book direct, with a significant number also attracted by loyalty programs. When making a reservation, almost 77% of those surveyed said they prefer to book directly or would actively consider doing so if the price was competitive. Only 18.5% said they always prefer to book with an online travel agent. Value remains an important factor for guests, with 43%-45% of respondents saying that when booking accommodation, they would book at the cheapest non-refundable rate or wait for a sale before making a purchase. Just over 30% of travelers said they prefer providers with attractive loyalty programs.
