TODAY: Ctrip expands further globally by acquiring US travel site Trip, Pullman launches wellbeing program and Far East Hospitality to open three new hotels in Sentosa.

Ctrip expands further globally by acquiring US travel site Trip.com
Friday, 3rd November 2017

Ctrip has acquired US travel booking platform Trip-dot-com (formerly Gogobot), it’s worth noting whether the search functions of Trip-dot-com will be merged with Skyscanner. In addition to vacation planning through social media, Gogobot also builds special groups to gather travelers sharing similar interests in outdoor adventure, budget travel and dining experiences >>

News from around the APAC region.
3 Nov 2017 : Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region: Akyra Sukhumvit Bangkok to open in 2018, Indonesia's new tourism investment opportunities, Fairfield by Marriott Coimbatore for Tamil Nadu, India and more >>

Pullman launches wellbeing program
3 Nov 2017 : SLEEP, FOOD, SPORT + SPA are the cornerstones of a new wellbeing program designed in collaboration with the brand’s Wellness Coach, Sarah Hoey. Pullman’s new approach is based on four universal pillars of health: SLEEP, FOOD, SPORT and SPA. Each of the four pillars provides options for customization along four key fundamentals: age defense, energy boost, balance and detox >>

Far East Hospitality to open three new hotels in Sentosa
3 Nov 2017 : Singapore-based Far East Hospitality has announced that it will open three hotels with a combined inventory of 839 rooms in Sentosa, Singapore, in mid-2019. Located at the Artillery Avenue in the Palawan area of Sentosa Island, the three hotels will aim to serve mainly the mid-tier market and attract staycation enthusiasts >>

US Hotel Development Cost Survey 2016/17
3 Nov 2017 : Hotel development activity correlates directly with the ebbs and flows of hotel-sector performance: As we reached the peak of the current cycle in 2016, developers pursued hotel construction and redevelopment at a pace we haven’t seen since 2006 and 2007 >>

HIGHLIGHT ARTICLE

Can Japan’s Hotels Keep Up with Soaring Demand?
Friday, 3rd November 2017

Tourism is booming like never before in the Land of the Rising Sun as visitors flock from across Asia and further afield, while rising numbers are in line with government plans to welcome 60 million tourists by 2030 to help offset struggling areas of the Japanese economy, the hotel industry faces in own challenges in keeping up with growing demand for rooms. Last year, hotel construction starts doubled to 1.96 million square metres, reaching an 18 year high. Major hotel operators are rushing to open before the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 – Marriott leads the pack with five properties as it rebrands existing hotels. >>

Everyday Choices Can Create Serious Issues.
I can’t count the number of crises I’ve seen during my career that started with an operational decision that seemed like a good idea at the time — but which was fatally flawed from the start because decision makers didn’t ask a critical question >>