Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region: Tourism New Zealand launches regional campaign for Singapore market, Singapore Changi Airport’s Jewel opening in April and more... 

KKR Acquires Coles Group’s Hotel Portfolio for AUD200 million
Australia-based global investment firm, KKR & Co. Inc. (“KKR”), has acquired Australian publicly listed company, Coles Group’s (“Coles”) Spirits hotel business through its subsidiary Australian Venue Co. (“AVC”) for an estimated AUD200 million. AVC, which traditionally manages a portfolio of restaurants, bars and dedicated event spaces, will now also manage the daily operations for 87 Spirit Hotels while Coles will retain management of the retail liquor stores attached to the hotels. Both companies will set up a joint venture company, Queensland Venue Co, for the ownership of both hotels and liquor stores. The Spirit Hotels portfolio comprises 87 hotels, of which 76 are located in Queensland, seven in South Australia and four in Western Australia. The Retail Liquor business comprises 253 stores, of which 243 are located in Queensland and 10 are attached to Spirit Hotels’ venues in the states of South Australia and Western Australia. Coles’ retail liquor stores outside of Queensland will remain unaffected by this transaction.

Accor Acquires Australian Hotel Brand, Tribe
France-based hospitality group, Accor Hotels Group (“Accor”), has acquired Australian Hotel Brand, Tribe, and has launched it as its 34th brand. With only one existing property, a 126-key hotel in Perth, Australia, which opened in 2017, Tribe has planned ten other openings with a total of more than 1,700 rooms across Europe and Asia Pacific by 2022. Tribe hotels are developed to “increase the sense of space, enhance the décor, and improve the customer perception”, providing amenities such as under-bed storage, smart TV, complimentary Nespresso coffee capsules and T2 teabags, 24/7 Grab & Go station, the Tribe Foods area – a café by day and bar by night, bicycle rental services, fitness centre and co-working areas. As a lifestyle and midscale brand, this acquisition complements Accor’s other brands and partnerships in its lifestyle segment such as Jo&Joe and 25Hours. Accor currently operates over 4,800 hotels, resorts, and residences across 100 countries.

Tourism New Zealand Launches Regional Campaign for Singapore Market
With Singaporeans’ increasing interest in New Zealand as a holiday destination, Tourism New Zealand has launched a new regional campaign for Singapore market. This comes after the first-ever global brand campaign inaugurated by Air New Zealand (“Air NZ”), in January 2019. The new campaign will focus on two North Island destinations namely Wellington and Wairarapa, as well as three South Island destinations: Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury. These regions were selected due to their connectivity, natural produce, and local offerings. This initiative is supported by Tourism New Zealand’s key airline partners, Air NZ and Singapore Airlines (“SIA”). Steven Dixon, regional manager South & South-east Asia for Tourism New Zealand indicates that approximately 30 to 55 per cent of Singaporeans to New Zealand are repeat visitors. Singapore is among the top ten countries of visitor arrivals to New Zealand with an increase in visitor arrivals of six per cent year-on-year.

Oakwood Partners Boutique Corporation for Thailand Expansion
Singapore-based serviced apartment operator, Oakwood Asia Pacific Limited (“Oakwood”), wholly owned by Singapore-based Mapletree Investments (“Mapletree”), has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Thailand-based real estate developer, Boutique Corporation (“Boutique Corporation”), to develop and build new Oakwood-branded properties across key destinations in Thailand. The two properties, slated to open in April 2019, will be a 198-key and a 76-key property located in Patong area of Phuket and central Pattaya respectively. This collaboration also marks Oakwood’s first foray into resort locations. Oakwood and Boutique Corporation have had a well-established collaborative relationship since the opening of 112-key Oakwood Residence Sukhumvit 24 in Bangkok more than 10 years ago. Oakwood Asia Pacific Limited currently operates a portfolio of 39 properties in 21 cities across 10 countries. Boutique Corporate currently operates a total of 800 keys, with another 1,250 keys in the pipeline.

Singapore Changi Airport’s Jewel Opening in April
Changi Airport’s new 10-storey mixed-used development, Jewel Changi Airport (“Jewel”), will open its door on 17 April 2019. The development will feature more than 280 retail and food and beverage outlets over 134,000 square metres. Key features include an early Check-In Lounge which will serve 26 airlines, a left luggage service, a 130-key Yotelair hotel, and a Forest Valley indoor garden with two walking trails and the tallest indoor waterfall in the world. A key attraction in Jewel will be the 14,000-square-metre Canopy Park that will open in mid-2019. Similar to a giant tree house structure, it will have a 50-metre-long walkway suspended 25 metres above ground, a 250-metre-long bouncing net suspended up to 8 metres above ground, and play attractions including mazes and slides. The development of project Jewel is estimated to cost SGD1.7 billion.

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