12 hours ago
Centara Hotels Accelerates Five-Star Expansion Strategy
The World Travel & Tourism Council's 2025 Economic Impact Research forecast predicted the Philippines' Travel & Tourism Sector will contribute PHP 5.9 trillion to the national economy, up 13.5% from 2019 levels to a new record. International visitor expenditure is projected to reach PHP 709.2 billion, up 2.1% over the 2019 peak. Domestic visitor spending is expected to reach PHP 4.1 trillion, up 9.3% from the previous high. Domestic spending in 2024 was PHP 3.6 trillion, while international spending grew to PHP 644.8 billion.
That same report forecasts another record-breaking year in Australia in 2025, with Travel & Tourism set to inject $314.4 billion into the national economy. International visitor spending is predicted to reach $39 billion, nearly 22% above 2024, with domestic spending forecast to climb to almost $173 billion. In 2024, international visitor spending totaled $32.1 billion while domestic spending reached $123.7 billion.
CEO Group has begun construction on Novotel Cam Ranh Resort at Bai Dai – Cam Ranh in Khanh Hoa province. The resort is being built by Accor Group with the Novotel brand, affirming CEO Group's long-term vision and aspirations to elevate tourism in Vietnam. Novotel Cam Ranh Resort will cover nearly eight hectares and will include 387 hotel rooms, villas, and bungalows, including a luxurious presidential villa overlooking the sea. Guests will be able to enjoy a sky bar, swimming pool, restaurant, pool bar, and children's play area. CEO Group and Accor have already opened Novotel Phu Quoc Resort together. The new Cam Ranh resort is scheduled to open on the 25th anniversary of CEO Group, October 26, 2026.
The Thai Nguyen Provincial People's Committee awarded an investment registration certificate for the Route Inn Grand Thai Nguyen Hotel project to Route Inn Thai Nguyen Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Route Inn Japan. The 14-story hotel will be built on an area of more than 9,000 square meters in the Yen Binh Urban Area in Vietnam with a total cost of US$14.7 million. It will feature 350 rooms and is expected to become a flagship resort for Thai Nguyen and Vietnam as a whole. The hotel is designed to feature full Japanese-standard facilities and services while incorporating a blend of Vietnamese and Japanese cultural elements, catering to both international experts and travelers seeking a high-end stay. Route Inn Japan operates nearly 600 properties across Japan and manages several projects in Vietnam. Thai Nguyen is the third Vietnamese location to be chosen by Route Inn Japan for hotel development. They are aiming to open 100 hotels in Vietnam over the next decade.
Centara Hotels & Resorts said they are accelerating their global business enhancement strategy with the opening and transformation of five-star and luxury hotels in some of the world's most desirable destinations. By expanding its exclusive Centara Grand and Centara Reserve brands, the group is advancing its goal to be a top 100 hotel company worldwide by 2027. The Centara Grand brand opened a new resort in the Maldives earlier this year, following openings and renovations in Osaka and Bangkok. Later this year, they will be unveiling the renovations of their heritage hotels in Hua Hin, Thailand, and the country will also welcome the second Reserve brand property in Krabi. The Centara Reserve brand debuted in 2021. The world's second will be at the former Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi, which is currently closed for a comprehensive renovation.
Minor Hotels announced the acquisition of a popular resort with extensive meeting and events spaces in the NSW Snowy Mountains. The company has taken over the 110-room Oaks Lake Crackenback Resort in Thredbo Valley, located 15 minutes from Thredbo and Perisher Ski Fields. The resort includes 110 studios, apartments, villas, and chalets with amenities including an indoor heated pool, sauna, gym, dedicated spa and wellness center, two dining venues, and several spaces for meetings and events. Minor Hotels has welcomed six properties already in 2025.
Xandari Resorts, part of Muthoot Leisure & Hospitality Division, is planning to expand its footprint to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India and overseas. The company has a dominant presence in Kerala and intends to open 3-4 resorts in the next couple of years. Xandari currently operates five resorts, with one outside of India in Costa Rica. They are looking to have a presence in Sawantwadi in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Costa Rica, and Bhutan. The expected cost for the expansion is around Rs 45 crore per property.
VD Rooms announced its strategic expansion across four major Indian states – Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Rajasthan. They plan to acquire underperforming hotels and convert them to fully functional, customer-first properties under the VD Rooms brand. By bringing these underperforming, low-occupancy properties under the VD Rooms umbrella, they aim to revamp infrastructure, standardize operations, and create unified brand experiences that ensure guest satisfaction and loyalty. The hotels will undergo extensive upgrades in amenities, cleanliness, service quality, and digital enablement to match VD Rooms' established standards.
Realty firm Saya Group has reached an agreement for Lemon Tree Hotels to manage its 336 business suites in Greater Noida in India. Saya Group reached an agreement with Carnation Hotels Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Lemon Tree. The agreement calls for Carnation to operate and manage 336 fully serviced business-class suites at Saya SouthX, a mixed-use project being developed by Saya.
Personnel Moves
Star Entertainment Group announced Jennifer Cronin has been appointed interim CEO for The Star Gold Coast for a maximum term of 12 months while the company continues to search for a permanent CEO. She has also been made a Director of The Star Entertainment Qld Custodian Pty, the licensee of The Star Gold Coast casino. Rowena Craze, who joined Star in April last year as Group Chief Audit Officer, has been appointed the Group Chief Risk Officer. Patrick McGlinchey, who joined the company last August as Interim Group Chief Legal Officer, has been formally appointed to the role. Sarah Derry, who joined in March as Chief People Officer, has received all regulatory approvals and will move into the role full time on July 1. Peter Meliniotis was appointed Group Chief Information Officer. He joined the company in January as Group Technology Transformation Executive. Finally, Helen Galloway has been appointed as the Independent Chair of The Star Pty, the licensee of The Star Sydney casino, for an initial term of three years.
