Latest news with #CherryBlossom
Hospitality Net
4 days ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Asia Pacific hotel performance update
April performance across the Asia Pacific hotel industry was positive as 10 of the region's 16 largest countries grew occupancy, average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR). In fact, all but three countries—China, Singapore and Thailand—experienced RevPAR gains. The March/April period is often impacted by calendar shifts of religious events and public holidays. April 2025 was no exception with a shift in observances including Ramadan, Easter and Passover affecting both business and leisure travel patterns in the region. Asia Pacific hotel performance update -April 2025— Source: STR Japan continues to hold the APAC region's top spot Japan remains the standout performer with seemingly unstoppable ADR gains. The country also advanced occupancy in April, which is the middle of Cherry Blossom season, a draw for visitors from around the world. April occupancy was Japan's highest level in the past 12 months. A favorable yen-to-dollar exchange rate has contributed to Japan's attractiveness for visitors, however the favorable FX rate is starting to subside. Expo 2025, held this year in Osaka, opened in mid-April and will benefit performance throughout the country until the middle of October. Of the other Northeast Asian markets highlighted, Taiwan (China) and South Korea experienced occupancy and ADR increases. Similar to Japan, April is a popular month for both markets. In Taiwan, Taipei and Taiwan Regional lifted RevPAR with occupancy as the main driver. The Incheon & Seoul markets and Busan submarket drove performance for South Korea with generally equal parts occupancy and ADR. Asia Pacific hotel performance update -April 2025— Source: STR Variability across markets in China resulted in net negative performance China, the largest country in the region, posted negative RevPAR comparisons impacted more by occupancy declines than ADR. Healthy supply increases have contributed to the country's slowing occupancy. April performance varied across the country with Macau SAR and Sanya posting double-digit RevPAR increases, while the majority of markets posted declines. Similar variability was seen across the five largest markets where Guangdong and Shanghai experienced modest gains while Beijing decreased RevPAR due to ADR declines. Shandong and Jiangsu slowed primarily because of decreasing occupancy. Asia Pacific hotel performance update -April 2025— Source: STR All three top Central South Asian countries advanced RevPAR Three of the top countries in Central South Asia—India, Maldives and Sri Lanka—advanced RevPAR on both ADR and occupancy gains. India experienced growth throughout the country with the four largest markets posting double-digit RevPAR gains. Mumbai rose primarily due to ADR gains, while New Delhi, Bengaluru and Rajasthan saw occupancy and ADR increases. Highlighting the popularity of the country, all 17 markets in India experienced an occupancy increase in April. Two smaller countries in the region—Maldives and Sri Lanka—increased RevPAR as well. Maldives, recording one of the highest ADRs in the region, has seen growth all year, while April was the first month this year that Sri Lanka posted positive performance. Asia Pacific hotel performance update -April 2025— Source: STR Solid April performance in the southern hemisphere April brought cooler weather and positive RevPAR comps in the southern hemisphere for the three highlighted countries in the region. Inflation, which has been a headwind in the region, has lessened. FX rates are also a factor as the Australian dollar remains weak against the U.S. dollar, providing a tailwind to long-haul inbound travel. Australia's top markets all posted healthy RevPAR gains, driven by occupancy and ADR. New South Wales, the third largest market in the country, achieved double-digit growth. New Zealand saw strong performance across all four submarkets in the South Island market. North Island was mixed with the two largest submarkets, North Island regional and Auckland, up and down, respectively. Fiji experienced growth following a decline in March, in part because of the Easter/Passover calendar shift which benefits leisure travel, providing a boost to a vacation market such as Fiji. Asia Pacific hotel performance update -April 2025— Source: STR Variable performance seen across Southeast Asia Performance was mixed across Southeast Asia. Vietnam and Indonesia recorded RevPAR gains via increased ADR and occupancy. In Vietnam, all seven submarkets increased RevPAR. April in Indonesia was positive following negative performance in March, impacted by above mentioned calendar shifts. Two of the largest markets, Jakarta and Bali, each produced double-digit gains driven almost entirely by ADR. Occupancy was the exclusive driver of positive RevPAR performance in Malaysia and Singapore. Both countries recorded stronger performance in April compared to March with Malaysia netting positive KPIs while Singapore retreated slightly. Singapore consistently posted the highest occupancy and ADR of any country in the region. Occupancy declines suppressed RevPAR in the Philippines and Thailand. Increasing ADR in the Philippines made up for the occupancy decline both in Manila and the surrounding region. Performance was mixed across Thailand, with Bangkok and Thailand Central & North seeing modest ADR declines and more significant occupancy declines. Phuket and Thailand South posted positive RevPAR with ADR being the primary driver. Asia Pacific hotel performance update -April 2025— Source: STR About CoStar Group, Inc. CoStar Group (NASDAQ: CSGP) is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics in the property markets. Founded in 1987, CoStar Group conducts expansive, ongoing research to produce and maintain the largest and most comprehensive database of real estate information. CoStar is the global leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, enabling clients to analyze, interpret and gain unmatched insight on property values, market conditions and availabilities. is the leading online marketplace for renters seeking great apartment homes, providing property managers and owners a proven platform for marketing their properties. LoopNet is the most heavily trafficked online commercial real estate marketplace with thirteen million average monthly global unique visitors. STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics, and marketplace insights for the global hospitality industry. Ten-X offers a leading platform for conducting commercial real estate online auctions and negotiated bids. is the fastest growing online residential marketplace that connects agents, buyers, and sellers. OnTheMarket is a leading residential property portal in the United Kingdom. BureauxLocaux is one of the largest specialized property portals for buying and leasing commercial real estate in France. Business Immo is France's leading commercial real estate news service. Thomas Daily is Germany's largest online data pool in the real estate industry. Belbex is the premier source of commercial space available to let and for sale in Spain. CoStar Group's websites attracted over 163 million average monthly unique visitors in the third quarter of 2024. Headquartered in Washington, DC, CoStar Group maintains offices throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Asia. From time to time, we plan to utilize our corporate website, as a channel of distribution for material company information. For more information, visit This news release includes "forward-looking statements" including, without limitation, statements regarding CoStar's expectations or beliefs regarding the future. These statements are based upon current beliefs and are subject to many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. The following factors, among others, could cause or contribute to such differences: the risk that future media events will not sustain an increase in future occupancy rates. More information about potential factors that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those stated in CoStar's filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in CoStar's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and Forms 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024, and September 30, 2023, each of which is filed with the SEC, including in the "Risk Factors" section of those filings, as well as CoStar's other filings with the SEC available at the SEC's website ( All forward-looking statements are based on information available to CoStar on the date hereof, and CoStar assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source
Refinery29
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
This Korean Shampoo Doubles As Hair Perfume & Actually Delivers Results
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. As someone who doesn't get a trim as often as she should (I'm growing my hair out, okay?), I expect a lot from my humble shampoo and conditioner. I want them to cleanse my scalp and strands of the daily lashings of dry shampoo, not to mention smooth frizz, minimise split ends, boost shine and make my lengths smell incredible. I don't think that's a tall order, especially given how far haircare tech has come. But it's my job to test these products out, and you'd be surprised how many brands underdeliver. So when I heard that Kundal — Korea's number one shampoo brand — had just landed at Boots, I sat up, took note, and headed straight to TikTok to see what all the fuss was about. While Korea's skincare continues to enjoy the spotlight, it's now haircare's turn to shine, with Kundal taking centre stage. On TikTok, the hashtag #Kundal now has over 17.3K posts and counting, many racking up tens of thousands of views, likes and comments. The consensus? It's one of the best-smelling — yes, smelling — hair brands out there. According to the brand's legions of fans, hair perfume has nothing on Kundal's shampoo range, which features fragrances like White Musk (clean, soft, and powdery), Cherry Blossom (lightly floral and refreshing) and Violet Muguet (sweet and slightly green). There are also matching conditioning treatments, a scalp tonic and a post-wash serum, all of which smell just as good. In fact, some are even filming themselves 'blind' reviewing the collection based on scent alone. It seems the most popular scent is White Musk — a warm 'skin scent' with a spicy, intimate edge. As luck would have it, White Musk was the fragrance that landed on my desk, namely the Honey & Macadamia Shampoo White Musk, £14.99, and the Honey & Macadamia Protein Treatment White Musk, £14.99. It's not all hype — they do smell incredible. Hours after using the shampoo and treatment, my partner walked into a bathroom that smelled like a high-end spa. He was convinced I'd spritzed on perfume before bed. Nope, just my hair. Ask any fragrance obsessive how to smell good all day, and I bet they'll recommend a hair perfume. Unlike regular fragrance sprayed on skin or clothes, hair perfume really lingers, and the natural movement of your lengths means you catch heavenly wafts throughout the day. But here's the thing: A lot of them contain alcohol, which can be drying on already parched or fragile strands. The beauty of Kundal's hair collection is that it's not all scent over substance; the incredible fragrance is suspended in a handful of nourishing ingredients. I'll start with the shampoo. The ingredients list boasts an abundance of smoothing, shine-enhancing plant oils, including coconut, avocado, macadamia and jojoba oils. Then there's ultra-moisturising shea butter to reduce dryness and frizz, plus mild surfactants like lauryl hydroxysultaine to cleanse the scalp and strands without stripping. Don't underestimate it, though. The lather is rich and creamy, and I only need to shampoo once, rather than twice like usual. My hair always feels light and clean, not weighed down or greasy. It's been two days since I last washed my hair, and I can still smell the subtle, powdery, musky scent on my strands. Then there's the protein treatment, a favourite among people with all hair types — especially those with type 4 natural hair, who love its moisturizing benefits. One content creator even called it ' life-saving ' for her curls. I have fine hair, but a lot of it, and I use the treatment as a conditioner, letting it work its magic for around five minutes. As the name suggests, the star ingredients are proteins, particularly hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed keratin, and silk amino acids. Certified trichologist Angela Onuoha had previously told me that, in haircare, proteins are considered a type of conditioning agent, and that every hair type can benefit from them to help protect and temporarily repair hair from heat damage and environmental stressors like harsh weather and pollution. @thatssotrending I'm on a healthy hair journey. @KUNDAL US is making it easier for the natural hair community. My type 4 hair felt so good after using these products! 💜💜💜 #kundalxbeautyko #kundal #naturalhairtiktok #type4hair #curlyhairproducts #washday #healthyhairjourney #haircare #haircareproducts #koreanbeauty ♬ original sound - Jacobdior Onuoha explained that most proteins latch onto the surface of hair strands, forming a protective film that smooths the hair shaft. The result? Softer, shinier-looking hair. The proteins in this treatment are 'hydrolysed' — essentially broken down into smaller molecules. Onuoha also noted that hydrolysed proteins can potentially penetrate the hair shaft to help strengthen it from within, offering further protection against damage. I judge a treatment by how it makes my hair feel when I rinse it out, and I was surprised by how silky it was, not to mention how easily it disappeared. Most treatments leave behind a greasy residue, but this felt more like a lightweight conditioner that left my hair — especially my very split ends — feeling soft and looking a hell of a lot healthier. Of course, a good hair oil helps, too. I absolutely love Kérastase Gloss Absolu Glaze Drops Hair Oil, £38.80, and while it's the most expensive product in my routine, a little goes a very long way. Speaking of price, I was surprised to learn that Kundal's 500ml shampoo and treatment are just £14.99 each. Suppose you're using one pump of each — my maths is a little rusty, but I think that works out to around 6p per pump. Considering the incredible fragrance, not to mention the megamix of expert-approved ingredients, I'd say the brand is well worth the money. Better still, it's available on the high street at Boots. My advice? Grab a shampoo and treatment duo before they sell out — and if TikTok's fragrance enthusiasts have anything to do with it, they certainly will.
Arab News
23-05-2025
- Arab News
Japan: A bucket-list destination worth the hype
DUBAI: A bucket-list destination for many, Japan doesn't disappoint if you're looking for that hard-to-find mix of bright lights, big cities, fascinating history and glorious nature. As first-time visitors, we opted for the tourist-heavy double whammy of Tokyo and Kyoto on our recent (last-minute) week-long visit during cherry blossom season. A wonderful surprise was just how welcoming Japan is for those travelling with young children. With our three- and four-year-old in tow, we visited sites including the beautiful Meiji Jingu Shrine, the extremely popular Sensoji Temple and the buzzing Shibuya Scramble — the world's busiest pedestrian crossing. (A great hack for your must-do timelapse video at the latter? Visit MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 and head to the Dream Capsule store on the 5th floor for a quiet viewing window, which you can follow with a strangely addictive gacha gaming session, fun for all ages.) Tokyo's famed Shibuya Scramble at night. (Getty Images) While it's easy enough to list the aforementioned sites in a single sentence, it should be stressed that Tokyo is enormous, so organizing your itinerary according to neighborhoods is advisable. My highlights included shopping at LOFT (multiple locations across the city) for beauty products and adorably quirky homeware, and — of course — the 'TikTok-famous' 3D cat at the hectic Shinjuku crossing, solely due to the amazement on my kids' faces. Another top tip for travelling in Japan is to ask about the luggage-delivery service before you head to your next destination, which in our case was Kyoto. Your bags will be waiting for you in your next hotel room within 24 hours of dropping them off at the counter. With that sorted, we hopped on the bullet train blissfully unencumbered — well, besides the kids — and sped off to Kyoto, home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years, the city is an incredible maze of temples, shrines and zen gardens. Nuunu Kyoto sells original works by Japanese artists. (Instagram) Our first stop, though, was rather less storied: The Takashimaya Shopping Center is home to Nuunu Kyoto, an art department store selling original work by Japanese artists. The sketches and posters are laid out in record-store format and you can happily pass hours here picking out the perfect affordable souvenir. When it comes to historical sites, this city is bursting at the seams. The stunning views from Kiyomizu-dera Temple's cantilevered viewing platform were a personal favorite. Although we chose not to take a guided tour, I will say that a tad more info on Kyoto's various sites would be welcome in the form of billboards or QR codes. The peaceful Kodai-ji Temple boasts a small bamboo forest for those unwilling to brave the crowds at Kyoto's famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and we wrapped up our afternoon by visiting the Nanzen-ji Temple complex, at the base of the forested Higashiyama mountains. The expansive complex, which dates back to the 13th century, includes Tenjuan sub-temple with its serene gardens, stepping stones and koi pond full of inquisitive fish. Although it seems ludicrous to visit Kyoto without exploring the iconic red torii gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, braving the uphill slope with two prams was something we couldn't face — but we will return. That was a familiar phrase while we were in Japan, which goes to show what an enjoyable time we had. The only warning I have — for couples traveling with children, at least — is to be mindful that restaurants tend to specialize. While this means most eateries are masters of their chosen fare, it also makes it hard to sample great sushi if your young ones are not of sushi-eating age. In our case, this meant our four-year-old developed a worryingly expensive penchant for wagyu steak, while our youngest existed on dry noodles and convenience store snacks (although, I have to say, even high-end restaurants were fantastic with the kids, welcoming them in no matter how late it was). Overall, Japan made for an ideal destination for a family vacation. Don't let those social-media gripes about overcrowding put you off. Even in its busiest cities at one of its busiest times of year, Japan is one of the most welcoming places on Earth.
Skift
15-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Thomas Cook India's Hotel Arm to Open 14 Resorts, Moves Upscale
Along with everyone else, Sterling's CEO says the company is "moving the needle" more upscale. Sterling Holiday Resorts, the leisure hotel arm of Thomas Cook India, plans to add at least 14 new resorts in the 2025-26 financial year, Sterling's CEO Vikram Lalvani said during the company's earnings call Wednesday. The brand currently operates 61 properties across India, with 20 more in the pipeline. The hotel arm has been able to increase its average room rates, Lalvani said. Pre-Covid, Sterling's average room rates ranged from INR 3,000–3,500 ($35–40). That figure has nearly doubled to INR 6,200 ($72). 'We are moving the needle towards the upper midscale and the upper upscale segments, and moving away from just the midscale segment that we have,' said Lalvani. Thomas Cook's overall travel segment revenue increased by 15% year-on-year. Leisure Travel Drives Growth: Thomas Cook's leisure business increased by 20% during the financial year. The company operated significant volumes of group and personalized products for the Mahakumbh festival in domestic business. Internationally, the group operated tours for the Japan Cherry Blossom season. The fourth quarter leisure segment results surpassed pre-pandemic levels, CEO Mahesh Iyer said. Thomas Cook also continued to increase its experiential travel offerings. During the year, it launche
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Record
'Absolutely beautiful' light-up garden roses look 'lovely at night'
The Homeleo Solar Garden Rose Lights are available to buy on Amazon and have received a number of five star reviews from shoppers Amazon shoppers are singing the praises of a solar-powered light that mimics real roses. As we look forward to summer and its longer evenings, the £11.99 Homeleo Solar Garden Rose Lights could add a 'delightful and enchanting' touch to your outdoor space. These solar-powered faux flower lights have been lauded for their 'well constructed and durable' design and 'elegant' appearance. Amazon claims that the Homeleo Solar Garden Rose Lights are so realistic they could easily be mistaken for genuine blooms in your garden. Plus, the petals and leaves are adjustable, allowing you to arrange them as you wish. There's no need for any wiring, and according to Amazon, installation is a breeze. Simply position them in an area that gets direct sunlight, and they'll charge for six to eight hours during the day, creating a 'gorgeous' atmosphere at night for ten to twelve hours. The Homeleo Solar Garden Rose Lights come with a waterproof design, making them 'perfect' for both indoor and outdoor use, reports the Mirror. One customer noted that she keeps the lights indoors during winter and relocates them outside when the weather improves, as reported by Wales Online. The illuminated roses come with a stainless steel stake and a user manual. Amazon advises: "Put the switch to "ON" position before use. If there is no sunlight to the solar panel and the stored energy has run out, the lights will be not bright." For those seeking an alternative to florals, B&Q presents a delightful choice with the 4ft Cherry Blossom Tree Outdoor Decoration. Sporting 128 solar-powered LED bulbs, the tree, which can be yours for £27.99 with home delivery availability, promises to 'impress your guests,' despite it not yet garnering any reviews. Amazon's Homeleo Solar Garden Rose Lights have secured a remarkable average customer score of 4.4 out of five stars, with a plethora of highly positive reviews. Carmen left a glowing five-star comment: "Bought as a light for a memorial patch I'm doing in my garden for my late mum. Pink was her favourite colour. It's perfect." Additional buyers share Carmen's praise; for instance, Jamie remarked: " Very pretty looking in the daytime and lovely at night with the lights." Emzie shared her appreciation too, stating: "I love this item. It's nice and bright too. The stick could be bit thicker so make it more sturdy. But overall lovely." Ali mentioned the allure of these decorations on her balcony: " These lights are very pretty on our balcony, especially at night. They look so nice that I have ordered some more. There are three roses on a stem and they look really attractive." Nell also expressed her admiration: "Love these roses. I have them in front of a garden mirror and in the evening when they light up they reflect in the mirror. Absolutely beautiful." Maria exclaimed: "These are AMAZING... I love these and stunning when it get dark these light up and look great" while Dolly commented, "Looks like a real rose, it looks really pretty at night and is very bright, good quality, good price and size." Syliva gave her feedback saying: "Look very real had loads of comments. Even better at night." One considerate customer shared: "I bought this for my neighbour and she decided to put it in her kitchen window. It is truly beautiful at night and she absolutely loves it. Will be transferred to the garden through the summer." However, not everyone was thrilled with their Homeleo Solar Garden Rose Light purchase as some faced issues after a short period. Steve mentioned: "Not bad for the price but after a while the red leaves faded." Marcel reported: "After a few months, it simply doesn't shine as bright as before." Wendy described: "Lights up but looks very very plastic." Nia revealed his letdown: "It was lovely and bright at first, but within a few months the colour was all washed out and the petals falling off, and it stopped working completely after 18 months, which was really sad as it was bought for a memorial." In other news, Argos is selling a Warm White Starburst Solar Stake Light that resembles a dandelion. Priced at £10, it has been well-received by customers, earning an impressive rating of 4.8 stars out of five.
