Hong Kong travel agencies open bookings for mainland tours
>> Some major travel agencies in Hong Kong have opened bookings for mainland tours in May after a hiatus of nearly two months, as the city recorded a second straight day of a single-digit rise in coronavirus infections. Agencies such as Morning Star, Hong Thai and Sunflower Travel are offering packages for May. Destinations include Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and most of the Guangdong cities.
MakeMyTrip gets $9.6 million funding amid coronavirus crisis
>> India's online travel platform MakeMyTrip reported that it has received an infusion of USD 9.6 million (INR 735 million) from its Mauritius-based entity. The company announced late last month that it will cut advertising costs and suspend salary for its chairman and CEO to weather the storm of COVID-19.
Beijing hotel guests must show negative test results
>> Travelers arriving in Beijing will be required to provide negative coronavirus test results when they check-in to hotels, under a new measure announced last week. A senior official at the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism said the authorities will strengthen control and management of people who come to Beijing and stay in hotels to avoid any loopholes.
Hotel firm GreenTree project a 30%-35% drop in Q1 revenue
>> New York-listed Chinese hotel management company GreenTree Hospitality said it expects its revenue to decline by 30%-35% in the first quarter this year. Total revenues increased 20.6% to USD 156.8 million in 2019 and RevPAR grew 2.0% during the year. The company has completed its acquisition of Argyle Hotel Management in the second quarter of 2019 and of Urban Hotel Group in the fourth quarter of 2019.
IHG to open first new Regent hotel in China since crisis rebound
>> While coronavirus may have temporarily dampened the world’s appetite for travel, IHG is forging ahead with its planned expansion of the Regent hotel brand in China. IHG signed a management agreement with Shanghai 21st Century Hotel for what will become the Regent Shanghai Pudong, which will be the first new Regent hotel since IHG acquired a 51% stake in the Taiwan-based luxury hotel chain in 2018.
Hotels press ahead with Asia expansions despite pandemic
>> Despite the international travel industry facing one of the biggest crises in its history, hotel operators across Asia including France's Accor, Thailand's Centara, Singapore's Far East Hospitality and U.S.-based Marriott, are pressing ahead with expansions originally timed to coincide with the staging of summer Olympics in Tokyo and fueled by the ever-rising tide of Chinese tourists. Accor will add a total of 20,000 rooms to its portfolio this year, with two new hotel openings in Japan, more than 30 new hotels in Southeast Asia, and a staggering 94 new hotels in China.
Tourist attractions shall run no more than 30% of full capacity
>> China's tourism and health authorities stipulated that in order to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections, tourist attractions in the country should open only outdoor areas for business and maintain no more than 30% of their passenger capacity.
Private Chinese airline to slash capital investment by over 90%
>> Private Chinese carrier Juneyao Airlines is drastically cutting back on its investment plans by 90% this year due to the devastating impact of the coronavirus on the industry, even as its state-owned peers continue to enjoy adequate funding.
