Shanghai Disney expands entrance health checks
>> Shanghai Disney Resort recently updated that the health QR codes that guests are required to use only when entering dining venues are now required resort-wide. The resort re-opened its Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, Disneytown and Wishing Star Park with limited operation in March but so far the Shanghai Disneyland facility remains closed until further notice.
Fosun Tourism soars after unveiling plan of regional HQ in Sanya
>> Shares of Fosun Tourism Group climbed after the Shanghai-based company said it will set up a regional headquarters in Sanya to strengthen its local investment and market development. The company signed an agreement with the Sanya government yesterday that encompasses participation in local economic events, joint marketing activities, development of offshore tourism markets through Fosun’s global advantages.
Chinese airlines report $4.8 billion loss in Q1
>> Chinese airlines reported a total loss of RMB 33.62 billion (USD 4.8 billion) in the first quarter as the coronavirus pandemic hit travel demand, the aviation regulator said on Wednesday. In February，the airlines suffered a record loss of RMB 20.96 billion as large parts of the country remained on lockdown. The total number of passengers fell 71.7% in March from a year earlier to 15.13 million, Xiong Jie, an official with Civil Aviation Administration of China, said at a press conference, adding the gauge was down 53.9% in the first quarter.
Finnair plans joint venture with China’s Juneyao Air
>> Finnair, which has focused heavily on routes to Asia, says it will deepen its cooperation with China’s Juneyao Air and aims to set up a joint venture with the airline to operate the Helsinki-Shanghai route. Despite challenging times, the Finnish airline still thinks China is a key market. The company has reduced its capacity by 90%, including scaling down its Asian flights and temporarily laying off most of its staff in the past few weeks.
Skyscanner sees uptick in interest for late 2020 flights
>> In a brief interview with Bloomberg, flight-comparison website Skyscanner's CEO says it's "too early to claim any type of recovery" in the travel market, although there are "early signs of optimism and hope" from customers wishing to book flights in the latter part of the year.
Marriott RevPAR drops 83% in Greater China
>> Marriott said it expects its global RevPAR to decline by 23% in the first quarter this year as some 25% of the company’s over 7,300 hotels are temporarily closed. RevPAR dropped 60% worldwide in March and declined 83% in Greater China during the time. The good news is leisure and regional transient demand are driving the RevPAR improvement in Greater China.
Hotels in China upbeat over upcoming Labour Day holiday
>> After a significant increase in room occupancy in China during the tomb-sweeping festival Qingming, top hotel chains are looking forward to the upcoming Labour Day weekend, which could bring the coronavirus-stricken industry a step closer to recovery. During the Qingming holiday from April 4 to 6, hotel chains Accor and IHG saw a rise in occupancy levels as nearly all hotels across the country reopened for business. Hotel occupancy on mainland has been steadily rising, from a low of 7.4% during the first week of February to 31.8% on March 28, according to data analytics firm STR.
