| Cendant Corporate Hotels to franchise Days Inn Hotels in China | Return to Headlines |
| 01 March 2004 – Cendant Corporation's Hotel Group signed a master agreement to franchise Days Inn hotels in China with Frontier Group Pte Ltd, a privately held company based in Singapore. The agreement calls for the development of more than 40 Days properties during the first five years, including five hotels in the first year. Two existing Days hotels in Beijing and Harbin will fall under the jurisdiction of the Frontier Group. | |
| Club Med re-opens after completion of refurbishment | Return to Headlines |
| 01 March 2004 – Club Med has re-opened its Cherating Beach resort in North-Eastern Malaysia, following an A$6.2 million refurbishment. The refurbishment project included a complete redecoration of all rooms and suites, a revamp of the pool complex and an upgrade of the food and beverage facilities. | |
| Hotel Grand Central Limited reports S$8.96 million net profit in 2003 | Return to Headlines |
| 01 March 2004 – Singapore’s Hotel Grand Central Limited reported a net profit increasing from S$4.21 million in 2002 to S$8.96 million in 2003. Hotel Grand Central Limited is engaged in the operation of the Grand Central, Grand Chancellor and Grand Continental chain of hotels in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. | |
| Visitor arrivals to Singapore up 1% in January | Return to Headlines |
| 01 March 2004 – According to the Singapore Tourism Board, visitor arrivals to the city-state reached 651,229 in January 2004, an increase of 1% compared to the same month in 2003. The main feeder markets include Indonesia, China and Australia, accounting for 41% of the total arrivals. | |
| Central H&R takes over management of Huong Giang Hotel in Vietnam | Return to Headlines |
| 02 March 2004 – Thailand’s Central Hotel & Resorts (CH&R) has officially taken over the management of the 4-star Huong Giang Hotel in Hue, Vietnam. The owner, Huong Giang Tourist Company has signed a 3-year contract agreement with CH&R to manage the hotel. The contract is part of a plan to convert the hotel into a 5-star property. Furthermore, the owner plans to double room inventory by 2005. | |
| Amari to manage new resort in southern Thailand | Return to Headlines |
| 02 March 2004 – Hong Kong-based JBB Corporation is set to launch a THB500-million resort in southern Thailand. Managed by Thai’s Amari Hotels and Resort, the Amari Trang Beach Resort is located on Chang Lang Beach in Trang province and is scheduled to open in May. The resort will comprise 138 rooms, a recreation centre on nearby Kradan island as well as spa and fitness facilities. | |
| Visitor arrivals to Indonesia reached 4.4 million in 2003 | Return to Headlines |
| 02 March 2004 – The Indonesian Tourism Ministry reported international arrivals to the country reached 4.4 million in 2003 with a turnover of approximately US$4 billion. The key feeder markets are Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. The Government hopes to attract 5 million international arrivals in 2004 and receive US$5 billion in tourism revenues. | |
| Visitor arrivals to Vietnam down 6.2% in February | Return to Headlines |
| 03 March 2004 – According to the Vietnam National Administration Tourism, visitor arrivals to Vietnam declined by 6.2% year-on-year in February to 231,943 due to the bird flu. However, the number of visitors in the first two months increased 5.5% compared to the same period in 2003. The main feeder markets are China, followed by the United States, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. | |
| Mandarin Hotel Bangkok reports THB46.14 million net profit in 2003 | Return to Headlines |
| 03 March 2004 – According to The Nation, Mandarin Hotel in Bangkok has reported a net profit of THB46.14 million for 2003, compared with a net gain of THB36.86 million in 2002. | |
| Starwood opens second hotel in Vietnam | Return to Headlines |
| 04 March 2004 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced the official opening of the Sheraton Hanoi Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam. The 299-room hotel, located in the business and tourist district of Hanoi, comprises 7 meeting rooms and 3 food & beverage outlets. | |
| New Ramada in Seoul | Return to Headlines |
| 04 March 2004 – Ramada International has opened a 245-room hotel in Seoul, South Korea. The hotel is located in Kangnam-Gu, next to the Seoul Convention and Exhibition Centre. This is the group’s second property in Korea, after the opening of the 380-room Ramada Plaza Jeju in 2003. | |
| Central H&R to expand spa businesses | Return to Headlines |
| 04 March 2004 – Thailand’s Central Hotels & Resorts (CHR) has been selected by the Indra Regent Hotel Bangkok to develop a spa using Centara Spa Management services under the management of CHR. Furthermore, the group is set to launch its service to the Central Huong Giang Hotel, located in Hue, Vietnam. | |
| Visitor arrivals to Beijing down 16.7% in January | Return to Headlines |
| 04 March 2004 – According to the Beijng’s municipal bureau of statistics, visitor arrivals to the city reached 128,300 in January 2004, a decline of 16.7% compared to the same period 2003. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan remain the main feeder markets to Beijing. | |
