COVID-19 live blog roundup: hotel projects status in Asia Pacific

The Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is one of many hotels in Asia that was hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. (Picture: Tommy Krombacher / Unsplash)

We summarise updates shared on the TOPHOTELNEWS Covid19 live blog to draw a picture of how Asia Pacific region’s hotel projects industry is negotiating the ongoing crisis.

The international hospitality industry has been sent into a tailspin with the sudden onslaught of the coronavirus crisis. From lockdowns to travel bans and border closures, hotels, bars and restaurants are having to navigate more uncertain waters than ever before.

TOPHOTELPROJECTS has been tracking in real-time the developments within the industry as it reacts to the continuing crisis, and we recap some of the recent activity that has been happening in the Asia Pacific in response to the pandemic.

The good

Given that the coronavirus originated in Asia, and that the region has experience dealing with former pandemics such as Sars and Mers, the region is perhaps better positioned than most to get back to normal, whatever that looks like post-Covid19. While there has yet to be a blanket opening of the hospitality in early-hit countries like China, South Korea and Taiwan, progress is being made in the region in terms of being able to visualise hotel activity in the near future.

NH Group, which is owned by Thai company Minor Hotels, has released a seal that signifies that a hotel has been property cleaned and disinfected, reassuring guests of the safety and hygiene measures that are in place in their properties. This is a move that is also being made in Mexico and France. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, one of the countries that has dealt with coronavirus most efficiently and effectively, restrictions have begun to be eased on a large scale, and construction has been permitted to start again.

The postponed and stalled

As with many other regions across the world, the hospitality industry in the Asia Pacific market has been brought to its knees by the abrupt impact of Covid19. The profit rates of the region’s hotels continue to plummet, a free fall with no direct end in sight until a vaccine is on the table. Postponements are plentiful, and the opening of the highly anticipated Ace Hotel Kyoto in Japan has been pushed back until the 21st of May.

May will also see the opening of the Nikko Hai Phong in Vietnam, while June will welcome the Lyf Farrer Park Hotel in Singapore and the Sheraton Guangzhou Panyu in China. Later in the summer, the Ozo George Town Penang is planning its opening for July, while the Harding Boutique Hotel Ahangama is hoping to welcome guests in August. In Malaysia, construction has been brought to a standstill until the lockdown ends on May 12th.