Second Marriott Courtyard opens in Bali

Marriott International has established its second Courtyard branded property in Bali.

Marriott Bali Seminyak’s new Courtyard is a 290 room hotel situated in the Seminyak area of the island, nearby the beach.

Described as an ‘urban oasis’, the hotel offers a variety of rooms with private terraces or balconies, as well as a bar and restaurant, a large lagoon-style pool, 24-hour fitness centre, a kids’ club, plus banqueting and conference space for up to 350 people. Free Wi-Fi is also offered and the hotel has shuttle bus services to the beach and close by entertainment areas.

Another novelty feature of the recent property is an electronic board in the lobby, informing guests on hotel facilities, nearby attractions, flight schedules, a local map and general news.

Marriott’s vice president for Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore happily explained that Seminyak, Bali is one of the trendiest locations for business as well as leisure travellers.

Marriott Bali Seminyak is the second brand opening in Bali after the Courtyard by Marriott Bali Nusa Dua. It is the 31st Courtyard hotel in Asia.

Fashion meets property development

During a recent interview with the Bangkok Post, Tom Light of FashionTV has revealed company plans to place seal on hotels, following success of restaurants and cafes throughout Asia.

Asia is currently one of the most fashion conscious hotspots in the world, with fashion being so much more than clothing and accessories – it is a part of lifestyle choices, from where is a trendy location to eat and even where to stay overnight during travels. Asian cable channel, FashionTV has grown over the last 15 years to become a worldwide marvel, up to date with the very latest in fashion. It has extended its reach in delivering its approval seal (plus distancing Diamond F logo), to clubs and cafes across Asia. The next phase in the plan is to develop a range of hotels for the trendiest people to stay in the most elegant of locations.

The new property developments are to extend beyond Asia to Dubai and India and is to feature residential towers alongside the hotels. Plans are to deliver the same approach towards fashion to the property design, to be circulated across some of the world’s hottest locations.

The plan is comprehensive and ambitious, with 35 projects already scheduled to be launched before the end of 2020. Bangkok Interior Design Studio Marques and Jordy have a diamond inspired design construction for the F Hotel Dubai, finishing with lavish facilities.

The vice-president of business development, Tom Light, explained of being in discussions for expansion within regions, particularly Indonesia, China, Singapore and Thailand. There are a number of club and cafe locations in Bangkok, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore and Tokyo, plus the process of opening in Guangzhou, Pattaya and more. This is just one indication of FashionTV’s popularity in Asia, tuned to over 200million TV viewers, giving confidence to expand into the region’s best hotels.

British visitor arrivals reach record high

Indonesia has received 48,871 British visitor arrivals, a record number during the first quarter of this year.

The number of UK visitor numbers continued to perform during April when 19,809 Brits visited, an 18.2% year on year increase and the highest monthly figure for April since 2011.

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy for the Republic of Indonesia assumes the strong figures to remain. From 8^th September, five direct flights a week from Jakarta to Amsterdam will be extended to Gatwick.

The UK Country Manager expressed delight in seeing growth in the number visitor arrivals from the UK.

The UK quarters one of the most significant international markets for Indonesia. These UK visitor numbers follow the opening of the destination’s first UK office, further demonstrating Indonesia’s commitment to the market and acknowledgement of its contribution to the country’s tourism economy.

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STR Global Hotel Reports - Asia Pacific

STR Global have reported hotels within the Asia Pacific region experienced positive results during May this year. The region's occupancy during the month grew by 3.2% to 67.6%; its daily average rate ended the month virtually flat with a 0.1% increase to US$115.10; with its revenue per available room increased by 3.3% to US$77.80.

The Philippines excelled by occupancy growth, increasing from 13.7% to 70.6%, owing to an increased demand of 17.6%. Indonesia also experienced positive growth rate during May, increasing by 10.7%. This is one of the highest increases of the Asia Pacific, principally motivated by Jakarta, increasing rates by 12.1%.

Highlights from significant market performers during May in local currency (year-over-year comparisons):

Favehotel to open six more hotels in Indonesia

Archipelago International’s Favehotel brand is to continue to rapidly expand by launching six more properties across four Indonesian cities, namely Jakarta, Cilacap, Padang and Pekanbaru.

The capital, Jakarta will house three of the new Favehotels, commencing with an 84 room Favehotel Zainul Arifin, this coming September. A 110 room Favehotel Pasar Minggu will follow a year later, during the second quarter of 2015, before the final Jakarta Favehotel accommodating 100 rooms, Favehotel Grogol Jakarta, will open during the final quarter of 2016.

Also opening during the final quarter of 2016, will be a 120 room Favehotel Cilacap, Central Java. Sumatra Archipelago is to quarter the Favehotel Olo in Padang and Favehotel Sudirman in Pekanbaru, both during the final quarter of next year.

Therefore, Archipelago International will experience over double its collection of hotels within the country over the next few years. In fact, Archipelago International will be establishing 33 new hotel projects all by the end of this year, as next year is already set to establish a further 37 hotels.

Archipelago describes Favehotel as a ‘select service’ brand, with amenities including free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs in all rooms, often featuring cafes and meeting rooms. 

There are an existing 27 Favehotels situated throughout Indonesia and Malaysia, ten of which are within Jakarta and four in Bali. Archipelago also plans to launch the brand in the Philippines during the near future.

Louvre - Another group to open multiple hotels in Indonesia

The tenth largest hotel group in the world and the second largest of Europe, the Louvre Hotels Group, has publicised expansion plans for Indonesia, announcing up to 30 new hotels within the upcoming three years under the Première Classe and Golden Tulip brands.

The announcement marks a further obligation to the destination following Golden Tulip’s access into the market during late 2012.

Since then it has established the Golden Tulip Galaxy Banjarmasin offering 138 rooms. There are six more hotels totalling an additional 1,286 rooms, planned to open this year:

1. Golden Tulip Devins, Bali - scheduled for a June opening, offering 108 rooms in trendy lifestyle region of Seminyak

2. Golden Tulip Essential - August opening, offering 94 rooms in the Denpasar business district region

3. Golden Tulip Jineng Tamansari, Kuta, Bali - October opening, offering 185 rooms on Sunset Road

4. Golden Tulip Essential - November opening, offering 186 rooms in the Pontianak business region

5. Golden Tulip Kalyana, Buah Batu, Bandung - December opening, offering 302 rooms with easy access to industrial and business regions

6. Royal Tulip Bandung, Baros, Cimahi - December opening, offering 411 rooms with easy access to Jakarta, situated just across the exit of the toll road. This will be the flagship of the Indonesian group, being the largest hotel of the group, as well as the first Bandung hotel quartering the major convention centre of the town alongside a wedding chapel