The five-star stars - award winning hotels in various countries - Brief Article

Business Asia, Sept, 2000

SOURCE: JONES LANG LASALLE HOTELS DIGEST - ASIA.

UPDATE: JAPAN

THE TOKYO hotel market has witnessed a good recovery in room revenue, but net cash flow uncertainty is hindering opportunistic acquisitions.

The government's relaxation of foreign investment guidelines and low interest rates are attractive to investors, but there is uncertainty surrounding the redesign of banquet and food and beverage businesses.

Room nights demanded have recorded a compound average annual growth of 1.5 per cent per year between 1996 and 1998, a trend that is set to continue as improved regional economic conditions stimulate travel.

The performance of four- and five-star hotels improved during 1999. The Park Hyatt set a benchmark average daily rate of 43,000 yen (US$377) in 1999.

SOURCE: JONES LANG LASALLE HOTELS DIGEST - ASIA. BEST NEW BUSINESS HOTEL IN ASIA

Winner: The Westin, Sydney

The news

The Westin opened in Sydney just a year ago, but has quickly established itself as one of the pre-eminent conference hotels in the Olympic City. Located in the heart of the CBD, the hotel does not have a harbour-side location, which means it has to work harder than some of its established five-star hotels to lure customers. The Westin seems to have the right formula. Part of a A$700-million redevelopment of the old general post office, the hotel is in an old, landmark building that combines modern interior architecture.

The hotel

There is so much glass in The Westin that housekeeping staff must have a fanatical cleaning ethic -- and there have been few complaints from guests.

Many of The Westin's 416 rooms have a picture window between the bathroom and the bedroom rather than a wall, which means guests can lie in the tub and still enjoy the view, or watch the TV in the bedroom.

Two digital and two analogue phone lines, plus a cordless phone, are standard, along with glare-free desk lamps, doonas, and high-speed internet connection.

OTHER FINALISTS

COEX Inter-Continental Seoul
Grand Copthorne Waterfront,
Singapore
Grand Hyatt Shanghai
Le Royal Meridien Bangkok
Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

UPDATE: SINGAPORE

OCCUPANCY LEVELS in Singapore improved marginally to attain 74.7 per cent in 1999, up from 71.3 per cent in 1998. Those continue to improve in 2000, in spite of an anticipated 1248 new rooms in the market.

The five-star segment showed a rise of 17.3 per cent to record 82.9 per cent during the calendar period ending June 2000.

Average daily rates in the five-star segment also showed an improvement of 8.5 per cent in Singapore dollar terms to attain S$187 as at June 2000. This was in contrast to 1999, which saw average daily rates decline by 7 per cent.

SOURCE: JONES LANG LASALLE HOTELS DIGEST - ASIA.