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1. Thomas Meier Named Jumeirah Interim CEO
Dubai-based hotel company Jumeirah Group has appointed its chief operating officer, Thomas Meier, as interim CEO following the departure of Jose Silva, Hotelier Middle East reports. Silva served as CEO of the company for five years, expanding the company and launching guided tours at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.
Meier has more than 20 years of experience in the luxury hospitality space. He served as senior vice president of operations in Asia for Minor Group for five years. Before that, he was vice president of hotel openings and integration for Europe, the Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific for Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. He worked for Raffles for nearly a decade in several different roles.
2. Affluent Americans Plan More International Travel
New research by MMGY Travel Intelligence shows that high-income, outbound U.S. travelers intend to take an average of 3.8 international vacations over the next 12 months, a 72% increase from 2019. The average outbound travelers anticipate spending a total of $15,354 on international trips, a 16% increase over pre-pandemic spending predictions.
The Portrait of American International Travelers study also found an overall increase in interest in visiting destinations that are less crowded and places with outdoor activities. Millennials want to go on more international trips than baby boomers, but boomers anticipate to spend twice as much as millennials.
3. Hyatt, Kiraku Partner for Atona Brand
Hyatt Hotels Corp. and Japanese hotel operator Kiraku have formed a joint venture to develop ryokan-style hotels in Japan under the Atona brand, HNN’s Terence Baker reports. The brand will target domestic travelers and international spa enthusiasts with its high-end design and Japanese hospitality.
The joint venture will seek out Japanese destinations that appeal to international travelers who stay at Japanese Hyatts or are brand-loyal. The ryokan-style Atona hotels will have between 30 and 50 rooms, each with its own hot-spring bath, Baker reports. New Atonas will be a mix of new-construction and conversions.
4. Hong Kong To End Hotel Quarantine
The government in Hong Kong announced it will end mandatory hotel quarantine for inbound travelers, the Washington Post reports. Travelers will still need to test on arrival and then perform medical monitoring in their hotels or homes for three days through an app.
Though arrivals will not be allowed to enter bars or restaurants during those three days, they may otherwise freely move about the city. There will be additional tests and monitoring required another four days after arrival.
5. Japan Will Lift Restrictions on Foreign Tourists
Japan will reopen its borders to foreign tourists starting Oct. 11, allowing visitors to enter the country without a visa and without having to book their trip through a travel agency, the BBC reports. Japan will also lift the cap on daily arrivals.
Reopening to foreign travelers is expected to provide more revenue to local businesses and the government, a welcome development as the Japanese yen has dropped to its lowest point against the U.S. dollar in six months.
There will also be a domestic travel incentive scheme that will give discounts on travel, theme park prices, sporting events and concerts. Residents and citizens will be eligible for a 11,000 Japanese yen ($77) subsidy.