A new name in the Australian accommodation business

Australia is to gain a major new player in the extended stay accommodation space with the arrival of the Staybridge Suites brand. 

Staybridge Suites is IHG Hotels & Resorts' globally established upscale extended-stay brand, which will be making its debut in Australia starting with two properties in western Sydney, in Parramatta and Leppington (top image). 

IHG has signed a Master Development Agreement with Australian property developer ALAND to launch Staybridge Suites Down Under. 

Under the agreement, ALAND will have exclusive development rights for Staybridge Suites in Australia, with a portfolio of at least 15 hotels comprising a minimum of 2,000 rooms to be developed across the country. 

The first two franchises will be the 130-room Staybridge Suites Sydney Parramatta and 112-room Staybridge Suites Sydney Leppington. The hotels will be managed by Signature Hotel Management Group.

“This is a significant long-term development agreement for IHG in Australia," says Matt Tripolone, managing director, Australasia & Pacific, for IHG. 

"Establishing a portfolio of at least 15 hotels and 2,000 rooms with one development partner gives us a clear pathway to build a meaningful position in the extended-stay segment, where we see considerable long-term opportunity.

“Importantly, this is not simply an agreement about future growth. We are announcing the first two 

Staybridge Suites has 355 open hotels and a further 152 in the pipeline globally. The vast majority are in the US and Canada. 

Designed for guests travelling for weeks or longer, the properties combine "spacious residential-style suites with the services and sense of community of a hotel".

Longer stays introduced for tourists visiting Thailand

Good news for tourists planning on a longer stay in Thailand, which regular readers will be aware is one of my favourite travel destinations.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced that as of today international travellers to Thailand will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination or ATK test results, and a longer length of stay will be on offer, signalling the completion of the kingdom’s full reopening to international tourism.

Effective from today through until March 31, 2023, the permitted period of stays in Thailand will be extended to 45 days (from 30 days) for tourists from countries/territories entitled for visa exemption, and to 30 days (from 15 days) for those eligible for a Visa on Arrival.

Yuthasak Supasorn, the TAT Governor, said: “Thailand has fully reopened to the world’s tourists with the message, through the Visit Thailand Year 2022-2023: Amazing New Chapters campaign, that our fascinating destination offers something for everyone.

"We invite tourists to come and experience the existing and new tourism offerings in Thailand which, together with the kingdom’s increasing move towards sustainable and responsible tourism, will make for a truly memorable holiday.”

Thailand began a gradual reopening to international tourism from July 1, 2021, with the Phuket Sandbox, Samui Plus, and 7+7 Extension programs.

This was followed by a four-phase reopening timeline from October 2021 to January 2022 in which destinations throughout the country reopened to tourists. On July 1 this year, the Thailand Pass registration scheme was removed.

Thai Airways International recently announced its 2022-2023 winter schedule and is operating flights on 34 European, Australian, and Asian routes with increased frequencies on selected routes.

This includes daily flights between Bangkok and London, Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Manila, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, Mumbai, Dhaka, and Karachi.

Image: Silom, Bangkok. TAT.