Jesper Palmqvist, Regional Vice President for STR in APAC, joins host Alexi Khajavi to unpack the complex performance trends across the Asia-Pacific hospitality sector. Palmqvist highlights the region’s diversity, noting that while Japan continues to lead with high occupancy and rate compression, markets like Korea and India are gaining investor attention due to strong domestic growth and expanding brand presence. Meanwhile, countries such as Cambodia and Indonesia face slower recoveries, impacted by government spending shifts and reliance on outbound Chinese tourism.
The conversation also dives into evolving demand drivers, with intra-regional travel and emerging middle-class spending reshaping market dynamics. Palmqvist discusses the rise of alternative accommodations, the impact of global events on hotel profitability, and the challenges of food and beverage operations. With nearly 500,000 rooms in the pipeline—excluding China—Asia is poised for transformation. For a deeper look at the data and insights shaping investment strategies in this dynamic region, listen to the full interview.