STR Reports Global Hotel Pipelines

According to the May 2011 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report, the Asia Pacific hotel development pipeline comprises 1,227 hotels totalling 302,858 rooms.

Year to date through 30 April 2011, 98 projects opened in the region with 15,007 rooms. There are 324 more projects expected to open in the remainder of 2011 with 73,430 rooms. In 2012, 424 projects are planned to open with 112,060 rooms.

Among the Chain Scale segments, the Upper Upscale segment is expected to open the largest number of rooms during the remainder of the year with 64 projects comprising 21,715 rooms, followed by the Upscale segment (75 projects with 16,353 rooms) and the Luxury segment (51 projects with 13,033 rooms).

Caribbean / Mexico

The Caribbean / Mexico hotel development pipeline comprises 133 hotels totalling 20,320 rooms.

Among the Chain Scale segments, the Upscale segment accounted for the largest portion of rooms (26%) in the total active pipeline with 5,281 rooms. Three other segments each made up more than 15% of rooms in the total active pipeline: the Upper Midscale segment (23.4% with 4,748 rooms); the Luxury segment (19.9% with 4,039 rooms); and the Unaffiliated segment (16.6% with 3,383 rooms). The Economy segment made up the smallest portion of rooms in the total active pipeline with 0.6% and 122 rooms.

During the remainder of 2011, the Upscale segment is expected to have the largest number of rooms open with 2,028 rooms and 8 projects. The Unaffiliated segment is also expecting a large amount of rooms open with 1,335 rooms and 7 projects.

 Central / South America

The Central / South America hotel development pipeline comprises 175 hotels totalling 28,243 rooms.

Among the region's countries, Panama reported the largest expected growth in existing room supply (+70.4%) if all 7,604 rooms in the total active pipeline open. Other countries to report significant expected growth include: Paraguay (+16.2% with 300 rooms in the total active pipeline); Colombia (+13.5% with 2,352 rooms); Costa Rica (+7.4% with 1,306 rooms); and Brazil (+7% with 12,013 rooms).

Europe

The Europe hotel development pipeline comprises 802 hotels totalling 131,536 rooms.

Among the Chain Scale segments, the Upscale segment accounted for the largest portion of rooms in the total active pipeline at 21.7% of the pipeline with 28,504 rooms. Two other segments each made up more than 15% of rooms in the total active pipeline: the Unaffiliated segment (19.3% with 25,376 rooms) and the Upper Midscale segment (19% with 25,045 rooms).

 Middle East / Africa

The Middle East / Africa hotel development pipeline comprises 474 hotels totalling 128,344 rooms, according to the May 2011 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report.

Among the countries in the region, Qatar shows the largest expected room growth (+84.4%) if all 7,002 rooms in the total active pipeline open. Other countries with large expected room growth include: Oman (+67.7% growth with 4,211 rooms in the total active pipeline); United Arab Emirates (+59.5% with 50,908 rooms); Bahrain (+55.3% with 3,557 rooms); and Algeria (+51.6% with 1,744 rooms).

See recent travel news from: Travel News Asia, Paris, France, Airshow, Pipeline, STR, May 2011