Weekly Hotel Industry Asia Pacific News Roundup from HVS

Regal Partners Joins Australian Hotel Real Estate Sector via Ark Capital Partnership

Australia-based Regal Partners Limited (“Regal Partners”) has acquired a 50% stake in Ark Capital Partners Pty Limited’s (“Ark Capital”) for AUD3 million—AUD1.8 million for all shares in BT Hotels 1 Pty Ltd (“BT Hotels”) and AUD1.2 million in newly issued Ark Capital shares. Ark Capital is a specialist hotel investment and advisory platform focused on Australia and New Zealand, with more than AUD350 million invested to date in accommodation assets and value-add initiatives. Partnering with Ark Capital extends Regal’s alternative-investments platform into value-add hotel equity, broadening its product suite for investors. In addition, Ark Capital applied the equity injection toward its share of the AUD75 million purchase of the 170-key freehold Mayfair Hotel, a five-star property in Adelaide’s central business district that now anchors the joint Regal-Ark Australian Hotel Opportunities strategy as the seed asset. The property features three food and beverage outlets, five meeting rooms, a fitness centre, and a swimming pool.  

Ishin Acquired by APA Group as a Wholly Owned Subsidiary

Japan-based APA Group has acquired 100 % share of Ishin Hotels Group Co., Ltd.  (“Ishin”), making the urban‐hotel operator a wholly owned subsidiary of APA Group. The deal broadens APA Group’s traditional growth model—previously centred on direct ownership and franchising—by adding Ishin’s asset-light platform of 17 city-centre properties, including the “the b” hotel brand. Ishin posted a net profit of JPY24.87 million for the fiscal year ending December 2024. Under the agreement, Ishin will keep its existing management team, brand concepts and operating policies, while immediately plugging into APA Group’s central reservations system. Both parties are also evaluating APA-funded support for new openings, joint procurement of supplies and a unified IT infrastructure—initiatives aimed at accelerating growth and enriching APA’s brand portfolio for guests. 

Serviced Apartment Complex in East Perth Sold for AUD105 Million in Western Australia, Australia

The Western Australian State Government has acquired a 236-key serviced apartment complex in East Perth for AUD105 million. This translates to approximately AUD444,915 per key. Previously known as Fraser Suites Perth, the 19-storey property features 11 commercial suites, a rooftop bar, a gym, a swimming pool, and meeting facilities. The building was originally developed 12 years ago alongside a neighbouring luxury residential tower as part of the Queens Riverside urban renewal project. Upcoming renovation plans for the property include the removal of a pool, gym, ballroom, and meeting rooms. Key to the acquisition was the property’s central location, with close proximity to public transport, healthcare facilities, education providers, and recreational amenities, making it highly suitable for long-term housing. The government also noted that the purchase and repurposing of the existing building is significantly more cost-effective than constructing new apartments from the ground up.  

CREAL Inc. Sells 22 Pieces in Kyoto, Japan

Japan-based asset management company CREAL Inc. has divested the 21-key 22 Pieces in Kyoto, Japan, for an undisclosed amount to an unnamed buyer. According to official sources, the sale price is expected to be equal to or exceed 30 percent of the company’s consolidated assets, which stand at JPY5.27 billion. Opened in 2017, 22 Pieces offers rooms equipped with kitchenettes featuring an induction hob, toaster, and microwave. The four-storey property has a total gross floor area of approximately 979 square metres and enjoys a prime location just a four-minute walk from the Hachijo-west exit of Kyoto Station, with popular landmarks such as the Toji Temple and Nidec Kyoto Tower within a 10 to 15 minutes walk. 

Philippines Grants Visa-Free Entry to Indian Tourists to Boost Arrivals

In a move to strengthen tourism ties, the Philippines has announced that Indian nationals can now enter the country without a visa for tourism purposes starting 8 June 2025. This visa-free entry is valid for up to 14 days and aims to encourage more Indian travellers, following a 12% increase in arrivals from India in 2024, which reached nearly 80,000. While growing, Indian tourist numbers still represent a small fraction of the over five million visitors to Southeast Asia annually. The new policy also allows Indian nationals holding valid visas or residence permits from the U.S., Australia, Canada, the UK, Schengen countries, or Singapore to stay in the Philippines visa-free for up to 30 days.

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