Tuesday 20 November 2012

Hospitality Sector

OCBC on 19 Nov 2012

We have been hearing about lackluster performance for hotels in 3Q12 and likely in 4Q12 as well. While remaining cautious about 1Q13, we note that the top four places of origin for Singapore’s visitor arrivals are projected to have real GDP growth rates of at least 4.9%. Since mid-Sep, the media has reported that tourists from mainland China are shunning Japan amid tensions over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. Other tourist destinations like Singapore would be the net beneficiaries while tensions persist. We remain optimistic about longer term sustained growth till 2015 and maintain our OVERWEIGHT view on the hospitality industry. Our top pick is Ascott Residence Trust [BUY, FV: S$1.37]. We have BUY ratings on Far East Hospitality Trust [FV: S$1.08] and Global Premium Hotels [FV: S$0.29] and a HOLD on CDL Hospitality Trusts [FV: S$1.91].

Flat 3Q12 and 4Q12
CDLHT reported that RevPAR for its Singapore hotels fell 0.9% YoY in 3Q12, versus RevPAR growth of 7.5% for these hotels in 1H12. We have been hearing about lackluster performance for hotels in 3Q12 and likely in 4Q12 as well. While remaining cautious about 1Q13, we note that the top four places of origin for Singapore’s visitor arrivals are projected to have real GDP growth rates of at least 4.9%: Indonesia (+6.3%), China (+8.1%), Malaysia (4.9%) and India (6.0%).

Chinese tourists avoid Japan
Since mid-Sep, the media has reported that tourists from mainland China are shunning Japan amid tensions over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. Other tourist destinations like HK, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand would be the net beneficiaries while tensions persist. In 1H12, Singapore registered a 29% YoY increase in visitors from China to 978k. 

Growth over 2012-2015
For 1H12, the latest period for which data is available, Singapore visitor arrivals climbed 11.4% to 7.1m, in line with the STB’s projection of 13.5m-14.5m arrivals for 2012. There were 13.2m arrivals in 2011. STB set a target of 17m annual visitors by 2015, which implies an increase of 6.6% p.a. We project that hotel demand will grow at 6.4% p.a. for 2012-2014, outstripping room supply increase of 4.8% p.a.; Luxury - 1.6% p.a., Upscale - 3.4% p.a., Mid-tier - 7.0% p.a., Economy - 7.2% p.a. According to hotel consultant PKF, faster growth of lower tier hotel supply is consistent with the maturation of a tourist destination. 

Maintain OVERWEIGHT
We remain optimistic about longer term sustained growth till 2015 and maintain our OVERWEIGHT view on the hospitality industry. Our top pick is Ascott Residence Trust [BUY, FV: S$1.37], which has good exposure to the long-term growth regions of the serviced residence industry, specifically Europe and developing Asia (report dated 121106). We also have BUY ratings on Far East Hospitality Trust [FV: S$1.08] and Global Premium Hotels [FV: S$0.29] and a HOLD on CDL Hospitality Trusts [FV: S$1.91].

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