The Ascott continues to expand its global presence by opening its first serviced residences in Cyberjaya, Malaysia; Sri Racha, Thailand and Hai Phong, Vietnam. Citadines DPulze Cyberjaya, Citadines Grand Central Sri Racha and Somerset Central TD Hai Phong City are the first international branded serviced residences in the respective cities. Ascott’s first foray into Malaysia’s Multimedia Super Corridor, the 203-unit Citadines DPulze Cyberjaya is its fifth property to open in Malaysia.

Frasers Hospitality is eyeing a bigger share of the China market with the addition of ten more serviced residences in China’s second-tier cities of Tianjin, Nanchang, Hefei, Dalian, Kunming, Wuxi and Chengdu, and two more in the key cities of Shanghai and Shenzhen. The securing of these new serviced residences follows the recent openings of Modena Zhuankou Wuhan and Modena New District Wuxi last year. They involve the addition of more than 2,400 new apartment units, which will almost double Frasers Hospitality’s China portfolio, bringing it to 26 properties with more than 5,900 serviced apartment units in 14 key cities and second-tier cities.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts is opening the Sheraton Xishuangbanna Hotel, marking Starwood’s entry in Yunnan Province, and the first internationally-branded hotel with on-site hot springs in the Prefecture of Xishuangbanna. Xishuangbanna, located at the extreme southern tip of Yunnan Provincel, comprises 326 guest rooms and suites, all equipped with a balcony with expansive views of the tropical rainforest landscape.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has unveiled plans for its first golf resort in China when The Ritz-Carlton, Mission Hills opens in late 2015 on the tropical island of Hainan. Adding to the brand’s growing portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts in China, The Ritz-Carlton, Mission Hills will be located in Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province.