Large-Scale Hotel Expansion Across Asia

Feb 02, 2011

This year is proving to be a momentous year for hotel development in Asia as top brands are leaving their mark across the continent. Within the past two months, there have been countless hotel openings and facility integrations, and reputable brands are already establishing greater goals for future expansion projects.

Como to Open Yamu Resort in Thailand
Como Hotels and Resorts announced its newest addition, the Yamu, which is set to open in September 2012 in Thailand. The five-star resort will be located in Phuket, on the northeast coast of the Yamu Peninsula, and will mark the brand’s second hotel in Thailand.

The property is conveniently located 20 minutes from the Phuket International Airport and will have 129 rooms with full views of the surrounding Andaman Sea. It will feature a 328-foot-long pool and a private beach. Guests will have full access to the resort’s Como Shambhala Retreat and yoga studio, in addition to the resort’s two restaurants.

Whereas Como’s first Thai property, the Metropolitan Bangkok, showcases vibrant city life, the Yamu will feature Thailand’s rural side. Bordering the Phang Nga Bay, the property enables its guests to explore its islands, snorkel in its waters, utilize its several golf courses and hike in its verdant rainforests.

The St. Regis Debuts in Bangkok
After more than a century of existence, The St. Regis hotel brand is continuing its legacy by unveiling The St. Regis Bangkok, its first Thai property. Upon opening, the hotel will offer two packages to welcome guests: Bangkok Debut and At Your Suite Service.

The Bangkok Debut package provides accommodations in any of the hotel’s 176 guestrooms and 51 suites. Also included is breakfast or a two-course dinner for two each day, a voucher to use at the Elemis Spa and daily high-speed Internet access.

The package is valid from April 1 to June 30 and is currently available for booking. Nightly rates start at around $240. Guests who book Deluxe or Grand Deluxe Rooms will receive complimentary upgrades.

The At Your Suite Service Promotion includes accommodations in one of the hotel’s luxurious suits, breakfast for two and afternoon tea at The Drawing Room. Mercedes S-Class roundtrip transfers with VIP arrival escort are available for guests and each suite provides Internet access and complimentary usage of the minibar.

This offer is available for approximately $1,149 for the St. Regis Suite; $1,477 for the Caroline Astor Suite; and $2,297 for the John Jacob Astor Suite.

The St. Regis butler service and the Elemis Spa are accessible to all guests who stay in the hotel.

V Integrated Wellness at The Andaman
The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort, in the archipelago of Langkawi, Malaysia, is launching its newest feature: V Integrated Wellness. The new concept combines elements of a modern-day holistic center with progressive wellness services and facilities.

“Yes, to therapeutic muscle treatments, yes yoga and yes a world-class fitness center,” said Christina Low, director of V Integrated Wellness, when explaining the wellness concept. “But there has to be more than that. Our visitors want more engagement and inspiration. They want to leave Langkawi with a new spirit.”

V Integrated Wellness will provide guests with a collection of calming activities such as meditation retreats, guided nature walks and sunrise yoga classes, all of which take advantage of Langkawi’s ancient tropical woodlands and white-sand beaches.

Also offered are organic skin and muscle treatments conducted directly on the shores of Datai Bay Beach. Inside the resort is an expansive fitness facility built under a glass rooftop and an internationally ranked spa overlooking the island’s bay. Fitness advisors will additionally host a variety of training programs.

V Integrated Wellness program guests can indulge in V Healthy Cuisine, which features nutritious and innovative dishes such as seared sea scallops and lime tofu cheesecake.

“From fresh saltwater fish to indigenous herbs and spices, the best ingredients are right on our doorstep,” said Low. “We feel fortunate to have that kind of bounty right at our fingertips, but our guests are the real beneficiaries.”

The spa is scheduled to open on March 1 at the Andaman.

Wyndham Hotel Group Expands in China
Wyndham Hotel Group, one of the largest U.S.-based hotel companies to have properties in China, has announced its plans to open the Wyndham Chongqing North Hotel, a 48-story, 350-room property in Chongqing, China.

Upon completion, which is scheduled for December 2014, the Wyndham Chongqing North Hotel will be the 14th Wyndham-branded property in China and one of the tallest buildings in the Yubei district.

The hotel will boast an indoor swimming pool, a spa and a gym, in addition to three restaurants. It will also feature more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including a grand ballroom and seven meeting rooms. Guests can commute to and from the Chongqing International Airport and railway station with ease, as the hotel will be located a mere 30 minutes away.

Every year, the historical city of Chongqing attracts many tourists, as it is home to many historical World War II buildings and sites. Given the Wyndham Chongqing North Hotel’s intended location, Wyndham also anticipates that its leisure and business guests will be able to explore the city with ease.

Conrad Opens Its First Property in China
Last month, Conrad Hotels and Resorts opened Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay, its first luxury property in China. It is located on the southern tip of Hainan Island, also known as China’s tropical paradise.

“The expansion of Conrad Hotels and Resorts further into the mainland China market is a significant milestone,” said Martin Rinck, president of Asia Pacific Hilton Worldwide. “This magnificent hotel will cater to the needs of the increasing number of discerning travelers to this fast-growing resort destination.”

The hotel, with architecture that echoes a French Rivera style, features 101 luxurious villas and rooms that overlook the ocean, lagoons or gardens. Each villa has a private pool, a sun lounger and a cabana. Guests are also granted access to two large outdoor swimming pools.

The property has four restaurants and bars — Teatro, La Chine, Senses and Vue Lounge. There is also a variety of recreation facilities including a fully equipped fitness center, tennis courts and a kid’s club. The spa features trained therapists who provide a full range of treatments for guests.

A number of tourist attractions are located nearby the resort as well. Guests can visit Wuzhizhou Island for watersports or Nantain Hot Spring for fish therapy. Sanya also features a set of world-class golf courses, all located within a short drive from the resort. For an activity even more local, the hotel is surrounded by a 1,427-foot-long white sandy beach.

Carlson Expands in India
By the end of 2011, Carlson will open 19 new Hotels across India under its four brands: Radisson; Country Inns and Suites by Carlson; Park Inn; and Park Plaza.

This large-scale development is part of Carlson’s strategy to expand its global collection by at least 50 percent by 2015.

According to Hubert Joly, Carlson’s president and chief executive officer, “This will be another record year for Carlson. Our momentum is in line with our plans to have more than 100 hotels across India by 2015.”

The Radisson Blu Hotel Rudrapur, a 124-room property featuring nine suites and 115 contemporary rooms, will be the first hotel in India to open this year. The other Radisson Hotels will launch in such major cities as Uttar, Pradesh, Ahmadabad, Amritsar, Chennai, Ghaziabad, Goa, Noida, Haridwar, Hyderabad and Ranchi.

The Country Inns and Suites by Carlson brand currently has 10 properties open in India; properties slated to open in 2011 will be located in Gurgaon and Mussoorie

Five Park Plaza properties will also join the six Carlson Park and Plaza hotels already open in India. Contractors plan to build in such cities as Bangalore, Chandigarh, Coimbatore and New Delhi. Lastly, a Park Inn Hotel is scheduled to open by the end of the year in New Delhi.

Langham to Launch Four New Properties in India
Langham Hotels is set to launch four new hotels in India by 2013. The first of the four properties will be a 93-room Eaton Smart, New Delhi Airport Transit Hotel, which is expected to open in the beginning of 2011. The hotel will be located inside airport terminal 3. Rooms will be available for a minimum of five-hour periods.

Pune Langham Place in Koregaon Park is set to open in 2012. It will feature 180 rooms, a ballroom, a Chuan Spa and a large atrium. The luxury hotel brand also plans to manage two properties, which are set to open in 2013 in Lavasa, under its Langham Place and Eaton Smart Brands.