Red Planet to target tech-savvy guests

"The group will be opening the new brand’s flagship properties in Tokyo and Bangkok this year," Tim Hansing, chief executive officer, said yesterday.

The company has already unveiled the new concept across its portfolio and is now focusing on technology.

The group – the first in the value-hotel space to offer a comprehensive digital platform – owns and operates seven hotels in Indonesia, three in Japan and 10 in the Philippines.

The four in Thailand are in Bangkok, Pattaya, Hat Yai and Phuket. The new hotel in Bangkok is scheduled to open by December.

Red Planet had used the Tune brand, but after breaking up with Tune, a subsidiary of AirAsia Group of Malaysia, it is now transforming the hotels into Red Planet.

Tune continues to operate its own hotels in Malaysia, Thailand and Britain.

Half of guests have stayed at Red Planet’s hotels more than four times. The group has launched a loyalty programme called Remembered to reward guests for their frequent stays. Since opening its first hotel in 2011, Red Planet has welcomed nearly 4 million guests.

Red Planet Indonesia and Red Planet Japan are listed on their countries’ stock exchanges.

The group has raised several rounds of capital from private investors and anticipates a public listing in the region.

"Asia is the world’s fastest-growing travel market, with visitor arrivals in the region setting new records," Hansing said.

"Red Planet’s hotels are targeted at the value-conscious traveller by providing a high-quality, comfortable, technologically enabled stay |in desirable locations at attractive prices," Hansing explained.

Guests are 20-30 years old, he said, and this online generation is changing the dynamics of the hotel industry.

"To embrace this shift, we have invested heavily in our IT platform and are constantly listening to customers and responding to feedback.

"We have significantly upgraded Wi-Fi speeds in all properties to be among the fastest in the hotel industry," he said.