Movenpick set to expand Asian hotel
Movenpick Hotels & Resorts plans to manage an additional seven hotels in Asia, including one in Thailand, over the next three years in order to meet rising demand from a recovery in the tourism sector.
"We plan to open seven hotels in our Asian portfolio over the next three years, adding to the existing eight hotels and resorts in the region," Jens Reichert, vice president development, Asia-Pacific, at the Swiss hospitality management firm, said at a press conference yesterday in Bangkok.
The group will open hotels and resorts in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, mainland China and Vietnam, with an additional 10 projects under negotiation, he said.
Movenpick Hotels & Resorts currently operates 83 properties in 25 countries.
Thirty are located in the Middle East, 24 in Africa, 21 in Europe and eight in Asia, of which four are in Thailand – two in Phuket, one on Koh Samui and the group’s latest hotel, situated in Bangkok.
"We have four hotels in Thailand, which is the company’s biggest market in the region," he added.
The latest hotel in the Kingdom is the Movenpick Hotel Sukhumvit 15 Bangkok, which was opened in March this year.
Under the expansion programme, the group is also set to open the 264-room Movenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya in the first quarter of next year, with the Jomtien Beach property positioned for family and meetings business.
"Thailand is the best place for investment compared to neighbouring countries like Laos, Cambodia or Myanmar. We [eventually] aim to have eight to 10 hotels in Thailand," said Reichert.
The group also plans to open the Movenpick Hotel & State Guest House Chifeng in China, the Movenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bay in Indonesia, the Movenpick Hotel & Convention Centre Kuala Lumpur and the Movenpick Resort & Spa Kuala Terrengganu in Malaysia, and the Movenpick Resort & Spa Quy Nhon in Vietnam over the next three years.
Meanwhile, the group’s broader expansion this year will include opening the Movenpick Hotel Kochi in Kerala, India, two hotels in Saudi Arabia – the Movenpick Hotel Star City Jeddah and the Movenpick Hotel Riyadh – as well as a property in Morocco.
"We have seen very strong demand in Thailand, especially in upscale markets. The average occupancy rate at existing hotels was 60-65 per cent last year, and is now back to 77-78 per cent this year, which shows the level of improvement," said Holger Jakobs, vice president for sales and marketing, Asia.
