Akaryn Group makes overseas debut with Vientiane hotel

The hotel will consist of 30 guestrooms, two presidential suites and seven food and beverage outlets.

It is centrally located between Parliament and the Emerald Buddha Hall – the country’s most famous temple.

Anchalika Kijkanakorn, founder and managing director of Akaryn, said the hotel was a gift from the Chinese government to Laotians two years ago.

But she said the Lao government granted a concession to a Lao mining company for the hotel’s continued construction. 

The company signed a 10-year management agreement with Akaryn.

The hotel is being renovated by Thai firm Rocklike Company. 

“The hotel will be the most luxurious hotel in Vientiane as well as in Laos,” Anchalika said. 

The average room rate will be US$500 (Bt18,000) while the presidential suite will cost a minimum of $1,500.

Anchalika said 50 per cent of the property’s revenue would come from the rooms and the rest from food and beverage. 

The hotel will target the high-end markets in Laos and other countries, including Thailand. Diplomats are also a chief target, as are long-haul market such as Europe and the US. 

Tourism in Laos is booming and that has attracted many international hotel chains, including Holiday Inn and Ibis. 

In 2014, 4.1 million international tourists visited Laos, a 10-per-cent increase on 2013.

Aside from Laos, Akaryn is eyeing Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is also interested in the Luang Prabang market in northern Laos.

For the domestic market, the group is negotiating for management rights with hotels in Phuket, Koh Samui, and Hua Hin. 

The group is also seeking its own investments.

It manages Aleenta Phuket-Phang Nga, Aleenta Hua Hin-Pranburi and akyra Chura Koh Samui, and operates akyra Manor Chiang Mai.