Northstar

12 | www.travelweekly-asia.com COVER STORY SEA Hotel Developments 2020's a year of exciting hotel developments, Travel Weekly Asia speaks to five global hoteliers on some of their standout properties that are set to light up the region. By Natalie Joy Lee and Naomi Neoh H TELS to watch for Spotlighting SEA's H oteliers have plenty of reasons to prioritise Southeast Asia in their development plans. Bright economic prospects loom and infrastructure is knitting together destinations to help drive the tourism boom. Referring to a "broad Asia Pacific expansion strategy" which covers markets including Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, BWH Hotel Group's Olivier Berrivin also singled out Thailand and Japan to be of special importance in 2020. The emergence of the Thai Eastern Seaboard fanned by important transport links such as an airport expansion and high-speed rail link from Bangkok, ACCOR "In terms of number of hotels added, Singapore and Indonesia are our strongest SEA markets for 2020, but we'll also see our network expand significantly in Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam," said Michael Issenberg, CEO Asia- Pacific, Accor. In particular, Vietnam's openings will focus on lesser-known locations to meet the needs of today's travellers seeking to explore new destinations. Mr Issenberg believes emerging markets Myanmar and Cambodia have good growth potential; adding the 11th property to the former, while looking at expanding the midscale and economy sectors for Cambodia. ACCOR ////////// The 305-key Mövenpick Resort Waverly Phu Quoc on Ong Lang beach. as well as the Tokyo Olympic Games will see BWH launching multiple hotels in both countries. Marriott International already operates over 780 properties representing 24 hotel brands planted across 23 countries, yet Rajeev Menon, president, Asia Pacific excluding China for Marriott International indicates that "Asia Pacific continues to present immense growth," accounting for over 20% of the group's hotels in the pipeline. Accor, meanwhile, has a headstart in 2020 with a strong pipeline of openings across Southeast Asia, revealed Michael Issenberg, CEO Asia-Pacific, Accor. Already about 30 properties K E Y M A R K E T S / / "It'll be a big year for Singapore, including rebrands and new-build hotels – bringing Accor's network to 31 hotels and over 8,000 rooms there. We will open a flagship Raffles Bali in Indonesia, several Mercure hotels, and Ibis Styles properties to offer greater choices to economy travellers. Accor will also focus on emerging market Philippines, which we believe has great potential... and is one of the most under-rated tourism spots in Asia." W H AT ' S C O M I N G U P / / • PHILIPPINES: Three openings in 2020; Nine projects in coming years. HIGHLIGHT: MGallery Admiral Suite Hotel; Novotel Blue Coral Resort, Mactan Cebu; Novotel Manila @ Acqua • INDONESIA: >10 openings in 2020. HIGHLIGHT: Raffles Bali; Pullman Bandung City Centre; Novotel Bali Ubud • SINGAPORE: Five openings in 2020. HIGHLIGHT: Orchard Hills Residences MGallery • VIETNAM: Two openings in January. HIGHLIGHT: Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh; Mercure Vung Tau; Mövenpick Resort Waverly Phu Quoc • CAMBODIA: One opening in 2020. HIGHLIGHT: Novotel Sihanoukville • MYANMAR: One opening in 2020. HIGHLIGHT: Ibis Styles Mandalay Michael Issenberg, CEO Asia-Pacific, Accor. Raffles Bali will be one of the flagship launches by Accor in 2020. Best Western Plus Nexen Pattaya Hotel will attract mid-market business and leisure guests in North Pattaya. are set to open at the year's start, the number set to increase as months progress. These include flagship launches Raffles Bali, Orchard Residences Singapore MGallery, and Novotel Bali Ubud. We speak too to Serena Lim, vice president, development, South East Asia and Korea at InterContinental Hotels Group, and Joon Aun Ooi, president and managing director, SEAPR at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts on expansion plans, destination highlights and why SEA is a priority in this new decade.

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