20 more AccorHotels for Thailand by 2020

20 more AccorHotels for Thailand by 2020

AccorHotels Group is expanding its portfolio in Thailand, with plans to operate 20 hotels with a combined 4,775 rooms by 2020.

Menard: Management contracts sealed

The development is to cope with growing tourism in Thailand for both international and domestic markets.

Ianic Menard, vice-president of sales, marketing and distribution for upper Southeast and Northeast Asia, said the group has already signed management contracts with all 20 properties.

The hotels will be operated under multiple brands -- nine under Ibis Styles, three Novotel, three Mercure, one Grand Mercure, one Sofitel and three Movenpick. The new hotels will be in Bangkok and other popular destinations such as Rayong, Khao Yai and Sri Racha.

AccorHotels Group has 81 hotels and 11 brands in Thailand, making it the largest international hotel operator in the country.

Mr Menard said tourism and travel in Thailand will continue to grow in the future because of an influx of international tourists and high demand from domestic markets.

Thailand was ranked ninth among the world's most-visited countries by the UN's World Tourism Organization report published in 2017. The highest number of foreign tourists came from East Asia, followed by Europe, South Asia and the US.

Compared with the same period of the previous year, the number increased by 15.5%, generating more than 190 billion baht, an uptick of 21%. A survey found 57% of foreign tourist respondents repeated their travels to Thailand, and 53% planned their trip to Thailand only.

"Despite declining arrivals from China, Thailand's tourism market is still robust. Our properties have grown by double digits year-on-year, which will continue this year," he said.

Accor's properties in Phuket experienced a drop of 20% after the boat disaster in July this year, while hotels in Bangkok continue to grow.

The French hospitality chain is also set to open more hotels in other emerging markets, including China and India.

Chidchanok Pasinpong, general manager of SO Sofitel Hua Hin, said it has completed an expansion with the launch of its new wing with leisure facilities for business and leisure travellers.

Major parts of the expansion include new rooms, a swimming pool, kid's club, recreation and golf range, and a cycling track.

Ms Chidchanok said Hua Hin attracted 5 million visitors in 2016. The government recently announced the allocation of 3.5 billion baht to upgrade Hua Hin's airport to become international-grade in five years.

The expansion of passenger terminals and widening of the existing runway is expected to increase passengers by tenfold to 3 million a year during this period.

"After the expansion, we are targeting five core markets: families, couples, meetings and conferences, small groups and private events, and weddings," she said.

SO Sofitel Hua Hin was launched in 2016 as the second SO property in Thailand after SO Sofitel Bangkok in 2012.

The third SO Sofitel hotel is expected to open in Koh Samui in 2020.

Other SO brand properties are located in Berlin, Mauritius, Bangkok, St Petersburg and Singapore.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT