Confident that the demand for extended stays in Bangkok looks to hold, if not increase, Ascott International Thailand, will add two more Somerset properties to a portfolio that’s currently focused on the Thai capital.
In October, Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor (a neighbourhood near Sukhumvit 55 dotted with restaurants and cafes) and Somerset Amar Garden, Sukhumvit 2, will open in the Klongtoey Nua, an area that attracts a lot of commercial and leisure traffic.
Sylvia Tan, Ascott International Thailand director of sales and marketing, said that the recession and recent political upheaval had made an impact on arrivals to Thailand, “especially the meetings and conventions market, but our core business, the long stays are still around”.
“That is our niche,” she stressed. “And it will bounce back.”
Like most hoteliers in the city, Tan was looking at the later part of this year – usually the peak season for the Kingdom – for improvement in occupancies, providing no repeat incidents such as the Suvarnabhumi Airport closure would occur.
The Ascott Group first entered Bangkok with Somerset Lake Point Sukhumvit 16, which was joined by Ascott Bangkok Sathorn, Somerset Park Suanplu, Citadines Bangkok Sukhumvit 16, Citadines Bangkok Sukhumvit 8, Citadines Bangkok Sukhumvit 23 and Citadines Bangkok Sukhumvit 11.
The two additions will bring Ascott International Thailand’s unit inventory to 1,724.
For more details, visit www.the-ascott.com
Margie T Logarta
