InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced its first Holiday Inn Express property in Thailand.
The Holiday Inn Express Siam Bangkok, will be the first hotel of its brand to open in Southeast Asia, and the first in Asia Pacific outside China and Japan.
Scheduled for opening in early 2011, the 300-room new-build hotel will be developed by Amburaya Hotels & Resorts and managed by IHG. It is being designed by Bangkok-based architectural firm Architects 49, which is also responsible for the Thailand Cultural Centre and the Thai Red Cross Centre.
The hotel will be centrally located in Bangkok, close to the National Stadium Skytrain Station, MBK Centre, Siam Paragon and Jim Thompson Thai house. A key feature will be the Great room - an all-day social, connection, entertainment and relaxation hub with floor-to-ceiling views of the Bangkok skyline from the seventh floor.
Peter Gowers, chief executive of IHG Asia Pacific, said that IHG has experienced significant interest in the Holiday Inn Express brand from developers in Thailand and have several new deals under discussion. "The brand’s innovative approach enables us to deliver what guests value most, maximise revenue and keep costs down. Practical design means optimal space utilisation and lower development costs. Flexible and efficient staffing structure delivers lower operating costs, and focused amenities and services mean higher operating margins. It all adds up to superior performance and higher returns to the hotel owner."
For more information visit ichotelsgroup.com.
Report by Ben Grafton
