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Asia-Pacific

IHG’s Holiday Inn Resorts and Express Surpasses Milestones

Alan Woinski

December 19th, 2023


Skift Take

  • Wharf Holdings is planning to open 25 Maqo hotels by 2025 and is discussing expansions in China, Japan, and Thailand.
  • IHG is introducing a new Holiday Inn Resort in Maharashtra, India, for 2027 and announced significant growth of their Holiday Inn Express brand in Greater China.
  • ONYX Hospitality Group is expanding its Shama serviced apartment brand with five new properties across Asia, including locations in China, Malaysia, and Thailand.

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The South China Morning Post reported that Wharf Holdings’ hotel arm is looking to open more hotels in China and international markets. Wharf owns the NiccoloMarco Polo and Maqo brands and is expanding its footprint in Mainland China as the country’s tourism sector rebounds. Their Niccolo brand is said to be in discussions with potential partners about new openings on the Mainland and in markets like Japan and Thailand. They plan to open 25 Maqo hotels by 2025. They launched their first Maqo hotel in Changsha, China’s central Hunan Province, last month.

Marriott International announced it signed an agreement with Zhejiang Wanhao Wanjia Group to develop two properties in Qiandao Lake, located in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province. The St. Regis Qiandao Lake and AC Hotel by Marriott Qiandao Lake are expected to open in December 2026. Marriott is working with Zhejiang Wanhao Wanjia Group to develop the two projects as part of their ‘Brand + Destination’ approach. The St. Regis Qiandao Lake will be nestled at the top of Tianyu Mountain, about a 30 minute drive to the Qiandao Lake Railway Station. The resort will feature 80 guestrooms and suites as well as 36 villas including a presidential villa with an outdoor swimming pool and a sun deck. It is also expected to offer four distinct culinary venues including the brand’s signature spaces such as The Drawing Room and The St. Regis Bar. Additional plans for the resort include a range of leisure spaces including The St. Regis Spa, Kid’s club, swimming pools, fitness room as well as 235 square meters of meeting spaces. AC Hotel by Marriott Qiandao Lake is being developed on Chunyang Road, about 45 minutes from Qiandao Lake Railway Station. The hotel is set to feature 185 guestrooms and suites. A mix of dining options will include the brand’s signature AC Kitchen and AC Lounge. It will also include a Kid’s Club, AC Store, AC Library, Fitness Center, swimming pool as well as meeting rooms.

Accor has signed an agreement with Worldwide Hotels Group to attach its Mercure brand to the ICON hotel in Singapore. The 989 room Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre will become the brand’s largest property worldwide (excluding suites and apartments) when it reflags in the first quarter of 2024. The hotel is located at 8 Club Street between Singapore’s Chinatown and central business district, directly connected to both Chinatown and Telok Ayerstations. Features will include an all-day dining restaurant, a lounge and bar, a lobby area with centerpiece video wall, landscaped pool deck, fitness center and EV charging points. This follows another partnership between Accor and Worldwide, resulting in the opening of Novotel Singapore on Kitchener.

Accor also announced the launch of the Mercure brand in MiriSarawak in Malaysia. The Mercure Miri City Centre held its grand opening, positioned to be the brand’s flagship property in Asia. It also is Accor’s second property in Miri, only 20 minutes from the border with Brunei. One of the big features of the hotel is the meeting spaces, with options on two dedicated floors. Part of that includes the Ruai Coworking Space.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of a management agreement with XECO Media LLP to bring a new Holiday Inn Resort to the city of KarjatMaharashtra. The resort is set to open in 2027 and will add 150 keys to IHG’s portfolio in the state. The new-build resort will be situated in the resort town of Karjat. The resort will feature all-day dining, a bar and a welcoming lobby lounge. Banqueting facilities, meeting rooms and a dynamic business center is there for social gatherings and corporate meetings. There also will be a fully equipped gym and an exclusive health club.

IHG recently announced their Holiday Inn Express brand had passed 500 hotels in operation and in the pipeline in Greater China. The brand enjoys a presence in all 34 provincial-level administrative regions. Over 27 cities will host five or more Holiday Inn Express hotels, looking forward. They have 209 hotels in the Greater China pipeline, constituting one-third of the global total.

La Festa Phu Quoc under the Curio Collection by Hilton brand is located in the heart of Sunset town (Phu Quoc) and will officially open on December 21. La Festa Phu QuocCurio Collection by Hilton has become the first high-end hotel in Vietnam to be part of Curio. The soft brand partnered with Sun Group to create the property. The hotel offers a collection of 197 rooms, ranging from 30 square meters to 143 square meters. There are food and beverage options, including the Merchant Restaurant, there is an Eforea SpaEforea Health Club, an infinity pool with a view of the iconic Cau Hon(Kiss Bridge) and a Kids’ Club.

ONYX Hospitality Group is expanding its serviced apartment brand Shama with five new properties across Asia. The properties include two in China including Hong Kong, two in Malaysia and one in Thailand with opening dates set for 2024. ONYX Hospitality Group currently operates a total of 16 Shama locations including 6 in Thailand, 6 in Hong Kong and 4 in China.

Coliwoo, a co-living subsidiary brand under real estate management services group, LHN Limited, recently unveiled its latest property – Coliwoo Hotel Pasir Panjang. The newest addition to the brand’s portfolio which now sees 15 properties launched in the Indonesian island. Each Coliwoo Hotel Pasir Panjang room is a self-contained studio unit that comes alongside support services, including a self-service mobile app, an onsite concierge and housekeeping. The new Panjang property will open next year.

Mirah Investment & Development and Sunset Hospitality Group announced their latest development project, SOMOSHOTELS Uluwatu. The property is situated in the regions of Bingin and Uluwatu in Indonesia, described as a landmark project that captures the essence of Bali’s tourism and robust real estate market. The project includes a 250 room hotel, pool day club, multiple restaurants and retail venues, fitness center with recovery facilities, spa, yoga studio an events spaces for exhibitions.

Alan Woinski

December 19th, 2023

Companies: AC Hotels by Marriott, Accor, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Maqo, Marco Polo, Marriott International, Mercure Hotels, Niccolo, ONYX Hospitality Group, Shama, St. Regis, Wharf Hotels

Locations: Bali, China, Hunan, Maharashtra, Phu Quoc, Sarawak, Singapore, Zhejiang

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