Shun Tak Holdings, Stanley Ho’s Hong Kong-based transport and leisure conglomerate, has announced the launch of Artyzen Hospitality Group (AHG) – its first branded hotel management company.
The company has been involved in the hotel sector for many years, holding stakes in a number of Pearl River Delta properties such as the Mandarin Oriental Macau, Westin Resort Macau and Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel. But the creation of AHG will mark the first time Shun Tak has developed its own hotel label.
Under the new entity, Shun Tak will both own and operate hotels under a series of yet-to-be-announced luxury hotel brands, across key gateway cities in Asia. According to the company, these brands will have “Asian DNA” and will be “relevant to… growing travel markets such as China”. The company also said it would consider hotel investments in Europe and America, “given the right opportunities”.
“The market is gaining sophistication at such a dazzling speed that established multinational hotel brands have difficulty keeping pace. This has created a valuable window of opportunity for us, as we have accumulated a wealth of experience in the region and insights on the consumption pattern of Chinese travellers,” said Pansy Ho, Shun Tak’s managing director.
“Creating our own hotel brands now make total sense as it naturally complements our existing businesses, with the various real estate and hotel investments in our pipeline,” she added.
AHG will be led by Rogier Verhoeven, an existing executive director of Shun Tak Holdings and veteran hotelier who spent several years with Hyatt. Also on the team will be Robbert van der Maas, who has worked for Hyatt and Four Seasons, and Jerry Huang, a former president of IHG Greater China.
The formation of AHG follows the recent announcement that Shun Tak will invest in Jetstar Hong Kong. With other interests including Pearl River Delta coach and ferry services, along with travel agencies, MICE operations, casinos and shopping malls, Shun Tak is creating a multi-faceted travel and tourism portfolio in the Pearl River Delta.
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