Swiss-Belhotel International is currently formulating plans to launch two new hotel brands in the Asia Pacific region. In an exclusive interview with Travel Daily yesterday, the Hong Kong-based company’s Chairman & President, Gavin M. Faull, said that he was looking at rolling out a new two-star brand in China and Southeast Asia, and a four-star extended stay offering tailored specifically for the Chinese market. The new brands will add to the company’s existing three product offerings – Swiss-Belhotel, Grand Swiss-Belhotel and Swiss-Belinn.
Referring to the proposed budget brand, Faull said; “We are looking at countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and China. The hotels will be fresh, young in feel, and efficient, for people who are looking for something different. Budget, or two-star are the wrong words. I would say ‘value-for-money’.”
When asked about the services available in the new hotels, Faull revealed that there would be a restaurant element, and that he was considering franchise partners. He added that he would be meeting architects in Bangkok today to discuss the budget hotel project.
Faull also revealed that Swiss-Belhotel International had been approached by a property company in China with a view to developing a range of four-star properties in key tier one and two cities in the country. The new product, which again is yet to be officially announced, would cater for the extended-stay market, but would keep a hotel feel, rather than serviced apartments. Referring to the partner, Faull said they would bring “capital horsepower” to the project, and that they would be equity partners with Swiss-Belhotel in the venture. Possible locations for the new brand include Suzhou, Tianjin, Dalian and Guangzhou.
Discussing the product’s placement in the burgeoning Chinese hotel market, Faull said that it would serve a new generation who will travel in different ways.
“The huge development in Chinese infrastructure is changing accommodation concepts in China. Five years from now people will be getting the train from Shanghai to Hong Kong,” Faull said. “The shift in momentum is already there
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