The announcement could have come at a better time. La Thailand has been mired in a second wave of coronavirus cases since the end of February.. It is having difficulty controlling the spread of the disease because of a very late vaccination campaign. The kingdom, which successfully fought off a first wave, is expected to reach 300,000 Covid-19-positive cases and more than 2,500 deaths before long.
Admittedly, Thailand is doing rather well - particularly compared with France, where the population is very similar. But the virus has spread exponentially over the last four months. On March 1 this year, the country had just 26,000 cases of Covid and 83 deaths due to the virus.
The kingdom has just introduced a month's confinement in the provinces most affected by the pandemic. Including Bangkok and the wider region.
We plan to double our portfolio in Thailand over the next three to five years
It is in this context that IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced with its local partner Asset World Corporation the development of three new franchised hotels. Starting with a new Intercontinental. It will be located in the heart of Chinatown and will be the first luxury hotel in this district. It's a wise choice. Up until now, the area has been fairly popular, with hotels of generally mediocre standards - apart from a handful of luxury boutique hotels. But Chinatown has been gentrifying since the opening of the metro. Now just fifteen minutes from the Thai capital's business district, Chinatown is proving to be the new battleground for construction and property companies.
Singapore-style development in Bangkok
A situation underlined by Rajit Sukumaran, Managing Director, South East Asia and Korea, IHG. " The InterContinental Bangkok Chinatown will be our third InterContinental-branded hotel in Bangkok, in the heart of one of the city's oldest districts. At the same time, we are in advanced discussions with AWC. These concern the positioning of the brand for two other properties in Bangkok and Pattaya. We plan to double our portfolio in Thailand over the next three to five years." .
The future facility will open its doors in 2027. It will offer 332 rooms, three restaurants, a bar, 1,400m2 of meeting space, and more.. As well as a swimming pool and fitness centre. The imposing glass complex, dominated by a Chinese-inspired tower, will be surrounded by traditional houses - old or recreated. In fact, they will house a shopping centre and restaurants, as well as a swimming pool and fitness centre.a second luxury boutique hotel. This will include 63 rooms spread over several traditional four-storey houses. The project is inspired by what already exists in Singapore's Chinatown - notably around the Intercontinental on Bugis Street.
IHG and AWC have also announced the opening of a another establishment in Pattaya by 2024. The brand chosen for this hotel is not yet known. Located in the very chic Aquatic District, it will comprise 234 rooms and suites as well as a meeting centre and restaurants.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has been working with Asset World Corp. for several years. This will result in the opening of a Intercontinental hotel in Chiang Mai in 2022 in northern Thailand. The two partners are also discussing the possibility of establishing the Kimpton brand in the kingdom...
