With 15 new deals signed across Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, 2016 proved to be a successful year for Bespoke Hospitality Management Asia as the addition of around 1,200 new keys represented a doubling of total inventory. Looking ahead to the coming year, some of these properties will be among 8 new additions slated to open in the region in 2017, underlining BHMAsia’s commitment to further growth.
Expansion in Thailand during 2016 involved all three BHMA brands; X2, X2 Vibe, and Away, and focused on Chiang Mai where arrangements were put in place for four additional properties. Deals were also agreed to add one new hotel in each of the traditional tourist destinations of Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, and Hua Hin, while the upcoming destinations of Khao Lak and Khao Yai will make exciting additions to the BHMAsia portfolio.
Moving further afield, BHMAsia has brought its “luxury by design” ethos and tailor-made solutions to Vietnam and is about to establish a presence in the World Heritage Site of Hoi An, as well as closing deals for Viet Tri and Danang, once again encompassing all three brands. In Indonesia, terms were agreed for a 150-room X2 property in Lombok’s Mandalika development, set to open in 2018.
With agreements in place, a number of these properties will open their doors in 2017; BHMAsia can announce openings in each of the four quarters, beginning with the X2 Vibe Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel in March. This 266-room property marks BHMAsia’s entry to the Bangkok market, and will be followed in 2018 by the X2 Bangkok Silom.
June sees the X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort welcoming guests, while Pattaya and Hoi An will both gain X2 Vibe Hotels in Q3. Q4 will be especially active, with Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Phuket Bangtao all commencing operations before 2017 is out.
The integration of 8 new hotels within the BHMAsia operating platform will require an increase in staffing levels to handle the additional demands, while the Vietnamese expansion will be addressed through a new representative office to open in Vietnam this February.
“Our expansion this year is part of a long-term strategy based on a flexible approach that lets us build strong relationships with clients,” explained Executive Vice President Alexander Wallace. “We will continue to look for the right projects to manage, with a particular emphasis on Bangkok.”