GERMAN-based Kempinski Hotels will grow its portfolio in China from nine to 30 hotels by 2015, with six five-star properties scheduled to open this year.
Kempinski’s vice president – sales & marketing for China, Bobby Ong, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “This year, we’ll select and identify certain strategic cities for expansion, including major and secondary ones. We won’t overextend ourselves, as we have a policy of one Kempinski hotel for each city.“
Aside from Kempinski Hotel Huizhou, Kempinski Hotel Guiyang, The ONE Executive Suites Shanghai, Kempinski Hotel Xiamen, Kempinski Hotel Qingdao and Kempinski Hotel Haitang Bay Sanya—all of which are scheduled to open by end 2011— the group will branch out into Chongqing and Taiyuan next year. This will be followed by Yixing and Sanya in 2013.
According to Ong, the group performed better than expected last year, with the strong growth of China’s economy. Though hotels are set to increase their rates, Ong said the change would be gradual.
