ALILA Hotels & Resorts is growing its global footprint, with some 20 properties to open within the next five years.
Expansion plans include Alila’s first foray into Europe, with the opening of Alila Roncão in the Alentejo region east of Lisbon.
New resorts are also under development in Oman – Alila’s first venture into the Middle East – including a beach resort in Salalah, a property in the mountain region of Jebel Akhdar, and an Alila Villas in Musandam.
Developments have been earmarked for Calicut in India, as well as expansion in Cambodia and Indonesia. New ventures are in the pipeline in Vietnam and China.
Speaking to TTG Asia e-daily at the group’s 10th anniversary celebration in Singapore today, Alila Hotels & Resorts CEO, Frederic Simon, said: “These properties are at different stages of development, and most will open in the next one-and-a-half to two years.”
The group, which presently manages nine properties across Indonesia, India and South-east Asia, has been receiving “good support” from its travel agent partners, according to the group’s vice president sales & marketing, Doris Goh.
Travel agents contribute 45 per cent of Alila’s bookings, with the rest coming from direct and online channels.
While recognising that “the world is changing and more people are booking online”, Alila COO Guy Heywood said the company remains committed to its travel agent partners.
“While we are actively strengthening our presence online and on social media platforms, we will continue to support agents financially (through attractive rates), and protect them by not diverting too much traffic (from them) to our direct channels.”
