REGENT Hotels & Resorts wants to expand its portfolio from seven properties presently to 25 by 2020, with more emphasis on unique hotel design. It is also working on an innovative website that will have both direct B2B and B2C sales function, slated to be finished in 12-18 months.
CEO, Mark Lettenbichler, who took up the post just last December, said: “We’ll bring (the Regent brand) to the forefront. After openings in Phuket and Bali in 2013, our brand-new property in Montenegro will be operational this year with residential services provided.
“We are developing hotels around the world with five deals signed this year covering Asia (three), Europe (one) and the Middle East (one). About 25 projects are under discussion. At present, three new projects (Jakarta, Chongqing and Xi’an) are under construction.”
“China is going to be a natural growth area with huge future potential and we will be able to carefully select from existing inventory in some cities. Apart from this, we are holding discussions in cities like Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, which also have great potential. Hong Kong is our base, however, and we are looking at different possible projects, for example, the Murray Building site in Central,” he explained.
Ninety per cent of these deals will be managed under a new model, which will be run by veterans handpicked by Lettenbichler. The brand’s 3Bs (bed, bath and breakfast) will continue with an extra B for bespoke to emphasise unique hotel design.
Furthermore, Lettenbichler added: “Having Dexter Chia as vice president of sales and marketing means a lot. He gained good China experience and strength in brand-building at his previous job with Rosewood Hotels and Resorts.”
