TAKING the name of legendary explorer Marco Polo’s father for its new brand, Marco Polo Hotels has introduced the luxury Niccolo by Marco Polo and will open the first hotel under it next year.
Marco Polo Hotels describes the Niccolo by Marco Polo brand as a collection of contemporary urban chic hotels and the company’s response to rising demand for upscale travel experiences.
Hallmarks of Niccolo by Marco Polo include the City Insiders concierge who will play host to guests and impart personal insider tips to enjoying what the destination has to offer, retail partnerships with fashion brands exclusive only to hotel guests, and the Niccolo Lecture Series to introduce guests to the pioneering explorers and stories of this generation.
The brand’s first hotel will open early next year within Chengdu’s International Finance Square on Chunxi road, offering 228 rooms and suites.
Three more Niccolo hotels are set to open in premier addresses in Chongqing, Changsha and Suzhou. Plans to take the new brand beyond China are also on the table.
Stephen Ng, deputy chairman and managing director of The Wharf (Holdings), parent company of Marco Polo Hotels, said: “Late last year, Marco Polo Hotels announced our expansion plans across Asia-Pacific. The launch of Niccolo by Marco Polo in Chengdu is an integral part of this growth strategy and evidence of our belief in the continued potential of business and leisure travel across the region.
“The (past) 12 months mark a significant milestone for our company, with the most hotel openings in a decade, including the newest success story, Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila opening on July 9. In addition, our spectacular Marco Polo Changzhou set in 7.7ha of beautiful landscaped gardens opening in the third quarter of this year, and now our highly anticipated Niccolo Chengdu is due to open in early 2015.”
