Francis Zimmerman, managing director South-east Asia, SilverNeedle Hospitality
AS A company that boasts a substantial portfolio density in Australia and New Zealand, SilverNeedle Hospitality is ready to shift the development epicentre to South-east Asia, where it targets to launch new brands and a slew of properties within the next five years.
“We are looking at 25 properties within the next five years, averaging four new properties a year,” said Francis Zimmerman, recently appointed managing director South-east Asia to oversee the group’s business development and growth in the region.
Propped up by a US$100 million war chest that the family-owned Nadathur Group has pumped into the company over the last four years to stimulate growth, SilverNeedle Hospitality has identified Thailand and Indonesia as primary growth countries while Vietnam and Myanmar will make up its secondary focus, Zimmerman told TTG Asia e-Daily.
The group is set to introduce a trio of new brands in South-east Asia, namely Sage, which has opened in Australia but which offers good conversion opportunities in this region; Next, an upper-upscale brand that will likely debut in corporate cities; and Linq, which will integrate work and play to appeal to the Gen Y and Z, he shared.
An artist’s rendering of a room in Riva Arun
However, 137 Pillars House in Chiang Mai will cease to be under the SilverNeedle Collection this year-end, confirmed Zimmerman, as the owning Wongphanlert family has spun off a new luxury boutique management company to manage the property.
But excluding 137 Pillars House, SilverNeedle Hospitality is still on track to reach five properties in South-east Asia this year, he added.
The group is currently working on a dozen projects, including several greenfield projects, and is expected to make further announcements on new hotels soon.
