Alila Villas Koh Russey’s one-bedroom villa
The swelling ranks of high-end hospitality offerings, alongside improved infrastructure and expanding flight connections into the country, have made the Cambodian luxury tourism market ripe for growth.
Upcoming hotel openings include the 175-room Rosewood Phnom Penh in January and private-island retreats Six Senses Koh Krabey and Alila Villas Koh Russey in mid-2017, followed by Shangri-La, Okura Prestige and Hyatt Regency in the Cambodian capital over the next few years.
Travel bosses are expecting the entry of these upscale properties will expand the luxury travel sector beyond the Siem Reap core to other parts of the country and make Cambodia more appealing as a standalone destination with higher hospitality standards.
Andrew Booth, CEO and founder of Exotic Voyages, said: “We have been trying to offer Cambodia as a single destination as opposed to an add-on to Thailand. With more luxury brands moving into new regions, combined with amazing dining experiences, we see huge growth.”
Furthermore, these international brands also come with the benefits of global marketing of the destination, an area where Cambodia falls behind, pointed out Pierre-Andre Romano, general manager, Exo Travel Cambodia.
As well, a stronger demand for luxury tourism will also drive the demand for quality service within the industry. Andy Carroll, CEO, AboutAsia Travel, said: “It will help elevate the level of training and education for Cambodian staff.”
