IHG to open second hotel in September

      InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will inaugurate a second luxury hotel in Vietnam in September this year and introduce more brands to new projects in this market in the future, a senior executive said.
Philip Riley, IHG regional general manager for Vietnam, said the InterContinental Asiana Saigon was scheduled for opening on September 9, or less than two years after the first InterContinental hotel was inaugurated in Hanoi.
Riley told reporters last week that the date was planned for the opening of the complex, which comprises of hotel and residential and office buildings on the corner of Le Duan and Hai Ba Trung streets in downtown area.
The hotel has 305 contemporary-design luxury rooms, or fewer than the around 350 rooms at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake that was inaugurated in the capital city. This new building is also home to a 600-seat ballroom, meeting rooms, restaurants and other facilities.
There are 260 residential suites in the adjacent tower, which is a new entity for IHG and the first IHG-managed project in Asia that combines hotel rooms and residences.
Riley said about 500 employees would be needed for the InterContinental Asiana Saigon, and the recruitment would be completed in the next two months for training and refresher courses in preparations for the opening.
Riley said the tourism market was down, but believed in “tremendous growth” for Vietnam. He confirmed that IHG came to Vietnam for long-term stay. “We are not in (Vietnam) for one year... Our contracts are 15-20 years.”
Riley gave the comment in response to the Daily’s question whether the opening schedule had been carefully considered in the face of declining international arrivals in Vietnam because of global economic recession.
Riley named the combination of hotel rooms, residences and offices for lease as one of the advantages for IHG to better compete in the market. “This makes a unique complex that no-one else has in this city. This is our competitive advantage.”
Riley furthered the complex was located in a good location for both commercial business and tourists. “If you look at the map, our location is close to most tourist attractions.”
Riley said Vietnam was classified in the list of most attractive destinations for future hotel developments alongside with China and India. He noted Vietnam was among the few countries that still post positive GDP growth despite the current global economic downturn.
“This shows to me that there’s still optimism about this market,” Riley said.
He estimated around 10 IHG-managed properties would be up and running in Vietnam in the coming five years, with the group’s luxury brand InterContinental, business-focus brand Crowne Plaza, and world-famous brand Holiday Inn.
Riley said the Crowne Plaza properties under construction in Hanoi and elsewhere in Vietnam would also have residential suites. “So, very quickly we are expanding our brands from hotels to hotels and residences. This is critical.”
Riley named Nha Trang, Danang and Hoi An as among the locations for new IHG-managed projects, but stressed that Hanoi and HCMC were major targets of the group, which owns, manages, leases or franchises more than 4,150 hotels and almost 620,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.