Best Western Hotels & Resorts announced its Asian development plans to key industry stakeholders and potential investors at the recent Hicap Update conference in Singapore.

As the sister event to the popular Hicap (Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific), Hicap Update is a mid-yearly forum that focuses on the latest developments in the region’s hospitality industry, from finance and investment to architecture and interior design.

This year’s Hicap Update took place at the Pan Pacific Singapore on March 27-28, and Best Western proudly sponsored the conference for the second consecutive year.

Olivier Berrivin, Best Western’s managing director of International Operations – Asia, took to the stage on the opening morning of the conference to participate in a high-level panel discussion entitled “The Industry Leaders Speak Out.” Held in front of a large audience, this session allowed Olivier to discuss the major opportunities and challenges currently facing hoteliers in the Southeast Asia region, specifically with regards to investments, developments and partnerships.

“Hicap and Hicap Update are undoubtedly the leading events of the year for hoteliers in Southeast Asia, drawing large numbers of highly influential leaders and decision-makers from across the industry,” Olivier said. “Best Western is delighted to be a sponsor of such a well-respected conference and we look forward to continuing our association with Hicap in future.”

Best Western also used Hicap Update to reveal its latest Asian expansion plans – including its expanded selection of hotel brands. Having operated just three brands as recently as 2015, Best Western has undertaken a period of significant strategic growth and now offers a choice of 11 distinct global hotel concepts, including three so-called “soft brands”.

In Asia (Southeast Asia and Japan), Best Western now has no fewer than 30 new properties in the pipeline, covering five different brands: Best Western, Best Western Plus, Best Western Premier, Vīb and BW Premier Collection by Best Western. Once open, these new hotels will increase Best Western’s current Asian portfolio by more than 50 per cent.

Thailand is a major area of expansion for the company, with 11 new hotels currently in the pipeline across the kingdom. Other key areas of development for Best Western Asia include Malaysia, where it currently has four hotels in the pipeline including a return to Kuala Lumpur; the Philippines, where Best Western sees significant potential in up-and-coming destinations; and Vietnam, which will welcome two exciting new Best Western properties in 2019.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for Best Western, as we expand further across Asia with one of the industry’s largest and most intuitive brand collections. From modern midscale and upscale hotels to cutting-edge millennial concepts, extended-stay options and soft brands covering three different market segments, Best Western has become a one-stop solution for hotel owners and developers across Asia,” Olivier concluded. - TradeArabia News Service