Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a hotel management agreement with Rich Mandalay Group of Co.,Ltd. to operate Asai Yankin, one of the first properties to be signed under Asai Hotels, Dusit’s new affordable lifestyle brand.

Located in Yankin Township in the northern central part of Yangon, approximately 25 minutes by car from Yangon International Airport in Myanmar, Asai Yankin is designed to give millennial-minded travellers the opportunity to experience the city like a local, putting them in the heart of a vibrant neighbourhood renowned for its multi-ethnic character and thriving shopping scene.

Reflecting the four key pillars of Asai Hotels – Thoughtful Essentials, Common Areas, Locally Inspired, and Connected Community – Asai Yankin will comprise 111 compact rooms (between 15 to 22-sq-m) whose contemporary design will emphasise key features such as superior quality beds and high pressure rain showers. A large mixed-use space, meanwhile, will include a modern and efficient work space, a leisure area, and a restaurant concept curated by local chefs. The hotel will also offer a fully equipped gym, and two retail floors highlighting local brands and products.

Following Asai’s official slogan, Live Local, the hotel will put guests within easy reach of nearby attractions such as Yankin Market, Fushan temple, and the lively restaurant scene of New University Road. Myanmar Plaza, Yangon's first international retail shopping centre, is located right next to the hotel, and renowned attractions such as Shwedagon Pagoda, Kandawgyi Lake, and Yangon Zoological Gardens are only 20 minutes away by car.

“Inspired by community, and driven by sustainability, Asai is designed to link millennial-minded travellers with authentic local experiences while having a positive impact, environmentally and socially,” said Siradej Donavanik, managing director of Asai Holdings, Dusit International. “Asai Yankin will be a fine showcase of these values, and we are delighted to partner with Rich Mandalay Group of Co.,Ltd to introduce the brand in this fascinating destination.”

Thura Oo, director, Rich Mandalay Group of Co.,Ltd., said: “Combining international quality with a local flavour, from the food and drink, to the design and service, Asai Yankin will give travellers a taste of the real Myanmar, and we’re delighted to work with a company as renowned and respected as Dusit, and also be the first property in the country to carry this exciting brand which reflects our own company’s values.”

Alongside Asai Yankin, four more Asai properties are already confirmed in the pipeline. This includes three hotels in Cebu, Philippines (in Lapu-Lapu, Oslob, and the city centre); and a flagship Asai hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, in the city’s stylish Sathorn district.

Asai Hotels’ management team hopes to secure 10 more properties in the pipeline by the end of the year across Southeast Asia and Japan. This includes owned and joint venture properties as well as properties under Hotel Management Agreements. - TradeArabia News Service