Markland Blaiklock, Senior Vice President, Sofitel Asia Pacific, revealed that the luxury hotel group has signed 30 new management agreements in the last two years worldwide and are on track to have at least 150 properties in operation by 2015 in key capital cities and major tourist destinations around the Asia Pacific region. “Sofitel Luxury Hotels has continued to strengthen its presence in Asia Pacific over the last year with the opening of four new hotels in key regional markets including the Sofitel Mumbai BKC, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct, Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit and the first Sofitel So in Asia – Sofitel So Bangkok. The new openings mark another milestone in Sofitel’s plans to be present in all of the world’s major cities,” he said.
Talking about their business in India, Blaiklock said, “Sofitel Mumbai BKC has been an excellent addition to our expanding yet highly selective destination portfolio. As a flagship property, Sofitel Mumbai BKC has already made its mark in the luxury segment in the city since its opening. Moving ahead, we also plan to give our ‘So’ label a boost in the region and our plan is to continue growing Sofitel So in trendy, contemporary locations around the world such as Singapore and Mumbai.”
The group also has plans to open two new hotels in India by 2015 – Sofitel Mumbai Mulund and Sofitel So Mumbai Mulund, “Mulund is an upcoming suburb of Mumbai situated in the North East of the city and nestled in the foothills of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park with easy access to the Eastern Express Highway and Navi Mumbai through the Mulund-Airoli bridge. It is one of Mumbai’s first planned suburbs and has become a testament today to India’s growing middle class and its aspirational style of living. We plan to cash in on this untouched location and make our mark as a unique business luxury hotel,” he added. Blaiklock further revealed that the group is very keen on looking at major metro cities of India, Delhi being the top priority after Mumbai followed by Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata.
The Group also plans nine more properties in China by 2015 – Sofitel Sanya Haitang Bay Resort & Spa (2014), Sofitel Shanghai Jing’An Huamin (2013), Sofitel Foshan (2014), Sofitel Haikou Tiantuo (2014), Sofitel Guiyang (2014), Sofitel Kunming Kunsteel (2014), Sofitel Wuxi Lihu (2014), Sofitel Changsha Huachuang (2015) and Sofitel Lianyungang Suning Galaxy (2015). In addition, the group recently announced the signing of Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, which will open in September, 2013.
This year, the group launched a new advertising campaign, centred on voyage and the unique Sofitel addresses to boost direct reservation, and seasonal offers on the theme of fashion collections.
