Featured in this Asia Pacific Hospitality Newsletter - Week Ending 7 November 2003
Bangkok Land to develop two new hotels in Bangkok
Sea View Hotel Singapore to be redeveloped as condo
Novotel Central Sukhonta, Thailand to undergo THB40 million renovation
Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel completes US$25 million renovation
Imperial Hotels Group to develop new hotels in Thailand and Cambodia
Accor to manage Novotel Zhongguancun Hotel in Beijing
Great Eastern Hotel in Kolhata to be privatised
Lend Lease Corporation and General Property Trust to redevelop the Twin Waters Australia
Pioneer Global Group to acquire Garden Beach Resort in Pattaya, Thailand
Melchers Project Management to develop the Sentosa Sky Tower
Singapore Tourism Board to target MICE market
Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels to develop a hotel in Shanghai
Shangri-La H&R to develop two hotels in Thailand and China
Natural Park Plc won the bid for a hotel in Bangkok
Tourism boards of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Burma to jointly promote tourism
Beijing North Star Co. to develop convention centre in Beijing for 2008 Olympics Games
Vietnam offers incentive package to attract investor
M&C report a net profit of S$8.5 million
General Property Trust to sell its stake in Hamilton Island
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Bangkok Land to develop two new hotels in Bangkok Return to Headlines
03 November 2003 - According to the Bangkok Post, Bangkok Land Plc (BLP) will invest approximately THB20 billion in the Bangkok property market over the next 3 years. Impact Exhibition Management Ltd, a subsidiary of BLP, will develop two hotels totalling 2,000 rooms plus entertainment and retail areas near a lake in Muang Thong Thani on Chaeng Watthana Road early next year. The project is expected to be finished in the next two to three years. Moreover, BLP aims to build a 1,650 rai housing project on Srinakarin Road in eastern Bangkok. The group will co-invest with Bouyges Thai to build around 4,000-5,000 detached houses costing between THB 8 and 12 million during the next five to ten years.

Sea View Hotel Singapore to be redeveloped as condo Return to Headlines
03 November 2003 - The Sea View Hotel in Singapore will close down following the owner’s decision to redevelop the site. Marco Polo Developments Ltd, which purchased the freehold site for S$255 million earlier this year, will develop a 500- to 550-unit condo to be launched two to three years.

Novotel Central Sukhonta, Thailand to undergo THB40 million renovation Return to Headlines
03 November 2003 - The Novotel Central Sukhonta Hotel in Hat Yai, Thailand, will undergo THB 40 million renovation. The renovation is expected to be completed in 2004 and attract more leisure guests from Malaysia and Singapore.

Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel completes US$25 million renovation Return to Headlines
03 November 2003 - The Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel, Hong Kong has completed its US$million renovations. These include public areas, 700 guest rooms and suites, the Horizon executive lounge, restaurants, bars and private function rooms.

Imperial Hotels Group to develop new hotels in Thailand and Cambodia Return to Headlines
04 November 2003 - According to the Bangkok Post, the Imperial Hotels Group will invest billions of baht in two hotel projects in Thailand and a five-star hotel in Cambodia. In Thailand, the group will build a THB900 million 300-room hotel in Chiang Mai city. Furthermore, group will invest THB400 million into the renovation and expansion of the old Chiang Sports Club. The club will be re-branded the Imperial Chiang Mai Sports Club and comprise 120-150 rooms, a golf course, spa and gym. The development of the site is due to begin year. In Cambodia, the company will expand the 224-room Imperial Angkor Palace Hotel. company plans to add either 150 villas or build 180-200 rooms to the hotel’s room inventory. The hotel is scheduled for a soft opening in 2004.

Accor to manage Novotel Zhongguancun Hotel in Beijing Return to Headlines
04 November 2003 - Accor signed an agreement to manage a Novotel hotel in Beijing, China. The Novotel Zhongguancun Hotel, located in the western part of the city, known as hi ‘Silicon Valley’ area of Beijing, is expected to be completed in 2005. The hotel will comprise rooms, three food and beverage outlets as well as conference and recreational facilities.

Great Eastern Hotel in Kolhata to be privatised Return to Headlines
04 November 2003 - The West Bengal government in India plans to restructure and privatise Great Eastern Hotel in Kolkata. Despite strong opposition from the hotel unions government already tried – unsuccessfully – to lease the property to Accor), the plan is likely go ahead as the government put forward a plan to compensate the 450 workers.

Lend Lease Corporation and General Property Trust to redevelop the Twin Waters Australia Return to Headlines
05 November 2003 - Australia’s Lend Lease Corporation (LLC) and General Property (GPT) have teamed up to redevelop the Twin Waters Resorts on Queensland, Australia. 51/49 joint venture between LLC and GPT involves the development of a master-planned urban community on the site of resort in Mudjimba. The plan includes a 366-room hotel and premium residential community, which is expected to be completed in the next seven years.

Pioneer Global Group to acquire Garden Beach Resort in Pattaya, Thailand Return to Headlines
05 November 2003 - Hong Kong-based Pioneer Global Group acquired the four-star Garden Beach Resort in Pattaya, Thailand, from the Orchid Fund group for THB870 million. freehold property, located on Wong-Amart beach, comprises 382 guestrooms, five food beverage outlets as well as conference and recreational facilities. There will be no changes both management and name of the hotel under the new ownership. However, the hotel expected to undergo renovation projects, which include the upgrading of the conference facilities and the spa.

Melchers Project Management to develop the Sentosa Sky Tower Return to Headlines
05 November 2003 - According to the Business Times, Melchers Project Management, German engineering company spearheading the development of the S$200 million Singapore Flyer giant ferris wheel, is leading the development of another observation tower type attraction on Sentosa, Singapore. The Sentosa Sky Tower, costing approximately S$6 million, is expected to be completed in January 2004. The facility will be owned by Sky Tower Pte Ltd, which be controlled by Melchers, three other German investors and NTUC Lifestyle Group.

Singapore Tourism Board to target MICE market Return to Headlines
05 November 2003 - The Singapore Tourism Board announced the launch of a S$60 million marketing campaign, aiming to attract 1.8 million business travellers to the country by 2005 meetings, exhibitions and conventions. The promotions will include discounts and freebies offered by the Singapore Airlines and 39 hotels as well as advertising, road shows and subsidies for event organisers.

Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels to develop a hotel in Shanghai Return to Headlines
06 November 2003 - Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels, the owner of the Peninsula Group of hotels said it signed a deal with government controlled property developer New Huang Pu (Group) build a hotel in Shanghai. The group formed a venture to develop the Shanghai hotel Starwaly properties (Group), an international property developer. The hotel will be built in Waitanyuan area of Shanghai, situated near the old British consulate at the northern e city’s Bund waterfront district.

Shangri-La H&R to develop two hotels in Thailand and China Return to Headlines
06 November 2003 - Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts announced two new hotel developments Thailand and China. These include a 250-room Shangri-La Hotel in Chiang Mai and a 580 Shangri-La Hotel in Chengdu, due to open in 2006. The Shangri-La Chiang Mai, located Chang Klan Road, comprises Horizon Club, six food and beverage outlets as well as 10,800 square-foot spa area. The Shangri-La Chengdu comprises 30 serviced apartments in addition its 580 guest rooms, four food and beverage outlets as well as 22,600 square-foot ballroom.

Natural Park Plc won the bid for a hotel in Bangkok Return to Headlines
06 November 2003 - Natural Park Plc, a Thai real-estate developer, has won the bid for a adjacent to the new Siam Paragon shopping complex in Bangkok, Thailand. The complex also include serviced apartments. The THB 3-billion hotel is expected to open in 2007 and be managed by Kempinski Hotels and Resorts.

Tourism boards of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Burma to jointly promote tourism Return to Headlines
06 November 2003 - The Tourism Authority of Thailand signed an agreement with the national tourism boards of Laos, Cambodia and Burma to jointly promote tourism in overseas Two areas have been chosen from each country to participate in this program. These include Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Sawannakhet, Luang Prabang, Phnom Penh, Siam Reap, Pagan Mandalay. The initiatives will include overseas road shows and trade shows as well promotional tour to the four countries.

Beijing North Star Co. to develop convention centre in Beijing for 2008 Olympics Games Return to Headlines
07 November 2003 - Chinese property developer Beijing North Star Co. has won a bid Beijing Zhuzong Holdings to build a RMB5 billion convention centre in Beijing, China, used for the 2008 Olympic Games. The project will comprise a convention centre, hotel, commercial and recreational facilities.

Vietnam offers incentive package to attract investor Return to Headlines
07 November 2003 - The Kien Giang provincial authorities in Vietnam, hopes to attract more investors by offering incentive package to foreign and domestic firms including corporate exemption. Moreover, the local government aims to develop Phu Quoc Island as a tourist destination for domestic and international visitors. According to the authority, visitor arrivals Phu Quoc reached 50,000 people in the first half of the year, including 17,000 international tourists.

M&C report a net profit of S$8.5 million Return to Headlines
07 November 2003 - City Developments’ Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (M&C) reported profit of S$8.5 million in the third quarter of 2003. However, the third quarter’s net profit decreased by 56.7% compared to the same period in 2002. The decrease was mainly due to SARS epidemic and the Iraq war.

General Property Trust to sell its stake in Hamilton Island Return to Headlines
07 November 2003 - General Property Trust’s Voyages Hotels & Resorts Pty. Ltd. withdrew from the bid to acquire Hamilton Island Limited. The group plans to sell its 20.65% stake Hamilton Island to 21st Century Resorts Holdings.