Constellation Hotels will expand its Chifley and Country Comfort chains into Asia as the hotel firm’s new parent company also confirmed plans to launch a new brand in the region, as revealed by Travel Today.
Singapore-based Nadathur Group, which acquired Constellation last month, unveiled Next Hotels and Resorts as its new flagship brand with plans to open properties in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka.
Once established in Asia, Next, which will target the mid to upper scale market, will come to Australia and New Zealand, Constellation marketing director Julie McKinnon told Travel Today.
“The first property on the horizon will potentially be opened within the next 12 months in Asia,” McKinnon said.
The location has yet to be confirmed.
All of Nadathur’s hotel operations will sit under its newly-created SilverNeedle Hospitality division, headquartered in Singapore and with offices in Sydney, Bangkok, Mumbai and from next year, China.
Next will focus on “technology and efficiency” with Next Hotels targeting business travellers and its resorts centred round families. They will be a combination of new-builds and refits, the company said.
“This recognises an opportunity to capitalise on the rising number of newly affluent, middle-class travellers into and within Asia,” SilverNeedle president Bill Black said.
Meanwhile, McKinnon told Travel Today that both its Chifley and Country Comfort brands will expand into Asia.
“Our development team is speaking with potential investors interested in taking some of our brands into Asia,” McKinnon said.
The expansion is part of SilverNeedle’s plans to open 10,000 rooms within five years.
Meanwhile, Constellation has continued to expand in Australia with the opening of Mosaic in Brisbane under the Chifley brand with the 42 room apart-hotel Chifley Executive Suits Newcastle to open in November.