Face-to-Face: Kevin Wallace
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Travel Daily chats to Kevin Wallace, Plateno Hotels Group’s Managing Director for Australasia, about the company’s international expansion plans…
Q) While many international hotel groups are trying to enter China, Plateno is expanding outside the country. Why is that?
We have the scale, the sales platform and the client base that is making over 100 million international visit a year, so we need to serve our home market. But we have also found that our 15 brands are well accepted by both non-Chinese international travellers as well as domestic travellers in Indonesia and seven other countries we operate in.
Q) Which countries/destinations are you focusing on in terms of your international expansion?
All of South, East and West Asia, as well as the Indian Ocean, Australia and New Zealand.
Q) Let’s talk about your first project, the new 7 Days Premium Kuta in Bali; what can guests expect from this hotel?
Guests can expect the same design led experience with the key comforts of home while away from home: comfortable bed, hot shower, powerful Wi-Fi, security and great location.
Q) And which other destinations do you think would be suited to the 7 Days Inn brand?
All primary and secondary cities and resort destinations in Asia, making a stay there affordable for all.
Q) Do you expect the majority of your guests (in Bali and future projects) to be Chinese, or are you also targeting other source markets?
Chinese will be significant but never a majority. In the Maldives and Bali it is up to 50%, but elsewhere it will be less than 15% on average. Today tapping and keeping domestic clients is the long-term key to success.
Q) What are your growth targets in the Asia Pacific region for the next 5-10 years, in terms of your hotel portfolio?
A) We will open and have under development 70 hotels this year across seven brands and in five years 300 hotels across 12 brands.
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