New boutique hotel collection launches in Asia
A new collection of luxury Asian boutique hotels has launched with two events in Europe.
The brainchild of three European hospitality executives, French hotelier and entrepreneur Bruno Ferret, Relais & Châteaux’s former Asian Director Stephane Junca, and Italian restaurateur Federico Asaro, Secret Retreats features an initial collection of 33 properties across East Asia, each sharing a range of common characteristics. The collection’s properties will all have fewer than 50 rooms, will have a strong focus on food and beverage and guest service, and will “reflect their owners’ personalities”.
“We spotted a gap in the market for independently-owned luxury hotels in Asia and wanted to form a collection of hand-picked properties owned by passionate individuals, arts and antiques aficionados and lovers of fine foods,” said Junca, Secret Retreats’ Managing Director. “It is their singularities that somehow bring these hotels together and reflect Asian hospitality as we know it.”
Initially, the company will offer a portfolio of properties in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. The company also revealed it has had membership applications from other properties in Hong Kong, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Room rates range from US$150 to US$700 per night.
Secret Retreats was officially launched recently at events in Paris and London.