Tune Hotels is pressing ahead with plans to launch in Thailand. The Malaysian budget hotel company said that despite the current flood crisis in the country, it is still on track to launch hotels in Hat Yai and Pattaya “in a show of long term commitment and confidence towards Thailand and its economy”.
Tune Hotel Hat Yai, located in the far south of Thailand near the Malaysian border, will feature 148 rooms, while Tune Hotel Pattaya, in the popular eastern Thai beach resort town, will offer 192 rooms. Further Tune properties are expected to open next year in Bangkok and Phuket.
“It’s a contrarian strategy but we are 100% behind Thailand and have 100% support for its people. We want to do our small part in helping to enhance investment and tourism in the economy and of course providing jobs at these hotels. Despite the physical destruction caused by the floods, it is the friendly nature of the Thais that keeps the tourists and visitors coming,” said Tune Hotels Group CEO, Mark Lankester.
In response to the current flooding in Thailand, Tune recently donated THB100,000 (US$3,170) in cash together with 500 packages of food and drinking water to Thailand’s Channel 3 TV station, which has acted as an aid collection and distribution hub during the crisis.
“This contribution is Tune Hotels’ small way of saying we are with Thailand and its people. The current floods have been one of the worst calamities ever faced by Thailand in recent history but as was proven over and over again, the Thai economy and its people will emerge stronger after each episode and this time it will be no different,” Lankester said.