Marriott furthers expansion plans in the Kingdom

13 Aug 2019 2161 | Business & Trade Fairs

Marriott International last week strengthened its commitment to the Kingdom with a new partnership to bring in a brand of boutique hotels.

The global hospitality firm on Thursday signed an agreement with The Khom Hotel in Phnom Penh, which will be part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.

Autograph Collection is a collection of independent upper-upscale to luxury hotels within the Marriott International portfolio of brands. Hotels in the Autograph Collection are independently owned and are operated under the Autograph Collection name.

The Khom Hotel, which will open in early 2022, will be the Kingdom’s first Autograph Collection hotel.

Developed by Wywaza Investment, the hotel will offer 130 guests rooms and suites and a selection of culinary options, including a themed specialty restaurant, casual cafe, flexible buffet set-up, and sky bar.

Paul Foskey, Marriott International’s chief development officer for Asia Pacific, noted that Cambodia has seen an increase in international tourist arrivals and investments in the hospitality sector.

“We saw a potential market here in Cambodia which is why we partnered with Wywaza Investment on the introduction of The Khom Hotel, the first Autograph Collection brand in this market,” he said at the partnership signing ceremony last week.

Cambodia welcomed 3.3 million holidaymakers during the first half of the year, an 11.2 percent hike.

From 2014 to 2018, the country approved 959 investment projects worth a combined $23 billion. During the first half of this year alone, 153 projects (worth a total of $5.2 billion) were green-lighted.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Phnom Penh and the coast saw strong growth in tourist arrivals during the first half of the year, with the capital welcoming more than 2 million people and the coastal areas attracting nearly 600,000, a 27 percent hike in both cases.

Douk Dien, CEO of Wywaza Investment, said the collaboration will help the hotel be competitive.

“We are proud to be teaming up with Marriott International by bringing the diverse Autograph Collection Hotel brand to the Kingdom,” he said, adding that thanks to Marriott International’s commitment to distinctive brand offerings and service standards, the upcoming hotel will be a success.