BW’s Vib takes off

SINGAPORE Best Western will expand its recently launched VIB brand across Asia over the next five years, according to the group’s managing director international operations Asia, Olivier Berrivin.
Two cities in the Mekong Region, Yangon in Myanmar and Vientiane in Laos, will have the first ViB hotels in Asia when they open in 2018.
“We have strong leads for this brand in Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur,” Berrivin commented during the recent ITB Asia held in Singapore.
However, he conceded Singapore remains a challenge to gain a foothold, but claimed Vib would be in every major city in Southeast Asia over the next five years.

inside no 7The first signing for the brand, outside of North America, was secured last April for a new-build property in Seoul’s Gangnam district. Construction will probably start by the end of the year. It should open by 2019 a year after the Vientiane and Yangon properties.
The group has 41 projects in a development pipeline in Asia.
Vib was first launched in North America in October 2014 with eight properties in the pipeline confirmed earlier this year.
In Asia, the first property under the Vib brand will be a new-build hotel in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
The second ViB property will also open in 2018 with 110 rooms in Yangon, the commercial capital of Myanmar.
“When we first revealed the Vib concept, earlier this year, it was clear that this contemporary product would work extremely well in Southeast Asia – one of the world’s most dynamic regions for tourism growth,” said Berrivin.

inside no 7.1Vientiane’s new 70-room Vib hotel will be located in the centre of the city, close to the night market, Lao National Museum, Black Stupa and Patuxai Arch.
It will be the second Best Western property in Vientiane.
Earlier in the year, Best Western released a new master brand and corporate logo. It will follow-up with remakes of all its brand logos to be completed by early 2016.
In Thailand, a Best Western Plus with 183 keys is due to open near the capital’s government complex on Chaeng Wattana Road, in Bangkok’s northern suburb, this December.
Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel will be located close the Central Chaeng Wattana shopping mall, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani exhibition centre and a complex for ministries and government departments.
Best Western has a collection of seven hotels in Bangkok, covering three of its brands: classic Best Western, upscale Best Western Plus and the top-end Best Western Premier.
In 2019 two hotels will open at beachfront locations on Phuket island; a Best Western on Rawai beach with 420 rooms and a Best Western Premier on Surin Bay.
Best Western Asia was first launched in Bangkok in 2001 and now covers 15 countries in the region, with more than 100 hotels in operation or under development.

sourced:ttrweekly.com