BIM Group, IHG launch luxury hotel in Vientiane
BIM Group, IHG launch luxury hotel in Vientiane
BIM Group Vietnam and Intercontinental Hotels Group, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, recently launched a new 197-room hotel in response to the growth of tourism in Laos.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Crowne Plaza Vientiane was held last week and attended by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc and representatives from the BIM Group Vietnam (BIM) and Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG).
A representative of BIM, Mr Doan Quoc Huy, said the Crowne Plaza Vientiane was the essential part of the Royal Square first-class hotel, office and shopping mall complex.
The project also represents BIM’s first investment in Laos and has helped spur the drive to boost Vientiane’s development.
Vice President for IHG Operations in Southeast Asia and Korea, Ms Leanne Harwood, said IHG was delighted to celebrate the opening of their first hotel in Laos with the launch of the Crowne Plaza Vientiane.
As one of the region’s fastest growing nations, Laos has enjoyed significant economic growth in the last decade and its expanding infrastructure has played no small role in boosting tourism and attracting foreign investment.
Crowne Plaza Vientiane features well-appointed premium guest rooms and suites tastefully decorated with traditional Lao elements, modern amenities and a variety of restaurants and bars for a range of dining experiences.
General Manager of Crowne Plaza Vientiane, Mr Oliver Horn, said Laos was gaining popularity as a tourist destination and he was pleased to be a part of the first internationally branded upscale hotel to open in the capital.
As one of the fastest growing hotel brands in the sector, Crowne Plaza is a trusted name all over the world.
Crowne Plaza Vientiane is proof not only of strategic cooperation between BIM Group and IHG but also a cultural exchange and economic integration between Vietnam and Laos, enhancing the already strong relations between the two countries.
According to a Tourism Development Department report in 2015, Laos had 542 hotels and over 1,900 guesthouses and resorts.
Dr Leeber, a Lao economist, said Laos has several kinds of hotels, but that luxury service in response to high-end tourists was still needed.
Laos has a beautiful natural landscape, strong preservation of culture and tradition, and various ethnic groups, which are believed to attract high-end visitors and retirees to enjoy a wide range of destinations.
Consequently, Laos can use this opportunity to build up its luxury hotels to attract and serve these tourists, especially if the country continues to increase its global profile in promoting and advertising itself as a luxury destination.