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Flight Centre收购亚洲酒店集团BHMAsia
Flight Centre日前收购了总部位于曼谷的亚洲酒店管理公司BHMAsia，标志着这家旅游公司首次涉足利润丰厚的酒店和别墅业务。 该集团在泰国管理了14家酒店，还有19处地产正在开发中。这次收购的目标是“加强Flight Centre快速发展的目的地旅游体验分支”，这也是其继休闲旅游、企业旅游之外的第三大业务分支。 这项协议的达成将为BHMAsia带去很多的机会，让其加速扩张计划，其中已经包括将在亚洲几个主要市场修建一系列新的X2和X2 Vibe酒店的计划。 BHMAsia 首席执行官Anthony McDonald表示，“战略上来看，这是一个很好的合作。Flight Centre有着需要酒店的顾客基础，而我们有需要顾客的酒店。通过平衡FLT的全球分销网络，BHMAsia酒店将为其顾客提供更好的回报，和为FLT顾客提供端到端的服务。” BHMAsia目前的酒店位于包括曼谷、普吉岛、苏梅岛、芭提雅、清迈等地在内的地点，类型从私人别墅、公寓到酒店、度假村都有覆盖。
BHMAsia to open eight hotels as Asian expansion accelerates
X2 Vibe Chiang Mai BHMAsia, the Bangkok-based hotel group, is planning to following up its record year in 2016 with the opening of multiple new properties this year. The company, which operates the X2, X2 Vibe and Away brands, secured deals for 15 new hotels last year, covering Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia and adding 1,200 new keys. Once all these hotels open they will double the company's current inventory. And looking ahead to the coming year, BHMAsia said it intends to open eight new hotels in 2017, including some of last year's signings. This expansion will commence in March 2017 with the opening of the 266-room X2 Vibe Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel, which will mark BHMAsia’s entry into the Thai capital. Then in June, X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort will welcome its first guests, while Pattaya and Hoi An will both gain X2 Vibe Hotels in the third quarter of 2017. And Q4 2017 will be especially active, with new properties in Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Phuket all commencing operations. To support the company's growth, BHMAsia will open a new representative office in Vietnam this month. The company has also revealed details of two properties that are due to open in 2018; X2 Bangkok Silom and an X2 hotel on the Indonesian island of Lombok.
Thailand’s BHMAsia expands hotel portfolio across Vietnam
BHMAsia, which operates the X2 and Away boutique hotel brands, is expanding its presence across Vietnam. Having entered the Vietnamese market last year, the Bangkok-based hotel group has now signed its sixth management contract in the country. Its nationwide pipeline now includes properties in Danang, Hoi An, Halong Bay and Viet Tri with a combined inventory of more than 850 keys. The projects range in size from 60 to over 230 keys and include a mix of hotels, resorts, villas and residences. X2 Halong Bay Hill Resort will open in 2017 According to company CEO, Anthony McDonald, BHMAsia has been successful in Vietnam “due to the company’s philosophies and Asian culture”. “Having been born in Asia, the company understands the way to do business here and the importance of long-term personal relationships,” McDonald said. The sixth property signed by BHMAsia in Vietnam will also be the first to open. Scheduled to debut in Q2 2017, the X2 Vibe Hoi An Residence will form part of the New Hoi An City development. This seafront project will feature 230 residential units, ranging from one- to three-bedroom apartments and villas. Also in 2017, BHMAsia will launch the X2 Halong Bay Hill Resort, and then in 2018 the company will open the Away Danang Thuy Tu Resort, Away Elite Hoi An Hotel and Residence, X2 Danang Resort and X2 Vibe Viet Tri Hotel. And further expansion is planned; the group expects to have more than 10 projects under development by the end of the year, and 16 by the end of 2017. “We are building a team to support the new openings planned over the next 12-24 months,” explained Simon Jinks, BHMAsia’s country manager for Vietnam. “We are very confident with the Vietnamese market, and developers and investors see great value in our brands and what value we can bring to their projects.”
The Gay Passport CEO: Reaching out to new market segments
We speak to Calum Evans, CEO and founder of The Gay Passport — a gay influencer agency that allows hotels to gain exposure in gay audiences by providing quality vetted visit proposals from leading influencers. TD: What was your background before you started this company? How does that help you in your role? CE: I'm a hotelier who started in a boutique Scottish country hotel (The Lodge on Loch Goil) but at heart, I’m a marketing geek and a social media addict. The transition from e-business for a hotel management company to running a gay influencer agency and media has definitely been exciting with a steep learning curve, but it also made a lot of sense. I was based in Bangkok for three years with BHMAsia (now part of Flight Centre) in digital marketing and e-business, before starting The Gay Passport. I could see first hand how powerful customer loyalty can be, so many of the skills I learned there have been key in building our gay travel community. More than just branding, having experience as a buyer for digital advertising, we were able to develop products for The Gay Passport from the clients’ point of view. Switching sides of the table weren't easy but I could understand the challenges hotels face in managing social media and especially when trying to reach new market segments online and this experience was critical in building our influencer visit program. What was the idea behind your company? While working in the hotel management company, the inspiration for The Gay Passport arrived. We were always looking to reach out to new markets, and for the design-focused hotels, gay travellers are an important segment. We wanted to work with media who could reach all our key nationalities but we couldn’t find the right partners who had the scale and also could work within property level advertising budgets. That was when I wondered if I could do something up-to-date and cool, that would go beyond the traditional website listing, yet be affordable for property level budgets. That is the essence of where The Gay Passport came from. What challenges have you overcome in your career and how? Easily the biggest challenge was starting The Gay Passport. Quitting the steady salary for the unknown is scary. Watching your ex-colleagues moving up the career path while we tried to break even to pay developers makes you wonder if you made the right choice. "Once we started to see a loyal audience growing... the nerves subsided" However, once we started to see a loyal audience growing and the advertisers began to arrive, the nerves subsided. Three years later, I’m delighted we have built a product that is delivering great results for over 200 partner hotels which we are connecting to 450+ gay influencers and generating over five million social impressions each month. What problems does your product solve and how did you come across that problem? We saw two issues when we started The Gay Passport. First, there is a large audience of gay men who are looking for reliable travel advice to help them make the most of their holiday. These travellers are seeking broad advice on which destination and hotels are welcoming and gay-friendly, to specific details on venues and nightlife while travelling. Secondly, we saw an opportunity to help hotels advertise to gay travellers. Many hotels are actively trying to diversify their markets and they understand that the LGBT segment can be a significant part of this. But we found that often hotels struggled to find ways to reach out and engage with gay travellers at scale. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV8HC3F24sc How did you go about finding the right team members and investors? Finding the right team members is always hard. We are a small full-time team with a great network of creative part-time and freelance specialists to support our growth. To find the right talent we had to look globally which does mean a lot of conference calls at very odd hours. "We wanted to focus on building a loyal audience, getting readership and establish a real community" As for investors, we are self-funded and have not taken on any outside funding. Early on, we made the decision that we wanted to focus on building a loyal audience, getting readership and establish a real community rather than spending time seeking investment. Building our audience was a long journey but lucky that in the early days the gay Asian community was very supportive so we didn't need enormous budgets to achieve sizeable traction. What has changed the most during your time in the travel industry? How do you and your company stay ahead of the curve? I feel you could say that even our traditional hotel industry was into influencers before it was the popular kid in marketing. For decades, hotels have been hosting media from magazine editors and travel writers then onto travel bloggers all before Instagram was around. Social media influencers work today and can drive substantial revenues but social media moves fast, Instagram might be hot just now but we have to be ready for the next switch. "Individual properties are becoming increasingly interested in this segment" Even in the five years that The Gay Passport has been going, there has been considerable growth in the awareness and desire for hotels to advertise to the gay market. A research by WTO has shed light on the value and spending of LGBT travellers and with support from tourist boards and big brands, individual properties are becoming increasingly interested in this segment. What trends do you think we will see in the next 3 years? Within the travel influencer marketing space, I expect to see more hotels hosting a broader range of influencer types, moving from bloggers and more into Instagrammers and YouTubers. Not forgetting with the growth of Chinese FIT travellers, hotels should also be learning about and considering to recruit influencers on Weibo, WeChat and other platforms (like Blued which can be described as Chinese gay Facebook). With this progression, I also expect (and really hope) to see the larger brands implement more systematic checks on the quality of the influencers their hotels are hosting.
Dheva Mantra Resort & Spa now part of Away Resorts
Bespoke Hospitality Management Asia (BHMAsia) recently added Kanchanaburi-based Dheva Mantra Resort & Spa to its roster of Away Resorts properties. Away Kanchanaburi Dheva Mantra Resort & Spa The Bangkok, Thailand-based firm signed an agreement with Dheva Mantra Company Ltd. to carry out rebranding and management of the resort starting Q1 2018. Under this agreement, the luxury destination will be managed as Away Kanchanaburi Dheva Mantra Resort & Spa. Other Thai properties of the well-known Away brand include Away Koh Kood Resort, Away Chiang Mai Phucome Villa, and Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort, Thailand’s only four-star vegetarian resort. ‘The decision to manage Away Kanchanaburi Dheva Mantra Resort & Spa was strategic,’ BHMAsia executive vice president Alexander Wallace explained. ‘Our Away brand has proved successful in resort properties already established in Thailand, and Away Kanchanaburi Dheva Mantra Resort & Spa fits naturally into that portfolio.’ Wallace added that this was one of many projects in BHMAsia's pipeline. ‘While our overseas portfolio continues to expand, we still see Thailand as our primary focus,’ he said. ‘Kanchanaburi is a fast-growing destination. Managing Away Kanchanaburi Dheva Mantra Resort & Spa gives BHMAsia the chance to take advantage of its significant tourism potential.’ Located on a secluded stretch of the famous River Kwai, Away Kanchanaburi Dheva Mantra Resort & Spa boasts 104 spacious guest rooms designed with Colonial inspiration, along with 4 dining establishments including a floating Thai restaurant. Leisure travellers prefer its swimming pool, gym and spa facilities, while the venue’s extensive meeting facilities make it popular for bespoke gatherings. BHMAsia is set to manage new properties in Bangkok Silom, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Kui Buri in 2018. Outside of Thailand, the hospitality firm has set its sights on Vietnam and Indonesia. Learn more about BHMAsia at www.bespokehospitalitymanagement.com.
X2 Chiang Mai expects great things from award winning GM
Ewan Taylor has been appointed general manager of X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort, the stylish new all-suite boutique resort which opened recently on the banks of the Ping River in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s cultural capital. “I am delighted to become general manager of Chiang Mai’s first X2 Resort,” Ewan Taylor said. “The architects, designers, developers, owners and BHMAsia have all done an incredible job in creating a stunning resort that merges seamlessly into its natural riverside surroundings.” “X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort is a sleek and contemporary resort that blends cutting-edge style and luxurious amenities with Chiang Mai’s rich cultural heritage. I look forward to working with the excellent team here to ensure unforgettable experiences for every guest,” he added. A South African national, Taylor has a proven track record in the hospitality industry. Having studied at the prestigious Glion institute of hospitality management, based in Switzerland, he has already managed some of Asia's most acclaimed high-end boutique hotels. These include the Galle Fort Hotel in Sri Lanka, Seven Terraces Hotel in Penang, Malaysia, and most recently, Villa Samadhi in Kuala Lumpur, all of which rose to the top of the TripAdvisor rankings and won multiple awards during his tenure. Now, Taylor brings his considerable experience and expertise to X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort, the latest resort from Bangkok-based BHMAsia, which opened recently in a charming riverfront setting in Chiang Mai, the capital of northern Thailand’s ancient Lanna Kingdom.
Flight Centre targets Canada with latest acquisition
Flight Centre has acquired Quebec-based LDV Flight Centre Travel Group's (FLT) recent spending spree has continued with an agreement to acquire a Canadian travel company. Following deals for Bangkok-based hotel group, BHMAsia, and two New Zealand travel companies, FLT has now sealed the purchase of Quebec City-based Les Voyages Laurier du Vallon (LDV). FLT was previously under-represented in Quebec, Canada's second largest province, partly as a result of challenges posed by complying with local French language guidelines. But managing director Graham Turner said the acquisition would fast-track the company's growth in the region. "Quebec is a large and attractive market for FLT, but our ability to expand and grow market-share in this province has, until now, been constrained," Turner said. "By working with LDV, we will be able to leverage the business's local expertise, experience and linguistic capabilities to grow our presence in Canada's second largest market, which is a major corporate hub and home to a large and active leisure travel population." Flight Centre's president in Canada, John Beauvais, added that the acquisition is key part of the company's Canadian growth strategy. "We are thrilled to be working with LDV, an established company in a market where we see enormous potential," he commented.
Flight Centre expands in NZ with double acquisition
Following its recent agreement to enter the Asian hospitality industry with the acquisition of BHMAsia, the Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) has switched the focus of its expansion to New Zealand. The Australian company has confirmed plans to acquire 100% of two Kiwi travel businesses: the leisure-focused Travel Managers Group (TMG) and corporate Executive Travel Group (ETG). TMG includes a network of more than 180 home-based agents, plus a 22-shop franchise network including 12 TravelSmart shops. EMG meanwhile, is New Zealand's largest independent corporate travel management company. Flight Centre has taken 100% stakes in two Kiwi companies New Zealand is now the company's fifth largest business globally, in terms of sales, behind Australia, the US, the UK and Canada. "Executive Travel and Travel Managers are profitable businesses... with solid growth trajectories and good track records of success," said FLT's managing director, Graham Turner. "With their addition, Flight Centre New Zealand will go close to becoming a NZ$1.5 billion (US$1.1bn) per year company during the 2018 fiscal year. "ETG will enhance our already strong corporate travel offering in New Zealand and will give the business additional scale and expertise. Through TMG, we will gain access to new business models and leisure revenue streams to complement our offerings," he added. FLT has previously stated its intention to expand in the home-based travel sector, and TMG marks the company's first acquisition in this sector. Further expansion is planned via "a combination of acquisitions and organic growth", according to the company. "The home-based or broker offering has strong growth potential and is attractive to us," Turner said. "We look forward to working together with TMG to deliver exciting new opportunities, services, benefits and products to its network of expert sales consultants and their customers." ETG was established in 1978 and generated about NZ$60m in total transaction value (TTV) during the 2016 calendar year. TMG launched in 2002 and now generates about NZ$120m in TTV. Both businesses were privately owned, with former FLT employee Kevin Weston co-owning ETG and being a major shareholder in TMG. Weston and his business partners, Nicola Jamieson and Dave Wallace, will continue to oversee both businesses' day-to-day operations and will report to FLT New Zealand's managing director, David Coombes. "With the combination of FLT’s greater technology and product offering and TMG and ETG's expertise in the broker, leisure and corporate models, this new partnership is an exciting strategic move," Weston said. "We look forward to working in the business and seeing it develop and evolve. We know that through this partnership TMG and ETG will become even stronger businesses and help support FLT's continual market share growth, providing a bright future for all stakeholders."
Flight Centre agrees to acquire Asian hotel group
Flight Centre Travel Group has agreed to acquire Bespoke Hospitality Management Asia (BHMAsia), the Bangkok-based hotel management company. The acquisition will be the Australia's based travel company's first investment in the accommodation sector. The aim is to “strengthen [Flight Centre’s] rapidly expanding in-destination travel experiences division” - its third strongest business unit, following its extensive leisure and corporate travel operations. The agreement will provide a major boost to BHMAsia, enabling it to ramp up its extensive expansion plans, which already include a pipeline of new X2 and X2 Vibe hotels in several major Asian markets. Anthony McDonald, CEO of BHMAsia “Strategically this is a perfect fit,” said BHMAsia's CEO, Anthony McDonald. “Flight Centre has customers that need hotels and BHMAsia has hotels that need customers. By leveraging FLT's global distribution network, BHMAsia-managed hotels can deliver improved returns to their owners and an end-to-end experience for FLT customers.” BHMAsia's current hotel portfolio includes properties in Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, ranging from individual villas and apartments to hotels and resorts. Most of these are boutique-style properties, but the company is starting to take on larger projects, including the recently-opened 266-rooms X2 Vibe Sukhumvit Hotel in Bangkok and 230-key X2 Vibe Hoi An Residence, which is scheduled to launch in 2018. McDonald, who founded BHMAsia in 2013, and will remain as the company's CEO following the acquisition, along with other key BHMAsia executives. They will oversee the company's continued expansion, including the openings of the 65-key X2 Vibe Pattaya Seaphere Residence in Q4 2017, 85-key X2 Vibe Phuket Bangtao Residence in Q1 2018, and 40-key X2 Vibe Koh Samui Nautilus Residence in Q2 2018. Full details of the transaction and Flight Centre's strategic plans for the hotel group will be released after the formal completion of the deal.
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