Where to Stay: New hotels in Tokyo, Bangkok and more…

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

Location: Connected to Otemachi Station, in the main Marunouchi-Otemachi area of central Tokyo
Grade: Luxury serviced residence
Keys: 130, ranging from studios to three-bedroom units
Facilities: Swimming pool, gymnasium, rooftop terrace, reading lounge, business centre
Meeting space: Function rooms available
They say: “We are confident that the serviced residence will be a draw for discerning business and leisure travellers seeking a world class experience and the comforts of home”
We say: This marks the entry of the high-end Ascott brand in Tokyo, and the concept and location are likely to prove popular with business travellers on extended stays and corporate relocation customers
Opening: Already open

Swiss-Belhotel Lampung

Location: On Jalan HR Rasuna Said, in the centre of the South Sumatran city
Grade: Upper-midscale
Keys: 167
Facilities: Restaurant, bar, swimming pool, fitness centre, spa
Meeting space: Extensive conference space including nine meeting rooms and a 1,200-pax capacity ballroom
They say: “The hotel was formerly known as The 7th Hotel & Convention Center and will serve business and leisure guests with a range of facilities and services”
We say: The conference facilities are the main selling point of this hotel. Expect it to be popular with the domestic MICE market
Opening: Already open

Mercure Alice Springs Resort

Location: Former Chifley Alice Springs Resort on Stott Terrace, five minutes’ walk from town centre
Grade: Midscale
Keys: 139
Facilities: Restaurant and bar, swimming pool, gym
Meeting space: Three function rooms plus a new outdoor amphitheatre
They say: “The resort is currently undergoing a AU$2 million upgrade of its rooms and facilities, which will see… floor-to-ceiling artworks that reflect the history of the Alice Springs region in all rooms”
We say: Good location and modern amenities for visitors to Australia’s Red Centre. Indigenous workshops will allow guests to learn about local Aboriginal communities
Opening: July 2017

dusitD2 Chaengwattana

Location: On Chaengwattana Road in north Bangkok, close to government offices, exhibition centre and Don Mueang Airport
Grade: Upscale
Keys: 200
Facilities: Rooftop restaurant and bar, rooftop pool, fitness centre
Meeting space: Large conference and banqueting facility
They say: “The new hotel will provide a comfortable, stylish and convenient option for leisure and business travellers alike, and should prove especially attractive for exhibitors at the nearby convention centre”
We say: North Bangkok is an up-and-coming area, and the opening of the new hotel will coincide with the expansion of the area’s infrastructure, including Don Mueang Airport and light rail links
Opening: 2020