By Vincent Mariel P. Galang, Reporter
HONG KONG-BASED Regal Hotels International is looking for opportunities to bring its hospitality services overseas, including the Philippines.
“I believe our company is always looking into expanding outside of Hong Kong, and mainland China if there is a right deal…. if the location is right… why not? We’d love to,” Peter Chiu, vice- president for project of Regal Hotels, told reporters in Makati City on March 25.
Formed in 1979, Regal Hotels is the hospitality arm of Hong Kong-based Century City Group. It currently has over 10,000 rooms across 24 locations in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Twelve hotels are in Hong Kong, while rest are spread across China. The company also owns Campus La Mola, a hotel located in Barcelona, Spain.
Peter Martin, group director for project of Regal Hotels, said what sets the company apart is it owns the property where the hotel stands.
“The group is always interested in expanding. Generally, we look to buy our own property. We’re very particular to make sure this… location can offer a lot of value to customers if it does then we know if we do a good job we can make it pay. Sure, we’re interested always and exploring but it depends in the location,” Mr. Martin told BusinessWorld in an interview.
Mr. Martin said Regal Hotels is very particular about choosing the right location for the hotel.
“Since we own the properties, we are very particular to make sure… Is this the destination (guests) would like?… Because if not, we’re not going to spend a huge amount of money investing on our own… A lot of effort goes into buying land, building the property and operating a hotel that we know customers are actually going to seek out and desire. This is a very different mindset from a management company wherein they don’t own the property,” he explained.
The company operates Regal Hotel and iClub Hotel. Regal Hotel is a full-service hotel that caters mainly to families.
“They are getting a traditional full-service (hotel) with full facilities.. They are designed for families,” Mr. Martin said.
On the other hand, iClub, a select-service hotel, attracts younger, tech-savvy travelers.
“[For] those young travelers traveling in ones or twos… They travel light. They didn’t want to pay for facilities they, rarely, will use. They want to explore the city. Hong Kong is one of the cities you can explore,” Mr. Martin said.
The company’s hotels are usually located near tourists spots. A shuttle is usually provided for guests who want to visit these spots.
For example, Regal Riverside Hotel, where Mr. Chiu is the general manager, is just a few minutes away from Hong Kong Disneyland.
“We’re not just one or two properties. If you’re coming and you just want a night to stay by the airport… then we’ve got that covered. If you want to do leisure in a traditional destination, we’ve got that covered. If you’re a little bit budget conscious… we’ve got that covered,” Mr. Martin said.
