• 
• 

Published on March 26, 2008

While the Banyan Tree residences are expected to attract long-stay expats and generate higher margins than hotel rooms, the hotel is also adding more hotel rooms to serve the upper level of leisure and business travellers. It is also investing in a childcare centre, to reduce staff turnover.

General manager Bernold Schroeder said all developments would be complete by the end of next year. Further expansion will be part of the hotel's strategy to compete with rival luxury hotels in the capital.

"Hotels in Bangkok are being refurbished and adding more services in order to attract customers. We must do something more," Schroeder said.

The hotel has not revealed the cost of the current changes.

Under the expansion plan, 80 more guestrooms will be added to the existing 216. Thirty-two residential units will be on offer, targeted mainly foreigners working in the Sathorn and Silom areas.

The new childcare centre on the hotel's 14th floor is said to be a first for hotels in the Asia-Pacific. It will allow staff with children aged one to six to dedicate more time to their work, and Schroder said it would allow the Banyan Tree to maintain a staff-turnover rate of about 15 per cent.

The Banyan Tree expects an average occupancy of 80 per cent this year, up from 76 per cent last year. However, negative factors include the slowing global economy and its impact on Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

"Currently, 25 per cent of our guests are leisure travellers, and the rest are businessmen. Once the extra rooms are completed, the proportion of leisure tourists is expected to increase to 40 per cent," Schroeder said.

He said Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts would soon assume management of the Banyan Tree Koh Samui, a property owned by beverage tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi that was still under construction. The hotel and resort company, which owns the Phuket Laguna, also plans to open the 180-room Angsana Resort as part of the complex in 2010.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation