In the 22nd edition of the HM Industry Leaders Forum, HM invited leading hoteliers, tourism professionals and suppliers across Asia Pacific and the world to their insights into the hotel landscape and their outlook for the year ahead.
Here, La Vie Hotels and Resorts Chief Executive Officer, Jerry Xu, reports that owners are seeking alternatives to the offerings provided by traditional hotel brands.
La Vie Hotels and Resorts entered 2023 intending to consolidate on the strides made so far while enhancing its commercial capabilities. This involved strengthening internal teams and external partnerships, launching new brands, and venturing into exciting collaborations, marking significant milestones within the past 12 months. Operational excellence was a cornerstone of this progress, and I am proud of what we were collectively able to achieve as a team.
Over the last 12-18 months there has been a noteworthy surge in interest surrounding the third-party hotel operator model, driven by a growing inclination towards alternative options. Many owners are seeking alternatives due to dissatisfaction with the offerings provided by traditional hotel brands. A pivotal aspect of La Vie’s success is our owner-centric franchise model. This model uniquely allows property owners to benefit from the company’s expertise in hotel management while maintaining transparency. Owners are increasingly turning to third-party management, finding it to be a strategic and advantageous approach for their hospitality ventures.
In 2023, La Vie proudly introduced NOOE Hotels and Restaurants, a lifestyle brand with its flagship location in the picturesque Atoll of Kunaavashi in the Maldives. Additionally, a collaboration with Radisson Hotel Group resulted in the development, management, and operation of 30 hotels under renowned brands such as Radisson Blu, Radisson Red, Radisson, Park Inn by Radisson, and Country Inn and Suites by Radisson.
The portfolio expanded further with the management takeover of Adge Hotel and Residences and 202 Elizabeth in Sydney’s Surry Hills, both adding unique stories to the vibrant inner-city suburb. As the company entered a consolidation year, it reaffirmed its commitment to excellence, strengthened partnerships, and navigated the evolving landscape of the hospitality industry, particularly in the Asia Pacific region.
A highlight of 2023 was the executive team’s visit to the USA. During these visits, the executive team engaged with notable companies such as Ambridge and Davidson Hospitality. The primary objective was to fortify the owner-centric franchise model within Asia Pacific by learning from the mature markets prevalent in the United States.
This opportunity gave foresight to the executive team and turned knowledge into actionable insights, enabling La Vie to effectively navigate the franchise model within Australia and Asia Pacific and ensure the best possible returns for our investors and owners. The United States served as a massive learning opportunity, equipping the executive team with valuable insights. Despite the slower adoption of this model in Australia, La Vie is geared for massive growth in 2024, deploying additional resources to capitalise on the evolving market, as more owners migrate to the third-party management model.
We anticipate 2024 to be a prosperous year for La Vie Hotels and Resorts, underlined by major signings and a commitment to delivering operational excellence and exceptional experiences for our guests. We have been developing and adding resources to our teams here in Sydney as well as in Bangkok and Dubai and we are well-positioned to contribute to a big year of hospitality ahead and growing our already established foothold in Asia Pacific.