The organizers of the
annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), announced the winners
of the Reggie Shiu Development of the Year, Merger & Acquisition of the
Year, and Transaction of the Year Awards. The awards were presented at the 30th annual
HICAP, on the 25 October 2019 at the Kerry Hotel Hong Kong.
Shinta Mani Wild, Cardamom National Park, Cambodia was named Reggie Shiu Development of the Year.
Situated in the heart of Cardamom National Park (Cambodia), 15 tents are spread
generously along the Tmor Rung Riverbank across 600 acres, so guests feel as if
they are the only ones for miles. Designed as a “utopia of sustainability”,
with low impact on the land, whilst helping provide a sustainable source of
employment for locals with few choices in the area. Also, home to a research
and conservation centre, run hand in hand with the Wildlife Alliance. Guests
are taught about the local flora and fauna by on-site naturalists and join the
Wildlife Alliance on patrol, putting them on the front lines of conservation in
Cambodia. Involved in this development were: Owner: Bill Bensley & Sokoun
Chanpreda; Operator: Shinta Mani Bensley Collection; and Architecture and
Interiors by Bensley Design Studios. Development cost was USD15 million.
Finalists in this category also included citizenM Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and YOTELAir Singapore Changi Airport in Singapore.
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas acquisition by InterContinental
Hotels Group (IHG) was named Merger &
Acquisition of the Year. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) announced on 13
February 2019 the acquisition of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, one of the
world’s leading operators of luxury hotels, resorts and spas. The USD300
million cash acquisition from Pegasus Capital Advisors included all of Six
Senses’ brands and operating companies and did not include any real estate
assets. At the time of the acquisition, Six Senses managed 16 hotels and
resorts, with 18 management contracts signed into its pipeline, and more than
50 further deals under active discussion. Properties are in locations such as
the Maldives, the Seychelles, Yao Noi in Thailand, Zighy Bay in Oman, and
Portugal’s Douro Valley. Finalists in this category also included NH Hotel
Group, S.A. (NH Hotels) acquisition by Minor International PCL (MINT) and
Radisson Hotel Group’s acquisition by a Consortium Led by Shanghai’s Jin Jiang
International Holdings.
InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort, Koh Samui,
Thailand was named Transaction
of the Year. The Intercontinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort is one of the
first luxury resorts built on Koh Samui. Perched atop Baan Taling Ngam’s
dramatic cliff, the property was featured in The New York Times Bestseller’s
1,000 Places to See Before You Die for the most beautiful sunset. The resort
was sold with the benefit of management from InterContinental Hotels Group, one
of the world’s largest hotel operators. The purchaser is a Thai high net worth
family, marking their first acquisition into the hotels industry. The
transaction recorded the highest price per key for hotels traded outside of
Bangkok in Thailand. Finalists in this category also included Substantial Stake
in Baillie Lodges, Australia and Sydney & Canberra Hotel Portfolio,
Australia.