Bass plans Asian expansion

Bass plans Asian expansion

SINGAPORE (AFP): Bass Hotels Friday unveiled a US$70 million expansion plan for its Inter-Continental Hotel brand, targeting the growing business and tourism travel market in the Asia Pacific region.

Fourteen hotels will be established or refurbished over the next two years in China, India, Malaysia, French Polynesia and New Zealand.

Bass, which operates more than 3,000 hotels around the world, including the Holiday Inn chain, has ear-marked Asia-Pacific as a key growth region.

"We have been experiencing a significant growth in visitor levels in the region," said Richard Hartman, the managing director of Bass Hotels Asia Pacific division.

"Each and every market in Asia Pacific recorded a boost in tourism arrivals in 1998 to 1999, with an average increase across the region of nine percent.

"We expect this growth to continue and strengthen over the next two years."