Business Traveller (Asia-Pacific)
BUDGET-FRIENDLY BRANDS TO WATCH OUT FOR
HAMPTON BY HILTON
An up-and-coming value brand, Hampton by Hilton is part of the Hampton hotel chain, and its primary base of operations is the UK, where it has 12 properties. It also has hotels in Germany, Poland, Romania, The Netherlands and Turkey. The brand recently entered the Asian market with a hotel in India, Hampton by Hilton Vadodara-Alkapuri. While there are only a total of 20 properties that carry the Hampton by Hilton brand, the Hampton chain includes more than 1,800 hotels worldwide. www.hamptonbyhilton.com
HYATT PLACE
Described as a select-service brand, Hyatt Place was established when the Hyatt Group acquired Ameri Suites in 2004. Today, the brand has over 160 properties worldwide. Designed with business travellers in mind, the Hyatt Place brand focuses on creating convenient accommodation for those that need to multi-task in a technology enabled, contemporary environment. Hot food is available around the clock, and rooms offer large flat screen televisions with ports for laptop plug-ins. Currently, the brand’s Asian footprint is limited to two properties in India, Hyatt Place Hampi and Hyatt Place Pune, which opened this October. www.place.hyatt.com
ELEMENT BY WESTIN
Like Aloft, Element by Westin is a “speciality select brand” of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. The brand is heavily influenced by nature, and takes an eco-friendly approach with recycled carpets, and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint to improve air quality. Primarily based in the US and Canada, expansion of the brand will soon lead to a new property each in Europe (2014) and the Middle East (2016). Element will also be entering the Asia Pacific region for the first time, with Element Suzhou Science and Technology Town due to open its doors in China by 2015. This 200-room property will house a 600 sqm ball room and six meeting rooms. www.starwoodhotels.com/element