by Raini Hamdi, HOTEL Asia Pacific
Le Meridien has lost the management contracts for two hotels in the region following the launch of the chain’s new Art + Tech concept by new chief executive officer Juergen Bartels.
Singapore’s Far East Organisation has decided to end the management contract of the Le Meridien Changi property on March 21. The move, described by both parties as amicable, as a result of Le Meridien’s worldwide strategy to restyle certain hotels under the Art + Tech banner.
Likewise, the hotel group will cease management of the Baan Boran Golden Triangle Hotel in Thailand.
“The contract is up in the middle of next year, however, for practical reasons, we have decided to end the management at the end of this year,” said the chain’s Asia Pacific managing director, Michael Sagild. Le Meridien remains the largest international hotel developer in Thailand, with two properties in Bangkok, two in Phuket and one in Koh Samui.
Nomura, the new owner of Le Meridien, is pushing ahead with plans to put the chain on a growth plan to take it public in five years. At the heart of the plan is Art + Tech by Meridien, an aggressive renovations programme designed to make Le Meridien the first real global chain of “cool” hotels. It also aims to double the number of its properties worldwide to 300.
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