IHG chooses developer for InterContinental hotel in Thailand

Soraya Development has agreed to develop InterContinental Hotels Group’s InterContinental Yao Yai Resort on Phang Nga Bay’s largest island, Koh Yao Yai.

The 170-room new-build InterContinental Yao Yo Resort, which is slated to open in early 2020, will be near Phuket, Krabi airport, Phuket and Krabi’s private piers, Bird-Nest Island and Phang Nga Island. The property will have 18 villas on the lagoon and creeks and 10 beachfront villas.

The upcoming InterContinental will be Soraya Development’s third property with IHG. The developer’s portfolio with IHG includes the Holiday Inn Resort Krabi Ao Nang Beach and the Holiday Inn Express Krabi Ao Nang. The new hotel is part of Soraya Development’s plan to continue expanding its hospitality portfolio in Thailand in partnership with IHG.

IHG has 24 hotels operating in Thailand across its InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Hotel Indigo brands. Another 13 hotels are slated to open in the next three to five years.

The Holiday Inn Express Krabi Ao Nang opened last year as part of a management agreement with U&N Hospitality. The 222-room hotel—the first Holiday Inn Express in Krabi—on Ao Nang Beach is near Krabi International Airport, Phuket International Airport and is next to the Holiday Inn Resort Krabi Ao Nang Beach. The Krabi’s Holiday Inn resort opened in 2012.

IHG has also set plans with Origin Property and Nomura Real Estate Development to bring the Staybridge Suites brand to South East Asia. The groups will open the 303-room Staybridge Suites Bangkok Thanglor and the 400-room Staybridge Suites Chonburi Siracha in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Origin Property subsidiary Origin One also owns the Holiday Inn & Suites Siracha Laemchabang, which is scheduled to open in 2020.