Wyndham Hotel Group announced plans on 2 September to expand its portfolio of offerings in Southeast Asia to Myanmar for the first time with the signing of a franchise agreement for a 260-room Wyndham Grand® hotel in Yangon, according to a press release from the group.
Owned by Asia Myanmar Shining Star Company, the five-star Wyndham Grand Yangon Royal Lake will be part of the mixed-use Kantharyar Centre Project on the southern fringe of Yangon's popular Kandawgyi Lake. The US$157 million complex will include a residential building, serviced apartments, an office tower and a retail centre.
The new hotel will add to Wyndham Hotel Group's presence in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim, which currently consists of more than 60 hotels already open under the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham® and TRYP by Wyndham® brand flags. More than 60 properties are currently under development in the region.
"With more than three million visitors in 2014, Myanmar is growing in popularity among business and leisure travellers, and we continue to be at the forefront of emerging markets," said Barry Robinson, Wyndham Hotel Group South East Asia and Pacific Rim's president and managing director. "The country's rich culture, political stability and recent tourism efforts, including the expansion of its e-Visa program and the construction of a new international airport, will continue to help draw more visitors, creating greater demand for high-quality, and internationally recognized hotel brands like Wyndham."
Wyndham Grand Yangon Royal Lake will offer a banquet hall, two multi-purpose conference rooms, a meeting room, a swimming pool, a gym, a spa and on-site international restaurants themed to satisfy travellers from around the world.
"We are proud to partner with Wyndham Hotel Group on this landmark project and bring the prestigious Wyndham Grand® brand to Myanmar. We will invest around US$70 million in the hotel. The ground work for Phase 1 of the development is complete and we anticipate the whole project will be finalized by 2017," said Kyaw Khaing, a spokesperson for Asia Myanmar Shining Star Company.