Red Planet Hotels decided to take 16.05% in Tune hotels. The transaction will comfort Red Planet’s projects into the development of over 3,000 new beds rooms, an investment estimated at US$ 180 million.
BANGKOK– Red Planet Hotels Limited, Asia’s emerging force in low cost hotel development and operation, decided to invest in a 16.05% stake in the rapidly expanding Tune Hotels operation as both companies seek to grow the booming low cost hotel brand.
The deal cements Red Planet Hotels –who is a major franchisee of the brand across South-East Asia – as the third largest investor in Tune Hotels with 9,975,038 shares, providing further value to Red Planet Hotel’s shareholders. Tune Hotels’ largest shareholder remains however Tony Fernandes, founder of the phenomenally successful Tune and Air Asia brands.
This major investment also results in Red Planet Hotels invited to take up a seat on the board of directors, enabling Red Planet Hotels to be actively involved in the future of one of the world’s fastest growing hospitality concerns.
While the value of the deal remains undisclosed, it is a “significant multi-million dollar transaction” and the largest single corporate investment Red Planet Hotels has clinched in its two-year history.
The investment in Tune Hotels comes at a time when Red Planet Hotels’ latest round of fund raising was oversubscribed and the company now has USD180 million of hotel projects (the equivalent of 3,191 rooms) either operating or under construction in Asia.
Red Planet Hotels Chief Executive Officer, Tim Hansing, said the investment represented Red Planet Hotel’s pledge to the brand and the founding members’ vision for the Tune Hotels concept.
“This significant investment and commitment to the Tune Hotels brand is indicative of Red Planet Hotels’ well-balanced long-term development programme and provides tremendous value growth to our existing shareholders,” Mr Hansing said. “As we move towards becoming a major owner and operator of Tune Hotels properties, this investment and endorsement of Tune’s board and management allows Red Planet Hotels to participate and contribute constructively and meaningfully for the benefit of both companies.
“Each will reap significant rewards through our investment and I am delighted that Red Planet Hotels’ commitment to Tune Hotels has resulted in us being invited to join its board.”
Tune Hotels was established in 2007 and has currently 24 Tune properties operating 3,859 rooms globally. In the pipeline are another 38 hotels representing a total of 10,106 rooms, including the first hotels in India, Scotland, Australia and SaudiArabia along with additional properties in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and England. By the end of 2012 Red Planet Hotels will have 10 operating hotels with1,623 rooms in Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia.
In July, it opened the first Tune Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia (168rooms) and a fourth in the Philippines in Makati (215 rooms). Later this year, Red Planet Hotels will open Tune Hotels in Bangkok (Asoke 130 rooms – September), Pekanbaru (Sumatra) (143 rooms – December) and Patong, Phuket (150 rooms – December).
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
