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voco Bangkok Surawong, rendering
The emerging IHG Hotels & Resorts’ brand reaches milestone in just five years of its first-ever hotel opening.
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Launched in 2018, voco hotels has quickly become the fastest-growing brand within IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Premium collection with properties in 18 countries across the world and new-to-market hotels in Singapore and South Korea, and brand debut in Vietnam soon. With 46 open hotels and 55* hotels in the pipeline, voco continues to be a key driver of IHG’s overall growth.
The rapid expansion of the upscale brand reflects the strength of IHG’s enterprise platform through which hotel owners can grow their business by being part of IHG’s distribution channels, relaunched app and transformed loyalty programme, IHG One Rewards, with more than 115 million members.
With a design and operational framework conducive to conversion and new-build hotels, the brand empowers owners to carry through their own unique vision for each property, ensuring its legacy and historical connections to the surrounding community, remain strong.
The brand’s three hallmarks – ‘come on in’, ‘me time’, and ‘voco life’ – are woven into the hotels’ DNA. From a swift check-in and a locally inspired welcome treat upon arrival to big, comfy beds, and vibrant bar and restaurants spaces, voco brings a distinctive charm to every stay.
In addition to its charming feel, voco hotels was built on sustainability and looks after the planet with the same care as it looks after guests. The hotels have 100 percent recycled pillow and duvet fillings and refillable, plant-based bathroom amenities. They also support local sustainability initiatives at individual hotels such as estate-grown vegetables at Australia’s voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley or the Hotels for Trees programme at voco The Hague, where a tree is planted for every night a guest chooses not to have their room cleaned.
Commenting on the voco 100 milestone, Patrick Finn, Vice President, Development, South East Asia and Korea, IHG said, “Globally, the voco brand has grown at a phenomenal pace over the last five years and across our region, it’s fantastic to see continued growth with the debut of voco hotels in Singapore and South Korea last year, a highly anticipated debut opening in Vietnam this year, and the recently-signed voco Bangkok Surawong in Thailand.
“voco is popular with hotel owners around the world as they can get fast access to our enterprise platform and benefit from the brand’s high levels of guest satisfaction globally. As the global expansion of voco continues, we are excited to remain on track to grow to 200 voco hotels around the world within 10 years since launch.”
Last year, voco expanded into new markets including Singapore with voco Orchard Singapore and South Korea with voco Seoul Gangnam. The brand was also recognised as the World’s Leading Premium Hotel Brand due to its top guest satisfaction scores at the World Travel Awards and shows no signs of slowing down.
Since then, the brand has continued to grow in key markets with its eighth hotel in Greater China with voco Hefei Binhu; sixth hotel in the US with voco Chicago Downtown, its fourth in Australasia with voco Brisbane City Centre and its third in Dubai with voco Dubai The Palm.
In Thailand, the brand will debut with voco Bangkok Surawong which was recently signed with Tawanna Property Company Limited, a leading real estate investor and developer in the country. The hotel will be rebranded from the former Tawanna Bangkok hotel and – following a full renovation – reopen in 2025, ready to introduce travellers to voco hotels’ distinctive lifestyle experience.
Notable voco openings in 2023 include:
The first voco in Vietnam will open later this year with voco Ma Belle Danang, an IHG hotel. The property is located close to My Khe Beach and just 20 minutes’ drive from Danang International Airport. Guest rooms will have spectacular views of the coastline or cityscape, and facilities include a spa, rooftop infinity pool and bar, as well as a Lobby Lounge and all-day dining restaurant.
Opening in early summer, voco Osaka Central will be the first voco property to open in Japan. Conveniently situated in central Osaka, the hotel will provide warmly hosted service, inspired design, superb dining and sustainable touches like aerated shower heads, indulgent eco bedding and filtered water. The hotel lobby and restaurant décor will be modern and contemporary whilst including historical elements from the original Kyomachi building and some of the bedrooms will have Tatami mats.
Set on the borders of Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex in the UK, Lythe Hill Hotel in Surrey, will complete its rebrand to voco Lythe Hill Hotel and Spa in 2023. The elegant Tudor property will feature 99 stylish bedrooms plus an oak-beamed restaurant, gym and spa. The Surrey market town of Haslemere is nearby with direct trains to London, and the National Trust area Blackdown and the South Downs National Park are both on the doorstep.
Located in northern Paris, voco Paris Porte De Clichy is due to open this summer after its conversion from a Holiday Inn property. The hotel will be one of voco’s flagship properties, with particular attention being paid to the use of sustainable materials. The hotel is just four stops on the Paris Metro from the Musée Du Louvre and will feature several upscale food and beverage outlets.
In New York, voco Fiorello – La Guardia East is set to open in Flushing, NY this summer. The hotel is due to have 116 rooms and is the third voco signing by the same owner.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
