Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts signs agreements to manage hotels in Bangladesh

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts announces it has signed two agreements with Asian Resorts Holding Limited to manage hotels in Cox’s Bazar and in the capital, Dhaka, marking the first foray into Bangladesh for the upscale international hotel company.

The Mövenpick Hotel & Spa Cox’s Bazar is due to open in 2015 and has a prime location on the longest beach in the world. The site also takes advantage of the close proximity to Cox’s Bazar Airport (10 km) and is just one hour’s flying time to Dhaka. The hotel will incorporate modern architectural elements in its towering 18 floors with sea-facing rooms and bathrooms. The 280 rooms and suites will range from 36 square metres up to 70 square metres. Catering to the anticipated high demand of leisure guests, mainly from Bangladesh, India and other South Asian countries, a selection of restaurants, bars, meeting rooms and leisure facilities will be available.

The Mövenpick Hotel Dhaka will offer 275 guestrooms and the property is expected to open in 2015, too. Dhaka is well connected to destinations in Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia and the project will include facilities to suit both the business and leisure traveller, including a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a spa, and five restaurants and bars, one of which will be a specialized art lounge café, displaying local creative talent.  

Andreas Mattmüller, chief operating officer of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts for the Middle East and Asia commented: “These projects in Bangladesh are key milestones for us and signify our development within Asia. It is a partnership that will allow us to tap into the potential of the Bangladesh market and we are looking forward to working with Asian Resorts Holding Limited and taking the Mövenpick hospitality to the country.”

Similarly, Usama Aziz, chairman of Asian Resorts Holding Limited, expressed: “The travel and tourism sector in Bangladesh has experienced significant growth in recent years and its direct contribution to the country’s gross domestic product is forecasted to rise further by 7.3% in 2012. Our agreement with Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts will capitalise on that growth in order to offer the traveller an upscale experience in a country rich with heritage.” 

Bangladesh is one of the emerging economies in the world and every year it attracts an increased number of leisure and business travellers. With its numerous historical and archeological sites, it has the longest natural unbroken sea beach in the world (124 km) and is home to several World Heritage Sites. Bangladesh also features Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Asia has been a major focus for expansion for Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts with the hotel company already operating two hotels in Thailand, two in Vietnam and one each in India, Singapore and the Philippines.