Anantara Announces Development JV with Kempinski
MARCH 27, 2008. Anantara Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel brand in Asia Pacific, today announced the formation of a joint venture with Kempinski Hotels & Resorts for strategic development opportunities in Europe and Asia.
With extensive knowledge and experience in the Asia market, Anantara Hotels & Resorts is well placed to seek out development opportunities on behalf of the Kempinski group and offer technical service skills which match the brand's growth strategy. In turn, key locations being tapped for expansion by Anantara Hotels & Resorts include the Mediterranean basin, where Kempinski have a selection of existing properties and a strong depth of experience.
William Heinecke, CEO of Anantara's parent company, Minor International commented "This is truly an exciting time for Anantara Resorts, as the brand is very focused on developing in key markets which enable our guests to feed their passion for exploration and experience. Partnering with Kempinski, one of Europe's most established and premium hotel brand, allows us to extend the synergies and development opportunities between our two hotel groups."
The agreement sets the stage for Anantara and Kempinski to move quickly with local knowledge in ever increasingly competitive markets. Kempinski's Chairman Michael Selby added, "Kempinski is pleased and excited about the joint venture with Anantara Resorts. Anantara has been growing at an impressive rate within the South East Asia region and has developed a reputation for quality in service as well as unique and attractive hotel properties. Kempinski is a major operator of Five Star Hotels throughout the world and we believe that the joint venture agreement will allow the pooling of the resources within both groups to provide a range of exceptional guest stay experiences."
Over the next 10 years, Anantara Resorts expects to continue the extensive development to include at least 40 resorts in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and indeed Europe.
Michael Sagild, COO Minor International added "Within the growth plans of Anantara Resorts, a central component is a strategic partnership which allows us to have local knowledge and a significant skill set in Europe and beyond. This will provide economies of scale, development and technical service efficiencies whilst ensuring insightful knowledge of particular destinations".
Over the last number of years, Anantara Hotels & Resorts has developed a close association with the group through the creation of Anantara Spas in Kempinski hotels in the Middle East, Africa and China. The partnership has resulted in the honing of a skill set which is highly complementary and beneficial to both parties.
The Anantara team is passionate about constantly anticipating and assessing every component of the resort experience in order to ensure that guests are inspired by their choice of destination and their resort.
Anantara is taken from an ancient Sanskrit word that means 'borderless water', a name chosen for this element's association in many Asian cultures with wealth and good fortune. Inspired by local architecture and sensitive to the indigenous culture, Anantara Resorts are currently located in the seaside town of Hua Hin (220kms south of Bangkok), on Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand and in the Golden Triangle in the country's north. In the world-renowned destination of the Maldives, Anantara Resort Dhigu (2006) and Anantara Resort Veli (2008) are a 30 minute boat ride from the capital Male. The newest member of the Anantara family, Anantara Resort Seminyak, opened in March 2008 in this most fashionable district of Bali - the Island of the Gods. October 2008 will see the launch of Anantara Resort Phuket situated in the serenity of Mai Kao Beach, just 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport.
Minor International, (MINT) Thailand's leading hotel operator with a portfolio of 16 hotels and over 2,400 rooms under the Anantara, Marriott, Four Seasons, and Minor International brands. It is also one of the largest spa operators in Asia Pacific with spas in Thailand, China, the Middle East, Africa and the Maldives under the Mandara and Anantara brands. It is Thailand's largest food service operator with over 850 outlets system wide under The Pizza Company, Swensen's, Sizzler, Dairy Queen, Burger King and LeJazz brands, and its most recent investment The Coffee Club. www.minornet.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
