Boutique hotel group link-up with Australian management firm prompts refit programme
L-r: Craig Bond, MD, La Vie; Jerry Xu, CEO and founder, La Vie; Mark Wong, senior vice president Asia Pacific, SLH; and Shellia Chang, group director of sales and distribution, La Vie.
Independent hotel collection Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has signed a strategic brand partnership with La Vie Hotels and Resorts.
The deal means Australia’s La Vie will provide bespoke tailor-made hotel management services for independent luxury hotels across the Asia Pacific region.
Portfolio boost
The partnership will see La Vie’s independent luxury boutique hotels joining SLH’s brand portfolio and the qualified hotels can gain recognition and affiliation as members.
The hotel chain will complement La Vie’s bespoke management solutions for independent upper-upscale and luxury boutique hotels with global distribution, sales and marketing support.
First refurb
The first luxury hotel to join the SLH brand will be Islington Hotel Hobart in Tasmania, Australia, which is celebrating its 175th year this year. La Vie acquired this historic 11-room hotel earlier this year and will be bringing it back to its former ‘stately’ charm.
Other collaboration projects within the Asia Pacific pipeline, including a new build in the Surry Hills district, Sydney due to open in December, will reportedly be announced imminently.
Immeasurable value
Mark Wong, senior vice president Asia Pacific, SLH said: “As a hotel owner and operator, La Vie understands the needs and constraints of an independent hotel. Hence, our winning combination of ‘Act Local. Think Global.’ will offer entrepreneurial management and distribution solutions that are relevant and effective for independently spirited hotels.”
Jerry Xu, CEO and founder of La Vie Hotels and Resorts, added: “We are delighted to be aligning with SLH and feel the value they will add to our boutique properties will be immeasurable. The Islington Hobart lends itself perfectly to SLH’s clientele and we look forward to adding a few more properties to SLH’s portfolio over the coming months.”
Portfolio additions
La Vie is also due to manage the upcoming Nu By Yoo Hotel Melbourne, an 88-room luxury hotel that will be part of a mixed-use development opening in the Australian city in 2025.
While SLH’s pipeline includes two 20-key German developments completing in Q1 2023: Hirschgasse Heidelberg, and Siber-Villa Hotel Riva in Constance.
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