KUALA LUMPUR – Tune Hotels.com, the limited service hotel brand, has entered into a strategic partnership with Thailand-based Evolution Capital Public Company Limited to franchise a roll-out of 44 Tune Hotels.com hotels across Thailand, China, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Under the terms of the partnership, the first 24 Tune Hotels.com hotels are targeted to be in development by early 2010 and operational by 2012 with staggered rollout of the subsequent 20 hotels to be completed by 2013.
“This expansion affirms our confidence in Thailand’s tourism and strong commitment to the Thai market. Despite its recent troubles, Thailand remains a great prospect for both leisure and business travellers. With its combination of lower living costs together with an increase in the number of flight deals, it is no surprise it is consistently ranked ‘Best Value for Money’ by the Country Brand Index,” Mark Lankester, group CEO of Tune Hotels.com said.
“Thailand has become the globally leading tourism destination for those seeking to stretch their hard-earned income, and it’s a natural fit for Tune Hotels.com to expand our limited-service brand of hotels here. An investment in building hotels is never to be made with a short term view, and while there have been challenges, we believe the Thai government is committed to promoting tourism as one of the most important sectors within the Thai economy and we’re delighted to have found the right local partner in Evolution Capital to work with Tune Hotels.com in assisting the government in that effort,” he added.
Similar to low-cost carriers, Tune Hotels.com employs a self-service online booking system that encourages guests to book as far in advance as possible on www.tunehotels.com to enjoy exceptionally low prices. Tune Hotels.com’s rates are kept low by employing a ‘limited service’ concept where under-utilised hotel-operated facilities like swimming pools and gyms are omitted and cost savings are passed on to the guest.
All Tune Hotels.com hotels feature space-efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high-quality basics: 5-star beds and powerful hot showers. Though minimally priced, the strategically located hotels still provide daily housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, 24-hour CCTV and manned security, and no access into the main lobby without a keycard past midnight. Through Tune Hotels.com’s ‘Less Waste, More Earth’ pay-as-you-use system of add-ons for air-conditioning, laundered towels and other energy-consuming facilities and amenities, Tune Hotels.com aims to help guests conserve both their funds as well as the earth’s resources.
Since the brand was first launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2007, more than 500,000 guests have stayed at a Tune Hotels.com hotel.