What makes you come to Vietnam and take on this important role in the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts’ system in the North of Vietnam?
My first experience of working in Vietnam was in 2015 where I was very fortunate to undertake a short assignment for the world famous InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. This experience opened my eyes to the beauty and excitement Vietnam has to offer. When an opportunity arose to come back and work in Vietnam, I immediately jumped at the opportunity from knowing what a wonderful destination Vietnam is and wanting to support and be a part of the exciting growth that Vietnam will witness over the coming years and decades.
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is the third leading brand among IHG’s brand. So, what are the core values of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts to win customers’ loyalty over the years?
At IHG, we are committed to providing True Hospitality for Good, every day. Our simple but powerful purpose centres on creating rich and memorable guest experiences, and recognising, respecting and caring for people. It not only extends to our guests, our hotel owners, colleagues, and partners, but it also means doing right for the world around us.
Located in Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam, what are the differences between InterContinental Hanoi Westlake and other hotels in the system of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts?
Globally IHG has more than 6,000 hotels, of which 205 are InterContinental hotels and resorts, with a further 73 InterContinental properties in the global pipeline, including InterContinental Halong Bay Resort. Each of our InterContinental properties have a story to tell from immersive resorts such as InterContinental Maldives and InterContinental Fiji to city landmarks including InterContinental London Park Lane and InterContinental Hanoi Westlake. At InterContinental Hanoi Westlake like all our global colleagues, we are committed to delivering consistently the highest service levels to our valued guests. Our iconic and unique locations including the Sunset Bar or our famous Presidential Suite overlooking Hanoi’s largest lake - Westlake.
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In July, 2020, IHG and BIM Group signed a bilateral cooperation agreement in order to develop the InterContinental Halong Bay Resort and Residences project. Can you please share more information on this project?
Slated to open in 2023, the project draws inspiration from its beachfront location in Halong Bay which includes more than 1,600 islands and inlets forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars, and InterContinental brand’s distinctive style. InterContinental Halong Bay Resort will feature 175 guest rooms while InterContinental Residences Halong Bay will be made up of 60 apartments, ranging from one to three bedrooms, and 41 villas. Guests and residents alike will be able to enjoy five restaurant and bar outlets, four pools, a gym, kids club and spa. Event hosts will find the property’s six meeting rooms well-equipped to facilitate any occasion, with the largest room able to accommodate up to 500 people.
Developing green tourism and responsible tourism are adopted by various tourism accommodation facilities. To what extent is InterContinental Hotels & Resorts implementing these?
Our online sustainability platform provides our hotels around the world with the tools they need to operate in environmentally-friendly ways.
IHG Green Engage provides our hotels with more than 200 Green Solutions, helping them manage and report their use of energy, carbon, water and waste, and minimise their overall utility costs and environmental impact. We make it a global standard for all hotels to utilise the platform and we recognise their progress through four levels of certification.
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COVID-19 pandemic has impacted considerably to the operations of businesses. How will InterContinental Hotels & Resorts cope with the pandemic?
At IHG® Hotels & Resorts, we passionately believe the world is meant to be explored, and as vaccinations allow people to return to travel, our trusted brands and amazing hotel teams are ready to safely welcome them through their doors once more.
Managing the effects of Covid-19 on our industry and our company is a team effort. Every day, we’re responding quickly and thoughtfully, ensuring that we do the right thing for our guests, colleagues, hotels and owners, plus the many local communities of which we’re proud to be a part. We take great care over our decisions, so that we make responsible choices for both today and the long term.
COVID-19 has created new needs and trends, in 2022 and the following years, what products and services will InterContinental Hotels and Resorts focus on developing to meet those needs of customers and trends of the market?
As the world adjusts to new travel norms and expectations, IHG® Hotels & Resorts is enhancing the experience for its hotel guests around the world, by redefining cleanliness and supporting guests’ personal wellbeing throughout their stay. While IHG® Hotels & Resorts has a long-standing commitment to rigorous cleaning, all of our hotels are now delivering an enhanced IHG Way of Clean programme.
Overseen by our Global Cleanliness Board, which works with industry-leading experts Cleveland Clinic, Ecolab and Diversey, IHG Way of Clean includes new training and equipment and increased communication to reassure guests on every step of the stay experience.
What do you think about the potential and developmental opportunities of doing business in the hospitality industry in Vietnam?
Vietnam is in a period of significant growth, supported by favourable macro-environmental conditions, global demand for Vietnamese manufactured products and an increasing desirable tourist destination. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) have operated hotels for over 75 years, in over 100 countries, and have identified Vietnam as a country that will see continued growth for the decades to come.
If you have to say something in order to inspire people doing business in the hospitality industry in Vietnam, what would you say?
IHG operates 11 hotels, looking ahead into 2022, Regent Phu Quoc, Crowne Plaza Vinh Yen City Centre and Holiday Inn Resort Ho Tram Beach will be added to our list of operating hotels, with a further 18 currently in the development pipeline. We are very excited for our future operations in Vietnam as we will continue to expand and open many more IHG branded hotels across the entire country. Over the coming years you will see us grow both in city and regional locations of Vietnam. This growth can not be done without the support and trust of our valued owners, colleagues, and all of our valued guests who choose to stay, dine, or celebrate at any of our IHG hotels or resorts across Vietnam.
PV