Accor and Erawan Partner on Ibis Hotel Krabi

The Thai listed Erawan group is developing at 250 key Ibis hotel in Ao Nang Krabi which is slated to open in early 2011 which will be managed by the French hotel chain Accor. Erawan which owns the high profile Grand Hyatt Erawan and JW Marriott and Courtyard by Marriott in Bangkok and Renaissance Resort and Spa in Koh Samui.
Here in Phuket they have assets ranging from Six Senses Destination Spa on Naka Yai island, an Ibis in Patong with another one in Kata currently under construction. In 2007 the group signed a deal with Accor to spur the growth of 10 Ibis budget properties and now have a number in the pipeline with Ibis Nana in Bangkok among them.
The key competitor of Ibis in Thailand is IHG (Intercontiental) group's Holiday Inn Express which has properties coming up in the nation's capital. Even domestic brands such as Central's Centara hotels recently announcing the development of a economy model which caters to a wide range of travelers, coupled with lower operating and development costs.