Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region; this week: After Blue Radisson launches red, Best Westerns enters Bhutan, UNESCO keeps adding and more.

Radisson First Blue Now Red

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group announces the inaugural launch of its new brand Radisson Red located in the CBD of Hunnan New District, China. This new brand is envisioned to target Millennial minded travellers with an emphasis towards the fast changing demands of consumers. The design oriented Radisson Red will host open social spaces to facilitate personal interaction amongst guests. Owners and investors can also expect lower construction and operating costs as a result of the brand’s multifunctional approach to design and efficient space planning. Owners will also gain greater flexibilities to the operating models of the brand. The 300 room Hunnan property owned by New Times Investment Co. Ltd will be the first of 60 properties expected to open within the region by 2020.

Best Western Enters Bhutan

Best Western has announced plans to develop a 41-room upscale hotel in Thimphu, Bhutan, which is due to open in mid-2015. This announcement comes as part of the chain’s bold expansion plan into Asia, with properties in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Taj Hotels and Aman resorts are some of the other branded chain of hotels known to have a property in the tranquil kingdom. In 2013 Bhutan’s tourism recorded 116,209 arrivals, an increase of 10.25% since 2012. The tourism in Bhutan is mainly leisure (68.89%) with a majority of tourists seeking its cultural appeal (98.72%). The top three feeder markets into the kingdom are the USA (17.31%), Germany (8.43%) and China (7.73%). Top growth markets to the kingdom are Singapore (+32.77%) and China (+25.5%).

Premier Inn Enters Singapore

Having opened its first property in South East Asia Bali, Indonesia, UK’s biggest and multi award winning budget hotel chain is expected to open a 300 room property at Beach Road, scheduled to open by mid 2016. The chain aims to differentiate itself by providing quality guest rooms in preferred locations at affordable prices. This chain of hotels takes their value proposition seriously, offering a ‘Good Night Guarantee’, allowing guests a full refund of their money if they are not fully satisfied with their stay. The chain plans to open 50 hotels in Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East by 2018.

The UNESCO Boom

UNESCO has recently added two cultural sites, one mixed natural and cultural property, and six natural sites to the World Heritage List. Tourists annually flock to these “bucket list” worthy places of interest to capture a photo, and nowadays a “selfie”, with these sites of marvel. Many destinations can attest to the tourism boost of gaining recognition by UNESCO, however, the question about their ability to handle the influx travellers that follows is put to question. Sites such as the old town of Lijiang struggle to cope with tourism numbers as over commercialization is ushered along with the 11 million visitors it draws a year. Recently, Angkor Wat experienced its own misfortune when a visitor destroyed a 12th century statue of Buddha. Efforts to preserve these historic landmarks are daunting as sites like Angkor Wat are slowly eroded by millions of feet that trample across it every year.