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Denise Tsang

Just three years after it was forced out of the market, hotel owner is in talks with developers aiming at a deal by next year

The luxury hotel Regent is poised to return to Hong Kong next year in a move to restore its presence amid a sharp rebound in the tourism sector.

Paul Kirwin,  the Asia-Pacific head of the Regent brand owner - Carlson Hotels Worldwide - said the group was in confidential talks with two leading  hotel developers and owners to bring back the  hotel after it was forced out of the market three years ago.

Regent ended its 20-year presence in Hong Kong in 2001 when New World Development sold the  property to British hotel operator Bass Hotels & Resorts for US$346 million  to cut debts.  On June 1 that year,  Regent was replaced by Bass' InterContinental hotel.

'We want to recapture and rebuild the Regent brand in Hong Kong, which is a top priority and will help us build a strong identity in the mainland market,' Mr Kirwin said.  'We expect a conclusion on the Regent deal next year.'

More than three years after Regent's departure, some people heading for the Intercontinental still ask taxi drivers to take  them to the Regent.

'This motivates me doubly to return to the market,' Mr Kirwin said. 'Regent's brand has been unique here.'

Regent's return is expected to fuel competition in the luxury  hotel segment. Next year,  Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and Four Seasons Suites is scheduled to debut with 1,000 rooms  above  Hong Kong Station and the Mandarin Oriental hotel  will open 118 rooms   at Landmark, Central.

Although Mr Kirwin declined to reveal the location of the planned Regent, sources said a possibility was above  Kowloon Station, at which Sun Hung Kai Properties is  building two five-star hotels. The property developer awarded a hotel management contract to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide's W Hotel in  July and will award the other management contract in the next few months.

Mr Kirwin said the  Regent would have 300 to 500 rooms.

With an estimated cost of US$250,000  per room, the new hotel would involve an investment of  between HK$585 million  and $975 million,  he said.

Carlson also planned to open a four-star Radisson hotel, with 300 to 400 rooms,  in Causeway Bay next year.

The group is among a growing number of overseas hoteliers moving  into Hong Kong and China's tourism sector.

InterContinental Hotels Group said yesterday that it had signed 25  hotel management contracts in Asia Pacific in the first nine months of this year, of which 15  are in Hong Kong and China.

Hoteliers are attracted to the promising prospects of the sector, which has rebounded sharply from  Sars  last year.

'We expect Hong Kong will see a return of traffic from North American and European travellers in the next three or four years and the number of mainland visitors will continue to rise,' Mr Kirwin said.

He said  Carlson planned to add three  Regent hotels in Beijing, Shanghai and Ningbo, three  Radisson hotels in Chongqing, Shanghai and Suzhou and two  Park Plaza hotels in Beijing.



The Regent to return as tourism rebounds