From Como and Aman to Mandarin Oriental: how Asia’s luxury hotel brands are reshaping hospitality in the West
Known for faultless service and pristine beaches, Asian hotel chains such as Aman, Six Senses, The Peninsula, Shangri-La and Mandarin Oriental are now firmly targeting the rest of the globe
Singaporean hotelier Como reopened its Castello del Nero property in Italy this March after a substantial renovation. It epitomises the synthesis of East and West: classical Chianti, but with a Como touch.
This is evident even in its gardens: a tunnel of 200 cypresses built for a sun-shy Marchesa in the 1600s, a grove of olive trees and a beloved 400-year-old Lebanon cedar take pride of place alongside newly added Japanese meadowsweet and cherry trees, a hint of the new owners’ origins. The spa has been overhauled and its staff trained in Como Shambhala’s signature Asian-inflected wellness treatments.
The Tuscan resort marks a valuable addition to Como’s global portfolio, which has built its name on high-design properties with holistic wellness treatments and elevated culinary offerings.
So what is the secret recipe for Asian hotels stamping a mark on the Western world?
Chris Orlikowski, Como’s group director, public relations and communications, explains: “We use Asian influences, while also working with designers from other parts of the world for a unique look and feel.”
Como, along with several Asian hotel companies such as Aman, The Peninsula Hotels, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Mandarin Oriental and Six Senses Hotels & Resorts, make up almost half of the top hotels in the world. In addition, TripAdvisor’s inaugural “First Excellent” rating of global hotel chains last year saw Asian hotel chains – such as the Shangri-La, Oberoi, Aman and Mandarin Oriental groups – performing especially well.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental Group has opened flagship properties in London, Paris, Milan, Barcelona as well as in Washington and Boston that rank top among the cities’ luxury accommodation list.
Strategic expansions on the back of strong tourist growth worldwide have been a significant boost. (According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, international tourist arrivals grew by five per cent last year to 1.4 billion, two years earlier than predicted).
Following global demand, Mandarin Oriental, which has properties in London and Paris, will soon open on the banks of Turkey’s Bosphorus, followed by a second London hotel in 2021. Angsana Hotels & Resorts (part of the Banyan Tree Group) will debut in Corfu this year, and Salzburg in 2021.