The publish SK Hotels’ Scott Walton talks new hotels and destinations coming up in Thailand, innovation and technology appeared first on TD (Journey Every day Media) Travel Daily Media.
SK Accommodations is continuous its enlargement in Thailand, with a handful of recent properties arising within the capital Bangkok and new locations throughout the nation set to broaden its present portfolio. Managing director Scott Walton talks with TDM in regards to the progress, and the way innovation and expertise are taking part in key roles.
Journey Every day Media (TDM): Are you able to give us a top level view of the present SK Accommodations property portfolio, and considering your progress plans, new properties within the pipeline?
Scott Walton: SK Accommodations was established as a three way partnership between Siamese Asset, a publicly listed property developer primarily based in Bangkok, and Kew Inexperienced Accommodations within the UK, a hospitality group with a portfolio of 44 owned and 16 managed properties throughout the UK and Europe. The partnership was born from a strategic imaginative and prescient: leaders from Siamese Asset visited the UK and have been struck by how effectively Kew Inexperienced had structured its operations – not solely by way of lodge administration, but additionally in areas like finance, human assets, and industrial help. These features have been embedded regionally in a means that stood other than the extra inflexible company buildings sometimes seen in Thailand.
This go to sparked the formation of SK Accommodations in Bangkok, with a transparent mission to deliver the identical form of streamlined, performance-driven working mannequin to the Siamese Asset lodge portfolio. In doing so, we’ve created a nimble, centralized help construction that has already confirmed efficient throughout a number of newly launched properties.
Since rising from the pandemic, SK Accommodations has opened six properties throughout Bangkok, together with the Wyndham Queen Conference Centre, Wyndham Backyard Sukhumvit 42, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Sukhumvit 48, Ramada by Wyndham Sukhumvit 87, TRIBE Residing Bangkok Sukhumvit 39, and Cassia by Banyan Group in Rama 9. Every of those properties entered the market post-COVID and have responded nicely to the resurgence in worldwide and home journey. Some properties hit the bottom working with exceptionally sturdy efficiency, whereas others shortly discovered their footing, delivering constructive outcomes all through 2023 and into 2024.
Trying forward, our pipeline contains a number of high-profile openings. The Crowne Plaza Bangkok Rama 9 is scheduled to open quickly, adopted by Cassia by Banyan Group in Ram Intra, after which a Hilton Backyard Inn, additionally within the Ram Intra district. These upcoming launches mirror our ongoing confidence in Bangkok’s potential, however we’re additionally increasing our imaginative and prescient past the capital.
We’re at present in superior discussions on properties in main leisure locations reminiscent of Hua Hin, Pattaya and Phuket, with promising leads rising in Koh Samui and Chiang Mai. The timing is true: our Bangkok-based properties have stabilized, and the centralized help infrastructure that we have now constructed throughout industrial, finance, HR, and IT now permits us to develop the portfolio with energy and agility.
With this strong basis in place, SK Accommodations is poised to proceed its enlargement throughout Thailand, bringing effectivity, innovation, and efficiency excellence to every new vacation spot.
TDM: We perceive innovation performs a key function in your operations, particularly in the case of enhancing property efficiency. Are you able to develop on this?
Scott Walton: Innovation has grow to be a defining pillar of our operations. The speedy rise of AI post-COVID, alongside evolving visitor expectations and a extra advanced working atmosphere, has pushed us to rethink how we work. Because of the forward-thinking nature of our three way partnership companions, we’ve embraced these modifications head-on, however with warning and intent.
At SK we don’t implement AI to switch human roles, we use it to amplify efficiency. For instance, when revising our menus at TRIBE Residing – a course of that sometimes entails weeks of costing, sourcing, and coordination – we used AI instruments to streamline procurement information, automate value comparisons, and velocity up documentation. This allowed our cooks to focus totally on culinary creativity and innovation, enhancing the visitor expertise quite than being slowed down in admin.
Our innovation can be deeply supported by Siamese Know-how, an inner division of Siamese Asset centered on enhancing visitor expertise by means of environmental design and building expertise. They’ve pioneered developments in air high quality management, acoustic insulation between rooms and corridors, and energy-saving strategies all of which contribute to extra sustainable, snug visitor environments. This partnership has helped a number of of the properties developed by Siamese Asset and managed by SK to earn EDGE certification, a globally acknowledged ESG customary originating from Singapore.
These improvements not solely cut back working prices but additionally be sure that we are able to meet or exceed model and sustainability requirements with confidence and consistency.
TDM: With meals & beverage and wellness additionally being cornerstones of your growth technique, what can friends anticipate from SK Accommodations properties in these areas?
Scott Walton: Meals and beverage are on the coronary heart of each property we open. Our technique begins by contemplating the native market and what substances can be found, what the neighborhood craves, and the place we are able to break from the anticipated. We take inspiration from international traits whereas all the time remaining regionally related.
This imaginative and prescient is championed by Siamese Asset’s possession, who constantly encourage us to problem the norm. We experiment with new ideas, substances, and working fashions to stay forward of evolving shopper expectations. Whether or not it’s by means of centralized manufacturing kitchens that enhance consistency and effectivity, or by embracing the “Instagrammable” pattern to attraction to the visual-first buyer, our strategy is grounded in a ardour for reinvention.
I’m a agency believer that consistency, nevertheless, is simply as vital as innovation. One of many earliest classes I discovered in hospitality, working in Auckland’s restaurant scene, was that if one thing works, make it constant. If it doesn’t, change shortly. We apply this precept at each property, guaranteeing that strong-performing gadgets or companies are refined and delivered flawlessly, whereas underperforming ideas are reimagined.
Wellness is a key element of our growth technique and continues to develop in significance as trendy vacationers place larger emphasis on steadiness, mindfulness, and self-care. At SK Accommodations, we strategy wellness as an integral a part of the visitor expertise and as one thing that ought to really feel purposeful, accessible, and woven into the very material of every property.
To ship on this imaginative and prescient, our properties have partnered with Pravinia Wellness and Magnificence Middle, Sense Cera Spa, and Yumoto, bringing a various vary of wellness experiences to our accommodations. These partnerships permit us to tailor every providing to the distinctive character of the vacation spot, whereas nonetheless reflecting international traits in holistic wellbeing. For native residents, our wellness centres present an city sanctuary, a spot to unwind and rejuvenate near residence. For worldwide vacationers, they provide a welcome second of calm amid a busy itinerary, with therapies starting from conventional therapies to trendy spa rituals and health options.
Every house is designed with intention, permitting friends to both reconnect with themselves by means of restorative practices or to fully disconnect from the stresses of on a regular basis life. We acknowledge that wellness immediately means various things to completely different folks, and we goal to satisfy these wants in methods which can be considerate, regionally related, and constantly uplifting.
Alongside wellness, we’re additionally responding to a rising demand for versatile, purposeful workspaces as extra friends search to mix enterprise and leisure of their journey routines. Our accommodations are being thoughtfully tailored to help this hybrid life-style, with communal areas reimagined as trendy, productive environments that help work with out sacrificing consolation or hospitality.
By way of partnerships with coworking platforms reminiscent of Reef Rocks, an app that connects distant staff with welcoming areas, we’ve reworked our lobbies and lounges into vibrant, related work hubs. These areas are geared up with dependable high-speed web, ergonomic furnishings, accessible charging factors, and ambient design that encourages friends to remain so long as they want.
This evolution not solely enhances the visitor expertise but additionally permits us to activate areas which can be historically underutilized throughout sure elements of the day. By creating environments the place friends and locals alike can work, meet, and calm down, we’re constructing accommodations that stay related in a world the place work now not suits a nine-to-five mannequin. Extra than simply locations to remain, our properties have gotten dynamic, multifunctional areas that help how folks dwell, work, and join each on the highway and near residence.
TDM: Inform us in regards to the Thailand centre of studying, monetary companies, recruitment, income, digital spine and operations help that SK Accommodations has established?
Scott Walton: Once we launched SK Accommodations within the aftermath of COVID, we have been met with the identical challenges going through the worldwide hospitality trade. Chief amongst these was a dramatic lack of expertise. Many expert professionals had left the sector altogether, some beginning small companies, others returning to their hometowns or pursuing new industries fully. To rebuild, we knew we needed to take a contemporary strategy, not simply to recruitment however to the long-term growth of our folks and the programs that help them.
The institution of a decentralized Centre for Studying marked a turning level. Moderately than chase the identical restricted pool of expertise, we selected to put money into people who could not have beforehand thought-about hospitality. Faculty leavers, latest graduates, and profession switchers have been introduced into the enterprise and given the construction, mentoring, and help wanted to succeed. In simply three years, many of those people have grow to be integral to our operations and are already progressing into management roles.
In parallel, our strategy to recruitment has continued to evolve. With conventional channels yielding diminishing returns, we’re at present constructing an intuitive, user-friendly careers platform inside our web site. This new system will make it simpler for candidates to discover alternatives, perceive our tradition, and apply primarily based on potential quite than simply prior expertise. We’re in search of mindset and perspective people who find themselves hungry to develop inside a fast-paced, agile atmosphere.
Alongside expertise growth, we’ve constructed a monetary companies platform that goes past the usual GOP focus typical of lodge administration firms. Our finance crew operates with a transparent mandate: to prioritize investor returns and long-term worth. That is achieved by means of sturdy inner controls, audit-centric reporting, and streamlined processes designed for transparency and accountability. Our finance management, below Ms. Rapeepan Banyen (Khun Jay), has embedded a tradition of fiscal self-discipline whereas enabling operational flexibility. It’s this steadiness that offers our traders confidence and our lodge groups readability.
Within the space of income technique, we’ve taken a hybrid strategy. Every of our accommodations is supplied with instruments reminiscent of IDeaS and Avalon, giving them dynamic pricing and forecasting capabilities tailor-made to their particular markets. These instruments are additional enhanced by the legacy information and programs introduced in from Kew Inexperienced Accommodations, whose affect has helped form our industrial course and strategy to demand optimization. Supported by a centralized industrial crew below Mrs. Tassanee Mangkala-apinun (Khun Pait), this hybrid mannequin permits every lodge to reply regionally whereas being backed by broader market intelligence and strategic oversight.
Our digital and advertising and marketing operate has additionally grow to be a significant progress engine. By way of a mix of structured digital technique and untapped inventive expertise – a few of whom we jokingly name “diamonds within the tough” – our advertising and marketing division has developed sturdy, narrative-led campaigns for every property. These aren’t generic lodge adverts, however model tales that resonate with their goal audiences, crafted by means of the sensible use of AI, viewers analytics, and localized storytelling. The work has helped our properties stand out in a crowded digital market and has pushed measurable will increase in consciousness, conversion, and direct bookings.
Lastly, our IT infrastructure has been a foundational pillar from day one. The IT division has applied strong programs throughout all properties, guaranteeing not solely performance however scalability as we develop. Each lodge below SK Accommodations is supplied with standardized {hardware} and software program from PMS and back-office programs to firewalls and IPTV options guaranteeing operational effectivity and information safety. The IT crew additionally performs a proactive function in property help, rolling out centralized updates, troubleshooting points remotely, and sustaining the cyber integrity of each guest-facing and inner platforms.
These departments – Studying, Finance, Income, Digital, and IT – aren’t working in silos. They’re built-in and aligned to help SK Accommodations’ mission: to function effectively, innovate responsibly, and empower our folks to create distinctive visitor experiences. It’s a construction that places folks first, however does so on a spine of course of and precision, guaranteeing that as we develop, we accomplish that sustainably and with confidence.
TDM: Clarify to us the function that expertise is taking within the ongoing progress of SK Accommodations’ main proprietor Siamese Asset’s portfolio?
Scott Walton: Know-how sits on the core of SK Accommodations’ progress and is deeply built-in into each Kew Inexperienced and Siamese Asset’s broader technique. From the outset, I used to be impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit of Siamese Asset’s management, particularly their early embrace of sensible constructing applied sciences, AI, and sustainable building strategies. Likewise with Kew Inexperienced’s ever evolving distribution, analytics and visitor satisfaction initiatives – a mix that’s uncommon within the trade.
One standout instance of our dedication to expertise and wellbeing is the deployment of Siamese Air of Life, a proprietary air filtration system now put in in all visitor rooms throughout our new properties. This method has confirmed particularly priceless in the course of the annual burn-off season, when air high quality in Bangkok and surrounding areas can deteriorate considerably. Visitors are in a position to monitor each indoor and out of doors air high quality in actual time by means of a devoted app, whereas every room additionally contains a dwell show of present air high quality readings. This degree of transparency and environmental management has not solely reassured friends, however has additionally grow to be a compelling differentiator for our model companions and ESG-focused traders. It speaks to our dedication to visitor consolation, operational innovation, and sustainability in equal measure.
TDM: What thrilling issues can we anticipate from SK Accommodations sooner or later?
We’re coming into an thrilling new part of progress. Along with increasing our city footprint, we’re exploring alternatives in additional distant locations throughout Thailand. In some instances, these properties could require sturdy model partnerships; in others, the vacation spot itself is likely to be the draw, permitting us to launch distinctive, unbiased lodge ideas.
We’re additionally persevering with to develop strategic partnerships much like the one we have now with Siamese Asset. These alliances permit us to leverage our shared infrastructure – centralized finance, HR, IT, and industrial experience – lowering prices and enhancing efficiency on the property degree. Not like extra inflexible company buildings, our management works contained in the accommodations, for the accommodations. This leads to quicker decision-making, stronger crew help, and in the end, higher visitor experiences.
On the coronary heart of our philosophy is an easy however highly effective mission: to function accommodations with a relentless deal with effectivity and excellence, empowering our folks to create distinctive visitor experiences. We emphasize transparency, sustainable progress, and partnerships grounded in operational brilliance.
Above all, we imagine in frequent sense. It’s a price that always will get misplaced in over-complicated enterprise processes however one which constantly solves issues, enhances experiences, and strengthens relationships with friends, stakeholders, and our groups alike.
I’d wish to share a latest instance that highlights the form of sensible intelligence and calm management we worth throughout our groups. It came about in the course of the rapid aftermath of the March 28, 2025 Myanmar earthquake, a day of widespread disruption, uncertainty, and logistical chaos throughout Bangkok.
Amid the aftermath, considered one of our engineering crew members seen uncommon foot site visitors close to a little-used emergency exit that led right into a service hall, an space sometimes quiet and safe. Regardless of the calls for of the day and the overwhelming distractions going through each division, they selected to behave on intuition. They flagged the priority to administration, reviewed the CCTV footage, and found that an unauthorized third-party vendor had been utilizing the house to maneuver items with out supervision or correct clearance.
Whereas it may have been straightforward to miss or deprioritize given the broader disaster at hand, the crew dealt with it discreetly and decisively. Entry controls have been instantly bolstered, distributors have been re-briefed, and the breach was resolved with out disruption to friends or compromise to the property.
What stands out on this situation is using situational consciousness, frequent sense, and initiative, within the chaos of a real-world disaster. These are precisely the qualities we nurture at SK Accommodations: a tradition the place crew members are empowered to behave, to assume past checklists, and to guard each our friends and our model status within the moments that matter most.
As we develop, this core perception in sensible intelligence and human connection will proceed to information each resolution we make. At SK Accommodations, the longer term isn’t nearly enlargement it’s about evolving neatly, sustainably, and with function.
The publish SK Hotels’ Scott Walton talks new hotels and destinations coming up in Thailand, innovation and technology appeared first on Travel Daily Media.
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