Trump Hotels teams up with MNC for first hotel in Asia

Trump Hotels Collection has signed a deal with Indonesian investment group PT Media Nusantara Citra (MNC) to manage a planned six-star luxury resort and residential development in Bali.

The location of the planned six-star resort will be on the island’s southwest coast “set against the Indian Ocean” and the popular and renowned Tanah Lot temple. It will be Trump Hotel Collection’s first resort in Asia.

Executive vice president of development and acquisitions at the Trump Organization, Donald J. Trump Jr. said that he was honored to announce Trump’s expansion into Asia as it was line with a bid by the American property development firm to continue its worldwide expansion planned for the year ahead.

“As we continue to strategically grow the Trump Hotel Collection, we seek only the most valuable destinations. Bali is consistently voted as one of the best islands and is one of the best resort and residential destinations globally,” Trump Jr. said in a statement obtained by The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The signing of the agreement took place in New York City on Friday, between MNC Group chief executive officer Hary Tanoesoedibjo and Trump Organization owner and US presidential candidate Donald J. Trump.

Regarding the deal, Hary commented that the involvement of the mighty Trump conglomerate would elevate Bali’s expectations for luxury and excellence.

“I am personally very pleased to bring the Trump brand into Indonesia. The Trump family’s personal involvement has proven to be a global success. Alongside our experience as a world class developer, we are eager to develop the largest and most integrated lifestyle resort in Bali,” Hary said.

Trump Hotel Collection was launched in 2007 and plans to open four new hotels in 2016, including in Vancouver, Rio de Janeiro, Washington DC and Baku, Azerbaijan.

The planned property will provide large suites and villas with a world-class six-star service, and it is claimed it will offer an “unrivaled getaway” compared to the current luxury hotels in Bali.

Indonesia’s hospitality industry has grown rapidly in the past five years as both major local and foreign hotel chains expand their presence not only in big cities but also in second-tier cities outside Java to tap into the country’s growing middle class.

Publicly listed tour and travel company Panorama Sentrawisata, for example, will open the 222-room Radisson Batam later this year, having already acquired The 101 Yogyakarta Tugu Hotel in April.

In cooperation with Carlson Rezidor, one of the world’s largest hotel management firms, Panorama is planning to open 20 new hotels by 2020.

The firm signed the joint venture agreement with Carlson Rezidor — which currently operates around 1,500 hotels in 100 countries — in 2013.

The first hotel that Panorama would open in cooperation with Carlson Rezidor will be the Radisson Batam in the Riau Islands by the end of this year, Panorama finance director Daniel Martinus said recently.

Other hotels in the pipeline are the 125-room Radisson Bali Uluwatu, in Bali, and also the 256-room Park Inn by Radisson in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Panorama is currently involved in three business sectors, namely tourism, transportation and hospitality.

Dylan Amirio, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta