Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long Bay Marks Best Western’s Vietnamese Expansion Strategy

Ha Long Bay (Vietnam) – October 24, 2018 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts announced today the signing of an impressive new upscale hotel overlooking Ha Long Bay, the iconic UNESCO World Heritage site in Vietnam. Developed by Doji Land Real Estate Investment Company Limited, the Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long is a spectacular new 31-story project that is currently rising in the heart of Ha Long City’s hotel district. It will feature more than 1,000 spacious guestrooms, outstanding business and leisure facilities and panoramic views of the bay. The hotel is scheduled to open its doors in the fourth quarter of 2020.

“Best Western is excited to announce the signing of the Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long, as this hotel reflects our brand’s commitment to bringing world-class hospitality to Asia’s most attractive destinations,” said Ron Pohl, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “We look forward to providing travelers visiting the historically-rich and captivating coast of Ha Long Bay with the elevated style and luxurious amenities that are signatures of our Best Western Premier® brand.”

Upon opening, this exceptional hotel will feature 1,008 residential-style rooms with a minimum size of 35 square meters and a choice of one or two bedrooms. Each unit will feature contemporary décor, a private balcony and modern technology, including complimentary Wi-Fi.

Guests will be able to unwind with a full range of facilities, including a swimming pool, fitness center, business center, executive lounge and retail outlets, all supported by Best Western’s impressive service standards. A diverse collection of dining and entertainment options will feature a bright all-day restaurant, a chic specialty restaurant, a coffee shop, beer bar, cigar lounge and wine bar.

“Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long is a fantastic new hotel that provides international accommodation in an unsurpassed location, in the heart of one of the world’s most desirable destinations. As a globally recognized World Heritage site and one of the ‘New7Wonders of Nature,’ Ha Long Bay is the jewel in Vietnam’s tourism crown. Our wonderful new waterfront hotel will perfectly showcase this breathtaking landscape,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia.

“This landmark signing is a wonderful example of how Best Western’s portfolio is evolving in Asia Pacific. As a fully managed property, Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long will benefit from our company’s 70-plus years of hospitality expertise and extensive global support network. Sleek, stylish and spacious, this landmark hotel will combine seamless stays with stunning views. We look forward to working with Doji Land to bring their vision to life, and to welcoming our first guests to Ha Long Bay in 2020,” Olivier added.

Nestled in Quang Ninh province, northeast Vietnam, Ha Long Bay features approximately 2,000 islets and limestone karsts, jutting out from the water in a variety of dramatic shapes and sizes. This makes it an ideal destination for outdoor adventure and recreation, including boat tours, cave exploration and kayaking.

Quang Ninh welcomed 7.5 million visitors in the first half of 2018, including 2.5 million international travelers, which marked a 14 percent year-on-year increase. This number is likely to rise significantly in future as Ha Long Bay becomes more accessible than ever before. The recent opening of a new highway has slashed the traveling time from Hanoi down to just two hours, and the new Van Don International Airport is slated to start operating in late 2018, just 50km from Ha Long City.

Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long marks the latest phase of Best Western’s Vietnamese expansion strategy, following the recent signings of hotels and resorts in Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc and Quang Binh.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,200* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers 13 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, Sadie HotelSM, Aiden HotelSM, BW Premier Collection® by Best Western, and BW Signature Collection® by Best Western, as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection® by Best Western. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 66 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2018, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands, and Fast Company honoring Best Western Hotels & Resorts with a spot in the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality category. Best Western has also won nine consecutive AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAA/CAA’s nearly 58 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Best Western-branded hotels were top ranked in J.D. Power’s 2017 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study – ranking first in breakfast (food and beverage category) for midscale; and second in overall guest satisfaction. Over 35 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western-branded hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Google® Street View provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels.
* All Best Western and SureStay-branded hotels are independently owned and operated.
* Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

Contact information:
Marketing Communications Department
Best Western Hotels and Resorts – Asia
Tel: +66 2 656 1260

Sirimanas Maungrod
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com

Orapan Sornnuwat
Email: orapan.sornnuwat@bestwestern.com