Belmond Hotels Asia Pacific - Interview with Iain Langridge, MD

As travel restrictions related to the ongoing global COVID19 pandemic are gradually eased, or lifted, Belmond, one of the most iconic names in the luxury travel sector, re-opened some of its hotels in Europe, the UK and US on 19 June. But what about Belmond's hotels in Asia Pacific?

Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com used Skype to speak with Belmond's recently appointed Divisional Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Iain Langridge on 24 June, to ask him about the group's plans for the region.

In this exclusive interview you will learn which of Belmond's five hotels in south east Asia - Belmond La Residence d'Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia; Belmond Jimbaran Puri Bali, Indonesia; Belmond Governor's Residence Yangon, Myanmar; Belmond La Residence Phou Vao, Luang Prabang, Laos; and Belmond Napasai Koh Samui, Thailand - will open first, why those hotels were chosen, and what forward bookings for each property are looking like.

We discuss domestic markets, how the luxury hotel sector has been impacted by COVID19 and whether a luxury product is still feasible with all the social distancing and hygiene regulations now required.

Iain tells us about the group's expansion plans, what makes Belmond unique, and how the company is using technology to enhance the guest experience in the current environment.

With Belmond's guests traditionally coming from the US and Europe, we also talk about the demographics of guests at hotels here in the region and how that may change moving forward.

We discuss China, and you will discover what first step Belmond has just taken to better establish itself in the country, what plans it has for the market, plus much, much more in the video and podcast below.

COVID19 Interview with Divisional MD of Belmond Asia Pacific, Iain Langridge

PODCAST

Editor's note: My apologies that the audio and visual quality in this video interview are not up to the same HD quality that they normally would be. This is the second in a series of video interviews conducted over Skype. Hopefully it won't be too long until we are once again conducting exclusive video interviews in person, but for now we have to make do with what we have. Thank you.

See also: Celtic Compass and The Hebridean Creative Retreat - Interview with Sarah Ewing, How's Business in Myanmar? Interview with Torsten Edens, SVP of Memories Group, Emerging Travel Trends in Asia Pacific - Interview with Frank Trampert and Todd Arthur of Sabre, Belmond Hotels in Asia Pacific - Interview with Iain Langridge, MD, How's Business in Siem Reap? Interview with GM of Courtyard by Marriott, Ms. Ashley Lai, Churning a Dream into Reality - Interview with CEO of Laos Buffalo Dairy, Susie Martin and Airports, Air Travel and COVID19 - Exclusive Interview with SITA's President of Asia Pacific, Sumesh Patel.

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