QUY NHON, VIETNAM Marriott International in 2014 will open properties under two of its luxury hotel brands in Quy Nhon, Vietnam, under a management agreement with Vietnamese-American Hotel and Resort Ltd. Co., a subsidiary of ITC Spectrum LLC.
The 100-villa Vinh Hoi Bay-A Ritz-Carlton Reserve will be the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Vietnam, and the 320-key JW Marriott Vinh Hoi Bay Resort & Spa will be the third JW Marriott in the country. Construction on both properties is expected to begin in early 2012.
“We are delighted with this visionary opportunity to further expand our lodging portfolio in Vietnam,” says Ed Fuller, Marriott’s president and managing director for international lodging. “These resorts will rank among the best, most luxurious properties in Asia, and we are honored to participate in the emergence of Vietnam as world-class resort destination. We are confident that, given the hospitality of the Vietnamese people coupled with the unique beauty and historic significance of this particular part of Vietnam and the extraordinary ambience of these two distinctive resorts, both properties will be in high demand from the start.”
Both resorts will be located on Vinh Hoi Bay, approximately 25 km north of the city of Quy Nhon, on the central coast of Vietnam. They will be part of a 325-ha fully-integrated, mixed-use oceanfront development that will initially include three resorts including the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott properties, a championship 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II, residential villas, a retail village, an arboretum and other recreational amenities. Later phase of the development will feature three additional resorts, more residential properties, an equestrian center, a marina and other amenities.
“We are very pleased to have the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott brands as a part of the Vinh Hoi Bay development,” says Canh Tran, chairman and CEO of ITC Spectrum. “We are confident in our partnership with Marriott International and in their ability to deliver world-class service to our guests. With our top-notch development and resort operator teams already on board, we have no doubt that Vinh Hoi Bay, positioned as an international luxury destination resort, will add a significant milestone to the Vietnamese tourism industry and in Asia as a whole.”
Quy Nhon is located in Binh Dinh province between Danang and Nha Trang. Its origins date to the 11th century and the Champa kingdom for which its legacy—the Cham culture’s temple complexes—can be seen throughout Quy Nhon. The topography of Binh Dinh province is diverse and attractive, offering visitors lush highlands, forests, alluvial plains, lakes and beaches—all in one destination. The airport, which is located 20 minutes from Vinh Hoi Bay, is slated to offer direct international flights in the coming years.
The Ritz-Carlton Reserve will be perched along a hillside on the southern edge of the complex in Quy Nhon. Accommodations will offer ocean views, private plunge pools, indoor and outdoor showers set among lush indigenous flora and a sense of privacy and comfort allowing guests to indulge in the scenery and detach from the world during their stay.
The design philosophy unifying every Ritz-Carlton Reserve is the creation of astonishing experiential spaces that celebrate guest individuality and the uniqueness of place. By creating designs that blend seamlessly into ultra-remote private locations, Ritz-Carlton Reserve amplifies extraordinary parts of the world in a sustainable way.
Design inspiration is taken from the unique environment in which each property is based. From native architectural signatures and innovative local art to indigenous furniture and motifs inspired by regional tradition, every design element of a Ritz-Carlton Reserve powerfully locates guests in a sense of rare place. More importantly, respect for the unique character of every guest informs all design elements of a Ritz-Carlton Reserve by focusing on the essentials of individuality.
For dining and entertainment, the resort will have three restaurants, including a specialty restaurant that will offer its guests stunning sea views and open-air seating, a lounge and bar adjacent to the lobby and a lounge on the beach.
Recreational amenities will include a luxurious Spa with eight treatment rooms, each with a private steam room, restroom and indoor and outdoor shower and bath, a spa boutique, a yoga/meditation pavilion and a hair and beauty salon. The resort will also have a swimming pool located near the fitness center, children’s and teens Clubs and a library/business center. Additional amenities will include a wedding chapel and gift shop. For social events and small conferences, the resort will have 200 sq. m of function space divisible into two sections and featuring an open-air pre-function area.
JW Marriott Vinh Hoi Bay Resort & Spa will be the centerpiece of the complex. Besides offering expansive sea views from most guest rooms, the resort will have a lake around which its front entrance, conference facilities, spa and some of its restaurants will be clustered.
It will offer a mix of guestrooms and suites—all with luxurious amenities and modern connectivity. Accommodations will have baths with separate showers and tubs; upgraded Griffin Club rooms will have five fixture baths. A stand-alone Griffin Club Villa with indoor lounges and an outdoor patio, permanent food service and reception desk will be located adjacent to the club rooms and suites wing for the convenience of its guests.
For dining and entertainment, the resort will have four extraordinary restaurants offering unique and imaginative dining experiences and a pool bar. Meanwhile, a spacious, contemporary lounge and bar near the lobby will change its mood and look throughout the day, inviting guests to linger over a morning coffee or gather spontaneously with friends or acquaintances from morning through evening.
Recreational amenities will include a spa featuring 10 treatment rooms; three swimming pools including a quiet pool at the club wing and a separate children’s pool; a state-of-the-art fitness center including sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi; a Kids Club; recreation room/library and a water activities center.
Additional amenities will encompass a full-service business center offering a comprehensive spectrum of business services, salon, concierge desk, gift shop and a retail arcade. For social events and conferences, the resort will have 960 sq. m of function space including three meeting rooms in varying configurations and a board room.
Marriott currently manages two properties in Vietnam, both in Ho Chi Minh City: Renaissance Riverside Saigon and New World Hotel Saigon. Four additional properties are currently planned or under construction in Vietnam. They include the 250-key Nha Trang Marriott Hotel and the 200-key Courtyard by Marriott Ham Tan, both of which are scheduled to open in 2013. The 450-key JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi and the 271-key JW Marriott Danang Resort are expected to open in 2014.