Mr. Prabsharan Singh Thakral, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of BC, said that the company's hotel business is entering the final stretch of 2026 with positive signs, in line with rising tourism demand as the high season begins. Demand for accommodation in Chiang Mai in particular has improved, supporting the overall performance of BC's hotel business toward the end of the year.
At Novotel Chiang Mai Nimman Journeyhub and ibis Chiang Mai Nimman Journeyhub, occupancy has risen in line with travel demand during the tourist season. Advance bookings continue to trend positively, while ADR remains at a healthy level, reflecting strong booking momentum.
Meanwhile, BC is pressing ahead with the expansion of its hotel portfolio in high-potential locations and is preparing to open two new hotels: Moevenpick Resort Kamala Beach Phuket, which is scheduled for a soft opening in late 2026 ahead of a full opening in early 2027, and a hotel project under the Handwritten Collection brand on Sukhumvit 5, Bangkok. These additions will increase the group's room count and revenue base, and extend its portfolio to cover both key tourist cities and the Bangkok market, serving both leisure travelers and business customers.
Looking ahead to 2027, BC is also monitoring the government's "Thai Tiew Thai Plus" scheme, which aims to stimulate travel during the low season. BC believes that, if implemented within the timeframe set by the government, the scheme will help bring additional demand to the tourism market and make the off-peak period more active.
Beyond the growth of its owned hotel portfolio, BC continues to expand under an asset-light model through its role as a Third-Party Operator (TPO). The company aims to increase its role in hotel management and generate management fee income, while leveraging international hotel brands and networks. This is intended to strengthen BC's capacity to expand its portfolio with efficient use of capital, and to increase the company's share of recurring revenue over the long term.
"In 2027, we see the opening of new hotels as another key factor in expanding our revenue base and diversifying our income across more locations. At the same time, we will continue to build on our hotel management capabilities and asset-light model to steadily increase our share of recurring income, reduce our reliance on seasonal tourism revenue, and drive growth from our hospitality business while laying the foundation for long-term growth," Mr. Thakral concluded.