Swiss hotel management company, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, has signed a deal to open its third hotel in Bangladesh, in the city of Khulna. The move follows what the company calls “a steady and concerted focus on Bangladesh,” with projects already underway in Cox Bazaar and the capital Dhaka, as the international hospitality management firm continues to develop its presence in South Asia.
"We are very pleased to sign our third property in the country and establish ourselves as the first international hotel chain in Khulna in partnership with the property's owners, Ahyan Hotel & Resorts Limited," Andrew Langdon, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts SVP Asia, said in a statement. "We believe in Bangladesh and its future. It is rapidly developing economically, with a rising and affluent middle class. This will be a key driver of our business."
According to the IMF, Bangladesh's economy is the second-fastest growing major economy globally in 2016, at a rate of 7.1 percent. The population is 163 million, and the country attracted more than 450,000 overseas arrivals in 2015.
Designed by Sthapona Architects Consultants and ocated near both the Sheikh Abu Naser national cricket stadium and the Sudarbans UNESCO World Heritage site, the 240-guestroom Mövenpick Hotel Khulna is set to open in the first quarter of 2019.
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has “aggressive” plans for Asia over the next five years. The company plans to manage 30 hotels by 2020 across South Asia and Southeast Asia, with primary markets including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Bangladesh.