Mumbai, December 13, 2011: Mr. T. Markland Blaiklock, Senior Vice President, Sofitel Asia Pacific, Sofitel Luxury Hotels, was in the city today to meet with media and share plans for an exciting line-up of future projects for the hospitality chain in the Asia Pacific region.

Over the past three years Sofitel Luxury Hotels has successfully repositioned itself globally into the luxury hospitality segment. The group has rationalized the number of Sofitel branded properties; going from 206 to 130, setting new luxury benchmarks and creating a new brand mandate for the quality of service, design, gastronomy and culture. With a brand blueprint that combines French luxury with the essence of local tradition, Sofitel Luxury Hotels has created distinctive addresses in destinations across the world.  The growing demand for luxury travel globally, has led to over 20 new Sofitel Luxury Hotel openings in the last 18 months from the UAE to China, Bahrain to Turkmenistan, Morocco to Bangkok, Columbia to Cambodia, Mauritius to Egypt.

Said Mr. Blaiklock “With a new understanding of Sofitel’s luxury positioning, we reduced the network to build it back up again, its emphasis on offering the discerning traveler a sophisticated hospitality experience and a celebration of the finer things in life. We will continue to build around the world especially in the Asia Pacific region over the next five years, strengthening the brand and offering a unique luxury product to the market.”

He also shared that Sofitel Luxury Hotels will open on 26th December 2011, their flagship hotel in India, within the heart of Mumbai’s financial centre the Bandra Kurla Complex, Sofitel Mumbai BKC. French culture, design and gastronomy will blend artistically with rich Indian tradition in Neo Art Nouveau style, offering multifaceted experiences in cuisine, entertainment and relaxation; where buoyant business will meet elegant lifestyle and create an experience of “Life is Magnifique”. Mr. Blaiklock also shared information on details of Sofitel Luxury Hotels’ recent openings and investments in the burgeoning markets of Thailand and Mauritius - with its Sofitel So line of lifestyle and design properties. The Sofitel So hotels are a label of Sofitel Luxury Hotels, which epitomize stylish modern living and contemporary vibe. Sofitel So hotels are unique boutique properties reconciling design and pleasure. A signature designer or artist builds each Sofitel So property. Sofitel So Mauritius was the first Sofitel So address in the world, designed by Kenzo Takada, showcasing the resort with a playful twist. Sofitel So Bangkok will open in early 2012 and is designed by Mr. Christian Lacroix. This will be followed by Sofitel So Singapore in 2013.

“Sofitel Luxury Hotels has adopted an aggressive development strategy. We recently opened the Sofitel So Mauritius, which has been very well received and are about to open the Sofitel So Bangkok. In India, Sofitel Mumbai BKC is the first in a line-up of exciting projects” said Mr. Blaiklock.
“Sofitel Mumbai BKC will introduce Mumbai to a luxurious blend of French elegance and Indian culture. This hotel will become a key address infusing French elegance, savoir-faire, and art de recevoir coupled with India’s rich heritage of personalized service, tradition of luxury and depth of culture to provide the backdrop for memorable stays.” said Mr. Bernd Schneider – Area General Manager, Sofitel India and General Manager, Sofitel Mumbai BKC.

Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance
Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30 000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today’s more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French “ art de vivre”.

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