May 31, 2006 – PROPERTY development and investment firm IGB Corp Bhd plans to expand its hotel properties to Thailand, Macau, Vietnam, Australia and Europe.

However, it may take at least 12 months before it happens. “We are excited about (the opening of hotels in) Bangkok, Macau, Vietnam, and Australia and we are at various stages of discussion (with property developers and hotel owners) in Bangkok and Macau,” IGB chief executive officer of hotel division Tan Boon Lee told Business Times.

“But it could take at least 12 months to get a site … it is not easy to get a location overseas,” he said.

The new hotels may either be built from scratch or the group could be buying over existing ones. Today, IGB’s hotel brands worldwide include Micasa, Sucasa, The Boulevard, Cititel and St Giles.

“For instance, we hope to open either a Cititel, a Cititel Express or a St Giles in Sydney,” he said.

The three-star St Giles hotels currently operate in London and Heathrow.

Tan said any hotel expansion into Europe is likely to be under the St Giles brandname.

“However, its openings will largely depend on the opportunities that arise. (One thing’s for certain,) branding for the (St Giles) hotel chain has already been established with two hotels in the UK,” he said.

Apart from the UK, IGB’s hotel portfolio overseas includes the MiCasa Yangoon and the New World Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City.