Valero Grand Suites by Swiss-Belhotel

Location: In a residential area of Makati City, 30 minutes from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Grade: Upscale
Keys: 271, including suites with up to three bedrooms
Facilities: 24-hour fitness centre, spa, restaurants, coffee shop, rooftop swimming pool
Meeting space: Meeting rooms and business centre available
They say: “The Philippines represents an important step in our multi-brand growth strategy for Southeast Asia. We are excited by the unique and varied opportunities the destination offers”
We say: Well positioned in Makati City, this new hotel will provide a good long-stay option for visitors to the Philippine capital
Opening: Already open

Best Western Premier Agung Resort Ubud

Location: In a forest setting, close to the centre of Ubud in central Bali
Grade: Upscale
Keys: 75
Facilities: Outdoor swimming pool and terrace, fitness centre, spa, organic farm, restaurant, coffee shop
Meeting space: Unspecified
They say: “The classical charm and beauty of the ‘Island of the Gods’ is captured exquisitely by the resort’s interior and exterior design, which is open-plan and features many traditional touches”
We say: This new Ubud property will allow Best Western to offer twin-centre breaks in Bali, in combination with its three properties in Kuta
Opening: Already open

Mercure Orange

Location: In the city of Orange, New South Wales, approximately 250km west of Sydney
Grade: Midscale
Keys: 77
Facilities: Restaurant, indoor swimming pool, sauna and gymnasium
Meeting space: Nine function rooms
They say: “Orange’s growing mining, agricultural and wine industries are set to benefit from the hotel’s newly-upgraded accommodation facilities”
We say: AccorHotels continues to boost its Australian leadership position, entering regional markets that international hotel groups would usually overlook
Opening: August 2017

Pullman Tokyo Tamachi

Location: Directly connected to JR Tamachi Station in the Minato area of Tokyo
Grade: Upper-upscale
Keys: 143
Facilities: As-yet-unspecified, other than “dining concepts”
Meeting space: Available but not yet revealed
They say: “The opening of Pullman Tokyo Tamachi marks an exciting step in developing more upscale and luxury hotels in Japan to meet the growing demand of cosmopolitan travellers”
We say: Pullman’s high-end “bleisure” brand should be a good fit for Tokyo, which is seeing a surging number of international visitors
Opening: Autumn 2018

Mövenpick Hotel El Ein Bay

Location: On Egypt’s northern Red Sea coast at Sokhna Beach, one of the closest resorts to Cairo
Grade: Upper-upscale
Keys: 214
Facilities: Five dining options including a rooftop lounge, a large swimming pool, spa and fitness centre. Resort is also attached to an 18-hole golf course
Meeting space: More than 1,000m² of function space
They say: “Egypt is one of the key growth markets we are targeting and signing this new property in the stunning El Sokhna area… confirms our long-term commitment to the country”
We say: Mövenpick shows faith in Egypt, which has experienced fluctuating fortunes in recent years. The Swiss hotel group already operates eight properties and eight Nile cruisers in the country
Opening: 2020