Rei Matsuda, Founder and CEO of Koko Global Hospitality| PHOTO: Official facebook page of KGH
Koko Global Hospitality Group (KGH), one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing hotel operators, is debuting in the Philippines in partnership with a local group.
The deal gave KGH, which is based in Singapore but backed by Japanese and Thai investors, footprint in four hotels with a total of 140 rooms. Two are located in Manila and two in Makati.
“We just opened our first property in Japan last September and this October, I am glad that we have finally entered the Philippines with this first partnership. I hope to bring the ‘professional operating firm’ that we have built in Thailand for eight years and distribute our three valuable items: operational excellence, friends and family culture and ‘wow’ to the Philippine market as fast as possible,” says Rei Matsuda, KGH founder and CEO.
KGH now operates total of 25 properties in Thailand and Japan, including 11 under Kokotel brand.
“Here, I want to do the same as an operator who can operate a hotel or resort on behalf of the owners either under KGH brand or owner’s original brand as we continue to expand our presence, delivering not only operational excellence for the owners but also our ‘wow’ experience for the guests,” adds Matsuda.
KGH will set up a domestic corporation. Filipino hotelier and technopreneur Gabriel Bernabe Jr. will join the board.
Their focus is to run three- to four-star hotels each with 50 to 200 rooms—seen to be too small for a global operator and too large for a family business.
KGH aims to operate 100 properties by 2026 with its four brands: Kokotel bed & café, VIVTEL, by Koko and Owners’ brand.