"Most prominent hotel groups don't actually own their hotels. Instead, when you stay at a Marriott or a Hilton, the building is often owned by someone else-usually a developer-while the hotel company handles the operations. That's not the case for Shangri-La Hotel and Resorts, founded by Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok in 1971, and now led by his daughter Kuok Hui Kwong. The chain operates over 100 properties worldwide, over 80 of which are owned by Shangri-La."
"Kuok Hui Kwong, speaking at the Fortune Innovation Forum on Tuesday, recalled why her father chose this asset-heavy model. "No one else was doing it. Land was very affordable, and I took a risk," she recounted her father as saying. The Shangri-La hotel chain has its roots in Asia, starting with its first hotel in Singapore. Around 80% of their hotels are still based in the Asia-Pacific region."
"Asia's ballooning economy has also translated into more regional luxury hotel guests, Kuok observed. "Most of our guests today are no longer just people coming from North America or Europe-they're coming from the [Asia] region," she said. Fifty-six Shangri-La properties are in mainland China, which Kuok called one of the world's fastest-evolving economies. "[That's] a market that has seen unparalleled economic growth in the last 30 years-which is a lot of wealth creation," Kuok said."
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts was founded by Robert Kuok in 1971 and is now led by his daughter Kuok Hui Kwong. The chain operates over 100 properties worldwide and owns more than 80 of them, following an asset-heavy ownership model. The company started in Singapore and around 80% of its hotels are still based in the Asia-Pacific region. The brand emphasizes Asian hospitality as warmth and attention to detail rather than white-linen or sterling-silver formality. Rapid economic growth across Asia, particularly in mainland China where the group operates 56 properties, has increased regional luxury travel and wealth creation. Product strategies include dual-brand developments to serve both luxury business travelers and more price-conscious middle-class guests.
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