Minor Hotels Triumphs with 22 Accolades at T+L Luxury Awards Asia Pacific

Minor Hotels, a leading global hotel owner and operator, secured an impressive haul of 22 accolades at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2024. The awards ceremony, held on the evening of 13 June 2024, celebrated excellence across the luxury travel sector, showcasing the very best in hospitality throughout the region.

The awards, determined through an extensive online survey conducted by Travel + Leisure, recognise outstanding achievements in the travel and hospitality industry, with readers from around the world voting for their favourite luxury hotels, resorts, and experiences.

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas emerged as a standout, securing multiple awards, including second place for Best Resorts in the Maldives, second place for Best House Reefs, and third place for Best Hotel Pools. Additionally, the resort was featured in the categories of The Most Outrageous Villas and Best Resort Spas, solidifying its reputation as a premier destination in the Maldives. The Crescent at Niyama Private Islands Maldives, a cluster of secluded overwater villas with private pools and dedicated butlers, was also awarded, ranking fourth in its category.

In Thailand, Anantara Chiang Mai Resort and Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort were celebrated among the best upcountry hotels, placing third and fifth, respectively. The BDMS Wellness Clinic Retreat at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort also earned a spot in the Best Hotel Spas category, demonstrating the brand’s commitment to holistic wellness.

The Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel in Laos continued its tradition of excellence, earning accolades in Best Hotels, Best Hotel Pools, and Best Hotel Spas. Similarly, Anantara Angkor Resort and FCC Angkor by Avani were selected among the top city hotels in Cambodia, while Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas in Malaysia was honoured in the Best Beach, Island + Upcountry Hotels category.

Properties in Vietnam, Anantara Hoi An Resort and Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, also received significant recognition, underscoring Minor Hotels' diverse portfolio and its ability to excel in various aspects of luxury hospitality.

See the full rankings below:

Laos

Best Hotels:

#8 Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel

Best Hotel Pools:

#2 Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel

Best Hotel Spas:

#4 Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel

Cambodia

Best City Hotels:

#8 Anantara Angkor Resort

#9 FCC Angkor by Avani

Best Hotel Pools:

#9 Anantara Angkor Resort

Malaysia

Best Beach, Island + Upcountry Hotels:

#9 Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

Best Hotel Pools:

#7 Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

Maldives

Best Resorts:

#2 Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

Best Hotel Pools:

#3 Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

Best Resort Spas:

#4 Niyama Private Islands Maldives

Best House Reefs:

#2 Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

The Most Outrageous Villas:

#4 Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

#5 Niyama Private Islands Maldives

Best General Managers:

#3 Hafidh Busaidy, Niyama Private Islands Maldives

Thailand

Best Upcountry Hotels:

#3 Anantara Chiang Mai Resort

#5 Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort

Best Hotel Pools:

#10 Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort

Best Hotel Spas:

#7 BDMS Wellness Clinic Retreat, Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort

Vietnam

Best Beach + Island Resorts:

#8 Anantara Quy Nhon Villas

Best Upcountry Hotels:

#5 Anantara Hoi An Resort

Best Hotel Spas:

#10 Anantara Quy Nhon Villas

Minor Hotels Announces Upcoming Debut of the Avani Hotels & Resorts Brand in Greater China

Minor Hotels, an international hotel owner, operator and investor with more than 540 hotels in 56 countries worldwide, and its joint venture partner in China, Funyard Minor JV Co., (China), is announcing the upcoming debut of Avani Hotels & Resorts in China. Located in a protected national forest area of Guangdong Province, Avani Huajian Xinyi Guangdong Resort and Avani+ Xinyi Guangdong Resort will be one of the first international upscale hotel brands in Xinyi when they open in the first half of the year.

Integrating leisure, culture and ecotourism elements, Avani’s design-led properties will anchor the development plans for an area that will comprise several hotels, commercial blocks and residential holiday villas, all offering an immersive cultural experience inspired by ancient Chinese traditions.

Located in the foothills of Shuanghe Village beside the calm waters of the River Huanghua, Avani Huajian Xinyi Guangdong Resort will feature 86 spacious rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant offering authentic Gaoliang cuisine, an AvaniFit gym and Xinyi’s first infinity sky pool. A keen focus will be placed on cutting-edge amenities and nature-inspired indoor-outdoor spaces. Designed with families in mind, Avani Huajian Xinyi will offer themed kids rooms, providing the right balance between rest and play.

Surrounded by bamboo forest, Avani+ Xinyi Guangdong Resort will take its perch in the mountains above Ma’an Village. In addition to 96 modern rooms and suites, some with private balconies and pools, the resort will feature a contemporary all-day dining restaurant, a bar, an infinity pool, an AvaniFit gym, an AvaniKids club, and other facilities to promote relaxation in nature.

Xinyi, an up-and-coming ecotourism destination, is rich in ecological resources and boasts numerous natural attractions, including a sprawling alpine meadow, the largest bamboo forest in western Guangdong, a spectacular mountain lake, hot springs, and award-winning ecotourism areas. Additionally, holidaymakers can tour the 300-year-old Shiyin Ancestral Temple with a grove counting over 30,000 century-old olive trees or attend the popular Fruit Festival that celebrates locally grown Sanhua plum and attracts over one million visitors annually.

"Avani Huajian Xinyi Guangdong Resort and Avani+ Xinyi Guangdong Resort will not only mark a significant milestone for Minor Hotels but also for the hospitality landscape in Xinyi,” commented Mr. Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International and CEO of Minor Hotels. “The openings stand testament to the brand’s vision to create exceptional and culturally immersive experiences for guests.”

“We are thrilled to introduce our first two Avani properties in Greater China,” said Mr. Eddy Tiftik, Vice President of Development & Operations, Minor Hotels, Greater China . “Embedded in nature, both properties offer a peaceful setting and a sense of escape. They align with the preferences of our target audience, who seek a hotel that is a destination in itself. We believe that when the Avani properties open, they will create a new and exciting holiday option.”

Already with a strong presence in Asia, the Middle East, and Southern Africa, Avani Hotels & Resorts’ expansion into new destinations continues in 2024 with further openings in Asia, Europe and the Seychelles, as well as South and Central America.

Minor Hotels Launches First NH Branded Hotel in China with the Opening of NH Zhengzhou Jinshui

Minor Hotels and China’s Funyard Hotels & Resorts are proud to announce the opening of NH Zhengzhou Jinshui, a contemporary 140-key hotel located in the city’s Jinshui District, known for its cultural sites, historical attractions and world-class convention centres.

The opening marks the first entry into the Chinese market for NH Hotels, marking a milestone in the brand’s expansion into Asia following its acquisition by Minor Hotels in 2018.

Visitors to the city of Zhengzhou, capital of central China’s Henan province, can now stay in one of the hotel’s stylish rooms and suites featuring subtle references to the NH brand’s Mediterranean roots, as well as enjoying a range of facilities and services that cater to the needs and desires of modern travellers, including an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby bar, a meeting area, a fitness centre, a self-service laundry room and ample parking spaces.

Minor Hotels Announces New Edition to the Anantara Brand in China With the Signing of Anantara Shaoxing Resort

Minor Hotels announces the signing of Anantara Shaoxing Resort in northeastern Zhejiang Province. Perched on the slopes of Mount Kuaiji, the luxury resort developed will be the first internationally-branded resort in the city of Shaoxing when it opens in 2024.

Anantara Shaoxing Resort will form the core of Taoyuanli Health and Wellness Town – an integrated mixed-use community featuring landscaped courtyards, playgrounds, world-class restaurants, organic supermarkets, communal dining, and comprehensive health and wellness facilities for all ages.

The design of the 120-key Anantara Shaoxing is inspired by a multi-deck luxury yacht, with clusters of low-rise buildings cascading towards the sparkling Lanruo Lake. Anantara guests will be able to spend time exploring local farms, hiking along scenic trails, as well as enjoying a spot of off-roading, wall climbing, or playing recreational sports. Guests can also visit the variety of clinics available in the Taoyuanli Health and Wellness Town, specialising in traditional Chinese and Western medicine and offers diagnostic tests, chronic disease management, lifestyle risk factor reduction, longevity, telemedicine services and much more. 

Anantara Shaoxing Resort along with the recently announced Anantra Anji Resort will join Anantara Guiyang Resort in Guizhou Province and Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort in Yunnan Province as the brand’s fourth property in China.

Minor Hotels Wins 19 Top Accolades in Tripadvisor 'Best of the Best' Awards

Minor Hotels has secured more than 270 awards at the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2023 awards, including 19 prestigious ‘Best of the Best’ accolades that recognise the top 1% of listings on the site.

Among the group’s four wins in Asia was Avani+ Khao Lak Resort, located on Thailand’s Andaman Coast, which earned a highly coveted ‘Best of the Best’ award as one of the ‘Hottest New Hotels in the World’.

The annual Travellers’ Choice Awards are based on a full year of Tripadvisor reviewse, and recognise the properties that have delivered the most exceptional experiences for travellers.

---

Minor Hotels Announces Second Anantara Resort in Brazil | Anantara Preá Ceará Resort in Northeast Brazil Slated to Launch in 2026

Minor Hotels, a hotel owner, operator and investor, currently with a portfolio of 530 hotels and resorts in 56 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Indian Ocean, announces its second Anantara property in Brazil. Slated to launch in 2026, the new-build Anantara Preá Ceará Resort will be located in the state of Ceará on the country’s northeast coast.

Soon to start development on Preá Beach in the municipality of Cruz and close to the well-known tourist destination of Jericoacoara, Anantara Preá Ceará Resort will offer 60 guest rooms and villas, 25 branded residential bungalows, some with private pools, and a 120 sqm Presidential Suite. To be built within the high-end Vila Carnaúba real estate development, Anantara Preá will offer guests access to all Vila Carnaúba’s amenities, such as the restaurants and bars, sports facilities and a gym, a kids club, a kitesurfing school and a variety of nature walks. The resort will also be home to a regional restaurant and an Anantara Spa which will offer an extensive range of spa treatments and wellness programmes.

The state of Ceará is well known for its fine sand dunes and beaches, natural lagoons and mangroves thriving with nature, with around a third of the state’s territory forming part of the Jericoacoara National Park, one of the most beautiful spots in Brazil’s northeast. The coastline is also well established as one of the country’s most sought-after destinations for watersports such as windsurfing, kitesurfing and wing foil surfing.

The new resort is being developed in partnership with Grupo Carnaúba. The partnership aims to strengthen the real estate market in the region with the introduction of the Anantara brand providing a luxury experience for discerning travellers. The project will also be focused on sustainability, ensuring the values of the local natural beauty are incorporated in harmony with the guest experience.

The ecoresort will extend over an area in excess of 52,000 square metres. The project’s design and decor are being created by Miguel Pinto Guimarães, a Brazilian architect well known for his contemporary creations which unite comfort in total harmony with the natural environment and the beauty of the surroundings. The landscaping will be developed by Embyá Paisagens & Ecossistemas. The hotel’s construction will focus on natural and regional materials. 

The sustainable and social initiatives of Vila Carnaúba, which is in the final stages of development, are an essential element of this partnership. These will include waste disposal and recycling, reforestation initiatives, replanting of Carnauba Wax Palm Trees, a fan palm indigenous to northeastern Brazil, along with supporting local food producers. At night there will be reduced lighting to preserve the sky’s panorama and to minimise the impact on the local fauna. 

Anantara Preá Ceará Resort will be accessible via the regional airport of Jericoacoara just 15 minutes’ away, or transfers can be arranged by car or small plane to Preá from the state’s main airport in Ceará which is 300 km from the resort. 

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels and Group CEO of Minor International, commented, "In 2022 we announced our luxury Anantara brand's first hotel in Brazil, with Anantara Mamucabo Bahia Resort scheduled to open in 2025. We are excited to follow this with the announcement of a second Anantara in the country, demonstrating our commitment to expanding our footprint in Brazil with quality projects focused on preserving nature and the surrounding landscapes. We look forward to working closely with Grupo Carnaúba to bring this new Anantara resort to fruition.”

For further information please visit https://www.anantara.com/en/prea-ceara.

Award | Minor Hotels Sweeps Another Big Win With 38 Accolades In 2021 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards

Minor Hotels, the parent company behind the Anantara, Avani, Tivoli, NH Collection, and Elewana hotel brands, is pleased to announce a total of 38 accolades awarded to its properties worldwide in 2021 Condé Nast Traveler US and UK Readers’ Choice Awards. The trove of prestigious accolades is a resounding vote of confidence in the group’s ability to lead the sector as it emerges from months of disrupted travel.

Leading these great results, two resorts have been named in the overall Top 50 Resorts globally, placing these properties among the most inspirational, trusted and loved hotels in the world. Naladhu Private Island Maldives, the exclusive luxury island resort was voted #4, closely followed by Anantara Chiang Mai Resort in Northern Thailand as #8. Furthermore, two hotels were included in the Top 50 Hotels globally, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli in Doha as #13 and The Marker Hotel in Dublin ranked #46.

Continuing the top rankings of the world’s most prestigious hotels, the uber-exclusive Naladhu Private Island Maldives was also voted #1 among Top 30 Resorts in the Indian Ocean for the fourth time in five years, while fans of Anantara Chiang Mai Resort helped the serene riverside property retain its #1 ranking in the Top 20 Resorts in Thailand.

New Opening | Minor Hotels Announces Upcoming Debut in Bahrain

Minor Hotels is pleased to announce its strategic entrance into Bahrain with the upcoming debut of its Avani and Tivoli brands.

Scheduled to open in 2024, Avani Bilaj Al Jazayer Bahrain Resort and Tivoli Bilaj Al Jazayer Bahrain Resort will be part of Bilaj Al Jazayer, a new waterfront leisure mixed-use masterplan owned by Edamah, the real estate arm of Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat.

Bilaj Al Jazayer is located on the south-west coast of Bahrain and encompasses 1.3 million square metres of land with a three-kilometre beachfront. The new development will offer resorts, residential villas and apartments, food and beverage outlets, retail, offices and entertainment.

The new Tivoli and Avani hotels, each with 110 keys, will be located along the main boulevard of Bilaj Al Jazayer on the waterfront and will offer a selection of guest rooms and suites, multiple food and beverage outlets, swimming pools, leisure facilities including gyms, spa and wellness, plus meeting space. In addition, the hotels will share a beach club within the Bilaj Al Jazayer development.

Minor Hotels currently has 29 hotels and resorts in operation and in the pipeline in the Middle East region across its Anantara, Avani, Tivoli and Oaks brands, with the pipeline including the upcoming launch of two new brands to the region – NH Collection and NH Hotels.