KHI currently owns and operates 17 hotels spread out across Hong Kong (Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories), China (Shanghai, Wuhan) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Johor Bahru). Seven more will come on line within the next two years.

Last June, when KHI opened Dorsett Regency Hotel Hong Kong, its 10th hotel in Hong Kong and 17th group-wide, it claimed the position of being one of the largest hotel operators in the former British colony.

Heading this young hotel group is an equally young thirty-ish Winnie Chiu as its president and executive director (pictured left), leading a team of “people who are smarter than me so they can inspire me”., as she laughingly put it, from its headquarters in Hong Kong and a regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

KHI was set up in January 2007 as a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s Far East Consortium International Limited (a company listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange). In October 2010 KHI spun off from Far East Consortium as a developer, owner and operator of hotels, and was listed on the HKSE.

“Far East was too diversified as it was involved in numerous activities including property development. KHI is a cleaner setup as it focuses on hotels,” explained Chiu.

Apart from bringing Asian-inspired hospitality to the world the KHI chief believes in innovation and in being different in its hotels’ design. These are evident in KHI’s hotels, each with its own character and design.

KHI hotels are grouped under four key hotel brands – Boutique Series by Kosmopolito, design led hotels with an individual style and character; Grand Dorsett and Dorsett Regency cater to the mid-scale business market; Silka, economy range similar in concept and services as Accor’s Ibis.

                                      Pictured above: Silka Hotel Johor, Malaysia (left) & Cosmo Hotel, Hong Kong

This (branding) strategy is “to have a more cohesive and engaging portfolio of brands, improve awareness of our brands, enhance the hotels’ appeal to our target markets as well as proving a strong platform for marketing,” said Chiu.

The new hotels being developed – including one in Singapore and London, the latter KHI’s first hotel property in the UK and outside of Asia – are examples of their appeal.

The 11 storey, 242-room Dorsett Regency Hotel, London (pictured below left) is unique as it is built on the site of the an old cinema – former Pavilion Cinema in Shepherd’s Bush. it is slated to open in 2013.

On the other hand the 285-4oom Dorsett Regency Hotel “On New Bridge” in Singapore’s Central Business District (pictured below right), will be a modern hotel targeting business travellers. It is scheduled for completion in Q2 2013.

These two hotels also illustrate the philosophy of KHI, which believes in giving travellers something different like staying in a former cinema or a converted serviced residence.

Chiu sees the main area of growth coming from within the Asian region.To this extent the group has adopted what is known as the “Chinese Wallet Strategy”. With a population of 1.3 billion and as the world’s fourth largest source market for outbound travel – 57.4 million Chinese travelled abroad in 2010 – China is a rich source market.

“Research shows that Chinese who travel abroad for business and education also return to the same destinations for leisure, and they are spending more on travel.” Chiu said. Asia is the favourite destination commanding 68% of the Chinese outbound market.

With 10 hotels operating in Hong Kong, rising to 12 by 2012, and with the large number of Chinese travelling to the former British colony and regional countries, it makes sense to adopt the “Chinese Wallet” strategy both in Hong Kong and without.

Chiu is, however, quick to point out that while KHI’s  marketing strategy is “Asian focus”, it is also looking at foreign markets – breaking down the ratio to 50:50 Asian to foreign.

“Our hotels, while Asian inspired, also appeal to a cosmopolitan market.”

Chiu’s vision is to double KHI’s portfolio in next five years with hotels in Australia (Melbourne, Sydney), Japan and increasing the numbers in China.

“Malaysia, especially Sabah and Sarawak, has good potential,” said Chiu. That is one of the reasons why KPI recently opened an office in Kuala Lumpur.

The properties in Malaysia are Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Grand Dorsett Subang (Kuala Lumpur), Grand Dorsett Labuan, Dorsett Johor, Silka Hotel Johor and Maytower Hotel and Serviced Residences (Kuala Lumpur). Two more hotels, in Cheras and Jalan Imbi will be added to the portfolio early next year – the former to be a Silka while the brand of the latter is yet to be decided.

Chiu sees a strong demand for Silka hotels, not just in Malaysia but within the region, “as hotels under such brands not only offer value for money but facilities such as Wifi and laundry room that are valued by both business and leisure travellers.”

“Low cost carriers such as AirAsia have created a new segment of travellers who are happy with hotels such as Silka,” she added.

When asked if KHI would set up a hotel management company to manage other hotels or franchise out its brands Chiu shook her head, saying, “My priority is to get my branding right. It’s dangerous to dilute the branding.”