tl;dr – IHG’s ambitious growth plans for its top luxury brand continue to take shape.
A few weeks ago, I reported on the expected growth of the Six Senses portfolio, noting that the number of properties in the brand is expected to increase by over 100% by 2030. Recently, some newer plans were announced that will tick those percentage points a few notches higher. Japan will receive two new Six Senses hotels in 2029, complementing the recently opened Six Senses Kyoto. In addition, Six Senses will return to its roots, opening a hotel in Bangkok to complement its existing Thai properties, the Six Senses Samui and the Six Senses Yao Noi. Given all this investment in the Six Senses brand and the fact that many travel providers are relearning the important lesson that loyalty matters – I have to imagine that full incorporation of the Six Senses into the IHG brand is coming soon. We can hope at least.
The Six Senses Bangkok
The plans for the Six Senses Bangkok include 100 rooms and suites, a sky lobby and sky garden, a rooftop pool, and of course, the signature Six Senses Spa. The hotel is being built on the former site of The Narai Hotel, a pioneering property in Thailand’s hotel scene dating back to the late 1960s. Bangkok is one of the most competitive markets for luxury hoteliers globally. You have everything from top-tier brands of all the major hotel chains, as well as leading outposts from some of the upper-echelon properties. IHG aims to stake a claim in the luxury business with this ambitious opening.
Does this mean the Six Senses Forestias Project is Done For?
In the piece I referenced in the introduction, I cover what was believed to be an in-progress project, the Six Senses Forestias—a joint hotel-residences project planned for an upscale neighborhood of Bangkok. That said, it’s unclear whether this project is still moving forward, as there have been no meaningful updates on its progress. The developers’ page on the website still appears to have information about the venture, but that’s not conclusive. As initially planned, the Six Senses The Forestias would have been its first location in Bangkok, and featured ‘a 60-room hotel, 36 residences, and the group’s first membership club in Asia.’ Of course, there could be two Six Senses Bangkok properties (particularly if they are in different neighborhoods and offer distinct vibes), but it is also possible that the residence project moves forward and the hotel endeavor is scrapped. I’d lean towards the latter as there was no mention of a Foresitas hotel in the press release about the Six Senses Bangkok.
Six Senses Hakone Gora and Six Senses Hokkaido Niseko
Japan will see the addition of two new Six Senses properties in 2029: Six Senses Hakone Gora and Six Senses Hokkaido Niseko. Unfortunately, there’s not much information available about these properties, and no renderings are provided. However, we do know a few promising details. (I even found some corporate documents announcing the deal that I translated from Japanese to English, and there weren’t any meaningful details.) First off, Six Senses’ partner is World Brands Collection Hotels & Resorts, the same company behind the already-launched Six Senses Kyoto (as well as other properties like the Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto). Thus, the team has a track record of bringing ambitious projections to market.
Secondly, when it comes to Hakone Gora, IHG already has a presence in the market with the Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, so there’s familiarity with the local environment that can transfer on the corporate level.
Finally, with regards to the Six Senses Hokkaido Niseko, there’s space for the Six Senses to enter this market and immediately become the top dog in the luxury scene there. Currently, in the hotel scene, there’s a solid Park Hyatt, a questionable Ritz-Carlton Reserve, a standard Hilton, and a few SLH hotels. With the right team in place, the Six Senses can create one of those iconic properties that becomes THE place to stay when in town.
