RoomQuest has revealed its business direction for the second half of 2023, moving forward with strategies to tackle the challenges in the tourism and real estate industries amid economic factors and global situations affecting travelers. The focus is on enhancing operational efficiency through AI technology while expanding its hybrid business model that includes real estate and hotels on Koh Samui, Surat Thani, with a commitment to sustainable growth based on safety standards.

Mr. Pirawut Hanserikul, CEO of RoomQuest Hotels Co., Ltd., who has extensive experience in the real estate business, including rental homes and apartments before entering the hotel industry, stated, "Although this year the hotel and real estate sectors face challenges from various factors, including economic conditions, international conflicts, and a slowdown in tourism during the low season, we believe that what operators can control is enhancing operational efficiency, reducing unnecessary costs, and investing in technology that will elevate service quality. At the same time, we continue to invest in new projects, emphasizing quality, safety, and building a strong Thai brand for the long term."

The hotel business continues to grow despite challenges in the tourism market.

In the first half of the year, RoomQuest's hotel and accommodation business maintained continuous growth, even as the second quarter entered the low season for tourism, compounded by external factors such as the impact of conflicts in the Middle East affecting travelers' confidence. However, RoomQuest managed to maintain a higher occupancy rate across its hotels nationwide, exceeding the average market occupancy rate of about 40-50%. The company also views the government's efforts to enhance the quality of tourists and enforce laws against foreign operators conducting business improperly as a means to create a fairer competitive environment, benefiting Thai operators in the long run. The company is fully prepared to support the market recovery during the upcoming high season at the end of the year, particularly with the opening of new RoomQuest hotels in Bangkok's Ratchada Soi 20, in the heart of Chiang Mai near Tha Pae, and in the old town area of Phuket.

Accelerating AI Development to Enhance Management and Marketing

Under a strategic partnership with “Opsian Technologies,” the goal is to elevate business management in the digital age and set new standards for the service industry and future businesses. “RQ Opsian”, led by Mr. Patrick Nebar Fabes Che, CEO and AI Transformation Partner in the United States, utilizes an AI ecosystem to enhance operational efficiency in all dimensions. The system is currently in the final testing phase after continuous development and stability checks, with plans for official launch within this year.

The AI ecosystem of RQ Opsian supports automatic check-in (Auto Check-in) connected to the immigration system to ensure a smooth and legally compliant check-in process. It also employs AI for marketing, analyzing customer data, and enhancing business operations to reduce costs and improve competitive capabilities. The company states that the automatic check-in system is just one function of the AI platform under development, with numerous innovations and AI technologies in progress, including marketing, customer behavior analysis, automated business management systems, and intelligent tools designed to help organizations reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and improve long-term competitive capabilities.

RQ Opsian emphasizes that what is about to happen is not just the development of software or an automatic check-in system, but the creation of an AI ecosystem aimed at transforming business management methods in all forms for the future. The next launch may just be the beginning of something much larger, with plans to extend applications across various industries, gradually revealing new technologies and conducting real-world trials in the coming months.

Continuing Investment in Samui under the “Theva” Brand with Maximum Safety Standards

In addition to the hotel business, RoomQuest is also expanding its real estate investments on Koh Samui, with a total project value of over 1.2 billion baht under the “Theva” brand, which the company aims to establish as a Thai brand in the premium market.

Currently, under the “Theva” brand, the company operates the RoomQuest Theva Resort Koh Samui, which has been in service for about 2 years and has received excellent feedback from both Thai and foreign tourists. The company continues to develop new projects with a hybrid business model, with three more projects set to launch in the fourth quarter of this year, including:

·“Theva Dara” - A one-bedroom pool villa project with only 7 units, located within the same area as the RoomQuest Theva Resort Koh Samui, situated in the Na Thon area, adjacent to both the old town of Koh Samui and not far from the pier and beach. This project is developed to meet the needs of investors looking to own a luxury pool villa with a comprehensive management system, starting at approximately 6.5-8.5 million baht.

·“Theva Horizon Pool Villa” - A luxury pool villa project that applies knowledge from the hotel business to real estate development, featuring only 16 units in a beautiful, quiet, and private location near Lipanoi Beach, with starting prices around 15 million baht/unit.

·“Theva Askaya” - A hybrid project featuring both a 5-star hotel and pool villa accommodations for investment, located in the Lamai area, one of the key tourist spots on the eastern coast of Koh Samui, popular with both tourists and long-term residents, with potential for luxury project development. The pool villas start at 30 million baht.

The company emphasizes that all its projects, whether RoomQuest hotels or hybrid projects under the “Theva” brand, prioritize safety standards first, including design, construction, and inspections by engineers and project consultants, adhering to a principle of not compromising on safety. This is exemplified by the decision to close “2499 Hotel Heritage Chinatown Bangkok by RoomQuest” in the Yaowarat area after being affected by an earthquake on March 28, 2023, despite being a branch with a consistently high occupancy rate and a long-term lease agreement. The building could have been repaired and reopened according to engineering principles, but the company chose to prioritize the safety of customers and staff over business interests.

RoomQuest believes that the Hybrid Hospitality & Property model, which integrates hotel operations with real estate development, will be a key mechanism for driving the company’s long-term growth, leveraging hotel management expertise to add value to real estate projects under the “Theva” brand, which the company aims to develop into a premium Thai brand, providing sustainable returns to investors, enhancing customer experiences, and strengthening the competitive capabilities of Thai businesses on the global stage.