Exclusive: Pro-invest’s Shantha de Silva on boutique brands and the power of principles

With Australia’s borders open once again and hopes high that tourism will rebound quickly, many hotel groups are investing in soft and boutique brands. Pro-invest Hotels Director of Operations, Shantha de Silva, explains the importance of creating a portfolio of hotels and brands that reflects company values.

Pro-invest Hotels is proud to be bringing the Kimpton, voco and Hotel Indigo brands to life in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts. We are excited to be opening two voco hotels this year – voco Brisbane City Centre and voco Auckland Centre. Voco Brisbane City Centre is a conversion property, right on the Brisbane River and voco Auckland is a new-build tower development that will have a Holiday Inn Express hotel occupying the top half of the building.

What really drew our interest when it came to the voco brand was that it was clean and visually interesting. Its hallmarks around sustainability were industry leading and this is something Pro-invest Group takes incredibly seriously. We know that our guests are increasingly making a conscious choice to stay at hotels that align with their own values, so it is important to us that we have a portfolio of hotels and brands that match our principles.

At Pro-invest, we strive to be a trusted leader in environmental and social governance. Although the last year was challenging, we have ensured that our dedication to sustainability has gone unmoved – if anything, our commitments to initiatives and causes sitting under our key ESG pillars have enhanced over the past 12 months with many significant achievements, further supporting our Net Zero 2030 ambition.

Hotels that embody their location, show a sense of personality, or just know what they stand for have grown to be more and more important and guests are looking for something that stands out from the crowd, can give them a sense of escapism, while being considerate to the place it inhabits.

Kimpton Margot Sydney, which we opened in February is a shining example of how personality, genuine hospitality and a sense of belonging can combine to give people a memorable, everlasting hotel stay experience.  While there is a growing trend towards off the beaten track experiences, there remains strong demand for locations that marry authentic experiences with ease of access.

For more, check out the April issue of HM.

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