Off and On Again Marriott

Khmer Times
PETER OLSZEWSKI

Cambodia’s first Marriott hotel could open in the first half of 2017, in Siem Reap. Reuters

After two delays over a six-year period, Phnom Penh-based Grand Lion Group is ready to open Cambodia’s first Marriott International branded hotel – the Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap Resort – in the first half of 2017.

In January 2010, the Grand Lion Group said it had entered into management agreements with US-based hotel operator Marriott International to operate the Siem Reap property that was “scheduled for completion in 2011.”

But the project was then seemingly abandoned until construction recommenced relatively recently, and the group announced on its website that the opening was expected by “4th Quarter 2016.”

Last week a new opening date – April 2017 – was announced. The group’s chief operating officer and attorney, Alex Leon, told Khmer Times the reason for the delays was “pretty simple” adding “although Cambodian construction of international-standard projects may not always be [straightforward].”

He said initial delay in 2010 was caused by the global financial crisis and a decision was made to put the project on hold.

Mr. Leon, who on his LinkedIn account says he became COO of the Grand Lion Group in March 2013 and has also acted since August 2008 as a bankruptcy attorney with offices in Sacramento California, said: “Several years later, we restarted construction with new consultants and contractors. We anticipated a 2016 opening, however, we agreed with Marriott to delay it until April 2017 to ensure everything is up to international standards.

“We have had to change several major materials as well as contractors in the last few months which has had an impact on our timeline.”

The 233-room Marriott property in Siem Reap, located on a 1.2-hectar site on the edge of town, will feature a kids’ game room to attract the young family market and will also feature 600 square meters of function space.

The hotel also features a grand ballroom and a rooftop bar with actual views of nearby Angkor Wat.

The Grand Lion Group, founded in 2003 and helmed by president and CEO, Lundy Nath, also plans to break ground in the fourth quarter of 2107 on a 250-room Marriott-branded resort in Sihanoukville, adjacent to a 688-unit residence and a retail mall.

The group operates in the hotel and real estate sector and has extensive agriculture holdings – in 2013 it set up a joint venture with a US-based timber investment management company and bought a 6,500-hectare rubber plantation in Kratie, now operated by the LN Agri Group, a 100 percent owned subsidiary of the Grand Lion Group.

In July 2014 the joint venture purchased an adjoining 6,300 hectare rubber plantation in Kratie.

The Grand Lion Group is also working with an Australian cattle company to develop a beef cattle feedlot in Preah Sihanouk province, and is considering a large scale freehold land irrigated rice project in Kampong Thom province.