Kick starting plans to become “one of the leading” hotel brands in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, SilverNeedle Hospitality re-launched its recent acquisition, Constellation Hotels under the SilverNeedle Hospitality corporate brand in Australia.

Unveiling the rebranded hotels earlier this morning, the hotel Group’s president Bill Black told e-Travel Blackboard it was the first step in the Group’s goals to become “one of the [hospitality] leaders in the Asia Pacific region”.

Hoping to operate up to 10,000 rooms in the Asia Pacific region over the next five years including 5,000 to 6,000 in Australia, Mr Black said acquiring the Constellation Group would help the Group reach long term targets by transferring “their expertise and management systems from Australia into Asia”.

“It’s a great merger and coming together of two concepts,” he explained.

“It will help us in the next wave [of growth] in the Asia region.”

He explained that while the Group will continue to develop and grow the brands in operations in Australia and New Zealand, SilverNeedle will focus on building its presence in Asia including growing travel destinations; Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, China and India.

Currently owning properties in Sri Lanka and India, he said the hospitality company will made official announcements on its the two properties during the first quarter next year, while plans in Indonesia are expected to be finalised during the first quarter next year.

Signifying the next step, the Group selected to title, NEXT Hotels and Resorts for its Asia branding.

“India development is a very slow process and even though hotels make many announcements to launch hotels there it is actually very different to get the hotel up and running,” he added.

“There’s opportunity in Sri Lanka because it is a new market with great potential, while South East Asia is really emerging and continues to emerge.

“Also this new traveller middle class Asian traveller... has created a lot of regional opportunities for hotels to grow and expand.”

The Group is preparing to unveil its first Chifley Executive Suites in Newcastle on 1 December this year as well as released other announcements over the coming months.