American-born Bangkok-based entrepreneur William Heinecke, announced that his Minor Hotels chain will add over 10,000 rooms and increase its number of properties to 600 in 59 countries by 2025 propelled by resurgent tourism in Thailand and beyond.

Dillip Rajakarier, Chief Executive of Minor Hotels, said that of  65 new hotels in the pipeline, 58 will be through management contracts. He also added that management contracts were the most appropriate vehicle when venturing into new markets, and should the properties prove successful, investment would follow.

Minor Hotels currently operates more than 530 hotels with a total of 78,226 rooms in 56 countries under eight brands. Its latest hotel management contracts are in Egypt, Peru and Bahrain. Minor International, however, with divisions in food, hotels and retail brands has a footprint in 63 countries.

Minor International was founded in 1978 by William Heinecke, an entrepreneur and son of a Voice of America correspondent who had been posted to Thailand. Heinecke is now a Thai citizen. He started out in business as a 16-year-old with a simple office cleaning service before moving into advertising, heading Ogilvy & Mather in the Kingdom before striking out on his own.

Most notably, he essentially introduced Western fast food to Thailand at a time of low popularity to win over Thais. Heinecke bet that people were more alike than different and his instincts proved correct as he won over Thais with brands such as Burger King, Mister Donut, Dairy Queen and The Pizza Company among many others.

The eight Minor Hotels brands in Thailand are Anantara, AVANI, Oaks, Tivoli, NH Collection, NH Hotels, nhow and Elewana.

Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/photo/