With a global portfolio of 18 world-class brands and more than 977,000 rooms across 118 countries, American hotel group Hilton continues rapid expansion into the Asia-Pacific region. The group’s latest Southeast Asian expansion takes it into Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh.

Leading global hospitality group Hilton Hotels & Resorts is set to enter Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, in 2022.

The world-class hotel chain’s Cambodian expansion will be part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 17 distinct hotel brands.

Hilton Phnom Penh will be conveniently located nine kilometres from the Phnom Penh International airport. It also stands a short distance away from tourist hotspots such as the Phnom Penh Central Market (known to locals as Phsar Thmey, or “New Market”), and the Wat Phnom temple, a historical site of worship that was built in 1372.

Nestled in the prime central business district area, the Hilton Phnom Penh boasts an impressive 280 rooms spread across 15 floors, rooftop dining, an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a cafe and bar.

In addition to a fitness center and swimming pool, the hotel also features an executive lounge where business travelers can work from between meetings. The project also features more than 1500 square metres of function space catered to meeting and events professionals, including an 875 square metre ballroom.

A long-time heavyweight in the hospitality sector, this new development marks an exciting new growth chapter in the company’s history, coming just as the Hilton brand celebrated its 100th anniversary last year.

Prime time to enter Cambodia’s growing hospitality industry

“Cambodia as a destination is on a growth trajectory, with global businesses establishing a presence in the capital city and the government investing into its infrastructure to boost its tourism appeal. It is a great time to be entering the market” said Guy Philips, Hilton’s Senior Vice President of Development in Asia and Australia.

Situated in the heart of the capital, the Hilton Phnom Penh will occupy the hotel tower of a sprawling mixed-use development project, the Global Tech Exchange (G-TECH), in the new Phnom Penh City Center (PPCC).

As of now, only a few international hotel brands operate in the Kingdom. They include Sofitel Hotel & Resorts, Ibis Hotels and Holiday Inn, among a handful of others. Hilton enters Cambodia at a highly opportune moment to leave its mark.

The country’s developing markets have one of the most potential in Southeast Asia. Cambodia’s economic growth is predicted to be the highest in the ASEAN region, according to projections in end 2019 by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Statistics on Cambodia’s Tourism industry has indicated promising, consistent growth since 2013. On the whole, rapid economic and tourism growth in Cambodia presents investment in hotels and the broader hospitality industry as a financially attractive prospect.

Optimally situated as part of the Southeast Asia travel circuit – an alluring group of affordable destinations for many travellers from both West and East, interest in Cambodia as a travel destination has piqued both the hearts of backpacker tourists to more high-end luxury travellers.

As travellers are getting more adventurous, seeking to see more of Cambodia outside of the oft-visited Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh emerges as a highlight in travel itineraries to Cambodia. Phnom Penh in particular has also seen a demographic shift in travel trends – witnessing an increase in the number of business travellers.

About the Global Tech Exchange project

Designed by AEDAS, one of the world’s leading global architecture and design practices, the Global Tech Exchange will consist of the hotel tower with a convention centre, two office towers, an IT and media hub with a custom-built Data Center, as well as banking and medical services.

At present, global financial services company Prudential is set to be the anchor tenant of Office Tower 1. With a trio of towers ranging from 26 to 30 storeys, the Global Tech Exchange (G-TECH) will be carving an iconic silhouette in the Phnom Penh City Skyline.

Along with an additional two full storeys of sought-after retail outlets to serve the local community, the G-TECH development is poised to be Phnom Penh’s new hospitality, business and retail hub, set for completion in 2022.

Working collectively with the wider Phnom Penh City Center, the Global Tech Exchange will create opportunities for the cosmopolitan bustle to bloom in Phnom Penh, bringing in sleek new modern energy to complement Phnom Penh’s traditional cultural charm.

Phnom Penh City Center: Cambodia’s answer to ultra-modern Smart City Living

The Phnom Penh City Center (PPCC) is the city’s first and only Central Business District, and the nation’s most ambitious development project yet. It is strategically surrounded by prime sites such as city government departments, the French Embassy and Calmette Hospital.

Conceptualized to transform the city’s landscape into a modern, sustainable, residential, commercial and leisure hub, this development of 111.6 hectares of open and futuristic urban district space is built both for local and overseas business and investors.

It is set to be home to leading banking institutions, corporate headquarters and international brands. By 2025, the new PPCC district expects over 56,000 residents to call it home and more than 190,000 daily visitors.

The Phnom Penh City Centre development will consist of over 10,000 homes and 83,000 square metres of office space in a planned CBD. This comes alongside broad roads and emergency services that link to the hospital, coupled with a seamless sewage system with built-in flood-prevention measures.

The integrated township also boasts stellar security features, with a 24/7 police post, fire and even a rescue station.

Infrastructural plus points are plenty: the project will have high-speed internet connections with the installation of fiber optic cable networks within the development, top-quality sewage system with flood-prevention technology, and an uninterrupted supply of water and pressure due to proximity to PPSWA.

With a self-sustaining approach and ingenuous urban planning work that has gone into this project, Phnom Penh’s integrated township heralds Cambodia’s transition to smart city living.