Como sapiens
It's difficult to find quality time to talk to Kuno Fasel. For one thing, his phone rings constantly. There's nothing too surprising about that for a managing director of an emerging hotel group. What is interesting is that the majority of the callers have the same question: "How do I get into Nobu this evening?" or "I'm told Nobu's full for weeks to come and I was wondering whether you could help."
Nobu, the one-Michelin-starred modern Japanese restaurant in the Metropolitan hotel on London's Park Lane, is undoubtedly a key part of the success of the Met, as it is affectionately known. Every evening celebrities from the world of fashion, entertainment and music ensure that the 160-seat restaurant achieves more than 360 covers.
Nobu has been so successful that it will form an integral part of the future development of Como Hotels and Resorts. And this development is the key remit of Fasel, along with some advice from a more famous name, former Savoy and Four Seasons' boss Ramón Pajares, who works with Como one-and-a-half days a week as an international adviser.
Just two years ago Como did not exist. The Metropolitan and its smaller neighbour the Halkin, both owned by the press-shy Christina Ong and her husband Ong Beng Seng, were run as independent hotels. The Ongs also own and/or manage other properties in Asia under the umbrella of HPL Hotels & Resorts, a Singapore-based hospitality management company.
But there was clearly a gap in the London hotel scene and it was no time before the Ongs' outlets were making an impact. It was time to expand and go higher-profile.
To this end Pajares was brought in, and Fasel, a Swiss national with a Four Seasons background, was hired by the Ongs to boost the portfolio. The name Como Hotels and Resorts became the umbrella name for the Metropolitan and the Halkin and a host of new siblings that now include Circus Apartments in London's Canary Wharf; Ubon by Nobu restaurant, also in Canary Wharf; Monarch House in London; luxury hideaway Parrot Cay on the Turks & Caicos Islands in the Caribbean; and, most recently, Cocoa Beach in the Maldives. A 180-bedroom hotel in Bangkok is also under construction and will open next June as a Metropolitan, a brand that is likely to be developed for future city centre properties.
Until now the portfolio has been dominated by properties that are 100% owned. But future developments could see more joint ventures or even pure management contracts. "We are always looking for someone who wants us to manage something and would consider all possibilities," confirms Fasel. Topping the wish list for new properties are Phuket in Thailand, Bali (where the Ongs already own two Four Seasons properties), New York and Chicago.
Key factors when looking for new properties are whether the local market would be able to sustain a Nobu or similar restaurant concept, and/or a luxury spa. Both the Met and Parrot Cay have gone down the spa route, introducing Shambhala health clubs - retreat spas with bespoke products focusing on holistic methods such as yoga.
Como Hotels and Resorts
Turnover: £55m
Founded by: Ong Beng Seng and Christina Ong
Director: Kuno Fasel, aged 60
Director and international adviser: Ramón Pajares, formerly regional vice-president with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and, from 1994 to 2000, managing director, Savoy Group of hotels and restaurants
Portfolio
Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos, Caribbean: 58 villas and suites
Circus Apartments, London: 49 units
Monarch House, London: 40 units
Cocoa Beach & Spa, Maldives: 30 units
The Metropolitan, London
Bedrooms: 155
Anticipated occupancy 2002: 70%
Occupancy 2001: 64%.
Anticipated average achieved room rate 2002: £255
Average achieved room rate 2001: £248
The Halkin, London
Bedrooms: 30, plus 11 suites
Anticipated occupancy 2002: 74%
Occupancy 2001: 73%
Anticipated average achieved room rate 2002: £315
Average achieved room rate 2001: £305
Food and beverage
Nobu, one Michelin star; run as a partnership between the Ongs, Japanese founder Nobuyika Matsuhisa and actor Robert De Niro
Ubon by Nobu, Canary Wharf
Nahm at the Halkin, first one-Michelin-starred Thai restaurant in Europe
Future developments
The Metropolitan, Bangkok, Thailand
Opening June 2003. 182 bedrooms. Three food and beverage outlets also on the drawing board
Villa Bukin, Ubud, Bali, 40 villas
Shambhala Spa & Villas, Ubud, Bal
