Singaporean billionaire Asok Kumar Hiranandani’s Royal Group picks Thai hospitality giant for first London hotel

The WestDill Mayfair Hotel London is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year under Minor Hotels’ Colbert Collection brand, according to a company announcement recently released.

It will be the first Colbert Collection property in the U.K. and also Royal Group’s first venture in Europe.

Located on Piccadilly in central London, the five-star hotel will feature 50 rooms and suites across six floors, along with premium facilities including an upscale restaurant and a bar. It is intended to cater to both business and leisure travelers, according to Travel and Tour World.

“This is an asset of exceptional architectural pedigree, and our ambition has been to reinstate its inherent grandeur while sensitively reinterpreting it for a contemporary hospitality context,” Bobby Hiranandani, Royal Group’s co-chairman, said in the announcement.

“More broadly, we view this project as a meaningful contribution to the continued renaissance of Mayfair and the wider West End.”

London has drawn interest from Singapore’s property billionaires in recent years. Kwek Leng Beng’s City Developments Limited acquired the Holiday Inn London – Kensington High Street late last year, as well as St Katharine Docks in 2023.

Separately, real estate group Ho Bee Land, controlled by Chua Thian Poh, bought The Scalpel office tower in 2022.

Asok Kumar Hiranandani, who was ranked Singapore’s 30th richest man last September with a net worth of US$1.9 billion, is the co-founder of the former Royal Brothers property group, according to Forbes.

The business was split in 2011 after a family settlement with his elder brother and fellow billionaire Raj Kumar, who now runs Royal Holdings and RB Capital with his son Kishin RK.

Minor International was also founded by a billionaire, Thai hotelier William Heinecke, who started the business at age 17. He ranked 19th on Thailand’s rich list last year with a net worth of $1.3 billion.