Experienced hotelier Suresh Subramaniam to lead regional growth with expanded collection of hotel brands

BWH Hotels is launching a strategic partnership with Wellington-based U Hotel Group as the start of significant expansion efforts in the New Zealand and the South Pacific regions. Through this collaboration, U Hotel Group's Founder and CEO, Suresh Subramaniam, will join the BWH Hotels team as the company's Head of Development for New Zealand and South Pacific.

U Hotel Group operates six properties and manages 30 short-term accommodation rentals across New Zealand and is known for delivering modern, uncomplicated stays in a variety of accommodation types. The collaboration will also involve the staggered migration of U Hotel Group's properties to the BWH Hotels' global distribution network.

The guest-centric service ethos of U Hotel Group aligns seamlessly with BWH Hotels' commitment to exceptional hospitality. As part of BWH Hotels' upcoming development pipeline in New Zealand, plans are underway to integrate U Hotel Group properties into the BWH Hotels portfolio, specifically under the SureStay brand. The U Hotel Group accommodations cater to independent, tech-savvy travellers with versatile options ranging from boutique hotels to well-appointed motels suitable for both business and leisure stays. Each property displays consistently high standards while providing modern amenities and seamless experiences in fantastic locations, making them an ideal fit for BWH's SureStay portfolio. SureStay Hotels feature four distinctive brands, including SureStay Hotel, SureStay Plus Hotel, SureStay Studio, and SureStay Collection.

Subramaniam brings extensive international experience to his new role, having worked across Singapore, Switzerland, Scotland, the USA, Australia, India and Thailand. His hospitality journey, which began at the Swiss hotel management school Les Roches, has led to the creation of a respected brand in the boutique accommodation sector, establishing U Hotel Group as an important part of New Zealand's hospitality landscape.

Rod Munro, Managing Director, BWH Hotels Australasia, said “The New Zealand and South Pacific region is incredibly important for us, and we see great potential for growth, especially with Tourism New Zealand's plan to grow tourism revenues by NZD 5 billion by 2028.” He added, “Suresh's appointment provides BWH Hotels with a powerful platform for expansion of our offering in this important market.” “We are excited to work with Suresh to bring the BWH Hotels' brands to ambitious hotel owners in the region,” concluded Munro.

"It is a pleasure to join the BWH Hotels Australasia team," says Subramaniam. “I am grateful for the support of Rod and the rest of the team. We are excited that together we will introduce a broad set of strong brands to the hotel owners and investors of New Zealand and the South Pacific.