After starting as a single boutique hotel in late 2012 and growing to four owned and managed properties this year, Hotel Clover is set to expand to countries across Asia — including China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia — with 300-plus room, 4-star boutique hotels.
Teo Kok Hwee, CEO of the Singapore-based operation, will open a fifth Singapore hotel in July 2015 and is especially excited about preparing to launch a CSR initiative called CloveRedi2Art — an art-sharing program in collaboration with veteran local artist Jiu Jian. “We view our CSR program as an important part to our brand and reputation,” Teo said. “We aim to align our values and business practices with our responsibility for arts education and the society.”
Teo noted Clover hotels are positioned uniquely to attract different target markets. The first property, Hotel Clover 769 North Bridge Road, is branded as a vintage-themed boutique hotel; Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street is a modern business hotel that attracts the European market, especially Russians; Hotel Clover The Arts is an art-themed boutique hotel; and Hotel Clover 33 Jalan Sultan boasts a serene urban sanctuary with a Southeast Asian flavor. “On average, our hotel properties receive about 80% daily occupancy rate,” he added.
Teo — who started as an owner at Woleco, a supplier of bathroom amenities and bed linen to hotels worldwide, and later became the owner of IPACS, a hotel consultancy firm specializing in turnkey renovation servicing Starwood hotels in the Middle East and Africa — oversees a staff of 50. He personally meets with his hotel managers and assistant hotel managers every morning as he develops the brand and positions existing hotels. To achieve this, he believes in focusing on service, amenities, attention to design, décor, landscaping and technology.