Unique Hotel and Resorts plans wider expansion as Bangladesh hospitality market evolves

Dhaka : Unique Hotel and Resorts PLC plans to expand its hospitality portfolio in Bangladesh while navigating rising costs, stronger competition and a challenging business environment, according to its CEO Md Shakawath Hossain.

Hossain said the country's hotel sector continues to have strong long-term potential, despite economic pressures and higher operating costs. He added demand is becoming more diversified, with corporate travelers, expatriates, domestic tourists, business events and development projects                    contributing to hotel activity.

The group currently operates The Westin Dhaka, Sheraton Dhaka and HANSA - A Premium Residence, serving luxury, upscale and extended-stay segments respectively.

Expansion pipeline remains priority

Md Shakawath Hossain

Hossain mentioned Unique's expansion strategy remains focused on long-term opportunities, with major projects including Taj and Vivanta properties in Gulshan 2 and a St. Regis project in Gulshan.

He claimed construction, approvals, financing and the broader business environment have affected project timelines, but the company remains committed to completing the developments to international standards.

Rather than setting artificial opening deadlines, Hossain said the company would announce launch dates once the projects reach a sufficient level of certainty.

He described the developments as strategic investments that could strengthen Bangladesh's premium hospitality infrastructure and expand the range of internationally recognized hotel brands available in Dhaka.

More international brands to intensify competition

The arrival of additional international brands is expected to make Dhaka's hotel market more competitive, but Hossain views the development positively.

He expressed greater competition would encourage hotels to improve service standards, innovate and provide guests with more choices. For Unique, the strategy is not simply to add rooms but to develop a portfolio serving different customer segments while strengthening Dhaka's position as a regional business and tourism destination.

Beyond the capital, the company sees opportunities in destinations including Cox's Bazar, Kuakata, Bandarban and Sylhet, while the Sundarbans also has significant tourism potential.

Hossain noted developing quality accommodation in these destinations could support the broader development of Bangladesh's tourism industry.

Rising costs put pressure on hotel projects

Higher construction and financing costs, imported equipment prices, taxation and operating expenses are creating challenges for hotel development, according to Hossain.

He said even relatively small increases in development costs can significantly affect the viability and timelines of capital-intensive hotel projects.

Hossain called for a more rational tax structure and incentives for the hospitality sector, particularly during the construction phase. He also said greater local production of quality food and other supplies could reduce the industry's dependence on imports.

At the operational level, he highlighted his six-point framework for food-cost optimization: purchase control, inventory control, right transfer, portion control, appropriate cooking and wastage control.

The approach, he added, is intended to strengthen accountability and control costs without compromising food quality, standards or guest satisfaction.

Connectivity, tourism promotion critical

International business travelers, foreign investors, tourists and MICE events remain central to Unique's growth strategy, Hossain said.

To attract more of these visitors, Bangladesh needs better air connectivity, infrastructure, destination marketing, easier visa procedures and a more supportive policy environment.

He further mentioned the country already possesses significant natural beauty, cultural heritage and economic potential, but needs to present these assets more effectively to international markets while improving the infrastructure and services required to support visitors.

Hossain also identified high taxation, regulatory complexity, infrastructure constraints, import dependence and shortages of skilled hospitality workers as major structural challenges.

He called for greater investment in hospitality education and skills development, along with streamlined regulations and stronger cooperation between the government and private sector.

Broader role for Unique

Looking ahead five years, Hossain said he wants Unique Hotel and Resorts to become a stronger multi-brand hospitality group with a presence in both Dhaka and major tourism destinations across Bangladesh.

The company's ambition, he mentioned, extends beyond adding hotels. It aims to contribute to tourism development, create quality employment, strengthen hospitality skills and bring international standards and investment into the sector.

"Ultimately," Hossain concluded, the goal is for Unique Hotel and Resorts to be recognized not simply as a hotel company, but as a leading force in the development of Bangladesh's hospitality and tourism industry.