Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc (M&C), the hotel arm of Hong Leong Group Singapore was ranked the largest Asian hotel group in 1999, according to data compiled by Travel Business Analyst and published by TTG Asia. TTG Asia cited the figures in its 9-15 Feb 2001 issue, which put M&C's rooms at over 30,000 world-wide. This was enough for M&C to be ranked first, with Prince Hotels and Tokyu taking second and third place respectively.
M&C was the only Singapore controlled group among the top six mentioned in the trade magazine. Apart from M&C, the other groups were mostly Japanese, according to data by Travel Business Analyst's, Research Director, Murray Bailey.
In the same report, TTG Asia cited the world's top three international hotel groups: Cendant whose main brands include Day Inns and Howard Johnson, topped the list as world's largest hotel group in 1999 (based on number of rooms). In second and third place were Bass and Marriott.
The information on ranking was based on room count. In 1999, M&C had 117 hotels located in 13 countries.
In late December 2000, the hotel group transferred 16 of its management contracts to Service World Network Inc (SWAN). SWAN is a subsidiary of City e- Solutions Limited (CES), the hospitality e-business arm of Hong Leong Group which is listed in Hong Kong.
In September last year, M&C sold two of its limited service hotels and another five in early December. "The above properties were identified as properties for disposal at the time of the acquisition of the Regal Group", said Gerry de Silva, spokesman for Hong Leong Group Singapore, M&C's parent. The Regal Hotels in the US was acquired by M&C in mid-December 1999 in a deal worth US$ 640 million.