Hotels Using First-Mover Advantage in Destinations Off the Beaten Path
Photo Credit: A dock on Tilghman Island, Maryland, where Wylder Hotels built a luxury property. Flickr / Chesapeake Bay Program
Skift Take
It's the classic chicken-and-egg dilemma, but more hotels are forging ahead and building in remote areas — confident travelers and businesses will follow.
When Banyan Tree Group became the first international hotel group to build a Maldives property 30 years ago, there were just a smattering of flights to and from the country. But the archipelago has since become a honeymoon destination as hot — and haute — as its sunny shores.
Being the first in a destination can not only help establish a hotel brand, but also put it in a position to spark local growth and economic development. Setting up shop before competitors can help hotel companies lure travelers to destinations they otherwise might not have considered.
"A typical hotel group would go to a city location, a safe location that's trialed and tested so, espe
