Undaunted by the plethora of existing hotels, Allson International Hotels and Resorts

of Hong Kong has opened new premises on Monivong Blvd, the Allson Star.

Aimed at the business market, the hotel has 67 bedrooms on five floors, grouped around

a light-filled atrium.

A well-equipped business center is situated on the first floor together with a conference

room for nine people.

The venture, costing between $2.5m and $3m, has been financed on a joint basis by

two partners, Cambodian businessman Kon Dara Koa, and Peter Lek of the Hiap Huat

Co of Singapore.

The French general manager, Franck Lafourcade, is currently training 80 local staff.

"The market will be growing, " he predicts. "Our first two floors,

with 24 rooms, are almost full."

With many years experience in Asia and Polynesia, Lafourcade is not worried about

competition from other hotels such as the Holiday International and Royal Phnom Penh,

even though Allson Star has no swimming pool or fitness center.

The Allson group, headed by Patrick Allante, began in 1989 and now owns four other

hotels in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

"We have other plans for Cambodia too, " added Lafourcade without elaborating.