November 4, 2026 - News Release
CEO Rei Matsuda Featured in Forbes Thailand Executive Interview
From a Gap in the 3-Star Market to a Goal of 1,000 Hotels Worldwide
We are proud to share that our Founder and CEO, Rei Matsuda, has once again been featured in Forbes Thailand, this time in its Executive Interview section.
In the article, titled “When a Japanese Founder Builds a Hotel Business in Thailand: Kokotel’s 11-Year Journey from a 3-Star Market Gap to a Dream of 1,000 Hotels Worldwide”, Rei looks back on why he chose Thailand in 2015 and shares how Koko Global Hospitality (KGH) plans its next stage of growth.
Key Highlights from the Forbes Feature:
- Seeing the 3-Star Gap: Rei saw that the gap in 3-star hotel standards between Thailand and Japan came from management systems, not people. KGH focuses on mid-sized hotels of around 50–150 rooms and runs them on behalf of owners, without needing to own the property.
- Today’s Portfolio: KGH operates 36 hotels (about 2,400 keys) under Kokotel, VIVTEL, and owners’ own brands in Thailand, the Philippines, and Japan, and around 55 hotels (about 4,000 keys) including the pipeline.
- The Road to 1,000 Hotels: Since COVID-19, KGH has grown its hotel count by about 36% a year. Keeping that pace would take us to 1,000 hotels in 10 countries across 6 continents by 2035, with Laos, Australia, and the Middle East among the markets being explored.
- Efficiency, Technology, and AI: Leaner hotel operations, central support from headquarters, about 10 in-house AI project teams building their own tools, and a growing direct-booking and membership program.
- A New Brand for Secondary Cities: A new brand aimed at 3-star hotels in Thailand’s secondary cities, bridging large chains and independent hotels, with the first hotel expected in 2027.
A Vision for the Future
Rei explains why a slower travel market can also open doors for professional hotel management:
When tourism is weak and hotel performance softens, owners are more likely to hand management over to professionals. That makes this a good opportunity for us.
Read the Full Interview
We invite our partners, owners, guests, and community to read the full feature on Forbes Thailand.
👉 Read the Full Forbes Thailand Article Here
Thank you to Forbes Thailand, and to our team and partners who make milestones like this possible. Interested in optimizing your hotel’s performance? Contact us for a free consultation.
