November 5, 2026 — La Résidence Phou Vao, the hillside hotel above Luang Prabang, has reopened under Marriott as La Résidence Phou Vao, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa — Marriott’s first property in Laos and its 800th in Asia Pacific outside China.
What is happening
Marriott announced the opening on November 4, and La Tribune de l’Hôtellerie followed with details on November 5. The hotel was previously part of Belmond. Its owner, KS Hotels, bought it from Belmond with HMD Asia in late 2024 and signed with Marriott in March 2026 to bring it into The Luxury Collection. The same deal covers La Résidence Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia, expected in October 2027.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Property | La Résidence Phou Vao, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Luang Prabang |
| Brand / company | The Luxury Collection (Marriott International); owned by KS Hotels |
| Location | Phou Vao hill, about 2 km from Luang Prabang’s old town, inside the UNESCO zone, Laos |
| What’s happening | Rebrand/conversion from Belmond; now open as a Marriott hotel |
| Opening | Announced as open November 4, 2026 |
| Rooms | 36 suites (34 under Belmond) |
Features: Garden Heritage, Mountain View and Phou Si Temple suites, some with separate living areas and private terraces; La Brasserie de la Résidence for contemporary French cooking with regional produce, plus a bar; private dining at Villa des Arts, a colonial house five minutes away; a Lao tasting menu; the open-air Mekong Spa with five signature treatments, sauna and relaxation lounge; a 13-meter infinity pool; a fitness center; and activities including dawn gong meditation, sunset river cruises, and trips to the Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Waterfalls. The original architecture, gardens and pool were kept.
What it means for airline travelers
- Airport: Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ) serves the city. Most visitors from outside Asia will connect through a regional hub; check current schedules, as the sources did not cover flights.
- Points now count: as a Marriott hotel it is bookable on marriott.com, so Bonvoy members can expect to earn and use points here; award pricing was not published.
- Small hotel: with only 36 suites, peak dates can sell out, so book early if your trip dates are fixed.
- Industry rates: no travel-industry or airline-employee rate was mentioned in the sources.
Sources
- Hotel News Resource — La Résidence Phou Vao, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Luang Prabang Becomes Marriott’s 800th APEC Property
- La Tribune de l’Hôtellerie — Ouverture, Laos | Marriott fête son 800e hôtel en Asie-Pacifique avec La Résidence Phou Vao, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa
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