
Khao Lak Hotel Updates
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by Rungtip Hongjakpet Izmen
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Khao Lak, Phang Nga's centre for natural beauty,
has moved back into the tourism spotlight, with
hotel heavy-hitters moving in.
Kempinski is to take over the former Sofitel,
Phuket's family-run Kata Group will open its
fifth resort next to Le Meridien Khao Lak, and
by next high season the Similana, buried in
the jungle but with a gorgeous beach at its
feet, will bear a new and - Phuket Dot Com understands
- very famous name.
Khao Lak is back.
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Kempinski takes over Sofitel Khao Lak resort
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| Kempinskis
CEO Reto Wittwer |
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The Sofitel Magic Lagoon in Khao Lak is to reopen
soon under a new flag as the Kempinski Hotel
Cher Fah.
Kempinskis President & CEO Reto Wittwer
announced that the first phase of the refurbished
hotel will open in November this year, with the second
phase scheduled for completion in 2009. When both
phases are complete, the five-star resort will have
320 rooms, including 40 pool villas, on a total of
80,000 square meters of land, surrounded by tropical
gardens and lagoons and with a 300-metre-long beachfront.
Mr Wittwer said Kempinski is pleased to be
part of the recovery of Khao Lak after the 2004 Tsunami.
With the Khao Lak resort, we can offer our guests
the chance to experience the grace and elegance of
traditional Thai hospitality.
The Kempinski Hotel Cher Fah is one of two properties
in Thailand that will soon bear the companys
name. The other is the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.
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Sarojin makes it two in a row
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| The Sarojin's
lobby-reception |
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The Sarojin, the independent resort just north of
Khao Lak, has been named Asias Leading
Boutique Hotel for the second year running at
the World Travel Awards 2007. The World Travel Awards
have been hailed by the Wall Street Journal as the
travel industrys equivalent of the Oscars.
Kate Kemp, Co-owner and Executive Director of the
resort, said, All the team at The Sarojin are
extremely honoured and proud to have retained this
global award for a second consecutive year. To know
that The Sarojin team has continued to significantly
innovate and improve on such high standards is a wonderful
acknowledgement of the staffs hard work and
truly exceptional spirit. We are deeply proud.
Opened in October 2005, The Sarojin has since garnered
a variety of awards. It won the title World
Luxury Romantic Hotel at the World Luxury Hotel
Awards 2007, and was included in Condé Nast
Travelers Asias Best Beach Spas
2007 and Hot List Hotels and Spas 2006.
It also appeared on the front cover of Condé
Nast Travelers October 2006 issue.
| See The
Sarojin's rates |
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The Sarojin has rooms available on Latestays
with special bargains for the next 28 days, starting at 12,000 THB
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Meridien Khao Lak first to get five stars
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| Le Meridien's
award |
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Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort was recently
awarded five stars by Thailands Foundation for
Standards and Human Resources Development in the Hospitality
Industry also known as the Hotel Standards
Foundation making it the first hotel in Phang
Nga Province to receive such an award. The certificate
was presented to Martin Raich, the resorts General
Manager, by Dr Suvit Yodmanee, Thailands Minister
of Tourism and Sports.
The five-star rating was awarded based on an evaluation
of the resorts physical aspects, including location,
surroundings, construction, architecture, safety and
security systems, as well as its guest facilities,
quality of service and quality of maintenance.
Le Meridien is extremely gratified to earn
this prestigious five-star rating, said Mr Raich.
We believe it illustrates our superior quality
of services and facilities, and [recognises] our consistent
[efforts] to surprise, delight and make our guests
feel at home.
The Hotel Standards Foundation is a not-for-profit
organisation set up in 1999 by the Thai Hotels Association,
backed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the
Association of Thai Travel Agents. For more information
call the foundation at +66 (0) 2281-9496
| See Le
Meridien Khao Lak's rates |
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Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach Resort has rooms available on Latestays
with special bargains for the next 28 days, starting at 4,373 THB
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| by
Rungtip Hongjakpet Izmen |
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