Phuket Hotel Updates

by Rungtip Hongjakpet Izmen

Third Sugar Palm Resort Set To Open

The Sugar Palm Grand Hillside at Kata Beach opens in November 2008, featuring minimalist elegance in art and design, and a glamorous blend of innovation and luxury. The resort has 38 Deluxe Pool View rooms, 17 Jacuzzi Deluxe rooms, 11 Deluxe Pool Access rooms, 20 Grand Sea View rooms and 20 Grand Pool Access rooms.

A highlight of the hotel is the 11 swimming pools that flow into one another in a series of waterfalls. The Sugar Palm Grand Hillside is part of the Mali Corp Group, a Thai resort company that already has four other resorts in Phuket, ranging from three stars to five. These are: the 108-room Sugar Palm Resort on Kata Beach, the 89-room Sugar Palm Karon on Karon Beach, the 47-room Patong Premier Resort on Patong Beach and the 41-villa Malisa Villa Suites on Kata Beach.

The Bell Phuket Opens In November

The Bell Phuket Villas Resort

The Bell Phuket Villas Resort in Kamala is set to open in November. This new property consists of 16 luxury pool villas nestled in the lush tropical landscape of Kamala Village. The resort offers a choice of two-, three- or four-bedroom vacation villas at reasonable rates, with the ultimate in privacy and a large private swimming pool and terraces.

Guests may entertain their family or a group of friends with a Pool Party, a sumptuous BBQ, or a private massage in the sala, or select from a variety of other activities provided by the resort. The Bell Phuket also offers some of the finest cuisine on the island, prepared by two of Europe’s finest chefs, the award-winning Marc De Schrijver and Corry Ringoet from Antwerp. The Bell Phuket is about 5 minutes from Kamala Beach and Leam Singh Beach, and 10 minutes from Patong Beach.

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa For Phuket

Koh Lone

Phuket has attracted yet another luxury resort brand, the Tata Group’s Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces (THRP). The company is developing a high-end resort, the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa on 125 rai of land on Koh Lone, an island to the southeast of Phuket, in Chalong Bay. The total investment in the 100-room hotel with 19 private villas is believed to be almost 10 billion baht.

The resort is expected to be open in late 2009. In the past two years, THRP has announced the launch of five other new luxury projects: a Taj Palace luxury hotel in Cape Town, South Africa; Taj Exotica Golf Resorts & Spas in Doha in Qatar, and Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE; and an agreement with Aldar Hotels & Hospitality to manage a 500-room hotel on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, as a Taj Palace.

Phuket Orchid Resort Wins Thomas Cook Award

Phuket Orchid Resort & Spa

The Phuket Orchid Resort & Spa in Karon has won the 2007-2008 “Best Sun Garden Resort in Winter” award from travel giant Thomas Cook. The award was presented to Pramuk Achariyachai, Chairman of Kata Group Resort, by Ake Bjork, Contracts Manager of Thomas Cook Northern Europe, in Bangkok on September 4. The award was based on the results of survey questionnaires sent to 3,200 customers booking travel through Thomas Cook.

The survey covers a variety of topics including the quality of the hotels, value for money and quality of hotel staff. The Orchid was the only hotel in Thailand to receive an award this year. Thomas Cook currently brings the second-largest number of tourists to Thailand, behind only TUI Travel. Apollo is third.

Mom Tri’s Two Latest Projects

Mom Tri’s Villa Royale

Architect, developer and hotel owner ML Tridosyuth Devakul, better known as Mom Tri, is to open two new sophisticated yet relaxed restaurants in Phuket. The first, right next to Kata Beach and due to open in mid-November 2008, will be Mom Tri’s Oasis On-The-Sea, the scene for the ultimate in beach-front dining and drinking surrounded by a tranquil courtyard with a retail wine cellar and designer shops. Mediterranean fusion, including tapas, will be the menu theme at the Oasis.

The Oasis Spring Bar will offer a beer, spirits and wine list of more than 250 labels. Wine may also be bought from the Oasis Red+White wine shop. Parking will be available at Mom Tri’s Villa Royale nearby, with a shuttle service to the Oasis. Also opening in the same month, but on the other side of the island at the Royal Phuket Marina, will be a new focus for fine food and luxury dining, Mom Tri's Boathouse Regatta restaurant.

Cape Sienna Phuket To Accept Booking From Early 2009

Cape Sienna Resort

The new Cape Sienna Resort on the headland to the south of Kamala Beach will begin taking bookings from January 15 onwards. The chic upscale resort has 98 studio rooms, 44 deluxe rooms, two suites and two penthouses, all with stylish architectural interiors and stunning sea views from private terraces. No modern convenience has been overlooked.

Each room is fitted with flat-screen TV’s, broadband wireless Internet access, sophisticated sound and lighting systems, a generous minibar and carefully selected beauty kits. Other facilities include an elegantly-designed 36-metre marble pool and infinity Jacuzzi surrounded by a deck area; a Poolside Club and Bar; Restaurant and Sky Bar; Café & Sosa Bar, a library, a snooker room and a spa. For information on rates see www.phuket.com/capesienna/rates.htm

Five Phuket Resorts Win Smart Travel Asia Awards

Indigo Pearl Resort

Amanpuri has been voted No 1 in the "Top 25 Leisure Hotels & Resorts" section of a major online poll covering Asia. Four other Phuket resorts also made the list. Twinpalms came 12th in the poll, conducted by the online travel magazine Smart Travel Asia. The JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa was 13th, the Banyan Tree Phuket was 21st and the Indigo Pearl Resort – which opened just 18 months ago – made its first appearance in the list in 24th place.

Indigo Pearl General Manager Arnaud Girodon said, "We are proud to be a newcomer to this prestigious list of the top 25 leisure hotels and resorts in the region. We would like to thank all our guests for their votes in this poll."

The Smart Travel Asia poll was based on substantial hands-on travel experience, word of mouth and an idea of the brand drawn from media exposure through advertising and editorial coverage, to determine Asia's best business hotels, luxury resorts, spas, destinations, business cities, and the world's best airlines and airports. The survey, which targeted frequent travellers, ran for three months, from May to July, 2008.

Sheraton Grande’s Island Villas

Sheraton Island Villas

The Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket has unveiled its recently rejuvenated two-bedroom Island Villas, which have been redesigned “to capture the indigenous values of Thai culture through distinctive designs, radiant colour, native sounds and historical art”. The textured fabrics of saffrons, indigoes and golds used in the villas are “inspired by the spiritual traditions of the ‘Wat’, or temple, which is at the centre of Thai culture and community”, the hotel explains. Horizontal lines, a character of Wat architecture, are echoed throughout the villas in the headboards, fabric patterns, artwork, furniture and fittings.

Guests of the Island Villas will also discover its meaningful collection of bells; the sound of bells resonating through a Wat signifies the spirits’ acknowledgement of the ringer’s merits, creating good karma. The rejuvenation of the Island Villas includes evocative re-designs of the bedrooms, bathrooms, living and pantry areas, resulting in a dramatic transformation. These refined villas are unsurpassed in delivering an enriching, authentic experiences of Thai Culture.

New GM For Meridien Khao Lak

Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort

The 243-room five-star Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort, next to the 13-km Bangsak Beach, has announced the appointment of Torsten Richter as General Manager. Mr Richter, who is from Germany, was previously Hotel Manager at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket Resort. He holds a degree in hospitality from Germany and a food and beverage management degree from Cornell University in New York.

Since graduating he has amassed 18 years’ experience in the hotel industry, including key F&B positions in Asia and Europe. At the Sheraton he has been replaced by Australian Lyndon Ellis, who has 12 years’ experience in the industry, including posts in the Hayman Resort in Australia, Le Meridien Port Villa Resort & Casino in Vanuatu, and Le Meridien Angkor in Cambodia. He joined the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket as Director of Finance in April 2006.

Vijitt Resort Phuket Reopens

The Vijitt Resort

As All-Villa Resort The Vijitt Resort (formally Vijitt Bungalows) has been through a major renovation, turning it into an all-villa resort hotel. The 92 villas will include three family villas, 13 two-storey pool villas, 72 deluxe villas and, for ultimate luxury, four beachfront Vijitt Pool Villas.

The architects, Bangkok-based Movida, were selected for their creative use of local materials and their unique interior and exterior designs. The décor is clean and uncluttered while at the same time featuring luxurious teak wood finishes and a strong sense of Southern Thai architecture throughout, from the wooden tile roofs to the use of coconut and bamboo in the finishes.

Occupying a beautiful beachfront location on Friendship Beach in Rawai, Vijitt Resort is surrounded by trees including coconut palms, rubber trees, and a huge variety of fruit trees. The resort enjoys stunning views across Chalong Bay to Lon and Coral Islands and Cape Panwa. It is 45 minutes from the Airport and 25 minutes from Phuket City.

Dewa Phuket Resort Opens in December

Dewa Phuket Resort

The Dewa Phuket Resort is set to open mid-December 2008. The first phase, Dewa Phuket Residence, is already open. Integrating both resort and residential living, Dewa Phuket has 34 resort pool villas and 62 one- and two-bedroom residences, making it the ideal holiday resort for everyone, from honeymooners to families. Facilities include spacious double private spa treatment rooms with outdoor bath.

A large free-form pool meanders through lush greenery next to the main lobby area of the Resort, while the Residence has a 25-meter lap pool for the serious swimmers, as well as a children’ s pool. The guest services desk is manned 24 hours a day and there is free high-speed Wi-Fi Internet access throughout the resort. Dewa Phuket is just a few steps from Nai Yang Beach, next to the Sirinath National Park, on the northwest coast of Phuket island, and just five minutes’ drive from the airport.

West Sands Phuket

West Sands Phuket is scheduled to open phase I of the resort in April 2009. Phase II is due to open in October. West Sands will feature a total of 450 contemporary residences and elegant, prestigious Pool Villas and will be able to accommodate up to 1,800 guests. This high-profile development will set new milestones for Phuket and it will be a destination of its own.

Claude Baltes, the Resort Director of West Sands Resort (formerly with Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and Six Senses’ Evason Phuket & Spa) is leading the management team as they are gearing up to prepare for the opening. West Sands Phuket received the 2007 Thailand Property Green Development Award for its environmentally friendly building standards and is on the shortlist for the 2008 Green Development award and the Best Condo award.

by Rungtip Hongjakpet Izmen

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