Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the signing of an agreement with Grand Bay Hotel Co., Ltd., wholly owned by Apex Development Public Co., Ltd, to unveil theSheraton Phuket Grand Bay Resort. Slated to open in January 2019 on Thailand's largest island, the hotel will support the brand's Sheraton 2020 goal of adding 150 hotels in the next five years.
Located within the lush woodlands of Kamala in Phuket, Keemala embraces a Thai cultural philosophy and blends the fictional history of four indigenous clans with the decadence of an upscale resort. Designed by Thailand based Architect Space, with Pisit Aongskultong from Pisud Design Company managing the resort's creative vision and interior designs, the design is inspired by stories, cultures, traditions, and lifestyles of these early Phuket settlers and offers a truly unusual alternative to most hotel experiences in the region.
The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket has appointed Piyoros Naronglith as general manager, effective since November 23, 2015. Naronglith has over 10 years of hospitality management in Thailand and was most recently the executive assistant manager of W Retreat Koh Samui. Prior to that, he had held various roles at properties such as the Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa and Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket.
Kevin Jean Fawkes has been appointed Culinary Director of The Nai Harn as the relaunch of this iconic Phuket resort draws near after 18 months of extensive renovations.
The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket announces the appointment of Mr. Piyoros Naronglith as their new General Manager effective November 23, 2015, he brings with him a wealth of experience in hospitality management spanning over 10 years in Thailand.
ANDY Kunz has been appointed the new general manager of Point Yamu by COMO in Phuket, Thailand. In his new role, Kunz will be responsible for all 106 rooms, suites and villas of the resort as well as the COMO Shambhala Retreat at Point Yamu along with its two restaurants – La Sirena and Nahmyaa. He will also oversee the new private COMO Beach Club at Naka Yai Island. Prior to the appointment, Kunz was most recently the general manager for Anantara Phuket Layan Resort and Spa. With almost 20 years of hotel industry experience, Kunz also took on senior management roles at other international chain hotels such as GHM and Four Seasons.
An Australian national, Jay has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. Jay’s career has taken him to some of Australia’s leading hotel and resort brands, including the luxury Hayman Island Resort in the Great Barrier Reef, along with Hyatt and Rydges hotels in Queensland. Most recently, Jay served as Executive Assistant Manager and Food & Beverage Manager at the Daydream Island Resort & Spa in the popular Whitsunday Islands from 2009 to 2011, before taking an even more exotic assignment as Regional General Manager for Coral Sea Hotels in Lae, Papua New Guinea. There, Jay spent four years managing two hotels, which included a total of 133 guest rooms, several food and beverage outlets and a large off-site catering operation.
Sascha Hemmann has been appointed as General Manager of Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa. Sascha moves to Phuket from his previous position as General Manager at Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villa Resort & Spa.
Mr. Connelly joins Angsana Laguna Phuket with over 35 years of leadership in the hospitality management. Prior to this, he was Cluster General Manager at Doubletree Resort Phuket, General Manager of Oakwood properties in Asia Pacific and held management positions in Hilton, Fairmont and Intercontinental in Asia Pacific and Middle East.
Ms. Bulut, as Hotel Manager for Angsana Laguna Phuket, has more than 20 years of experience in Rooms Division with many global brands. She will oversea the day-to-day operations of the scenic beachfront resort, including budgeting and financial management as well as front-of-house Food & Beverage operations.
– Banyan Tree Phuket is thrilled to announce the arrival of Alfonso de la Dehesa as its new Executive Chef. Coming to Thailand from the Banyan Tree resort in Cabo Marqués, Mexico, Alfonso brings with him a highly-developed focus on modern and international cuisine, honed over decades of experience at some of the world’s most distinguished restaurants. Originally from Spain, Alfonso soon earned a reputation for exceptional quality in his approach to culinary innovation and presentation. His considerable talents found their expression at ARZAK, a 3-star Michelin restaurant in Spain – and then again at El Bulli, another 3-star Michelin restaurant, considered by many to be the best in the world. Alfonso next became Chef de Cuisine at Spain’s most successful catering company, Catering Medens. He remained at that position with his subsequent appointment at Jumeirah – the first of several 5-star hotels he has worked for in the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Mexico and now Phuket, Thailand.
Bangkok-based hospitality management company Absolute Hotel Services is delighted to announce the appointment of Khun Poomdecha Rattanyoo as the new General Manager of AHS’ 4 star 104-room property Eastin Yama Hotel on the tropical island of Phuket.Khun Poomdecha, or “Nok” as he is more usually known, is a Thai national and has nearly 25 years of hospitality experience in his native country in a number of luxury hotels and resorts throughout the South of Thailand. Prior to taking up his new position he was General Manager of the deluxe Sea Sun Sand Resort in the world-famous Patong Beach.
In Phuket, Supanee Tanvivatjinda, a Thai national, has been appointed financial controller at the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas. With over 10 years’ experience in finance, Supanee has worked at Novotel Coralia Phuket, Laguna Beach Resort Phuket, Laguna Holiday Club Resort and most recently at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket. In her new role she will provide vision and leadership in the development of finance functions and ensure adherence to the resort’s financial strategic objectives.
At the Outrigger Asia Pacific head office in Phuket, Catherine Lim has been appointed as marketing and ecommerce manager for Asia Pacific. Lim, a Singaporean national, has broad experience in marketing and marketing communications, sales, sponsorships and publicity across a number of sectors in Asia. She recently spent three years in Cambodia as a Web and marketing communications manager.
At the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort Haydee Cruz has been appointed as director of sales and marketing. With over 20 years of experience, Cruz, who is from the Dominican Republic, started her career at the Sheraton and has since held senor sales positions with Marriott and Accor and has had previous Thailand experience as group director of sales for the Marriott and Anantara Cluster based in Bangkok.
At the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort in Thailand, Leah Matters has been appointed as resort manager. Matters has been with Outrigger for seven years, the last three as general manager of the Outrigger Twin Towns Resort in Queensland. Before joining Outrigger, Matters, an Australian national, was general manager at the Sands Management Group.
John Ranaudo, Italian native was born and raised in Canada, he return to his native where he grew his passion in the food industry. He began his career from independent hotel to reputable properties in Italy and Asia, including Waldorf Astoria, Centara, Amari and Cape & Kantary hotels. John brings more than 28 years of experience to the resort where he is responsible for the entire food operation.
Prior to joining The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket, Sanjana held the position as Director of Sales and Marketing at Sheraton Krabi Resort & Spa, she began her hotel career in in Nepal, then gradually moving up to key positions in Sales and Marketing in Asia Pacific. She previously worked for Marriott & Hyatt hotels. Sanjana will oversee the Sales, Events & Catering and Marketing & Communications.
In the Asia Pacific region, Outrigger Resorts has appointed Ruud Hulscher as General Manager – Operations. A former general manager for Outrigger on Phi Phi Island, Thailand, Hulscher will be based in the Outrigger Asia Pacific office in Phuket. He will report to William Visser, Vice President Operations, Asia Pacific. Hulscher will take charge of operating standards, work with hotels to improve guest satisfaction scores, ensure that best practice fire, life, health, safety and security are in place, and provide support to field operations as a floating GM as and when required. His new role started on 1 March.
Widely respected hotelier Anthony Lark has been appointed managing director and general manager of Trisara, a high-end resort of 48 pool villas and 20 privately owned residences on Phuket’s west coast.