Hotel performance across Thailand has bounced back after a troubled year, reports STR Global, the leading provider of market data to the world's hotel industry. Year-on-year revenue per available room (RevPAR) for the first six months of 2011 is up in all major markets across the country.
Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced that its first property in Khon Kaen, in northeastern Thailand, will have its soft-opening at the end of 2011. Centara Hotel & Convention Centre Khon Kaen is a new development built by Khon Kaen Buri Company Limited and will be managed by Centara under a management contract signed in August 2009.
Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts has appointed three associates to join Angsana Laguna Phuket, the flagship property of sister brand Angsana Hotels & Resorts, set to open on December 1, 2011. The team will consist of Jerry John as General Manager, Ed Diluca as Resident Manager and Luhu Winarno as Executive Assistant Manager, Rooms. Together, this top-notch group has more than 16 years of experience managing some of the top Banyan Tree properties around the world. Leading the hotel as General Manager is Jerry John, who has 25 years of hospitality experience under his belt. Prior to Angsana Laguna Phuket, Mr. John oversaw operations of the award-winning Banyan Tree Phuket as Hotel Manager. Ed Diluca was an integral part of the opening team at Banyan Tree Mayakoba in Mexico, and directed the food and beverage function there for two years. Executive Assistant Manager, Rooms, Luhu Winarno, has been with Banyan Tree since 1999 and was most recently Hotel Manager, Banyan Tree Ringha in China.
Thanyapura, Phuket’s innovative hospitality and sports group, is delighted to announce the appointment of highly respected hotelier, Mr Robert C. Hauck, as Group President of its unrivalled hotel and sport facilities as of September 1, 2011.
Paul Stevens, Director of Operations – Accor Thailand says "As one of Thailand's most recognised hotel brands, Novotel Bangkok IMPACT's location within the IMPACT complex will provide 'a home away from home' for business and events travellers visiting the complex."
Amari, the centrepiece of the ONYX Hospitality Group's portfolio of hotel brands was recently recognised as the Most Popular International Hotel Brand of Southeast Asia in one of China's leading hospitality industry awards.
Visser will be based in Outrigger's Asia Pacific corporate office in Phuket, Thailand. He will be responsible for overseeing and directing all hotel operations of the Group in the Asia Pacific region. Visser previously held finance and operations positions with the Mandarin Oriental and Peninsula hotel groups. A native of New Zealand, Visser will help Outrigger expand its portfolio of hotels in Asia Pacific. Outrigger currently has properties open in Phuket and Koh Samui in Thailand, Bali in Indonesia, Fiji, and three in Queensland, Australia. It has confirmed additional projects in Bali, Vietnam and Hainan, China. Apart from the Mandarin Oriental and Peninsula groups, Visser also worked for Hyatt International and as a management consultant in London.
VingCard Elsafe, the global leader in hospitality security and part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, has completed installation of its advanced VISIONLINE wireless RF-online locking system at all 401 guestrooms and serviced apartments at the luxurious Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok. VISIONLINE by VingCard features standalone electronic locks that are connected via to a central property server. The locks communicate with the server via online radio frequency, eliminating the need to manually encode keycards, cancel master cards and check battery life.
Sofitel So Bangkok, scheduled to open by early 2012, will be Asia's first hotel to offer a fully connected lifestyle, with complete Apple-based digital solutions to what guests want to know, see, hear and do for leisure or work. From hotel service directory to the most comprehensive in-room entertainment system available today, it's literally all at one's fingertips.
Mr Croft started his career at Banyan Tree in 2006 as the Director of Sales, UK where he successfully managed leisure accounts and business out of the UK. He also held the role of Director of Sales & Marketing for Angsana Riads Collection, Morocco where he was involved in pre-opening and opening of six riads, responsible for marketing plans, rates and sales strategy.
VIE Hotel Bangkok, a member of the MGallery Collection, and V Villas Hua Hin managed by Accor, recently promoted Mrs. Wanida Tardivel as its Director of Business Development & Strategy, a promotion from Director of Business & Marketing. The appointment is effective immediately. A graduate of Hotel & Tourism Management from Prince Songkla University’s Phuket Campus, and Mass Communications from Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok. Her professional career in the hospitality and tourism industry spans almost two decades and she has held key positions several of Thailand’s most prestigious hotels including Le Meridien Bangkok, Four Seasons Bangkok, Evason Hua Hin-Six Senses, and Marriott Resorts & Spas in Bangkok.
The Swiss hotel company assumes management of the Residences Laguna Beach Phuket which is perfectly complementing its resort and spa on Karon Beach. With immediate effect, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is undertaking management of the Palm Beach Club hotel and rebranding it Mövenpick Residences Laguna Beach Phuket.
The Conrad Bangkok has announced the appointment of Linda Giebing as the hotel’s new Director of Business Development. Responsible for developing and implementing the commercial goals of the hotel, Ms. Giebing will oversee and direct activities across sales, marketing, catering, public relations, revenue management, and reservations.
The search for the perfect family resort is all too familiar to parents seeking a little R&R. At Soneva Kiri by Six Senses in remote Koh Kood, the architects revisited childhood dreams to construct the kind of facility that inspires children and brings a big smile to the faces of their parents. The Den at Soneva Kiri is an extraordinary over-ground bamboo-framed structure exclusively for the use of younger guests. It's built in the shape of a gigantic manta ray hovering amongst the tree tops with a cavernous belly full of LIFE (Learning-Inspiring-Fun-Experiences).
Dusit Thani College, the leading centre of hospitality learning in Thailand established by Dusit International, marks another milestone with the expansion of its newest campus, in one of Asia's most well-known travel destinations - Pattaya, Thailand. Dusit Thani College Pattaya City will open its doors to the public in June 2011.
The St. Regis Bangkok is ideally situated on the prestigious Rajadamri Road in the heart of the city and, at 47 stories, it is destined to become one of the defining silhouettes on the city's dynamic skyline. Designed by world-renowned Brennan Beer Gorman Architects, The St. Regis Bangkok features 227 guestrooms including 51 suites, and 53 residences with luxury amenities, services and incomparable dining options that will undoubtedly set a new standard in hospitality in the region while becoming the best address for international travelers and influential local residents. The hotel will also be the first hotel in Bangkok to introduce butler service to all its guests in addition to the first Elemis Spa and ZUMA restaurant in Thailand.
Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts will take over the operations of the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket from Starwood Hotels & Resorts when the current management contract expires on 30 June 2011. The hotel will be closed from 1 July 2011 for extensive renovation and refurbishment works to the sum of US$30 million. The works will include all rooms, meeting facilities, and public spaces such as the lobby and restaurants. When completed, the hotel will be re-branded under Banyan Tree’s sister brand, Angsana Hotels & Resorts, as Angsana Laguna Phuket.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, today entered a management agreement with Thai company, Elite Villa Co., Ltd, to launch the InterContinental Resort brand in Koh Samui, Thailand. IHG will take over the management of the existing Baan Taling Ngam Resort & Spa, the island's very first luxury resort.
IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) recently announced the launch of 'Zire Wongamat', the company's third real estate project in Pattaya, Thailand. The luxury condominiums, which will be built by Thai property developer Raimon Land, are situated along the prestigious Wongamat Beach and offer a unique investment opportunity for GCC residents.
Hotel Indigo, the industry's first branded boutique hotel, today announced it will open in Phuket, Thailand. This is Hotel Indigo's second development in Thailand and the first boutique in a resort destination globally.