Resort reports

The Amari Orchid Resort in Pattaya has just completed the renovation of its 234 guest rooms and public areas. The resort is in the process of building a new tower wing with 300 additional guest rooms, restaurants, a spa and a convention centre, to be completed by 2006. Amari Hotels and Resorts is also expanding into Chiang Rai, where it took over managerment of the Amari Teak Garden Resort on 1^st April. Tha Lanna-style resort houses 76 guest rooms, meeting facilities, a spa and a free-form swimming pool.

Baam Bayan

The Baan Bayan in Hua Hin offers guests deluxe accommodations in 25 rooms, suites, villas and penthouses with garden, courtyard or sea views in a colonial-style teak house that dates back to the early 1900s. The resort also features a swimming pool with an open-air bar that serves cocktails and snacks, sundecks, and deluxe facilities.

Central Hotels and Resorts have added their Village Resort Concept Services to the Central Karon Village Phuket and Central Samui Village. The services include personalised check-in with drinks and cold towels, upgraded breakfast service, poolside services, new furnishings in the villas and complimentary late check-out depending on room availability. The Central Samui Beach Resort has upgraded 31 of its 208 guest rooms, two restaurants and children’s facilities, and also added The Club, an exclusive club marketed towards upscale clients.

Horizon Karon Resort

In June, the Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa will open in Phuket with 130 superior and deluxe rooms with pool or sea views, private balconies, in-room safes, mini-bars, tea and coffee making facilities, en suite bathrooms and satellite television. Facilities include two swimming pools, a kid’s club, a health and fitness centre, and Sontaya Spa.

Layana Resort

The Layana Resort on Koh Lanta Yai Island is a beach front boutique property that occupies three kilometres of white sand beach. Set against a backdrop of forested mountains, the resort offers 47 garden pavilion guest rooms and 3 beach and ocean deluxe suites, which all come equipped with spacious bathrooms,  private balconies, DVD players and satellite television.

In early 2006, Meritus Hotels and Resorts will open a yet-to-be-named 5-star spa resort that will house 150 deluxe guest rooms and suites. Construction of the resort, in keeping with traditional building techniques, will not use nails or concrete.

The new Natural Ville Executive Residences offers modern and comfortable studio and one-bedroom apartments, a fully-equipped business centre, spa, fitness centre and swimming pool, as well as the world-famous Lenotre Parisian Café. Located on Lang Suan Road, in the heart of Bangkok close to the BTS Skytrain, restaurants and nightlife, the residence is recommended for frequent visitors or those looking for a little extra freedom and living space. Managed by Accor, this well-appointed residence enjoys renowned standards of international style and service.

Purimuntra Resort & Spa

In Hua Hin, the boutique 4-star Purimuntra Resort & Spa is ready to welcome guests to its guest rooms, bar, spa and swimming pools. Accommodations include 14 superior, deluxe and deluxe beach rooms, all equipped with modern facilities, as well as 5 pool and beach villas and suite, which come with private pools and balconies. By late 2005, the resort’s meeting facilities, large enough to seat 50 visitors theatre-style, will be available.

Treetops Arasia

In mid-2004, the Treetops Arasia soft-opened on Phuket’s Surin Beach with 48 suites, including 30 Benjamart suites with terraces and outdoor Jacuzzis, 12 Jamjuree suites with private gardens and outdoor rain showers, and six Rachavadee suites with indoor and outdoor sitting rooms and private pools. The luxury boutique hotel, which will have its grand opening in July 2005, also houses a 1.5 hectare tropical garden, the Evolve Spa and gourmet meals at a restaurant, with plans to add an herbal garden and an outdoor pavilion to hold cooking courses.

CHI Spa opens in Bangkok

At the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok, 2.3 million USD was spent creating the CHI Spa, which features décor and furnishings that incorporate traditional Chinese beliefs, including sandstone floors and walls (earth), copper stands (metal), wooden chairs and tables (wood), water sculptures (water) and warm candles (fire). The spa, which is situated on two floors, has nine private treatment rooms for acupressure, massage and more.