Bangkok--14 Mar--Bangkokstation Network
Asia Partnership Fund Group (APF Group) has entered the hospitality industry with the acquisition of the luxury Zeavola boutique resort on Phi Phi Island in a deal worth 630 million baht. APF Group has also appointed Invision Hospitality Co., Ltd to manage the resort, and is aiming to attract Japanese tourists to complement existing visitors from Europe, the United States and Asia.
Mr. Mitsuji Konoshita, President and CEO of Asia Partnership Fund Group, announced APF Hospitality, a subsidiary company of APF Group, has acquired Phi Phi Coral Resort Company Limited, the parent company of Zeavola Resort, from former shareholder HTR Corporation Limited, a subsidiary of Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction (PCL) in joint venture with Ban Pong Sugar Company Limited. APF Group purchased 100% shares on March 14th worth 630 million baht. United Securities (PCL) acted as the financial consultant.
This acquisition marks APF Hospitality’s first steps into the tourism and hospitality industry. The Zeavola Resort is located on the northern tip of Phi Phi Island, with white sandy beaches and serenity incorporating a charming Thai village design. The resort also combines new technology with traditional Thai hospitality and charms. The ultimate goal for this boutique hotel is to be the perfect, distinctive hideaway to relax in style.
“Zeavola Resort is a member of Small Luxury Hotel of the World of the UK and has received the accolade of being one of the 60 Best New Hotels in The World by Conde Nast Traveller magazine. This award has helped establish the strength of the Zeavola brand among international travelers. The resort is targeted at high-purchasing clients, including young professionals aged between 35-45-years-old, and Hollywood superstars. The most important factor for these clients is privacy. The average length of stay is between 7 and 15 nights, and looking ahead we will focus on Japanese tourists as well.”
Previously most travelers were from the UK and other European countries such as Spain, Italy, France and Sweden. The resort has been used as a location for photo shoots for many renowned fashion magazines, and also as a location for films. On Phi Phi Island there are four hotels and five motels and guesthouses. Zeavola Resort is one of the newest and most deluxe destinations on the island. Travelers have accepted its distinctiveness, and with its unique style and identity the resort is a fearsome competitor in the world market.
APF Hospitality has appointed InVision Hospitality, a well-known expert in real estate, development and hotel and resort management, to oversee its hospitality and tourism business.
“The reason we chose Zeavola Resort is because we see it as a very unique and luxurious hotel, located in one of the most attractive tourist spots. The hotel itself has high potential and generates good revenue, which fits well with the previous APF Group investment policy. We need to be the major shareholder because we have our own management style, and APF Group is certain that InVision Hospitality will not disappoint us.”
In the future APF plans two or three more deals similar to this one, with United Securities also acting as financial consultant. APF Hospitality is one of the holding companies and will focus mainly within this industry. Zeavola Resort is willing to work with the Thai government’s tourism policy to attract tourist from around the world to experience Thailand. Zeavola Resort is targeting high-purchasing power foreigners and there will be more development to increase capacity and welcome even larger number of tourists in the future.
Background of A.P.F. Hospitality Co., Ltd
A.P.F. Hospitality Co., Ltd., founded in 2007, is an investment holding company which is part of Asia Partnership Fund Group. A.P.F. Hospitality focuses on hospitality and resort business in the region and acquired 100% shares in PP Coral Resort Co., Ltd, the owner of the Zeavola Project on March 14, 2008.
Background of InVision Hospitality
InVision Hospitality is the freshest management, consultancy and advisory services company for the hospitality industry in Southeast Asia, founded in May 2007 by Kevin J Beauvais. The company’s core values rest firmly on operational efficiency, long term value and profitability. Using its in-depth knowledge, strategic insight and extensive experience, InVision Hospitality helps elevate each hotel, resort and residential project to its full potential. InVision is also a hotel developer with its own brands including luxury brand SOMA Hotels & Resorts, deluxe brand Lantern Hotels & Resorts and a mid tier brand Glow Hotels.
InVision Services:
Management Agreements, Hotel Development/Investment, Technical Services, Master Planning Consultancy, Business Modeling, Food & Beverage Development, Sales & Marketing Services, Photography, Project Management, Brand Development, Mystery Audits and Human Resource Services.
Background of Zeavola Resort
Zeavola welcomed the first couple on June 16th, 2005 and started to present the charms of rural Thailand to the world.
The plans were certainly ambitious, yet they are well conceived. Investment to date has exceeded 480 million Baht and the goal of being the leading boutique resort in Asia is within sight.
Investment is not an end in itself and Zeavola has sought to develop services to meet guest's requirements and to exceed their expectations. By taking on the mantle of pioneer, Khun (Mr.) Quanchai has built 48 deluxe villas entirely of wood on this fine tropical island. He dared to incorporate designs, shapes and style new to other hotels with the ultimate goal in mind to create this luxurious, rural and charming Thai village. A new generation of hospitality has been born!
A hotel can't function without its workers! Employees' moral, training and care and respect for individuals are a founding principle of Zeavola where we all work hand in hand. Zeavola employs approximately 170 associates for its 48 villas.
A team of dedicated terrific individuals serve, help, support and please our valued guests. Along with our well-experienced managers, all staff must undergo continuous education in their specialized fields to guarantee that their skills remain finely honed. The necessary expertise of all resort staff in the use of modern technology and equipment isn't at the expense of perceived notions of traditional national warmth, which is why Zeavola truly combines new technology with Thai hospitality and charms.
Zeavola is located on the Northern tip of Phi Phi Don Island (Laem Tong), approximately 48 kilometers from Phuket. To access Zeavola you can use either the speedboat transfer service by Zeavola or the daily public ferry services. Getting your luggage and going through customs will take you about 1hours from an international flight and about 1 hour from a domestic flight. The limousine transfer to the Boat Lagoon from where we operate our speed boat transfer takes 1 hour. Kindly keep this in mind when you organize your flights and transfers.
Scheduled Speedboat Transfer Service by Zeavola*
From To Departure Time Arrival Time
Phuket ** Zeavola 14.00 h. 15.00 h.
Zeavola Phuket ** 11.00 h. 12.00 h.
** Phuket Boat Lagoon
The transfer cost for the daily scheduled departure is Baht 2,500++ per person per way, and includes the one hour limousine transfer from Phuket International Airport (minimum 4 passengers required). If you would like to be picked up from a hotel in Phuket, please kindly contact our Reservations Department when you place a booking.
For arrivals or departures other than the scheduled times, a private speed boat transfer can be arranged at Baht 15,000 net per way, and includes the one hour limousine transfer from Phuket International Airport. The speed boat is suitable for 8-10 passengers plus their luggage.
*Zeavola reserves the right to amend the departure time or cancel the speedboat service subject to the weather condition. In such case, we will transfer all guests to/from Zeavola by the scheduled public ferry services.
Ferry Services*
From To Departure Time Arrival Time
Phuket Zeavola** 08.30 h. 11.00 h.
13.30 h. 16.00 h.
Zeavola** Phuket 07.00 h. 11.00 h.
13.00 h. 16.00 h.
** Laem Tong
The transfer price for the ferry service is Baht 1,500++ per person per way, and includes the one hour limousine transfer from Phuket International Airport (minimum 2 passengers required). If you would like to be picked up from a hotel in Phuket, please kindly contact our Reservations Department when you place a booking.
The ferry services are public services and are NOT operated by Zeavola. The departure times may change without notice. Please feel free to consult our Reservations Department for proper transfer arrangements that suit your flights when you place a booking.
From Feb 1, 2007 you can access to zeavola from phuket and krabi International Airport faster by Destination Air Shuttle
- Phuket - PhiPhi - Phuket
- Krabi - PhiPhi - Krabi
for more information, Please contact our Reservation or simply visit www.destinationair.com
For more information, Please contact:
Samorn Phooim (Oi) Tipsukon Paoborom (Kwan)
IR & PR Marketing Manager PR Media Supervisor
Bangkokstation Network Co., Ltd Mobile: 081-6355205
www.bangkokstation.co.th
www.businessweek.co.th
Tel. 02-6528964
Fax.02-6547631-2
Mobile: 081-9844814