Bangkok--4 Jun--Infinity Communications
10 years of success and commitment to Thailand tourism. New resort portfolios and rapid growth of demand in vacation ownership. Phuket, Thailand, (21 May 2009) Absolute Group of companies — the multinational group specializing in mixed-use resort and hotel development and management, and vacation ownership — celebrates 10 years of success with rapid expansion in resort and hotel and mix-used resort management and vacation ownership.
Absolute Group is committed to Thailand’s tourism industry with an investment of more than BHT 200 million baht in 2009. The group’s expansion will help to boost tourism in Phuket and Thailand in the long-term.
Mr. Bryan Lunt, Chairman of Absolute Group commented, “We see the expansion plan during this crisis climate as a challenge, and it will bring the best from of our management and team. We are confident in our worldwide operations and there is a clear trend and demand for quality branded and professionally managed mixed-used resort management and share ownership products.”
Absolute Resort Management (ARM) is experienced in professional hospitality management for hotel and resort properties and mixed-use developments. The Group’s resort management division already has three new boutique hotels for opening in 2009 and 2010, and ‘yooPhuket’ — a high-end branded resort with 256 stylish suites and penthouses, open in 2011.
Absolute has entered a collaboration with yoo (the world’s most celebrated designer - Philippe Starck - and John Hitchcox’s company) to launch yooPhuket, which is located in Kathu, nearby Phuket’s newest golf course, Red Mountain. yooPhuket will be Thailand’s most exciting designer development that will showcase Phuket to a worldwide audience. yooPhuket is expected to open in 2011 and will be managed by Absolute Resort Management.
One major factor in Absolute’s resort management expansion is the growth in number of new resorts in Phuket, Pattaya and Samui in recent years. A trend that is likely to continue over the long-term. New resorts need a professional resort management company to manage everything from operations to marketing and market positioning of the resort, which is where Absolute Resort Management excel.
The trend of branded resort properties around the world is growing as management companies can leverage their brand due to their strong and loyal customer base. Absolute Resort Management, through resorts currently under its management and a long history of resort management experience, bring a level of professionalism and expertise valued by many independently owned resorts.
Already under Absolute’s management are Absolute Sea Pearl Beach Resort and Spa — Phuket and Absolute Patong Ville Resort and Spa — Phuket. In April 2009 Absolute Resort Management secured management of the luxury Absolute Chandara Resort and Spa — 49 luxury villas on the northeast coast, near ‘The Yamu’ and Jumeirah Private Island Resort.
Furthermore, Absolute Resort Management will manage two more properties this year; Absolute Bangla Suites — a new concept hotel with 47 suites and 7 penthouses located in Soi Bangla, and scheduled to open in July 2009; and the new Absolute Beach Resort at Nakalay — 33 luxury suites and penthouses in a stunning private location overlooking Patong Bay, to open in September 2009.
In 2010, Absolute plans to launch Absolute Sansabai Resort and Spa — 100 suites with five-star facilities in the heart of Patong, near Jungceylon shopping complex.
“Phuket has strong fundamentals and is the main focus of our resort management expansion. All resorts in our portfolio are boutique resorts with complete holiday facilities such as pool, spa and restaurants. Each resort has its own market niche be it families, couples, honeymooners, for example. Our resorts range from three to five-star and we offer an exceptional holiday experience for all our guests,” added Mr. Lunt.
Alongside the expansion in resort management in Thailand, Absolute Group continues to expand its Absolute Vacation Club (AVC) business. AVC is a leading vacation ownership operator worldwide and recently opened two sales offices in prestigious locations in Bangkok and a sales operation in Tehran, Iran. The Middle East is expected to be a growing market and more offices are planned.
“Thailand is one of the major markets in Asia for vacation ownerships, and Thai buyers are growing in number. We sold over 100 memberships in the first month of operation. The interest continues to grow.”
“We see the expansion of these two business segments as helping to boost tourism in Phuket and Thailand in the long-term by attracting frequently returning visitors through our resort ownership program. We have a global customer network due to the different business sectors Absolute Group operates in, and we can see from our resort and development operations that Thailand, and Phuket in particular, are strong markets with a high number of returning guests and scope for much further growth”.
Absolute Group currently employs over 950 staff and operates 21 offices worldwide including three offices in Tenerife, Barcelona and Marbella in Spain; two offices in Bangkok, offices in Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui in Thailand, Turkey, two offices in Beijing, two offices in Hong Kong, Sanya in China, Moscow, Vladivostock and Khabarovsk in Russia, Kiev in Ukraine, and Iran.
Media contact:
Chanut Nawnarong or Nungruthai Julakul
Infinity Communications
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