12 August 2008

Langham checks into Phuket

HONG KONG - Langham Hotels International continues to show great faith in Thailand.

The company has signed a management contract for an all-villa boutique resort at Kalim Bay in Phuket.

The latest addition to the growing Langham portfolio will be the first boutique resort managed by an international 5-star brand in Phuket. It also puts the luxury hotel operator on track to operate at least five properties in Thailand within the next five years.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThailand is the resort capital of Asia and will continue to be so,Ã¢â¬~ said Brett Butcher, senior vice president, brands, sales and marketing with Langham Hotels.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœIt is accessible from so may places in the world and is a one flight destination for Europeans and Australians. Plus the whole of Asia loves the Thai resorts.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœIt has beaches, Buddhist religion, gracious hospitality and Thai food. As a destination it has an allure like no other in Asia.Ã¢â¬~

Scheduled to open in early 2010, Langham Place, Miora Resort + Spa, Kalim Bay, Phuket will comprise 78 villas including penthouses set on a hilltop location overlooking the Andaman Sea.

The resortÃ¢â¬â¢s design is masterminded by Hawaiian American architect, Clint Nagata of Blink, Bangkok, who has developed a number of major hotel and resort projects throughout Asia Pacific

Each villa will include apartment-style amenities with private bars and a contemporary entertainment centre. Private plunge pools will have retractable floating dining tables, day beds and bbq grills.

Penthouse villas with roof terraces will feature zero-edge pools with bubble beds as well as sail roofs and tanning lawns.