Amari kicks off with football-themed hotel
Thailand-based ONYX Hospitality Group has been appointed to operate a 60-room football themed hotel in Thailand’s North Eastern province, Buriram. It will be operated under the Amari brand.
Amari Buriram United is owned by Buriram United Sport Hotel Company.
Buriram is well known in Thailand for its rich history and football.
The province boasts an abundance of temple ruins, including the most spectacular Angkor monument in Thailand.
The local football team, Buriram United, is the first Thai football team to reach the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League in a decade.
President of Buriram United Football Club, Newin Chidchob said: "Amari Buriram United is one element of a project I am investing in to ensure Buriram becomes one of the country’s top five tourism and sports destinations able to attract both local and foreign tourists.
"In 2014 we will be adding an international motor circuit to the stadium complex and this, combined with the existing football stadium, will push Buriram to the forefront of sports and leisure tourism in Thailand."
ONYX president and CEO, Peter Henley, said: "As Amari’s first themed hotel, we also look forward to introducing a fun and creative new hotel design inside and out.
"Sports tourism is a huge potential and emerging market for both domestic and international visitors to Thailand."
The hotel structure has a stadium design with most rooms looking into a central area which includes a mini football field and swimming pool.
Inside the hotel, guests will enjoy players’ changing room-style bathrooms and a themed restaurant with bench-style seating, replicating team-style dining.
The property is scheduled to open in Q4 2013.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt