Absolute World

TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Roy — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:59:47 +0000

We're delighted to announce that TripAdvisor has awarded our Absolute Bangla Suites with a 2013 Certificate of Excellence.The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 per cent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award. To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months. “TripAdvisor is delighted to celebrate the success of businesses around the globe, from Sydney to Chicago, Sao Paulo to Rome, which are consistently offering TripAdvisor travellers a great customer experience,” said Alison Copus, Vice President of Marketing for TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award provides top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers.”

So thank you to everyone who has left a review!

The Samui Regatta 2013

Roy — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:27:41 +0000

The Samui Regatta is the island’s biggest sporting event and brings in competitors and spectators from around the world. The regatta forms the final event of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix, and it’s a lot of fun, even for non-sailors. This year, the festivities and races start on 25 May, and end on 1 June, with the gala dinner and prize-giving at the Centara Grand Hotel in central Chaweng. The five official days of racing begin on 27 May, including a reserve day should there be no wind on one day — Samui, being a tropical island, can have unpredictable weather. As the race starts out at sea (where exactly to be confirmed, due to best winds), if you really want to see the action, it’s best to buy a ticket on a spectator boat. Email the organisers for a list of boats available. Several parties are held throughout the week, and non-competitors can also buy tickets to these. The biggest of the parties is the one at Beach Republic in Lamai, this year held on 29 May from 19:00 onwards. It’s quite a happening event with big-name DJs keeping the atmosphere alive. A new event this year — the Open Paddleboard Challenge — should be fun to watch from shore, with competitors racing SUP boards. It starts on 30 May, and the finals will take place from Chaweng beach the following day. Always cute to watch is the Junior Regatta, where children race optima yachts from outside Tradewinds Resort, next to Centara Grand in Chaweng. These young sailors give it their all, and there are prizes for them too, at the daily prize-giving, held on the beach from 17:00 to 19:00 daily. Spectators can buy a pass, entitling them to free drinks from the sponsor stands at the daily prize-givings, or buy individual tickets to the parties. Other than the party at Beach Republic, most of the action takes place in central Chaweng, or if you prefer to not be involved, stick to the other beaches for this week. Samui Regatta www.samuiregatta.ning.com ksr@regattas.asia Official 2013 Programme: 25th May (Sat) Early Registration 15.00 - 17.00 26th May (Sun) Registration, Practice Race, Skippers Briefing, Opening Party at Zico's Brazilian Restaurant & Bar.. 27th May - 1st June (Mon - Sat) 5-days racing plus 1 reserve day with daily prize giving and "Stand-Up Paddleboard Challenge" at Centara Grand Beach Resort. (17.00 - 19.00) 29th May (Wed) Beach Republic - Off-site regatta party. 19.00 - 10.00 30th May (Thursday) Junior Regatta Open Paddleboard Challenge BBQ at Tradewinds 16.00 31st May (Friday) Finals of Inter-yacht SUP Paddle board Challenge and daily presentations. 17.00-19.00 1st June (Sat) Gala Dinner and Presentations at Centara Grand Beach Resort.

60 second interview : Quetta Locchi

Roy — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:38:24 +0000

Full name : Quetta Locchi Nickname : Q I was born in Baltimore Maryland (USA), but grew up in both Baltimore and Philadelphia Pennsylvania and then attended Temple University (Philadelphia). I haven’t lived in Maryland since I was 18, and mostly consider Philadelphia home - it’s also where my parents reside. After a decade of nomadic living (Philly, New York, Los Angeles) I departed New York City for shores unknown in 2002. I finally arrived in Rome Italy, where I had visited 4 years prior. Rome is where I fell in love with my husband...the ancient adage was true for me: ‘all roads lead to Rome’. A long time food & beverage enthusiast, I developed my culinary appreciation and aesthetic working with some of Philadelphia's most celebrated chefs in the city's highest profile restaurants. I then became one of the city's well-known trend-spotters while working as Concierge for the luxury world leader, Four Seasons Hotel group. Later, jumping in to the even bigger pond of Manhattan (NYC), I produced high profile events for film, fashion & entertainment clients. Since arriving in Phuket 10 years ago, I have worked primarily as a Marketing Manager, later Marketing Director, specialising in Online Marketing & Social Media management. 2 1/2 years ago I launched a lifestyle blog, Ever Fly Ms Q. In 2012 I expanded it to develop and produce unique culinary events under the Ever Fly moniker. “Ever Fly Ms Q” curates and presents the “fly-est”, coolest and most interesting trends & offerings from cuisine, wine & cocktails to music, restaurants and events. 1) Initially, what brought you to Phuket and what keeps you here? I have always preferred an urban, city-focused existence and came to Phuket seeking a lifestyle change to a more natural environment. Even though Phuket has changed greatly in the last 10 years, I still enjoy the beautiful variety of tropical experiences on offer. 2) How did you come to work for Absolute? I had been connected to Absolute World Group Chairman & CEO Bryan Lunt on a professional networking site and he was kept up to date of my “Ever Fly” activities and events via my email newsletter. Once he was aware that I was looking for a new opportunity, he contacted me about a possible “multi-hat” role for Absolute World Group. 3) The topic of "special projects" is quite broad. If possible, please narrow down just what it is you do as Special Projects Manager. As Special Projects Manager I am involved in many different aspects of Absolute World Group development - from increasing efficiency in our F&B outlets, to producing company events (internal & external) to developing and executing Corporate CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives. I am essentially a facilitator and administrator who liaises with many departments to lead and contribute to growth and development of Absolute World Group’s core values. 4) How do you feel we can make Absolute stand out; make our brand special? By continuing to invest in the infrastructure needed for Absolute World Groups upward trajectory: Human Resources, Corporate Structure and Sustainability. 5) Tell us about your involvement with the 2013 ITU Phuket Triathlon Preparation. As coordinator for the Triathlon Organising Committee I am responsible for supervision of the multiple international corporate partners who are involved in the production of this major sporting event. 6) In what way do you feel that you are making a difference within Absolute? As a long time resident of Phuket, I have valuable local professional experience and am very comfortable and familiar with the challenges of working in a company with a diverse group of nationalities. That combined with my previous experience in North America’s most competitive markets and my American-branded work ethic fuels my efforts to effect a positive, inclusive cultural shift in Absolute’s corporate culture. 7) What is your favourite thing about Phuket? Food & local culture and to a lesser degree, relaxed lifestyle. 8) I know that you are an avid foodie, so, please tell us about your favourite restaurant in Phuket and why it's your favourite. If you don't have a fave location, tell us about your favourite meal to cook at home while entertaining guests. I’ll do both! I have a few fave restaurants, depending on the dish or the cuisine, however ““Suay”” in Phuket Town continues to amaze and satisfy me. The menu reflects a fresh modern (delicious) approach to Thai cuisine, yet maintains authentic flavor profiles all driven by passionate & talented Chef Tammasak (Noi). My husband and I are a great team and dinner at Casa Locchi is the best kind of cross-cultural exchange: a little bit (Black) American, a little bit (ok a lot) Roman/Italian, with many spices and techniques from other cultures (Thai, French, Moroccan, Japanese etc). There are too many meals to list as my favourite, but I keep a chronicle of all things delicious on my Ever Fly Facebook album 9) What are some of your hobbies and/or passions? Literature - am a voracious reader of the classics and memoirs/biographies (just finished the definitive Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis biography) Music - can’t live without Soul, R&B, Blues, Hip Hop, Opera & Classic Rock...there is always a soundtrack playing in my head. Creating unique dining experiences where music and/or art, cocktails and/or wine and cuisine intersect deliciously. 10) What are you most looking forward to this year? A visit home to Philly & New York after 4 years, to, alongside my reunion with loved ones, attend Afropunk.

Thailand tops hotel investment poll

Roy — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:48:27 +0000

Thailand was voted the most attractive nation in Southeast Asia for investment in the hospitality industry at the Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference, thanks to the country's strong infrastructure and ongoing tourism boom. Myanmar was ranked second, followed by Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The vote session via mobile phone was part of the two-day forum in Bangkok, which started yesterday. About 200 hotel executives and property owners across the Asia-Pacific region joined in the vote. Kevin Beauvais, co-founder and chief executive officer of Zinc/InVision Hospitality, based in Bangkok, was not surprised by the result. He said Thailand had remained more attractive for hospitality investment than other countries in the region, even as new countries like Myanmar emerge. Its competitive edge over rivals comes from its stronger infrastructure such as airport facilities and ground transport. Its performance will be much improved by the big investment on basic infrastructure initiated recently by the government, he said. The tourism boom is a key component. The number of foreign tourists is expected to increase to 24 million this year, a mammoth leap from 3 million 15 years ago. However, Beauvais said the government should not focus only on attracting "quality" tourists. The mass tourist market should be promoted as well because there is a large supply of hotel rooms across the country to serve them. Chanin Donavanik, managing director and CEO of Dusit International, agreed that the investment climate, especially laws, for the hospitality industry in Thailand helped persuade foreign players to invest here. In Bangkok alone, there are more than 100,000 rooms to serve tourists, while overall, hotels in Thailand outnumber those in Vietnam and Indonesia. At present, most foreign investors come from Asian economies such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Their presence underscores that they understand Asian culture more than their Western peers, making it easier for all to work together. Given the rising inflow of foreign tourists, Chanin urged the government to ensure sufficient facilities and services. These include airports, immigration, safety and hygiene. Chanin said 2013 was expected to be the best year for the hospitality business since the 2004 tsunami. The baht's appreciation has not hurt the industry so far because the market does not rely only on the US dollar. It has kept a balance of other foreign currencies.

60 second interview : Simon Armstrong and Dave Cruikshank

Roy — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:19:59 +0000

Simon Armstrong is the Restaurant Manager of The Climax Restaurant situated on the 5th floor of the Absolute Bangla Suites. Previously he was Executive chef Hotel parquet la paz Tenerife and the Executive chef /Manager restaurant La Terraza Tenerife. Dave Cruikshank, is the Front of House/Assistant Restaurant Manager at Climax. We caught up with them during their hectic schedule of planning and orchestrating all the ingredients that go into making the Climax Restaurant the success it is. 1) What brought you to Phuket, and what keeps you here? Simon : New ventures into the unknown territory of Asia, a change in life, Europe's financial crisis, and being closer to family. Dave : I wanted to try working in a different country, I'd always really liked Thailand so thought I'd give it a try. 2) How did you come to work for Absolute? Simon : I came here on holiday visiting family and was offered the opportunity to return on a full time basis to make a much needed change to The Climax. Dave : I was looking for work in the area and was fortunate enough to meet Simon, who asked for a copy of my C.V. and gave me an interview. I got a call a week later offering me a job at Climax and I haven't looked back since. 3) As a venue, what do you believe to be the best thing about Climax? Simon : The relaxed atmosphere, you could be any where in the world. Dave : We have a really beautiful restaurant with good views of Patong, also we consider ourselves to be a haven for people who want to escape from Bangla Road when they need a bit of peace. 4) Tell us a bit about the menu items at Climax - fresh, local produce? best sellers? most interesting dish on the menu? Simon : All the food is of first class standard, fresh local and organically sourced where possible, the most popular dish is certainly the locally caught Sea Bass with Thai red curry sauce. Dave : We buy all our produce fresh everyday, so we keep our menu quite small. We also have a variety of daily specials. Sea Bass with lemon lime butter is a very popular choice here, my personal favorite is the Australian fillet of beef with a port and blue cheese sauce. 5) What is your vision for Climax? Simon : To make it one of the most successful venues here in Patong ,a place where people of all ages feel at home and welcome. Dave : Our vision for Climax is for it to become the first choice restaurant for ex-pats and also to keep trying to improve on the hard work we've put into the last year to make us the number 1 restaurant in Phuket. 6) What is the biggest challenge that Climax faces? Simon : Location and local competition. Thai food is not of the highest quality, so can be cheap, but not of the same standard I want to offer. Dave : At the moment we are finding our customers are having difficulty finding us, so we are hoping through new signage and more publicity we can improve that and make it easier for everybody. 7) What is your favorite thing about living in Phuket? Simon : The weather and the friendly locals Dave : The people and living near to the beach. I've met some really good people who have helped me develop myself personally and professionally. 8) What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Simon : Usually Moto X ,but unfortunately I don’t have a bike here and even if I did there is not such a large following here unlike in Spain. Dave : I am a really big Liverpool fan, so I try to keep up with all the live games, also I try to keep fit by going to the local gym. Apart from that I love Thai food so I like to visit the local Thai restaurants. 9) Aside from Climax, do you have a favorite restaurant? If yes, what keeps you going back to this restaurant? Simon : No I spend nearly every night at work, so I eat here. Anyway the standard of local restaurants here have failed to impress me, the higher end ones I have tried all seem overpriced compared to what we offer. Dave : Champion restaurant on Nanai Road. It's all traditional Thai food and really good. At the moment I'm addicted to the Green spicy mango salad. It's very tasty. 10) What are you most looking forward to this year? Simon : Making a success of The Climax will be a great achievement and something to strive for. Dave : Hopefully a great year for Climax and on a personal level all my family coming over for Christmas which will be great after not seeing them for a while. To visit the Climax Restaurant check out their website or follow them on Facebook

Absolute Thai Magazine April/May 2013

Roy — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:25:47 +0000

The magazine boasts contributions from Editors and Journalists around the world, all with one common passion Thailand. Laced with humour, features, facts, news and articles, Absolute Thai Culture and Lifestyle Magazine also has the latest celebrity features, fashion, sports and general interest creating an excellent read.

60 second interview : Stefan Rehm

Roy — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:33:08 +0000

Stefan Rehm – General Manager Absolute Resort Management I am a German/Thai citizen who was born and grew up in Germany. After graduating in business administration, my first steps into the hospitality industry was a 3 year apprenticeship, where I worked in all departments from Front Office, Housekeeping, Accounting, Kitchen, Food & Beverage, to Human Resources. This training was supported by a German Hotel School where I developed the theoretical part of the business. After that a 3 month internship brought me to Thailand, and I have now been here for over 10 years. Before joining Absolute Hotels & Resorts I worked with several international chains as well as privately owned hotels throughout Thailand in fantastic locations such as Koh Chang, Koh Samui and Pattaya. 1) What brought you to Phuket, and what keeps you here? An internship brought me to Thailand where I joined Best Western International. I fell in love with this country right from the beginning. You have great weather all year around and fantastic food, but what really keeps me here is the mentality of the people, you will find this nowhere else. 2) How did you come to work for Absolute? I was asked to join Absolute Resorts & Hotels for their new hotel openings. As Absolute Hotels & Resorts is a well known and respected hospitality company with great products, my decision was made within seconds. 3) As GM of all of the Phuket properties, what is your biggest challenge? The challenges here are on a daily basis. You have to try to be on top of your competitors all the time. It’s very important to make sure your team members are enjoying what they are doing as it will be reflected on the guests. We have things we send to guests for feedback and we get some great responses. We need to make sure we are different, we have to deliver what we promise. 4) What do you think makes Absolute special? Absolute World is a worldwide operating company. But you are not just a number like in many other similar companies. 5) What would you like to see Absolute improve upon? There is always room for improvement, especially in a company like Absolute where we have a large range of high quality products. 6) What is your favorite thing about Phuket? Phuket is a fantastic place to live. You have the infrastructure of a city and on the same time you can enjoy the benefits of a tropical island with its beaches, rain forest and waterfalls. For me Phuket is by far the best place to work and live in Thailand 7) Who is your role model - either personal or professional - and why? There is no one specific. There are many people you can learn from. 8) What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I like to go out with friends in Phuket, sometimes for great noodles in the small shops that you can find everywhere. Sometimes I try to get out of Phuket as well. You have Khao Sok National Park which is very nice and about 2 hours drive from here. Sometimes I go to Rayong which is on the Eastern seaboard to see family and friends. If I do take a break in Phuket I do a bit of shopping and dinners out with friends, it’s a great city. 9) What is your favourite restaurant here in Phuket? To be honest, my favourite location to eat is at a local market. There you can try many different things and you will get the real taste of Thailand. For international and specially Italian food I always dine at Blue Mango Grill & Bar, which is located at the Absolute Twin Sands Resort and Spa…there is no better place for fine dining and this is not my personal opinion, it is recommended as number 1 restaurant in Patong, Phuket by Tripadvor.com 10) What are you most looking forward to this year? Difficult to say as we have a lot of fantastic things going on in 2013. Middle of the year we will open The Beach Samui which will be a member of Design Hotels and end of the year we will host a long-distance world series ITU triathlon for the first time on Phuket. Phuket's new triathlon, the Absolute Phuket ITU O2 LD World Series Triathlon 2013, is the first long distance triathlon to be held in Thailand.

Solid outlook for villa and condo market in Phuket

Roy — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:26:20 +0000

The outlook for the residential property market in Phuket, one of the most popular Thai locations for overseas buyers, in 2013 is solid with villa sales last year increasing by 20%, according to the latest analysis from CBRE. The research shows that the number of completed villas in the fourth quarter of 2012 reached 2,789 units and demand for affordable villas will continue. The entry level sector saw the strongest performance with 43 villas sold, while, the luxury segment showed the lowest performance with just two villas sold. However, the total value of the entry level segment around THB340 million was still less than the total value of luxury sales at THB382 million. ‘Overall, we believe that the outlook for the villa market will be positive in 2013. Demand will continue for affordable villas, especially entry level and mid range segments. Although, developers slowed down launching new villa projects in 2012, we view that villa developers will come back into Phuket villa market in 2013,’ the report says. Sales in the condominiums and apartments sector increased by 10% in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with the same quarter in 20122. Laguna Shores, which launched in the fourth quarter of 2012 was the best selling project with 47% sold, off plan within a few months after of the launch. New supply from developers and market take up indicate a preference for one bedroom and studio apartments with cheaper total prices than the traditional two bedroom design, the report points out. At the end of 2012, the average price per square meter of available units was almost THB100,000 per square meter, compared to THB92,000 per square meter at the end of 2011. The report also shows that the price per unit of new launches in Phuket has fallen and is moving closer to Pattaya prices which ranged from THB3 to THB9 million. However, the price per square meter has risen and the firm says that this is because the unit size has been smaller and total price has been lower. The predominant buyers were Europeans, Russians, and Australians with virtually no Thai buyers. However, there was an increasing demand from Hong Kong and Singapore buyers in 2012. ‘We believe the condominium market will become more active in 2013 because more projects. Thai developers including Amari and Sansiri are offering more affordable units and are attracting the interest of Thai buyers. Thai publicly listed developers will dominate new supply and sales in 2013,’ the report says. The West Coast continues to be the most popular location particularly the North West Coast including Patong. Properties that offer sea views, easy access to the beach and a variety of entertainment options nearby are the most popular among buyers. Distance from the airport is also further value consideration. There are 1,999 units in the pipeline which are expected to be completed by the end of 2015, the report adds.

60 second interview : Kanokwan Homcha-aim

Roy — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:27:18 +0000

Full name: Miss Kanokwan Homcha-aim Nickname: Nok Educational background: Bachelor degree in Social Forestry and Master degree in Natural Resource Management. Work Experience : My role at SEEK: Management of government and NGO relationships, host stakeholder meetings and events, administration, research, project summaries and distribution, databases, program facilitation and team-building coordination. SEEK Phuket is a non-government and non-profit organization coalition of people working together to help find solutions to the problems faced by Phuket as it grows as a tourist destination and sustainable community. We try to progress forward to a sustainable Phuket through an active and focused program of activities. SEEK Phuket creates links between the government, private sector, and NGO to develop sharing and collaboration on the environment, enhance communication, build relationships, and offer support to projects that enable the community to flourish. 1) What brought you to Phuket, and what keeps you here?My first experience on this beautiful island was when I worked as a researcher at the Thailand Environment Institute on the Urban Climate Resilient project in April of 2011 in collaboration with SEEK.I have been working closely with SEEK since that time.Though I was awestruck by the beauty of the island, I began to notice many areas in need of change, progress, and a path towards sustainability.This led me to settle here and keeps me working on resolving these issues. 2) How did you come to work for Absolute?< Mr. Bryan Lunt, the CEO of Absolute World Group, had been actively involved in sustainability issues with SEEK Phuket. We collaborated on previous projects and eventually an opportunity with Absolute was presented. 3) What are your CSR goals for Absolute? My overall goal is for Absolute to be respected as an environmentally friendly company in Thailand and beyond as well as dedicated to the development of our local community and the promotion of a healthier lifestyle.We must bring together the company, the community, and the customers and stress the importance of this goal and the steps needed in order to achieve it. 4) What are the main aims of CommUNITY? CommUNITY is one of our CSR core values. The main focus is on the benefit of the local community. We aim to create a good relationship with the local community, for example the donation of sporting equipment to the local schools, the sourcing of local suppliers and the support of local products." 5) What is your vision for making Absolute more CSR oriented? My vision is to increase the active participation and contribution of Absolute staff in CSR oriented activities/feedback and the strengthening of shared values between Absolute, its members, and the local community as well as improve government relationship. 6) What CSR initiatives are you most passionate about? I am most excited about the CommUNITY Committee, which is a group of representative staff members from each department of the Absolute family who are ready to serve the community, participate in community activities and events, and provide resources to the needy. 7) Through CommUNITY, how do you think that you and the entire committee can make a difference? The roles of CommUNITY Committee are to encourage volunteerism and connection to community, to incite environmental concern and action, and to inspire, empower and strengthen internal communications & build bridges. By sharing and understanding of their roles and participation of Absolute and the community together, we can create a positive impact both within our organization and to community and environment around us. 8) What is the one thing you love most about Phuket? I love the mix of local Thai culture, international travelers, and the awe-inspiring natural beauty of this wonderful island. 9) Please share some of your hobbies My hobbies include reading, snorkeling, riding motorcycles, attending music festivals, exploring natural forest environments, and puzzle solving. 10. What are you most looking forward to this year? I am most looking forward to the positive impact I can contribute to the CSR initiative established by Absolute, especially how Absolute associates learn and develop their understanding and action in CSR initiatives together with myself.

Thailand’s economy is on fire, but is it too hot to handle?

Roy — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:47:34 +0000

As well as dousing each other liberally with water during the recent Songkran festival to mark the country's traditional New Year's Day holiday, Thais will have spent freely on parties and celebrations, on making merry, on travel and on consumer and luxury goods. Young middle-class shoppers fill the malls in downtown Bangkok, while on the streets outside, the government is building infrastructure to beat the city's traffic problem, made worse by a rash of new cars on the roads as people take advantage of a tax rebate. Other measures that are giving a boost to domestic consumption include income tax cuts and a rise in the minimum wage. Demand from India and China is boosting the export market, while the property sector and the commodities market is healthy. Its outperforming stock market is wooing investors from all over the world. The World Bank forecasts the Thai economy will grow 5.3 per cent this year, up from its 5 per cent prediction in December, while next year GDP growth is expected at 5 per cent, compared to an earlier forecast of 4.5 per cent, the lender said in a report this month. The baht has risen around 4 per cent against the dollar this year and is at levels not seen since the Asian financial crisis in 1997. As political problems ease, Thailand is emerging as the darling of global investors right now. "Thailand is on fire in the short term," said Paul Krake of View from the Peak. "There is excess capacity there but you don't have real bad loan problems. Personal debt is growing but it's not really a problem." The prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's cabinet last month approved a plan to borrow 2 trillion baht (Dh250 billion) for long-term infrastructure projects after the floods which devastated the country in 2011. Luxmon Attapich, the senior country economist for Thailand at the Asian Development Bank, said that of the government's infrastructure budget, between 30bn and 40bn baht would be disbursed by the government next year. Water management spending is a big part of the efforts to ensure there is adequate infrastructure in place in case of future flooding. Some 80 billion baht would be spent next year on the water-management project, following the 35bn-40bn baht invested in the project this year, Ms Luxmon said. She listed the key challenges facing the country as off-budget borrowing by the government, high public debt, how to increase revenue collection, and governance, but she said there were no critical signs of a bubble developing in the Thai economy. The Thai stock exchange has risen 48 per cent in the past 14 months, but it has shown signs of slowing. And while the property price index is on the rise, it is not on a sharp upwards curve, she said, while calling for vigilance. This month, the Economic and Business Forecast Centre of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) unveiled a decidedly upbeat outlook for the Thai economy. A UTCC poll showed that Thai consumer confidence last month hit its highest point since the army coup in 2006, and it expects the economy to grow by not less than 5 per cent this year. "The continued rise in consumer confidence will ensure the country's strong economic expansion this year because consumption will be a major factor driving economic growth," Thanavath Phonvichai, the director of the UTCC's Economic and Forecasting Centre, said in an interview. The Consumer Confidence Index was at 84.8 points, up from 84 in the previous month, and it has risen continuously for six consecutive months. "Domestic consumption should grow by 4-5 per cent this year, while tourism expansion will also help to spur the domestic economy throughout the year." As well as the borrowing bill to finance infrastructure projects, consumer confidence was boosted by a recent spike in Thailand's SET Index, the stronger baht and decreasing domestic oil prices. Low interest rates and easy monetary policies in the United States, the European Union and Japan have prompted a massive outflow of capital into emerging markets, and foreigners are rushing to buy into Thai funds. The emerging-markets investor Mark Mobius has more than a quarter of his US$18bn Templeton Asian Growth fund, the biggest in the region, invested in Thailand. The influx of capital has boosted property and stock prices, prompting fears of an asset bubble that could burst once the funds are withdrawn. Commenting on risks to the broader South-east Asian region, Bert Hofman, the World Bank's chief regional economist, said: "Continued demand-boosting measures may now be counterproductive as it could add to inflationary pressure … a strong rebound in capital inflows to the region induced by protracted rounds of quantitative easing in the US, EU and Japan, may amplify credit and asset price risks." Critics say the stimulus measures have stoked spending and contributed to rising household debt. The Bank of Thailand said it will monitor "persistently high" credit growth. About 1.25 million Thais have taken up the car-buying incentive the government introduced to boost domestic consumption after the 2011 floods, helping to drive local car sales to a record last year. Average Thai household debt rose from 82,485 baht per household in 2002 to 134,900 baht in 2011, according to the National Statistics Office. "Is the baht too strong? Yes. Are the banks too expensive? Yes. But these are not really a problem. As much as we macro bears like to say these are a problem, these are not. Thailand is a bit of a darling. On the whole it's in great shape," said Mr Krake. The World Bank believes the main challenge next year for Thailand's growth continues to be the high uncertainty in the global economic prospects, particularly related to the euro-zone crisis. Asked about how potential political issues could become a problem, Mr Krake said: "Until a problem becomes a crisis, they just stay problems. Economic factors take over." As the water pistols spray and talc-infused water arcs through the air, the forecasts are for spending during Songkran to increase 10.42 per cent, highlighting the real economic benefits of the feel-good factor.

60 second interview : Anthony Healy

Roy — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:32:48 +0000

Anthony Healy is the new Executive Chef of the Absolute World Group, we caught up with him between courses as he is currently revamping the entire menu at the Absolute Sea Pearl Resort and Spa. What brought you to Phuket? The chance to work on a tropical island was too hard to turn down. Where did you work before, and in what capacity? Executive Chef at Wine Connection Bistro in K- village Bangkok. I believe you mentioned you had your own restaurant in Bangkok. Was it easy setting up your own business? I owe all the success of my restaurant that was open for 3 years to my wife who was the driving force behind it. Without her passion it wouldn't have been the success it was. What plans have you got for the restaurant in Sea Pearl? I'm currently developing a burger and gourmet sandwich menu for our future plans of a beach bar style restaurant. I also have a new tapas menu to accompany our wine list. What do you believe are the main strengths of either the kitchen or restaurant? I believe that the main strengths of my restaurant are my team of Thai chefs. They enjoy exploring and creating new ideas and are always eager to learn more about different cuisines. Tell us about your new a la carte breakfast menu ? Our new a la carte menu is something that I have been planning since I got here. Many of the Absolute European staff have requested that we have something to bring the taste of breakfast of home, such as our full breakfast with real English pork products and our Eggs Benedict. What's the best thing about being the group Executive Chef? Being able to express my ideas and select my products. Seeing that we are on an island the fresh products and daily caught seafood is perfect for any chef. What do you like about living in Phuket? What do you tend to do in your spare time? The island life is great, I drive a CBR 250 racing bike, so on my days off I like to drive around the island and find new restaurants to eat at. I also enjoy working on my fitness and training in mixed martial arts. As a chef, what is your personal vision when creating menus and dishes? "What grows together goes together" is a motto that is used by most chefs and I'm a firm believer in this. As I mentioned Phuket has some of the best and freshest products in the world and I count myself very lucky that I'm able to obtain these products.

AirAsia Singapore Launches Thailand Promotion

Roy — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:37:02 +0000

AirAsia has partnered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to offer low fares for flights from Singapore to key cities within Thailand, in association with the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2013.

Travellers can now save on air fares and splurge on everything else during the Grand Sale, when they travel to destinations like Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Koh Samui (via ferry services).

AirAsia is offering an all-in fare from Sin$60 for all flights from Singapore to Bangkok and Phuket, and is available for booking from 22 April to 5 May 2013, for travel between 1 July to 31 October 2013. Terms and conditions apply.

Travellers flying to Bangkok can also consider extending their holiday with a second domestic destination in Thailand. AirAsia is offering an all-in fare of Sin$29 for flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Koh Samui (via ferry services) for the same booking and travel periods as above.

AirAsia flies daily to Phuket and five times every day to Bangkok, direct from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1

60 seconds with Jaray Jearanai

Roy — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:31:03 +0000

Absolute World ambassador Jaray Jearanai recently completed the Laguna Triathlon Vietnam 2013 in which he was placed 7th overall and 2nd in his age group. Looks like he is coming into form at the right time this year which sees him participate in the inaugural ITU Phuket Triathlon in his home town this November. We caught up with him during his hectic schedule. My name is Jaray Jearanai, I'm 32 years old and live in Phuket, Thailand. My favourite food is Phad Thai. My hobbies are listening to music and watching movies. My life goal is to be a professional athlete and to be a triathlon coach. I used to work with marketing at Laguna Holiday Club, but now, I'm working full time as an Absolute World ambassador and an athlete. In the future I hope to be able to inspire and coach other people in the triathlon. How did you get involved in triathlon? A few years ago I started doing mountain biking, not on a competitive level, just to enjoy and keep fit. At that time I was also inspired by the Laguna Phuket Triathlon that take place every year very close to my home, and eventually decided to participate, that's when I started training all 3 sports. What does it involve, on a daily basis, getting ready for a triathlon? Since triathlon involves 3 sports it require you to plan your schedule well to fit in the training required in each discipline. For me it is a lifestyle that I enjoy, there is always something to improve and you never get bored when you are able to train differently everyday. Approximately how many kilometers do you run, swim, and bike per week? Swim around 15 kilometers, Bike around 400 km, Run around 70 km. Which part of triathlon do you find the most difficult? The Swim, since this requires a lot of technique and is the hardest to learn. Do you see a rising popularity in triathlon? Yes, in Phuket triathlon it is getting more and more popular and the local training club has a growing numbers of participants. You are a Absolute ambassador. What does your role involve? How did you come to the role? As a Absolute Ambassador my role involve to promote the sport triathlon and the ITU race here in Phuket. I also promote Phuket as a holiday/sport destination for foreign visitors. How do you see the future of the ITU triathlon? I hope the ITU race here can be a returning event that will but Phuket on the triathlon map. I also hope it will help more local people get to experience triathlon and maybe even participate themselves, the same way I once got involved in the sport. What are you most looking forward to while competing in this inaugural event? Crossing the finish line in front of my home crowd! Can you offer any advice or tips for someone interested in training for a triathlon? I would recommend to try and find a training group that can help you get started. Watching a triathlon can look hard from the sidelines, but don't be afraid, with some training anyone could do it!

ARDA World Report: Timeshare Sales Growing

Roy — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:58:52 +0000

Five years after the economic crash, the timeshare industry posted another year of upbeat sales in 2012, defying naysayers who predicted the business would fade in the wake of the economic crash. Total timeshare sales increased to $7 billion for 2012, up 7.6 percent from 2011, according to preliminary data from Ernst & Young, presented this week at ARDA World, the annual trade show for the industry. While still far below the $9.7 billion in sales in 2008, industry executives are proudly boasting of the resilience of the shared-ownership market. "Some of the things we had to give up, we learned we could do without," said Don Harrill, chief executive of Holiday Inn Club Vacations and chairman of the American Resort Development Association. "We had to readjust strategies and maybe lose our egos." The news from ARDA World wasn't as good for the fractional and destination club industry, which focuses on selling shares in vacation homes. Sales volumes continued to fall, hitting $497 million in 2012, compared to $552 million in 2011, according to data compiled by Ragatz Associates. At the peak in 2007, fractionals and clubs--which allow the customer to buy a slice of ownership in a property, instead of a set block of time--generated $2.3 billion in sales. With the prices for vacation homes depressed around the world, the value proposition to buy a share of a unit is a tougher sell, said Richard Ragatz, president of Ragatz Associates. "It's been an awful five years," Mr. Ragatz said, emphasizing that he believes the model will take hold when prices for vacation homes rise again. "I feel there is a lot of pent up demand," he said. "People continue to appreciate the concept." Unlike fractionals and destinations clubs, which tend to be developed by small independent operators, timeshare sales are dominated by the marketing muscle of big brands--including hotel operators Marriott and Wyndham. In 2012, net originated timeshare sales were consistently up by double digits from the previous year, Chris Folsom, senior manager of Deloitte & Touche, told a session audience. The occupancy rate has held steady at about 76.9 percent, said Ernst & Young's Joe Callender. The industry is still feeling the effects of the downturn, which saw the business shrink by more than 50 percent in two years. "We thought we were recession proof," said Howard Nusbaum, chief executive of ARDA. "It was incredibly humbling." But ARDA leadership emphasized that challenges have made the industry smarter and more responsive to customers. Developers are offering smaller units and lower price points; they've also raised the credit and down payment requirements for buyers, lowering the number of defaults. Many resort owners have reconfigured their product and focused more on mixed use developments, recognizing different tastes of the customers, Mr. Nusbaum said. "We got back to the fundamentals of being resort developers," Mr. Nusbaum said. But the industry is still facing challenges, industry executives acknowledge. Some timeshare sales pitches make customers cringe. And competition for the vacation home audience is increasing. "It is an industry with an aging population," said Simon Jaworski, senior vice president of the Research Intelligence Group, which tracks the market. "They have to find a way to attract the next generation of timeshare buyer."

Thailand: Record arrival numbers bode well for tourism

Roy — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:41:56 +0000

With arrivals on the increase from both well-established and new markets, 2013 looks set to be another record-breaking year for Thailand’s tourism industry. However, while the sector’s size has earned the tourism industry a place on the global top-20 list, officials believe the country could still close the gap on its rivals by becoming more competitive in key areas. Visitor numbers to the country hit 22.3m in 2012, up 15.98% on the previous year and breaking the 22m-barrier for the first time, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects arrivals to rise to 24.5m in 2013, generating revenues of Bt1.149tn ($38.5bn). Thailand attracted tourists from a broad range of countries last year, reflecting the nation’s efforts to tap into growing Asian markets. Visitor numbers totalled more than 2m from both Malaysia and China, while tourists from Korea, Japan, India and Russia each either reached or exceeded 1m. Some 6m arrivals entered Thailand from the other nine Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. Visitor numbers from India were up 11.03%, confirming TAT’s observation that Indian tourists have begun visiting destinations further afield, including Phuket and Chiang Mai. Thailand also held its own in key developed markets last year. Arrivals from the UK reached 870,000, a rise of 3%, while visitor numbers from Australia hit 931,000, up 12.1%. Visitors from the US totalled 1.10m, increasing by 13.4%. The tourism and travel sector contributed Bt825.6bn ($27.99bn), or 7.3%, directly to Thailand’s GDP in 2012, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Once direct, indirect and induced impact on the economy were taken into account, the sector’s value rose to Bt1.8967tn ($64.3bn), or 16.7% of GDP. Tourism and travel employed just over 2m people directly in 2012, while generating around 4.8m jobs on a broader level. The sector also proved to be a magnet for investment, attracting Bt227.5bn ($7.71bn) in 2012, or 6.8% of the national total for the year. The WTTC expects tourism’s direct contribution to Thailand’s GDP to grow by an average 6.8% per year between 2012 and 2022, with its overall impact set to rise by 6.5% annually, placing the country 13th globally in terms of long-term growth prospects. Experts point out that most of the countries likely to outpace it are cultivating new tourism markets, while Thailand looks set to generate significant growth from an already sizeable industry base. While Thailand has one of the world’s strongest tourism industries, a recent report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) suggests the country could further strengthen its competitiveness. The forum’s tourism and travel competitiveness index (TTCI), published in March, ranked Thailand ninth in the Asia-Pacific region, one place behind Malaysia, and 43rd worldwide, down from 41 in 2011. While Singapore took top place on a regional level, Thailand outperformed Indonesia, which came 12th, and Vietnam, which ranked 16th. Outside South-east Asia, Thailand narrowly outscored a number of major tourist destinations, including Turkey and Mexico. Some of the issues that likely impacted Thailand’s two-place drop, including recent political unrest and natural disasters, fell outside the tourism sector’s control, while others related to broader policy issues, such as patchy environmental protection, uncertain property rights, and red tape on business formation. However, Thailand notched up high scores in key areas assessed by the TTCI, led by the government’s commitment to tourism, including financial resources, airport infrastructure, price competitiveness and Thais’ enthusiasm for the industry and visitors. Weight was also given to Thailand’s natural resources and places of interest, including its mountains, beaches, UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites and the city of Bangkok, which make it highly appealing to visitors. Despite the positive performance overall, Thai tourism professionals would like to see a greater effort made to push the country further up the rankings and take on its top-performing neighbours. Mingkwan Metmowlee, president of the Association of Thai Tourism Marketing, told the local press that higher service standards gave Singapore, which ranked 10th worldwide, and Malaysia an edge on Thailand. He added that Singapore’s strong track record in security also provided it with an advantage. While Thailand benefits from its reputation as a well-established destination for a diverse range of visitors, experts suggest that revenue increases will come from strengthening service, improving infrastructure and reducing red tape, rather than solely through an increase in arrival numbers. By also focusing on growing niches, such as medical and eco-tourism, Thailand could also boost the value-added in its tourism industry, generating more income per visitor.

Eastern European’s Push US$1.2 Billion Into Phuket

Roy — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:53:18 +0000

Thailand's current tourism bull run is being underscored by a watershed of Eastern European travelers - a soaring source of business that delivered 1.6 million visitors in 2012, led by Russia with an 82% share. The sheer impact of the volume is nowhere more apparent than the holiday destination of Phuket which has experienced a direct hit, as over 650,000 Eastern European tourists injected US$1.2 billion (THB35 billion) into the island's economy last year. According to newly released market research by consulting firm C9 Hotelworks, Russia's outbound market to South East Asia shot up over 1.8 million in 2012, making it one the year's leading storylines. Over 71% of travelers visited Thailand, followed by Vietnam with 9% and 5% for both Indonesia and Cambodia. Surprisingly Singapore attracted only 4% of the total. Tracking the development cycle back to 2005, Eastern European visitors to Thailand then hovered at the 175,000 level. Stimulating the sustained demand was a visa exemption implemented in 2007, coupled with the rise of sustained economic explosion in the other Europe - the East. C9's Managing Director Bill Barnett said: "Phuket has seen this business build up over the past four years with a 42% compound annual growth rate. This rapid acceleration has turned the tables upside down on the once dominant Western European market. The shift is now on display day in and day out on the resort island where mounting numbers of charter flights and tour buses are a constant reminder of a changing world." Leading the transformation has been Phuket's rising airlift punctuated by its key strategic door-to-door travel time. According to the report, between 2008 and 2012 Russians and other Eastern Europeans visiting the island grew at a compounded annual growth rate of 77% - with charter flights catering to 56% of total passengers last year. "There is little doubt that Asia's latter day volume leisure destination splurge requires a constant renewal of numbers," said Mr Barnett. "While Phuket with its airlift impact has shown little sign of slowing down in 2013, Bali's seeing a slow down as its Eastern European market has turned melodramatic with no direct scheduled service from Russia." The Emerging Eastern European Market report by C9 Hotelworks goes on to highlight that despite the mounting numbers, there is a pronounced seasonal trend, as 80% of the "snowbirds" come between October to April, and year-round demand remains elusive as tour operators and airlines redeploy aircraft to the Mediterranean during the summer months. To view the full report CLICK

The Beach Samui a member of Design Hotels™

Roy — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:41:22 +0000

In the world of luxury resorts brand is paramount, experience has replaced facilities and stories create emotional bonds. Visitors are guests and the experience is the memory. Synonymous with distinctive architecture and interior design balanced with functionality and exceptional service, Design Hotels™ lead the way in this guest-centric, experience-driven hospitality world and Thailand's The Beach Samui is one of the most recent boutique resorts to join the Design Hotels™ collection. The Beach Samui is the latest boutique resort and Private Residence Club from an exciting and award-winning collaboration between yoo, one of the world’s leading design teams and the Absolute World Group, with architectural conceptualisation by London-based David Archer Architects. The Beach Samui is part of an engaging story. A story of creation – the creation of a unique and consciously designed resort in a tranquil fishing village on the southern tip of Samui Island with panoramic views over Ang Thong Marine National Park; a story of firsts – Thailand’s first yoo designed resort to become a member of Design Hotels™ and the first Private Residence Club in the Absolute World Group's eclectic portfolio of boutique resorts in Asia; and a story of awareness – awareness of the resort’s surrounds and responsibilities, building on a brown field site, using locally sourced materials, solar energy and natural water filtration systems. The Beach Samui is today writing a new chapter in its story. More than 400 hotels apply for Design Hotels™ membership each year, but on average, only 5% are accepted. Design Hotels™ are chosen for their originality in concept. A combination of holistic concepts, location, architecture, design, local integration, corporate ethics and - most importantly - the people behind the concept all contribute to that originality. Design Hotels are “Made by Originals”. “The location, yoo designed interiors and the philosophy of the resort will inspire our guests old and new who are looking for something different, new holiday experiences and memories to treasure in the most breathtaking of surroundings, the apartments are also available as second home ownership creating a truly exciting lifestyle proposition. The project has been a true labor of love for myself and our creative development team and our joining with Design Hotels™ exclusive and eclectic portfolio of unique hotels around the world is a part of The Beach Samui's growing story. ” commented Bryan Lunt, CEO of the Absolute World Group. The Beach Samui and the “Originals” involved in the resort's conceptualisation and realisation make a perfect partnership, together creating a consciously developed resort with personality and a fantastic story with one of the world's leading design teams. The new chapter to this story is The Beach Samui's recognition as part of a collection of the worlds leading design hotels. Samui Island is also writing a story, a story of Brand Samui, which is being written through unique resort experiences and the growth of branded resorts on the Island. The Beach Samui is the latest addition to this storyline and underscores the Island's boutique approach and upmarket positioning. “Samui has developed from a relatively unknown backwater 20 years ago to a luxury boutique island resort destination with some outstanding resorts, a vivid culture and a stunning seascape. The growth of branded developments and the desire to do something different has lead us to develop The Beach Samui, which is the latest boutique resort addition to Samui's story and through our “local first” approach contributes directly to the Island's sustainable future,” added Lunt. 2013 is an auspicious year for both the Absolute World Group and Design Hotels™, the former celebrating 15 years of success and the latter 20 years. And together they will celebrate the opening of The Beach Samui in Autumn 2013. The Beach Samui comprises a range of 21 contemporary suites and penthouses, all with uninterrupted sea views, private terraces with hand carved hot tubs and unique designer interiors. Private beachside cabana relaxation areas provide the perfect escape for guests, an exclusive holistic spa with steam room, plunge pool, treatment room and gym offers the perfect respite. The hotel’s wellbeing bar and restaurant will serve an international menu with an abundance of local organic produce so guests can dine on wholesome dishes whilst taking in the island view or watching the night’s sky reflect the stars in the illuminated infinity pool at their feet. In-room amenities boast the latest AV equipment, wireless internet, satellite television, iPad check in, temperature cooling systems, branded beach accessories, organic toiletries, and recycling bins to encourage guest participation in the resort's sustainable attitude, which includes solar energy, locally sourced materials and natural water filtration systems. A sustainable conscience is at the heart of The Beach Samui story and is now documented in the celebrated 20^th Anniversary edition of the much celebrated Design Hotels™ Book, available to order at www.designhotels.com/specials/the_design_hotels_book_2013 www.thebeachsamui.com www.designhotels.com/the_beach_samui

About The Beach Samui

The Beach Samui, the Absolute World Group’s premier Private Residence Club & Boutique Hotel, consists of a consciously designed range of 21 contemporary suites and penthouses all with uninterrupted sea views and each with its own hand carved private terrace hot tub, covering a footprint of 820m sq. Each apartment comes complete with a superior yoo Studio designed furniture collection exclusively conceptualised and sourced for The Beach Samui. All apartments feature breath-taking sea views, private terraces with hot tubs and luxurious interiors with an average apartment size of 53m sq. As a Private Residence Club, independently operated by Absolute Resorts & Hotels, service is key and as a personal project of Absolute World Group CEO Bryan Lunt, no expense has been spared, down to iPad check-in, the latest in-room AV technology, and Yoga and Well-Being programme, to the sensory foot baths as you leave the sandy beach. Seamless five-star concierge service and shared ownership advantages also include the exclusive use of Absolute’s speedboat to explore the nearby islands, the use of complementary golf equipment when clients choose to visit one of the one of the nearby world class golf courses, plus the pre-ordering of services and sundries direct to each apartment upon arrival. In partnership with yoo and with the internationally renowned architect David Archer, Absolute have consciously created this extraordinary resort to mirror its outstanding surroundings. www.thebeachsamui.com

About Design Hotels™

Design Hotels™ represents and markets a curated selection of more than 240 independent hotels in over 40 countries across the globe. More than a collection of hotels, the company is a collection of stories. Each property reflects the ideas of a visionary hotelier, an "Original," someone with a passion for genuine hospitality, cultural authenticity, thought-provoking design and architecture. Each "Original" stands for the individual, aesthetic and service driven experience that his or her hotel provides. Founded by Claus Sendlinger in 1993, Design Hotels™ offers its members insightful travel industry knowledge, from market trend consultancy to international sales representation. The company has its headquarters in Berlin and branches in London, Barcelona, New York, Singapore and Perth. www.designhotels.com

About Made by Originals

Made by Originals takes a deeper look into the world of travel, hospitality and culture. With the goal of being a resource for inspiration, it draws inspiration and content from extraordinary hotels around the world and the creative communities supporting them. From SoHo in New York to Little India in Singapore, architects, designers, artists, hoteliers, cooks, DJ’s, journalists and fashion designers support us with interviews, experiences, photo galleries and behind-the-scenes looks at their life and work. www.madebyoriginals.com

About yoo

From Buenos Aires to New York, London to Melbourne, yoo’s name is celebrated for its innovative design flair, stand-out interiors and uber chic styling. The yoo Studio, has big imaginations, providing a choice of looks and styles to suit individual lifestyles. Sourcing the best quality fittings and furniture from around the world to create interiors that are imaginative, rare and individual. Having co-founded the Manhattan Loft Corporation, which transformed urban London living in the 1990s with its regenerated loft spaces, property entrepreneur John Hitchcox formed yoo in 1999 with the world’s most celebrated designer, Philippe Starck. Since then yoo has continually raised the bar for contemporary design, electrifyingly redefining the simple word ‘home’ in award-winning schemes around the world - ranging from multi-million dollar luxury homes in the Cotswold’s to resort living in Europe and South East Asia. With a strong global identity; yoo is now an international lifestyle brand synonymous with quality design. With over 51 projects completed in over 27 countries, yoo has also made a foray into products with their first book 'Interiors by yoo' which has sold over 30,000 copies internationally. www.yoo.com

Blue Mango Bar & Grill at Absolute Twin Sands

Roy — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:10:18 +0000

The Blue Mango restaurant in Patong is a relatively new addition to Phuket’s world class dining scene, developed by some of the foremost hospitality professionals on the island as an indulgence they want to share with everyone. Blue Mango has a menu inspired by the sensational quality of fresh local produce and the easy availability of the finest imported ingredients available in this tourist mecca. Blue Mango offers a constantly varying array of traditional Thai and traditional Mediterranean food. By traditional we mean that what we serve is the real thing and not the latest fad or fashionable version of it. You will be treated to each dish as it was meant to be and if that means it’s simple, then so be it. What you can be sure of is that each dish you order will be made from the very finest ingredients, prepared with passion and served with style. By traditional we mean that what we serve is the real thing and not the latest fad or fashionable version of it. Our location is perfect too, situated on the Cape overlooking the two bays and despite only being five minutes from downtown Patong, it feels a million miles away from the crowds and the traffic. On your trip to Phuket make sure you don’t miss our sunset cocktail hour on the terrace, it really is a sight to behold. When one imagines the ideal spot for a romantic dinner on a tropical island you’ll the Blue Mango restaurant in Patong ticks all the boxes. Since it's launch Blue Mango has gone from strength to strength and has now been voted number 1 restaurant in Patong by Trip Advisor.

The Blue Mango Bar and Grill

Ranked #1 of 216 restaurants in Patong Here's just a sample of those reviews ...

Scott H “Great food good value great service” Reviewed 21 March 2013 We went to this restaurant on a current visit to Phuket The restaurant was new and only being open to 2 months Very nice setting and very modern Food was good and service was good too Would recommend

Tony C Dubbo, Australia

“Outstanding food & Service” Reviewed 15 March 2013 Our last 12 days have been staying at the Absolute Twin Sands Resort & Spar and we have eaten most of our meals and enjoyed drinks in the bar area during our stay. If you are looking for food and drink menu that caters for all pallets and is reasonable priced with outstanding service , we would fully recommend the...

phuket_regular Phuket Town, Thailand

“My favourite in Patong” Reviewed 13 March 2013

I have tried many of the restaurants on trip advisor in phuket that are highly rated, my opinion is this should be number 1. The service was amazing and the food was even better. Melt in your mouth beef and served to the highest standard. The only bad thing to say is they had no scallops for their prawn and... Jovani A San Francisco, California

“Delicious&Excellent” Reviewed 13 March 2013 Me and my boyfriend stayed at the Absolute Resort and Spa for a week and one of the main reasons we never left to explore is because the food at the Blue Mango Restaurant was so delicious. We could not get enough. I highly recommend everything on the menu, it is impossible to get bad food here. It is also...

alandodds Noosa, Australia “Good food, friendly service”

Reviewed 4 March 2013 We stayed at Twin Sands for a week and ate in the Blue Mango several times. Food was always excellent and the staff friendly and helpful. Good coffee too!

fialka111 Prague, Czech Republi Reviewer “one word ,,excellent"” Reviewed 16 February 2013We stayed in the Absolute resort and spa hotel. We used Blue Mango restaurant every day for breakfast and mostly of days also for lunch and dinner. This restaurant is one of the best i been. Even is new opened. The breakfast so amazing. Very good English chef knew what is modern. They prepare the food just nicely and the... The restaurant is situated on the Cape at the South of Patong Beach. Head for the Amari hotel and keep going up the hill until you see Absolute Twin Sands Resort, it will be on your left and has a massive sign, then pull into their car park. It is directly behind our restaurant, easy. If you still need help finding us, we are in the Tri Trang area of town, almost everyone will know that and point you in the right direction.You can always have your driver call us for directions too: 076 302 099

Absolute World Group scoops a further three awards in USA

Roy — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:46:36 +0000

The accolades continue for the Absolute World Group – Asia’s leading multi award-winning lifestyle property developer, resorts and hotels operator, shared ownership and destination club pioneer – having received a further three international awards at the prestigious Perspective Magazine Awards, held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, USA. Recognition of the Group's hard work, delivery and quality, Absolute World Group were awarded Best Interior Design and Best Exterior Design for The Beach Samui, and acknowledging the Group's pioneering vacation ownership and fractional ownership offerings in Asia, were awarded Best Vacation Club Resort (Asia Pacific) for Absolute Twin Sands Resort & Spa, Phuket. Having received a record number of nominations and votes this year, the Perspective Magazine Awards program provides a global platform of recognition to industry professionals and companies from within the resorts industry and is the only awards program that is independently judged by both a panel of experts and industry peers through an innovative online voting system. [caption id="attachment_3815" align="aligncenter" width="458"] Bryan Lunt, Absolute World Group Chairman & CEO in Los Angeles with three latest awards[/caption] “It's an honour to be recognised alongside some of the top global resort brands and projects around the world, especially during our 15^th Anniversary this year. Receiving these three awards is acknowledgment of all the hard work by the Absolute World Group team, and it is encouragement and motivation for us to continue to develop and innovate further in the future,” said Bryan Lunt, CEO, Absolute World Group. “2013 looks to be an exciting year. Bringing together our staff, members and partners, our 15^th Anniversary year will see growth of our CSR programmes as well as launches of a number of new products, including the opening of the multi-award-winning, consciously developed boutique resort The Beach Samui.” added Lunt. Absolute World Group enlisted the world-leading hotel design team yoo, to create a new dimension of luxury on Samui Island in Thailand – The Beach Samui. Winner of the prestigious Bloomberg Property Awards, the Asia Pacific Property Awards and now two-time winner at the 2013 Perspective Magazine Awards, the boutique resort is set to redefine a new luxury resort design experience on the island when it opens in the Autumn of this year. Absolute Twin Sands Resort & Spa Phase I has already sold out, and set for its official opening later this month. Absolute Twin Sands Resort and Spa Phase II offers freehold and shared ownership, consisting of 50 apartments with freehold prices starting at THB5 million and quarter-shared foreign ownership starting at THB2.5 million. Sales and management are being driven by leading global agency Jones Lang LaSalle. The awards have been flooding in for the Absolute World Group in recent years with a string of international acknowledgements from the Bloomberg International Property Awards to Euromoney, to awards from the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), to the Overseas Property Professional awards, Fractional Life awards, the Thailand Property Awards and the South East Asia Property Awards. For more details: www.absoluteworld.com www.absolutetwinsands.com www.thebeachsamui.com

AirAsia Celebrates Phuket flights with 490 Baht Promotional Fare

Roy — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:55:13 +0000

AirAsia will offer more convenience with up to 10 flights a day from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Phuket! To celebrate the new additional flight, promotional all-inclusive fares start from only 490 THB per way! Bookings are available on www.airasia.com from today until 17 March, 2013 for travel between 30 April and 30 November, 2013. Mr. Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia, made known that AirAsia has set plans to focus on increasing the flight frequencies of its most popular routes this year in a move to offer the most convenience to its passengers as well as to boost the Kingdom’s economy. “From this 30 April, AirAsia will be offering up to 10 direct flights a day from Bangkok to Phuket, the airline’s southern flight hub and Thailand’s number one domestic and international tourist destination. The island is popular year round and as a commercial center, traveler numbers are constantly increasing. AirAsia is confident that its additional flights will provide the best travel options for Phuket’s visitors, giving them a variety of affordable flights and convenient travel times” said Mr. Tassapon. AirAsia has issued a special promotion to herald the increased flights, presenting an all-inclusive fares starting from only 490 THB per way, available for booking from today until 17 March, 2013 for travel between 30 April and 30 November, 2013. The offer is only available at www.airasia.com

yoo Hotels complete offering – yoo 2 and yoo Collection launched

Roy — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:48:15 +0000

yoo Hotels has unveiled two intricately crafted design-led hotel brands for smarter travelers who seek handcrafted luxury: yoo 2 and yoo Collection. yoo, the global design company founded by international property entrepreneur John Hitchcox and renowned designer Philippe Starck, now brings a complete hotel offering to the market. Serving the yoo tribe internationally, the brand has been synonymous with the design of luxury hotels and high-end residences for over 14 years and has brought to fruition the visions of Creative Directors; Anouska Hempel, Philippe Starck, Marcel Wanders, Jade Jagger and Kelly Hoppen. Headed by industry expert Marco Nijhof, yoo Hotels will create an enhanced hotel experience through delivery of original design and first rate hotel management services. Tapping into yoo's unique talent bank of globally renowned designers as well as its own yoo Studio, yoo Hotels offers an unparalleled breadth of design talent and heritage. The culture of each location is essential for both the yoo Collection and yoo 2 hotels, and this is interpreted through the world class designed interiors. Electric and sumptuous dining and entertainment experiences are joined with flawless service, delivered by yoo Hotel Management, creating a feeling of Human Luxury - the yoo Hotels philosophy of unfailingly satisfying every whim a guest could conceive at any moment. CEO Marco Nijhof says: "the yoo Hotels offering is unique within the global market, and we believe it hits the mark in terms of what investors want. yoo's design credentials are impressive and this fact, combined with our experience in hotel management, means we can bring original designs that enhance life to an even wider audience." 2013 is set to be a big year for yoo Hotels with the first yoo Collection hotel, Aqua Boracay in the Philippines, set to launch later in the year followed by the yoo designed Miramoon by Marcel Wanders for yoo. The Miramoon, located in the heart of Wanchai Hong Kong, will launch in September 2013. These hotel launches follow the critically acclaimed, yoo designed Sans Souci in Vienna, which launched in January this year. yoo holds incredible international expertise in creating hotels, its designers having created over 30 hotels in 26 countries, from the Mondrian in Miami, to The Beach in Koh Samui.

2013 Thailand Property Awards launched

Roy — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:32:37 +0000

The eighth annual Thailand Property Awards were officially launched last week at a special event hosted by organisers Ensign Media Ltd. The launch, at the Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel in Bangkok, included a presentation and detailed explanation of this year’s property awards schedule, with information on the judging process provided by Sunchai Nuengsit, managing director of Builder Smart pcl and chairman of the central judging panel. Four new awards have been introduced for this year: Best Residential Development (Khao Yai), Best Villa Rental Agent, Best Villa Architectural Design and Best Villa Interior Design. This year, awards for Best property management company will also be given for Bangkok and the resort sector. “The quality and scope of real estate in Thailand is improving every year and the Thailand Property Awards not only reward the best in the industry, but also offer investors a crucial benchmark for excellence,” said Terry Blackburn, CEO of Ensign Media. “We received more than 1,400 nominations last year and, judging by the response so far, we expect even more in 2013.” To enter the 2013 Thailand Property Awards, real estate companies and projects must be nominated by a third party. The judging process is monitored independently by BDO Advisory to ensure that that it is undertaken fairly, without bias or favour. Several hundred companies have already been put forward in a wide range of categories, with many more expected before nominations close on March 22 and the judges begin the process of selecting a shortlist of winners. “I am delighted to be leading the judging panel this year, said Mr Nuengsit. “It’s a tough job selecting winners from such a wide range of nominations, but with a team of experienced fellow judges to work with and site visit teams ready to inspect all the properties [and companies] that qualify, I am confident we will narrow down the list and award the very best properties and companies that Thailand has to offer in 2013.” The Thailand Property Awards Gala Dinner and awards presentation ceremony will be held at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at Central World on September 19. The Phuket News is a media sponsor for the awards.

Russia and China top buyers in Phuket

Roy — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:34:15 +0000

Russian and Chinese buyers are snapping Phuket properties according to Knight Frank Phuket agency, but most of the customers who purchase mid to high-end properties in Phuket are investors and expats who reside in Hong Kong and Singapore, said Mr. Nattha Kahapana, Executive Director, Knight Frank Phuket Co., Ltd. He recently commented on the Phuket market, saying that 100 percent of the hi-end market in the province is comprised of foreign buyers, who, based on available statistics, mostly travel to Phuket by air. In 2012, there were 19,761,794 tourist arrivals to Phuket There are a total of 20 international airlines that fly directly into the island (this includes regularly scheduled flights, and not private planes or chartered flights). In 2012, there were 19,761,794 tourist arrivals to Phuket, a 13.6% increase compared to 2011. Mr. Nattha explained that in 2012, there were 29,033 flights to Phuket, an increase of 1.02%, or the equivalent of 292 flights, compared to the flights arriving in the previous year. In 2012, there were 19,761,794 tourist arrivals to Phuket; this represents an increase of 13.57% or 531,324 people, compared to 2011 figures. There is a similar volume of tourists to the province every month, with increases from October to March during the high season. This affects Phuket’s tourism businesses; new restaurants are briskly launched. The official launches of new home and condo projects also pick up during this time to leverage the higher volume of investors and tourists to the island. The composition of foreign nationalities that make up buyers and investors in Phuket, based on immigration data by top 10 countries of origin, include: 1.Russia 2.China 3.Sweden 4.Australia 5.South Korea 6.Finland 7.Malaysia The Phuket resort residential sales market has moved in phases since the 1990s but has experienced a slow down since the 2008 global crisis, given the market’s dependence on foreign demand. CBRE believe the market is now ripe for another positive phase of development which is characterised by changes in the key players, the product, as well as the buyers’ profile.

The Developers & Key Players

Previously, smaller foreign developers have dominated the market pre-2008. These developers were generally less well funded and relied on buyers’ deposits for construction. Post the global crisis, the developers found it difficult to survive in a competitive market with weaker buying demand, consequently many projects were suspended or put on hold. Today, the market is driven by larger-scale professional developers, both Thai and foreign; many of which are publicly listed Thai companies. The shift in key players is an important element which helps to raise the degree of the market’s professionalism. Many Thai developers have had interests and launched developments in Phuket. For example, Supalai, SC Asset, Sansiri, Land & House and Plan Estate have all been involved in the Phuket market, but their primary focus has been affordable mass market products which primarily target the local market, not the resort home market. This year, a number of established Thai developers have turned their head to Phuket and in particularly, targeting the resort home market. These developers include Sansiri and Amari Estates (a subsidiary of Ital-Thai). Both developers will soon be launching condominium projects which will predominantly target foreign buyers.

The Buyers’ Profile

Along with the shift in key players, growing tourist numbers also mean a greater potential for new sources of resort property buyers and the new range of buyers from destinations such as China and Russia bear this out.

Buyers’ profile will also be influenced by the direct accessibility from new destinations. For example, Emirates will begin operating direct flights from Dubai commencing 10th December. This is in addition to Qatar Airline’s direct flights from Doha. With convenient access from the Middle East, this segment will make up a more significant proportion of the island’s tourist arrivals, and possibly future demand for residential properties. The buyers’ profiles are shifting and through enquiries generated, CBRE tracks the shift and sees the growing importance of Asian buyers, as opposed to the European markets which previously made up a significant portion of Phuket’s demand.

Growing opportunity for developers to tap into the Thai market

Whilst Phuket will continue to be driven by foreign demand, we do see a growing opportunity for developers to tap into the Thai market. Aside from products targeting the mass market, we have seen limited Thai interest for resort homes in Phuket. However, this may be set to change as key Thai developers are entering the market. These developers will bring with them an extensive Thai client base and following who may not have previously considered purchasing in Phuket otherwise. For example, Sri Panwa’s initial phase which was launched in 2004 did attract a number of Thai buyers mainly on the back of the developers’ established reputation in the Bangkok market. In addition to the constantly evolving buyers’ profile, affordability has become an important consideration for buyers, particularly for the resort condominium market. Tracking CBRE’s enquiries, we see stronger demand for the THB 5 to 15 million price range.

Kimberly Snyder’s Glowing Green Smoothie now served @ Climax

Roy — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:42:52 +0000

Drinking the Glowing Green Smoothie (#GGS) is a great way to incorporate tremendous amounts of greens into your diet – far more than just eating your veggies. A serving of the GGS contains over 3 cups of dark leafy green vegetables, which is more than many people get in a week! Kimberly Snyder's GGSGreens have more valuable nutrients than any other food group on the planet. You might be surprised to learn that greens even have high-quality, easily-assimilated amino acids – enough to build the protein that supports the muscle mass of the mighty, greens-eating gorilla, which pound-for-pound is the strongest animal on earth! Blending helps make greens’ full spectrum of nutrition readily available to the body. Nutrients are encased inside plant cells and getting their benefits requires these cells’ walls to be ruptured. Greens need to be worked down to a creamy consistency, but most people simply don’t chew that much! Blending addresses this problem, helping your body absorb the maximum amount of nutrition from your greens.

The glowing green smoothie is meant to be consumed every day as a part of a larger detox plan that helps you feel radiant, energized, and lose weight by focusing on your inner beauty and health. Kimberly Snyder’s first book, The Beauty Detox Solution: Eat Your Way to Radiant Skin, Renewed Energy and the Body You’ve Always Wanted (Harlequin) has a no-nonsense approach, easily tailored to any lifestyle, where she explains how anyone can follow her three-phase program to look better than they ever thought possible. By adopting Snyder’s approach to health and beauty, anyone can reap the benefits of cleansing their system: weight loss, radiant skin, lustrous hair, and better overall health. Having helped many A-list celebrity clients obtain their optimal health and beauty, Kimberly now shares the secrets of her revolutionary—but simple—plan for cleansing the body of unhealthy, age-inducing toxins for a younger, healthier, and more beautiful you. Kimberly Snyder’s Glowing Green Smoothie is now served @ Climax Restaurant. The Climax Restaurant and Poolside Music Lounge is located on the rooftop of Absolute Bangla Suites, and offers an extensive variety of dining options and cocktails, in a chic and sophisticated poolside setting, whilst enjoying a bird’s eye view of Patong.

C9 Releases Samui 2012 Hotel Market Update

Roy — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:28:11 +0000

Samui's market-wide hotel occupancy grew 9% in 2012, bolstered by growth in airlift to the island. “The tide has turned positive for tourism in Samui as the island clocked in a historical high market-wide occupancy of 68% last year. Two key drivers have been the surge of direct international flights and a marked increase in domestic travel. A key catalyst of change in trading conditions has been Bangkok Airways ongoing upgrading of its fleet, which has provided a substantial increase in airline seat capacity. While the carrier is continuing to upgrade aircraft to larger and more modern Airbuses and slowly phase out older ATR 72 propeller planes, the ominous restriction on total daily flights has created a non-moving ceiling, which even Bruce Lee could not punch through. Our near-term outlook is that Samui’s hotel industry is expected to enjoy a continued upswing. This is bolstered by a favorable pipeline as only a small number of new hotels are expected to come online over the next few years. Though our eyes and ears remain tuned to Bangkok Airways appeal process in expanding the flight capacity ceiling, as this remain the markets biggest self-induced limitation.”

Airline Indicators

Samui Airport continued to show strong results in 2012 with a substantial growth in total passenger arrivals of 15% over the previous year. This was led by a 40% rise in the international sector, while the domestic leg ticked up 13%. A new development is the Koh Phangan Private Airport which is scheduled to commence its construction by the first half this year and set to complete in 2014. Its completion will benefit Koh Samui with more airline seats available for direct passengers to the outlaying islands.

Tourism Indicators

Germany was again the number one international source market to the island for the third consecutive year, followed by U.K., Australia and Russia. Thai visitors represented only 9% of total tourists.

Hotel Performance

Hotel-wide occupancy was on the rise, registering 68% vs. 59% in 2011. However the growth in room night demand was offset by an 11% decline in average room rate. The resulting impact to RevPAR was a slight increase of 3%. The five-year trend has showed gradual improvements in average occupancy of 2% year on year growth, which has been offset by a slight decline in the average room rate of 2% annually. A key market insight is that branded hotels are sensitive to external events which impact the island’s tourism numbers. This is mainly due to the fact that most of these properties are positioned in upper tier scales. Bill Barnett, Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks To read the full report CLICK

Absolute World to sponsor the 3rd Samui Fine Dining Festival

Roy — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:34:43 +0000

You can now indulge your senses at the 3rd Samui Fine Dining Festival, which from March 1 – April 30. The two-month dining extravaganza is presented by a superb selection of Samui’s finest restaurants, together with an elite group of international chefs based on the island. Each evening, a selection of 16 restaurants present diners with the very best they have to offer. Special six-course menus are served, consisting of a cold starter, a hot starter, a fish course, sorbet, a meat course and finally a dessert. The menus are priced from THB 1,800 – 4,900, with no hidden charges. Gourmets will be pleased to know that each course is offered with a matching wine. Alternatively, guests are welcome to order from the restaurant’s drinks list. Samui is an ideal spot for dolce far niente, so this fact invites for an antipode. The festival is the first joint event in the history of the island which caters directly to tourism and is designed to promote the island as a holiday destination via its first class dining facilities. The objective is to introduce a genuine touristic concept which would touch the interest of as many tourists possible via a period of two months, resulting in a quality activity on an international level. The participating restaurants are Banyan Tree, Beach Republic, Chef’s Table, Dining on the Rocks, Le Jaroen, Nikki Beach, Ochos, Rockpool, Sala Samui, Sui Kin Pan Asian Restaurant, The Barge Fine Dining, The Edge, The Five Islands Restaurant, The Terrace, Tree Tops and Zazen. There are 2 special events during the festival, namely the Opening Gala Dinner on 1 March at the Banyan Tree (featuring a menu paired with five different Champagne vintages) and a fine-dining evening at Nikki Beach on 22 March with free-flowing Champagne - courtesy of Lombard. “Without the impact of Samui’s excellent chefs, the festival wouldn’t function,” says Horst Hornung, the event’s organiser. “They’re the ones who make it happen by turning cooking into a culinary zeitgeist objective.” Organised by the Cool Genie Group, the Samui Fine Dining festival is a corporate activity between hotels, resorts, private restaurants, suppliers and local media. There is additional cooperation from Absolute World, Absolute Hotels & Resorts, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Bangkok Airways, The Bayside Group, Delivering Asia Communications, Lombard Champagne, G Four Fine Wines, Truffles Exclusive and Trend Fashion. A Bangkok Fine Dining Festival will follow in June. For reservation & menus, visit http://www.samuifinediningfestival.com/

Bright outlook predicted for Thai hotel investment

Roy — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:38:48 +0000

Last year was a strong year for hotel investment in Phuket and elsewhere in Thailand, the Hotels & Hospitality Group of Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) states in a report just released. JLL also predicts that investment in hotels will continue to be buoyant this year. Mike Batchelor, managing director of Investment Sales Asia, at JLL’s Hotel and Hospitality Group, commented, “2012 was an exceedingly strong year for hotel investment in Thailand’s key hotels markets, including Phuket and Bangkok. Phuket, in particular, saw four major hotel transactions of more than B1 billion each.” These were the Movenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach, the Evason Phuket Resort & Bon Island, and Laguna Beach Resort – with combined value of more than B8 billion – and the sale of Bundarika Villas & Suites on Layan Beach for around B1.1 billion including redevelopment costs. Mr Batchelor said, “Robust investment activity has been driven by strong investor interest in Thai hotels due to reasonable selling prices that allow for attractive investment yields ranging between 7 and and 9 per cent. “In addition, investors anticipate greater income potential and capital gain. While Thailand’s hotel sector across all key markets reported strong performance in 2012, the momentum is likely to continue as the country’s tourism market has recovered from the Global Financial Crisis and unstable political situation,” he added. The section of the report dealing with Phuket notes that last year, the island’s hotel market enjoyed an average daily rate (ADR) of B3,902 and an average occupancy rate of 72.4 per cent, propelling the revenue per available room (RevPAR) to B2,824, a 10.1 per cent increase from 2011. “Despite the significant growth in hotel supply, with 2,756 additional rooms anticipated by 2015, the increase in visitor arrivals has provided demand and the outlook remains positive. “Given current growth and an increase in the number of affluent Asian travellers with greater spending power, Phuket is poised to retain its position as one of Asia’s most popular tourist and investment destinations,” the report predicts. “We expect 2013 to be another strong year for hotel investment in Thailand, based on several major deals that are now under negotiation in the country’s major hotel markets of Phuket, Bangkok, Pattaya, Samui and Chiang Mai,” said Mr Batchelor. He added, “The anticipated formalisation of the new real estate investment trusts (REITs) legislation in Thailand in 2013 is expected to provide another source of investor interest across Thailand.”

Phuket to play host to Thailand’s first ITU Long Distance Triathlon Series event 9th/10th November 2013

Roy — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:52:00 +0000

Organisers of the inaugural 2013 Phuket ITU Long Distance Triathlon Series event presented by the Absolute World Group are proud to announce that Phuket has been chosen as host of the Long Distance Triathlon Series (LD) event under the International Triathlon Union (ITU) banner. The event is part of a triathlon weekend on Phuket which will take place 9^th and 10^th November in Patong, Phuket, Thailand. The weekend starts with a Sprint triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run), Olympic Distance triathlon (1.5km/ 40km/ 10km) and relay events on Saturday 9th November, followed by the headline event the 2013 Phuket ITU Long Distance Triathlon Series event presented by the Absolute World Group on Sunday 10th November, which comprises a 3km swim, 80km bike and 20km run. Each event will be capped at 500 competitors for 2013 and following an early expression of interest over 300 Athletes have already registered. There are Elite and Age Group categories, with world ranking points available and prize money in excess of US$40,000 (approximately THB1.2 million) for the 2013 Phuket ITU Long Distance Triathlon Series event presented by the Absolute World Group. “We are delighted Phuket is one of the hosts for the 2013 ITU Long Distance Triathlon Series,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “We are confident the local organising committee, with the support of the Absolute World Group, will host a great event that will generate high interest in both triathlon and the beautiful island of Phuket.” ITU is the global authority for the sport of triathlon and one of their overriding aims is to encourage participation and spectators. In line with this, the course will start and finish in Patong, the Island's largest population and tourism centre, and will include a series of loops ensuring spectators can view the action up close. Presented by the Absolute World Group, the event forms part of a series of CSR initiatives to mark the Group's 15^th Anniversary year. A leader in resorts and mixed-use real estate, the Absolute World Group wish to bring triathlon to the people and through the 2013 Phuket ITU Long Distance Triathlon Series event aims to encourage visitors, provide further support for tourism and local businesses in the area, and develop a healthier lifestyle for the benefit of the local community and holidaymakers alike. Organisers are working closely with the Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) as well as the Thai triathlon community to encourage more local and regional participation. "Triathlon in Thailand is growing in popularity. We are excited that Phuket is hosting a world-class ITU Long Distance Triathlon event. This is a great opportunity for Thai athletes and all athletes around Asia to compete shoulder-to-shoulder with top elite and age-groupers from around the world," said Vijitr Sittinawin, President, Triathlon Association of Thailand. "There has already been a lot of interest from national associations, particularly in Asia, wanting to send their national teams and age groupers to join. We expect a strong turnout and a highly competitive field with some big name sponsors and further prizes to be announced," added Khun Vijitr. Registration is available now at www.ituphukettriathlon.com.

Phuket International Boat Show: Asia’s Favourite Boat Show

Roy — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:25:49 +0000

The Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) celebrates its tenth anniversary in March 2013. Since 2003 the show has grown into the most successful marine and lifestyle show in South East Asia, with more exhibitors, more boats on display, and more sales than any other. The show takes place at Phuket’s five-star Royal Phuket Marina with purpose built exhibition space overlooking the in water display in a magical setting offering fine dining and spectacular views of the yachts. The show will have up to 60 yachts in the water from 10m to 35m, power and sail, and smaller trailer yachts for the entry level visitors. As many as 120 exhibiting companies representing over 250 brands worldwide will make the 2013 show the biggest ever. All products will be on display; from boats to marine equipment and accessories, charter and diving and sailing holidays, technical and design services, marina construction and a wide range of water sports toys and gadgets. As befits a show in Phuket, Asia’s favourite tropical island destination, alongside the marine exhibits will be a wide choice of luxury property, reasonably priced condominium projects and investment opportunities together with other iconic branded goods. Recent shows have seen participation from Australia, Europe, USA, East Asia and China, and of course S.E. Asia. Cocktail parties and receptions will also give exhibitors and visitors the chance to mingle and network whilst enjoying the ambience of Royal Phuket Marina. Floor and water plans have been posted and bookings are open for prime locations in the exhibition hall and marina (subject to availability.) Following demand, the in-water display has been increased to cater for up to 60 vessels with the possibility for more. Now on its tenth year, PIMEX is an established and successful event in the marine and leisure calendar. As the 2012 edition showed, the show is well attended by luxury brands and individuals keen to buy. Over 4,000 individuals were involved and USD$25 million of product was sold with many more leads followed up after the show. Like its location, PIMEX is a relaxed event where participants celebrate the boating, leisure and luxury lifestyle in an ideal tropical destination. The show is more than boats on display but also an opportunity to see the latest luxury cars, properties and engage in some Phuket hospitality.

It’s a hat-trick !!

Roy — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 08:07:17 +0000

Fantastic news from the Perspective Magazine Awards held last night at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Absolute World were successful in winning three prestigious awards, Best Interior Design for The Beach Samui, Best Timeshare Resort (Asia Pacific) for Absolute Twin Sands Resort & Spa and Best Exterior Design for The Beach Samui. The Awards program is independently judged by both a panel of experts and our industry peers so it's congratulations all round to our magnificent team who worked so hard to win these awards.

Absolute Thai Magazine Feb/Mar 2013

Roy — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:11:58 +0000

Absolute Thai Lifestyle Magazine has become a staple across the magazine stands of high-end resorts and international airports across Thailand. 40,000 free copies are published every two months, giving readers a taste of the elegance, decadence, exotic luxury life and culture in Thailand whilst providing them with the latest local offers and exciting opportunities to maximise their holiday experience.

Nominations open for Thailand Property Awards 2013

Roy — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:23:49 +0000

The Thailand Property Awards return in 2013 with a new Chairman for the Judging panel, a new category and a new venue. Now in its eighth year, the Awards have continued to grow to become the Kingdom’s premier property awards event dubbed ‘The Oscars’ of the Thai property market. To accommodate the dynamic nature of Thailand’s real estate market and to reflect growing interest in Khao Yai, this year’s Thailand Property Awards will see the addition of Best Residential Development Khao Yai. The 2013 Thailand Property Awards also welcomes Sunchai Nuengsit as the new chairman of the Judges. Sunchai has over 15 years’ experience in the supply of quality products and solutions for the interior construction and residential building sector. He is a founding member and managing director of BuilderSmart PCL, a premier manufacturer and distributor of cutting edge solutions focused on environmental sustainability. Sunchai Nuengsit will head a nation-wide panel of judges, all experts in various property related fields. A new prestigious venue has also been chosen for this year’s awards ceremony. The World Ballroom at the Centara Grand hotel in Bangkok will welcome more than 500 industry leaders on the 19th of September 2013 for the official presentation ceremony and Gala Dinner. Companies and projects can be nominated here or visit the website

Phuket Tops Hotel Investment Survey

Roy — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:36:02 +0000

Asia Pacific hotel transaction volumes are projected to reach US$3.5 billion in 2013 on the back of strong investment sentiment to buy hotel assets in the region, Jones Lang LaSalle’s latest Hotel Investment Outlook report has revealed. This projection represents an improvement on 2012 volumes, where hotel sales activity dropped 30 percent on the previous year to US$3.3billion. Australia and Japan are expected to see the lion’s share of investment dollars this year, while pockets of activity will be seen across the rest of the region. More investors will look to acquire or develop Asia Pacific hotel assets in 2013 as they seek to secure a foothold in the region, according to Jones Lang LaSalle’s 2012 year-end Hotel Investor Sentiment Survey. Investor appetite for acquisitions is strongest for Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City, Auckland, Osaka and Tokyo while Asia Pacific hotel markets continue to rank among the highest globally for development sentiment, with Bali, New Delhi and Mumbai appearing in the global top ten. Despite strong investor sentiment, a low level of established product for sale will widen the pricing gap between buyers and sellers and slow the pace of transaction volumes. In light of this, investors will continue to consider new developments in order to achieve sufficient scale across the region. Hotel supply in Asia is projected to increase by an average of 5.5 percent per annum across 23 major markets over the next two years. Other forecast highlights include: Inter-regional capital will remain active in Asia Pacific’s hotel investment market in 2013. The successful listing of two new hotel REITs in 2012 and more planned for 2013 is likely to result in higher volumes by these groups, for whom diversification is key. REITs have been willing to consider assets in secondary locations to ensure overall viability. Transaction volumes in Japan are expected to improve with trading performance returning to pre-quake levels. The market offers significant leverage opportunities with interest rates at near zero and lenders more willing to originate non-recourse loans. Hotels in Tokyo will continue to be afforded a premium while markets outside Tokyo – such as Sapporo and Osaka – offer investors attractive high yield opportunities. As operating companies digest an oversupply of luxury rooms in major cities in China, the mid-market will be an exciting space to watch over the next five years. The mid-segment is currently under-represented from a brand and investment-grade product perspective, however, a wealthier travelling middle class point to a significant opportunity. Australia remains a target for cross border capital with interest from Asian groups in prime hotels still exceptionally strong and selective interest from new capital sources like the Middle East and China. Investment benchmarks are being established in India. The dynamics in 2013 will favour both buyers and developers with a slowdown in in development activity and more opportunities to acquire. One of the region’s hotel investment hot spots, Thailand is expected to remain robust in 2013 with more deals anticipated in Phuket and Bangkok. The introduction of a new REIT law is also expected to increase liquidity in the hotel and property investment market. Scott Hetherington, CEO, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels and Hospitality Asia said: “While we are seeing strong investor appetite, sell intentions in Asia Pacific are the lowest of all the regions. This is attributed to a softening of yield and leveraged initial rate of return expectations. Consequently, we expect transactions of existing assets to be broadly consistent with 2012 next year and pick up in 2014. The exception is South East Asia which is exhibiting strong trading sentiment, healthy RevPAR growth and new investment-grade product.”

Bikram Choudhury Talks How To ‘Holiday Smarter, Holiday Fitter’.

Roy — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 12:25:40 +0000

Bikram Yoga, is a system of yoga that Bikram Choudhury synthesized from traditional hatha yoga techniques and popularized beginning in the early 1970s. Bikram Yoga sessions run for exactly 90 minutes and consist of a set series of 26 postures including 2 breathing exercises. Bikram Yoga is ideally practiced in a room heated to 105°F (≈ 40.6°C) with a humidity of 40%, and is the most popular form of hot yoga (a series of yoga poses done in a heated room.

We welcome your support – Perspective Magazine Awards

Roy — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:50:38 +0000

We are looking forward to another great year for our industry and have lots of exciting developments in store to celebrate our 15 year anniversary this year. With this in mind, our friends at Perspective Magazine are once again hosting the annual industry awards, providing a global platform of recognition to individuals and companies from within the shared ownership resorts industry. The Awards program is independently judged by both a panel of experts and our industry peers and winners will be announced at the Awards Gala held at the world famous Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles in February. We are very proud to announce that we have been nominated in SEVEN categories and would be delighted if you would cast your vote in our favour by clicking on the links below. VOTE HERE


Best Consumer Product Absolute Fractionals Powerboat Ownership		Best Industry Leader Bryan Lunt

Best Interior Design The Beach Samui		Entrepreneur of the Year Bryan Lunt

Best Exterior Design The Beach Samui


Best Timeshare Resort (Asia) Absolute Twin Sands Resort & Spa		Best Fractional Resort (Asia) The Beach Samui

Every vote counts as they say and you have until the 31st January to do so. We are extremely grateful for your support and wish you all a truly exciting 2013 also. Warmest wishes, All at the Absolute World Group

GNEX 2013 Conference Schedule

Roy — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:36:03 +0000

The 3rd Annual Global Networking Expo (GNEX 2013: The Global Meeting of Minds) for senior executives of the shared ownership industry will be held at the world famous Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California, USA. GNEX Conferences have made their mark very quickly as the place to be for those serious about improving the shared ownership industry through discussion and working together, where everyone is a VIP and easily accessible to network with; from the Presidents and CEO's of the largest and most successful companies from around the world to the most inspiring new entrants to the marketplace.

3rd February

VIP Super Bowl Party

Sponsored by Dial An Exchange and Oombaga Time: 2PM – 8PM Venue: Gable Lombard Penthouse, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90028 Dress Code: Casual Kicking off GNEX 2013 in style with another industry first is our VIP Super Bowl Party, where our delegates will get together for the most watched sporting event of the year and to network in the luxurious surrounding of the three floor, rooftop Gable Lombard Penthouse. Accessible only by private elevator, this glamorous suite was used by Golden Era A-List stars Clark Gable and Carole Lombard during their famed affair in the late 1930s. Gable, best known for movie classics such as Mutiny On The Bounty (1935) and Gone With The Wind (1939) first met Lombard while starring in their only film together, No Man Of Her Own (1932). Carole Lombard starred in many roles and she commanded and received what was one of the top salaries in the business - at one time it was reported she was making $35,000 a week - in the 1930s! Join us for several hours of open bar and refreshments, and enjoy the game whilst making new friends.

4th February

Registration & Refreshments

Sponsored by VacationOwnership.com Time: 2PM – 3PM Venue: Wintergarden, Beverly Wilshire

General Sessions

Time: 3PM – 5PM Venue: Ballroom, Beverly Wilshire

Welcome To GNEX 2013

Time: 3PM Our introduction to a very unique conference with comments from event organizer, Paul Mattimoe, President & CEO, Perspective Group and Master of Ceremonies, Jim Madrid, The Pacific Institute.

Growing Global – Challenges and Opportunities as Timeshare Come of Age

Time: 4PM Speaker: Howard Nusbaum, President & CEO, American Resort Development Association (ARDA) From Branson to Bangkok, timeshare and all of its shared use iterations is becoming a mainstay of global vacationing and resort development. Howard Nusbaum, President/CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), will share the latest global research -- as well as the state of the industry in this economically uneven world, the regulatory and consumer trends, and finally, his perspective of the future opportunities and challenges facing the vacation ownership business. In addition to sharing the research and what's "en vogue" in timeshare, it is also your opportunity as an attendee to "Ask ARDA" key questions or share your ideas.

2013 Economic and Market Outlook - A Time For Action

Time: 4.30PM Speaker: Nico March, Senior Vice President – Investments, The March Group of Wells Fargo Advisors In the wake of the fiscal cliff fallout, markets are reacting to the decisions being made in Washington which will affect business decisions throughout 2013. Nico March will provide his views on where the stock market is headed, the effect on interest rates and where are the opportunities for you, your business and your investment portfolio?

Speed Networking

Sponsored by Lloydshare Time: 5PM Venue: Le Grand Trianon Room, Beverly Wilshire This is your first opportunity to visit our Networking Lounge, where you’ll find all of our exhibitors and plenty of space to hold meetings with other delegates throughout the conference. Our invaluable Speed Networking session will help you meet dozens of our attendees in quick two-minute intervals, where you can swap business cards and decide who you want to make appointments with during the event to carry on your initial discussions.

Via Rodeo Party

Sponsored by Interval International Time: 6.30PM - 8.30PM Venue: 208 Rodeo, 208 Via Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 (Directly Opposite Beverly Wilshire Lobby) Dress Code: Smart Casual Just a few feet away from the Beverly Wilshire is Rodeo Drive where the rich & famous do their shopping, and where tourists window-shop while trying to spot movie stars on the fabled street. Rodeo Drive is just three blocks in length, but represents the most famous shopping district in America and is home to Bijan, the single most expensive shop in the world. The most beautiful part of Rodeo Drive is the European styled Via Rodeo. Right above the famed steps featured in millions of tourist photographs is where you’ll find tonight’s party venue. Join us at 208 Rodeo as the sun goes down and the nightlife begins as we gather on the private terrace, indoor restaurant or even the cobbled streets of this iconic landmark.

5th February

Morning Refreshments

Sponsored by Leisure Logistics Time: 8AM – 9AM Venue: Le Grand Trianon Room, Beverly Wilshire

General Sessions

Time: 9AM – 10.30AM Venue: Ballroom, Beverly Wilshire

What's Relevant To You?

Time: 9AM GNEX Conference sessions primarily look to draw out topical issues and either provide expert opinion from speakers or invoke an open floor debate with our attendees. This year, in another industry first, we’re giving you the opportunity to voice your opinions on the most relevant topics to you right at the beginning of the conference. Whether immediately or over the coming two days, we will touch upon as many of your suggestions as we can, ultimately shaping the conference to include content that you most want to hear about.

Networking Lounge & Refreshments

Sponsored by Blue Strawberry Resorts Time: 10.30AM – 11.30AM Venue: Le Grand Trianon Room, Beverly Wilshire Relax, refresh and enjoy this extended networking break in our Networking Lounge. Learn more about our exhibitors, introduce yourself to more of our attendees, or hold a pre-arranged meeting during this time, without having to miss valuable sessions.

General Sessions

Time: 11.30AM – 1.30PM Venue: Ballroom, Beverly Wilshire

Shared Ownership, The Next Generation

Time: 11.30AM Speaker: Bryan Ten Broek, Senior Vice President, Resort Sales and Business Development North America, Interval International Bryan Ten Broek, Interval International’s senior vice president of resort sales and business development, reviews how shared ownership has evolved over the past four years, and discusses the next generation of products and consumers.

LIFE STORY: David Siegel, Westgate Resorts

Time: 12PM Speaker: David Siegel, President and Chairman of the Board Westgate Resorts / Central Florida Investments As a pioneer in the tourism industry, David has spent the past 30 years shaping his company into the largest privately owned timeshare company in the world. David’s empire includes timeshare, real estate, construction, hotel and apartment management, travel services, tele-communications, citrus, insurance, transportation, retail, and much more. Success struck David in the 1970s when he purchased a prime piece of real estate that later developed into the largest single-site vacation ownership resort in the world — Westgate Vacation Villas. David has been honored as the “Entrepreneur of the Year” for construction and real estate in Central Florida and finished second in the “Entrepreneur of the Year” national competition. But if you ask David, his greatest joy is the success he has created for others through both his company and the Westgate Resorts Foundation that has given over $10 million to charities across the country. In this session, you’ll here from David himself about his life within the timeshare industry and his six secrets to success.

The Winning Formula To Developing Successful Resorts

Time: 12.30PM Panelists:

Mark Waltrip COO, Westgate Resorts / Central Florida Investments	John Spence Chairman & Owner, Karma Royal Group	Ramy Filo CEO, Classic Group
James M. Casey Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Commercial and Specialty Finance, Capital One Bank	Robert J. Webb Partner, Baker Hostetler	Jim Whitteron Director of Marketing & Sales Solutions, HVS Shared Ownership Services

Some resorts are clearly more successful than others, but what is it that makes them so? Our varied panel will cover some of the many elements that can positively or negatively effect the success of a resort development project – from destination choice, construction style, financial constraints and legal structures right the way through to sales and marketing approaches, management operations and customer service.

Lunch

Sponsored by Travel To Go Time: 1.30PM – 2.30PM Venue: Ballroom, Beverly Wilshire

General Sessions

Time: 2.30PM – 5.30PM Venue: Ballroom, Beverly Wilshire

Has Timeshare Lost Its Value Proposition?

Time: 2.30PM Panelists:

Craig Morganson President & CEO, Holiday Systems International	Mark Carney Marketing & Sales Director, Royal Resorts	Francis Taylor CEO, Dial An Exchange	Jason Tremblay CEO, VacationOwnership.com
Mel Grant President & CEO, SFX Preferred Resorts	Stuart Lamont Executive Chairman, Club Leisure Group	Harold Derrah CEO, Anantara Vacation Club	Jason Clowrey Managing Director, Visions Of The World

What started in The Bahamas at GNEX 2011 and firmly put GNEX Conferences on the industry calendar as a “not to be missed event” was our frank and open floor approach to the most difficult of issues. This year’s big debate tackles probably the most critical issue facing the future of our industry. Do not miss this session!

Work Smarter, Not Harder.

Time: 4PM Panelists:

Marcia Rowley Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, International Cruise & Excursions, Inc. (ICE)	Fermin Cruz VP North American Business Operations, Dial An Exchange, USA	Erika Garcia CEO, Marketing 4 Sunset Group & Premier Cancun Vacations
Robert A. Kobek President and CEO, Mobius Vendor Partners and CustomerCount℠	Steve Pentland CEO, Generator Systems

Increase productivity, grow relationships, reach out to your customers and catch up with modern technology to help improve your business in 2013. This creative panel offers a wealth of expertise in marketing services, technological enhancements, value add products and customer communication that collectively benefit thousands of resorts and service providers across the globe. Hear more about why these products and services work so well for so many and ask questions relevant to your situation.

Hollywood Nights Networking Party

Sponsored by RCI & Perspective Magazine Transportation Pick-Up Time: 6PM & 6.20PM from Beverly Wilshire Lobby Time: 6.30PM - 9.30PM Venue: The Playhouse, 6506 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA Dress Code: Smart Casual Join RCI for a night in the heart of Hollywood where you can network where the stars hang out, then either take the transport back to the hotel or stay on and enjoy all that Hollywood Blvd has to offer. First opened in 1918 as The Iris Theatre this venue was later renamed The Fox in 1959 and run by Fox West Coast, NGC and (lastly) Mann as a movie theatre until it closed in 1991. The Playhouse as it is now known, still has the 60s facade outside, but now inside is an ultra-modern venue that was recently voted by Reuters as the #4 Nightclub in the world and is home to live music, world renowned DJs and hotspot for celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Kobe Bryant, Rihanna, Nelly, Paris Hilton and many more. Situated on Hollywood Blvd, just a few blocks along from Grauman's Chinese Theatre and part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with nearby pavement stars for James Cagney, Frank Sinatra and Alfred Hitchcock, we're putting you right in the heart of Hollywood where we will have the whole venue to ourselves, with music, open bar and appetizers whilst you continue to network. Afterwards, choose to take the transport back to the hotel, or carry on partying in West Hollywood, perhaps visiting the nearby Sunset Strip. All is only a short taxi ride back to the Beverly Wilshire.

6th February

Morning Refreshments

Time: 8AM – 10AM Venue: Le Grand Trianon Room, Beverly Wilshire

General Sessions

Time: 10AM – 11.30AM Venue: Ballroom, Beverly Wilshire

A Brave New World?

Time: 10AM Panelists:

Marcos Agostini Senior Vice President, Resort Sales and Business Development Latin America, Interval International	Dimitris Manikis Managing Director, RCI South Africa & VP, Business Development, RCI EMEA	Richard L. Ragatz, PH.D. President, Ragatz Associates
Bryan Lunt Chairman & CEO, Absolute World Group	Tommy Middaugh Executive Vice President, Travel To Go

After the global financial crisis, are the current changes we’re making here to stay, or just passing trends? Our panel will discuss if we are about to awake to a brave new world of emerging markets dominating consumer spending, whilst putting additional strain on older properties in saturated markets; whether or not we will see more product diversification including deeded property replaced by right to use models and if the rise in online transactions and interaction are a permanent game changer for us all.

Building the Future of Timeshare Together

Time: 11AM Speaker: Gordon Gurnik, President, RCI Gordon Gurnik will offer a global outlook on the current state of our industry and give his perspective on how shared ownership industry professionals can come together to ensure we are building a successful future for timeshare. Gurnik will share best practices from around the industry for mobile solutions, offering flexible products and services, building strategic partnerships, and staying connected to your clients with a well executed engagement strategy.

Networking Lounge & Refreshments

Time: 11.30AM – 12.30PM Venue: Le Grand Trianon Room, Beverly Wilshire Relax, refresh and enjoy this extended networking break in our Networking Lounge. Learn more about our exhibitors, introduce yourself to more of our attendees, or hold a pre-arranged meeting during this time, without having to miss valuable sessions.

General Sessions

Time: 12.30PM – 1.30PM Venue: Ballroom, Beverly Wilshire

The Truth About Timeshare On The Internet!

Time: 12.30PM Panelists:

Steve Tassler Principal, Xeputu	Kris Jamtaas Senior Vice President, Business Development, North America, RCI	Jason Tremblay CEO, VacationOwnership.com

This session will begin with some very surprising and exclusive, never revealed before statistics about the timeshare industry’s reputation online provided by INTUITION, Perspective Group’s social media monitoring and online marketing service which has been tracking online activity from June 2010 to present day. Then our panel will discuss not only the statistics, but also the merits of online efforts, providing details from proven campaigns, valuable information on best practices and will help shed light on some of the myths and legends about do’s and don’ts for timeshare companies in the online world.

Lunch

Sponsored by INTUITION by Perspective Interactive Time: 1.30PM – 2.30PM Venue: Ballroom, Beverly Wilshire

General Sessions

Time: 2.30PM – 4.30PM Venue: Ballroom, Beverly Wilshire

Is Age Getting The Better Of Us?

Time: 2.30PM Panelists:

Bruce L. Thompson CEO, Gold Key / Professional Hospitality Resources	Gregg Anderson Global Vice President, The Registry Collection	Barry Robinson CEO & Managing Director, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific
Harry Taylor Executive Chairman, TATOC	John "Roger" Burk Attorney, John Rogers Burk, A Law Corporation	Jon Fredricks President & CEO, Welk Resorts

How does an active developer cope with the ever-changing world around them? Our panel focuses on pertinent developer issues relating to changing trends in consumer demographics and priorities, aging resorts and owners, then need for exit strategies, fee for service models, deeded vs right to use, and the balance between trying to do everything in-house and carefully selecting the right third party vendors to partner with to enhance their product offerings.

Flash Forward

Time: 3.30PM Panelists:

Gordon Gurnik President, RCI	Bryan Ten Broek Senior Vice President, Resort Sales and Business Development North America, Interval International	Francis Taylor CEO, Dial An Exchange
Craig Morganson President & CEO, Holiday Systems International	David A. Siegel President and Chairman of the Board Westgate Resorts / Central Florida Investments	John Spence Chairman & Owner, Karma Royal Group
Howard Nusbaum President & CEO, American Resort Development Association (ARDA)	Stuart Lamont Executive Chairman, Club Leisure Group	Marcia Rowley Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, International Cruise & Excursions, Inc. (ICE)

To close our conference sessions, we’ve invited back some of our incredible speakers to hear their final thoughts on highlights of the conference, their views on the future of the timeshare industry and to give you one last chance to ask these industry leaders your questions.

Perspective Magazine Awards Gala Dinner

Time: 6.30PM Venue: Wintergarden & Ballroom, Beverly Wilshire Dress Code: Formal (Black Tie Preferred but not essential) To end GNEX 2013, and just a few days ahead of The Grammy's being held in Beverly Hills, our very own industry stars will be acknowledged as the results of the 2013 Perspective Magazine Awards Program sponsored by Holiday Systems International will be announced during a night of food, drink and entertainment.

Cocktail Reception Sponsored by Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific

Awards Program Sponsored by Holiday Systems International

Schedule subject to change without notice.

Pattaya: Second Home to the World

Roy — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:28:44 +0000

In a statement issued this week, Thailand’s youngest mayor noted that the city of one million “happy inhabitants” had undergone a major revamp and was now more than ready to provide the best of recreational, healthcare and infrastructure facilities. He called on them to visit the city and check out the wide offer of longer term residential opportunities. Ageing populations in the industrialised countries, poor economic conditions, and harsh winters are leading many of the senior citizens to explore new places of residence in the warm-weather countries of Asia. In recent years, Pattaya has witnessed extensive development in accommodation options for visitors considering a long stay, ranging from five-star international hotels and serviced apartments to guest houses, houseboats, family inns and hotels, beachside huts and bungalows. Short- term and long-term service apartments are a popular option, especially with families who appreciate their affordability, quality of service, in-room dining, safety, and amenities. The following is the full text of Mr. Ithiphol’s statement: Pattaya is widely regarded as one of Asia's favourite seaside resorts; with something for everyone; it is increasingly known as the "Thai Riviera". Pattaya caters to tourists from all cultures and walks of life, providing a safe, relaxing, fun–filled stay amongst the white sandy beaches, world-class hotels, wide variety of local and international restaurants, as well as shopping centres and markets, featuring local OTOP handicrafts to global luxury labels. In addition, with its 30+ international standard golf courses, there are challenges for golfers, no matter their handicap. Global recognition of Pattaya’s superior quality of life, offering a wise and secure investment for a second home, has been confirmed by the UK’s highly reputable newspaper, ‘The Telegraph’ where real estate and tourism experts, including senior journalist Christopher Middleton, ranked Pattaya as one of the world’s best 20 cities for foreigners to establish their second home. Pattaya is also home to some of the world’s finest JCI accredited healthcare establishments, making it not only a superb choice for enjoying your golden–years to the fullest, but also guaranteeing a solid choice for one of your most important investment decisions. Already a leading choice for health conscious holiday–goers as their preferred health and wellness destination, you’ll find it a worthwhile investment of your time to explore Pattaya’s more long–term holiday options. Without a doubt, you are sure to be impressed by the multitude of modern hospitable services, facilities and amenities offered by this ocean–front city. It’s a true certainty that Pattaya will win your heart, knowing that your second home/retirement paradise can fulfill your dreams of life in a ‘heaven–on–earth’ paradise. Pattaya’s constantly improving services and modern comforts make use of the latest technology, comfort and security innovations, assuring that your ‘new home’ not only rivals your present quality of life, but, in many cases, actually elevates your lifestyle to new levels of luxury and well–being. All of these combined attributes and advances in infrastructure development are motivated with the intent of offering Pattaya residents one of the best lifestyle choices available on the planet. It’s this fact that has officially earned Pattaya a seal of quality attesting to its world–class healthcare, as well as a solid choice for the establishment of a second home. If by chance you haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit our modern enjoyable city, may we please suggest that you consider honouring us with a visit. Not only will you be assured of a wonderful vacation, but the wide offer of longer term residential opportunities, seen first–hand, are sure to raise the bar on your future dreams as our famous ‘Thai Smile’ kindles new–found warmth into your heart, as well as an even larger feeling of well–being in your investment portfolio.

A Potted History of Koh Samui

Roy — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:01:52 +0000

As we prepare to open the doors to The Beach Samui, a Private Residence Club, later this year, we look back at the history of the tropical paradise that is now seeing some of the region’s most exciting Asian property development. Although there is evidence that this beautiful island in the Gulf of Thailand was inhabited from the 11th century onwards, it wasn’t until the late 1800s that it became a popular haven for fisherman sheltering from storms as they crossed the gulf. Battered by the high seas the fishermen arrived on the shores of the island to find an idyllic paradise full of natural resources such as exotic fruits, acres of thick vegetation and an abundant marine life. And like many people who have chosen to invest in some of the most attractive Asian property development opportunities on the island, they found it impossible to leave. Many of these fishermen were of Chinese origin and it is thought that the word ‘Samui’ comes from the Chinese word ‘saboey’, which means ‘safe haven’. For the next two hundred-plus years, Koh Samui remained fairly anonymous to the rest of Thailand, its distance of 35km from the mainland meaning that it was largely left to its own devises. Its main economy was the harvesting of tropical plants and fruits such as the coconut and durian plants, which grew plentifully on Samui. Farmers soon realised there was a market for their produce on the mainland, however, and the island quickly grew in prosperity as a result. It wasn’t until the early 1960s that the first foreign tourists started to visit Koh Samui, changing the course of the island’s history dramatically. In 1967 a project to build the first road around the island began, leading the way for more ambitious developments. Its emergence on to the international tourism map was fast and furious and by 1975, it was firmly established as one of the favorite destinations amongst European backpackers. The rest, they say, is history. With the influx of tourists came the development of accommodation on the island, as well as an improved ferry service shortly followed by the creation of its own airport. Koh Samui is now one of Thailand property news’ greatest success stories. To meet a growing demand for luxury tourism a large number of five star resorts and residences like The Beach Samui have sprung up on the island, making it one of the premier destinations in the world for high-end travelers, according to Thailand property news.

TUI targets Thailand

Roy — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:28:35 +0000

TUI Travel is aiming to drive more business to Thailand this year, following the roll-out of its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Europe’s largest leisure travel company revealed today that it will launch the first ever direct flights between London and Phuket later this year, using the new B787. It will also commence Dreamliner flights to Phuket from two Scandinavian cities – Stockholm and Copenhagen – as TUI Nordic aims to boost its presence in the Thai market. Speaking at a press conference at the Centara Grand Bangkok at CentralWorld, TUI’s top executives, led by CEO Peter Long, outlined the company’s plans for Thailand. “We are very excited by the opportunities we have in bringing more guests to Thailand,” Long said, adding that as a destination, Thailand offers broad appeal “to couples, groups and families alike”. Henrik Norlin, CEO of TUI Nordic, which takes 110,000 holidaymakers from Scandinavia to Thailand each year, expanded on Thailand’s changing demographics. “We have changed perceptions of Thailand on the Nordic region from a backpacker destination to a place for families. We have also turned it into a destination for repeat business,” Norlin said. As a result, TUI Nordic will upgrade its direct Copenhagen-Phuket and Stockholm-Phuket charter flights from a B767 to the new B787 from late October 2013. Then the following month, TUI will commence its first direct services to Phuket from London’s Gatwick airport. Garry Wilson, TUI’s managing director of purchasing, revealed that the company already has 7,000 bookings for the first year and added that his company would consider direct charters from other UK airports in the future, including Manchester. “We always look for multiple departure points and the next obvious choice would be Manchester,” Wilson told Travel Daily. Meanwhile, Christian Clemens, CEO of TUI Germany, said he was looking into the possibility of launching direct flights between Germany and Thailand “within two years”. TUI currently sends 90,000 German tourists to Thailand each year. TUI Travel will take delivery of its first four Dreamliners in 2013, with a further nine arriving by 2015. Other destinations being served by the new aircraft will include Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Thailand among top retirement places

Roy — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:17:35 +0000

Thailand, praised for its "affordability, exotic locales and outdoor lifestyle," placed ninth on an annual list of best countries for North Americans to retire to. Thailand and Malaysia were the only Asian countries to place in the Top 10 of the favoured retirement destinations. With its low cost of living, balmy climate and cheap property prices, Ecuador was ranked the top foreign retirement destination for North Americans for the fifth consecutive year. The South American nation bordered by Colombia and Peru scored the highest marks in InternationalLiving.com's annual ranking of the best places to retire. With monthly estimated living expenses ranging from $900 to $1,400, Ecuador surpassed Panama, Malaysia, Mexico and Costa Rica, which rounded out the top five countries. "I think the combination of a welcoming culture, the great weather, the affordability and its proximity to the United States all go together to make it a good package," Dan Prescher, the special projects editor for the website, said on Thursday. "Panama has a lot of the same things going for it, but it isn't quite as affordable as Ecuador," he added in an interview. Editors at InternationalLiving.com analyzed data and information from correspondents in the countries most popular with American and Canadian retirees to compile the results, which were based on a host of categories: cost of living, climate, property prices, healthcare, ease of integration, retirement infrastructure, entertainment and amenities and special benefits for retirees. A large part of Ecuador's appeal is how inexpensive it is for retirees. A beer costs just 85 cents. A doctor's visit is $25, roughly the same price as a one-hour massage. "Seniors resident in Ecuador qualify for half-price entertainment and local transport, discounted airfares and refunds of sales tax," Prescher added. Panama, which came in a close second, won praise for its pensioner visa, which speeds up residency, retiree discounts on medicines, entertainment and restaurants, and its friendly people. Malaysia, the only Asian country to make the top five, drew retirees to its shores with its tropical climate, low cost of living and cheap rents, similar factors that boosted Mexico and Costa Rica's appeal to retirees. Most of the better countries for retirees were Spanish speaking, including Uruguay, Colombia and Spain. Although the language may differ, Prescher said retirees adapt easily because they usually choose a country with a culture familiar to them. "Most people know or can learn enough Spanish to get along," he added. Malta squeezed in at No. 10, winning points for its very low crime rate, Mediterranean climate and abundance of English speakers. English is the second language of Malta, which is a European Union member. Ireland, France, Portugal and Italy were other EU nations that made the ranking of 22 countries, along with the Philippines and New Zealand, which scored the worst for the cost of living, along with France, but ranked high for integration. "The places that have been popular with expats for the last five to 10 years tend to stay in the rankings unless something drastic happens, a big political or economic change," Prescher explained.