Amari Phuket will boast a total of 345 rooms from June 1 as a result of the addition of 148 one- and two-bedroom units and suites from parent Onyx Hospitality Group’s residences development adjacent to the hotel.
Four new meeting rooms with seat capacity of 20-80 pax will also be added to the resort, which has undergone a US$20 million renovation and is now under the charge of Pierre-Andre Pelletier, who has been promoted to Onyx’s vice president-area general manager, South Thailand.
Before this promotion, Pelletier had raked up a lot of billings in MICE from neighbouring Asian markets, particularly Singapore and Malaysia, for Amari Watergate Bangkok, where he was general manager.
With smart and stylish new rooms, and new services such as a facility akin to a first-class airline lounge that enables early arrivals or late check-outs to shower, work or just relax, Amari Phuket aims to be the best upscale hotel in Phuket and siphon off a larger share of corporate meetings and incentives.
According to Pelletier, the hotel has been seeing more incentive groups from Singapore and Malaysia banking, insurance and oil companies, and expects more growth, especially now that it has more rooms and MICE capability, aside from the fact that Phuket beaches have also regained their ‘resort’ feel after a clean-up of deep-rooted vendors and sunbed operators by the military.
“Our location is just great, as we’re just a stone’s throw from Patong, yet away from it all,” said Pelletier. “And now that the beaches have been cleaned up, we’re seeing more interest from Asian MICE groups to hold their events in Phuket, whose image is changing for the better.”
Meanwhile, Onyx is also embarking on a US$20 million renovation of its other established property in the south, Amari Samui. This will see the hotel being closed for a year from April.
The popular Prego restaurant, however, will remain open and can accommodate smaller groups seeking quality dining experience comprising excellent Italian food, service, ambience and value for money. – Raini Hamdi
