Bangkok-based Anantara Resorts and Spas will grow from two to four hotels by the end of 2004 with the opening of two new resorts in Thailand. Opening first will be the Anantara Royal Coco Palm Khao Lak, which is scheduled to reopen on September 16th. Following shortly after is the Anantara Resort and Spa Koh Samui, opening on November 1st.The Samui property, like its two sister resorts in Hua Hin and Chiang Rai, is wholly owned and operated by Anantara Resorts and Spas Asia. In Khao Lak, the Anantara will initially provide management services and are negotiating an investment stake in partnership with Coco Palm Hotel & Resort Co., Ltd.

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Each property will benefit from the design and landscaping expertise of Bensley Design Studios, with additional interior design details being completed by John Lightbody of Abacus Design in Khao Lak and Pia Wanglee of PIA Associates in Samui.

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With the opening of the 108 rooms and suites in Samui and 51 villas in Khao Lak, the Anantara group’s room count will jump to 436.

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William Heinecke, CEO of Royal Garden Resorts, owners of Anantara Resorts and Spas Asia, said: “With the success of the first two Anantaras in Hua Hin and Chiang Rai now established, we’re looking at expansion plans for the brand in South East Asia. We have a strong commitment to the Anantara brand and its concept of affordable luxury. Return guest ratios are rising year on year and the resorts’ guest satisfaction surveys continue to be the highest in the Royal Garden Resorts group. Given our current growth strategy the market can expect to see more Anantara Resorts and Spas and Anantara Hotels opening in the future.”

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Anantara Resorts and Spas Asia Vice President, Christopher Stafford, will oversee the development of the new resorts together with Royal Garden Resorts Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Beauvais. Prachoom Chayabongse will lead sales and marketing efforts for all five properties.

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Anantara Royal Coco Palms lies on a pristine stretch of beach to the north of Khao Lak. The 22-rai (55 acres) property features 10 pool villas and 41 garden and seaview villas, each one a capacious 80-190 square metres.Ê Dramatic changes have been made to the pool, meeting space has been added and a new destination Anantara Spa completed. The resort is an hour’s drive from Phuket International Airport. Published rates start from US$400++.

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The resort’s General Manager will be Michael Smith, who moves to the Anantara from the Baan Head Ngam resort in Koh Samui. A scion of the family that owns England’s Alborough Inn, Mike also worked at the Elephant Lodge in Botswana and the Kamlala Beach Hotel in Gambia before coming to Thailand.

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Anantara Resort and Spa Koh Samui lies on the island’s northern coast next to Fisherman’s Cove village and just 10-minutes drive from the airport. Featuring a Bill Bensley designed 3100 square metre destination spa with 6 treatment rooms and a new range of signature Anantara Spa health and beauty treatments, a cooking school, fitness centre, kid’s club, 30-metre infinity-edge swimming pool and meeting space for up to 130 people, the resort’s opening rates start from US$185++.
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