Marriott is to add two more Courtyard by Marriott hotels in Thailand in 2008 under a management agreement signed with Destination Properties. The hotels are the 243-room Tipviman Hotel in Cha-Am which will be rebranded, somewhat confusingly, the Courtyard by Marriott Hua Hin at Cha-Am Beach. Hua Hin and Cha Am are two different towns and around a 20 minute drive away from each other. The second property is the 180-room Kamala Bay Garden Resort in Phuket which will be reflagged the Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Kamala Beach

Both hotels will undergo extensive refurbishment prior to being reflagged as Courtyard by Marriott hotels.

Earlier this year, Marriott announced management agreements with Destination Properties for the Grand Tropicana Hotel Phuket and the Surin Beach Resort in Phuket, both of which will also reflag to Marriott’s Courtyard brand in early 2008.

“We’re delighted to be working with Destination Properties on the conversion of these two hotels to our highly-regarded Courtyard by Marriott brand and to see our Courtyard brand having a greater presence in Thailand, especially in Phuket and Hua Hin / Cha Am, both of which are popular tourist destinations,” said Ed Fuller, president and managing director for international lodging for Marriott.

Courtyard by Marriott Hua Hin at Cha-Am Beach

Hua Hin and Cha-Am are located on the western coast of the Gulf of Thailand and are popular among both Thais and international visitors especially from the United Kingdom, Germany and Finland. Hua Hin is the home of the summer palace of the King of Thailand, while Cha Am is a 20 minute drive away from Hua Hin.

The Courtyard by Marriott Hua Hin at Cha-Am Beach will be situated along the southern stretch of Cha-Am Beach, approximately 20 kilometers north of Hua Hin and about a two-hour drive from Bangkok. The hotel will be located directly on the beach. Within walking distance are many freestanding shops and restaurants. All guest rooms have sea views.

For dining and entertainment, the hotel will have two restaurants including a specialty beach dining outlet and an all-day restaurant, a lobby lounge and a pool bar.

Amenities at the hotel will include a swimming pool and a children’s pool, an exercise room, games room and a large kids club / teen activity center. The hotel will also have a Grab & Go kiosk, a gift shop, a business center, and a concierge desk to help arrange local touring.

For social events and conferences, the Courtyard by Marriott Hua Hin at Cha-Am Beach will have 850 square meters of function space including a 540-square meter meeting room capable of being divided into three sections as well as a 312-square meter meeting room.

Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Kamala Beach

The Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Kamala Beach will be located in Kamala, Phuket, within a five-minute walking distance of Kamala Beach. About 600 meters south of the hotel is Phuket Fantasea, an 140-acre Thai-cultural theme park featuring a festival village with carnivals, games and shopping.

Guest rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Kamala Beach are oversized ranging in size from 56 square meters to 130 square meters and overlook the pool area.

For dining and entertainment, the hotel will have a casual, all-day restaurant and a poolside bar. Additional amenities include a swimming pool with an adjacent children’s pool, an exercise room, a games room, a kid’s club, Grab & Go counter, a gift shop, a business center and a concierge desk.

For meetings and social events, the Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Kamala Beach will have approximately 450 square meters of function rooms capable of accommodating large and small meeting requirements.
——-