Amari Hotels Develop Budget Brand

One of Thailand's largest domestic hospitality brands Amari has announced plans to launch a budget brand and focus development growth within this segment. The chain has historically focused on four and five star properties and currently has 18 hotels under management including the Amari Coral Reef Beach Resort in Phuket and Amari Vogue Resort in Krabi.
Other international operators active in this segment include IHG's Holiday Inn Express, Accor's Ibis and Carlson's Park Plaza brands all of which have multi unit expansion plans underway in Thailand. Expectations are that the budget segment will outpace growth of upper tier and luxury properties due to changing demographics and considerable lower operating and development costs.
Phuket has one Ibis in Patong already and a second hotel under construction in Kata. Marriott's mid tier Courtyard concept also caters to a growing midscale consumer base and has established three operating properties on the island in a very short time span.