Standard International is set to launch two new hotel branded residence projects in Thailand.
In Phuket, a 222-unit Standard branded condominium by Sansiri will be located near Laguna Phuket and Boat Avenue in the Cherngtalay area, located on a land plot that was purchased from Boat Pattana.
According to the Bangkok Post the project is being developed by a Central Group affiliate and will be launched later in the year.
Units will range from one-bedroom units, 55 square meters up to large duplexes.
The mixed-use project will also include a 150-key Peri Hotel which is one of Standard’s brands, along with other lifestyle commercial components.
Sansiri will also develop a 258-unit Standard hotel branded condominium in Hua Hin.
Thai-listed group Sansiri is the major shareholder of the global Standard International hotel group.
On the Thai resort island of Phuket, the Chergtalay, Laguna, Bangtao area is rapidly attracting institutional real estate investment with Sansiri and Central bringing a new set of property projects to the booming property landscape.
The resort island of Bali continues to be one of the world’s most desired holiday destinations. Over the past three decades, its resort real estate market has continued to evolve and change. Though, for branded residences, both in the lead-up and period after the global pandemic it has lagged behind other key Southeast Asian leisure markets such as Thailand and Vietnam.
Reflecting on legacy, economic transmigration, and the Zoom Boom, C9 Hotelworks has taken a dive with their new joint report with Horwath HTL titled Bali Hotel and Branded Residences 2023 report. To read and download the report CLICK
Be Well Medical Center is set to open a new facility in Blue Tree Phuket.
The Be Well brand has established an operation in Hua Hin already, it will be family oriented and serve the growing nearby Cherngtalay, Laguna, Layan, Surin, and Thalang areas.
Limited emergency care will be available and will be open daily.
With a rising population in Phuket and growth in real estate and tourism, accessible quality medical care is a key demand driver, close to nearby growing residential and tourism areas.
Thai-listed real estate group World Corporation has acquired a 52 rai site in Patong Phuket for a mixed-use hospitality development named The Forest by YOO.
The project will feature a hotel with 432 rooms and 131 luxury villas and is set to open by 2026.
A management deal has been inked with La Vie Hotels and Resorts as white-label operators for the YOO2 Hotel and YOO villas.
In a notice to the Thailand Stock Exchange (SET) World Corporation received approval for the land acquisition of 52 rai (8.3 hectares) for THB1.8 billion.
The search for the next big resort destination in Thailand is an absolutely big ask. An expansive country with 77 provinces and an amazing array of diverse geographical locations, Instagram-worthy aspects, and distinctly different nuances. Out of this brazen travel chaos, the endearing term ‘same same, but different’ was born and remains highly relevant.
Yet, one of the simple truths of emerging destinations remains the adage “you can’t stay there if you can’t get there”. Potential is one thing but reality bites when getting to it is just too painful for words. Here in Thailand, one of my favorite places is Koh Samui. It marches to its own drum beat, and the vibe is undeniable. Still, access is never easy, the cost to get there is on the high side, and options for access are limited.
Scanning the Gulf of Thailand, other bohemian beach islands including Koh Chang, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan all are lovely but suffer a similar challenge, limited transportation access. The search for a modern-day Robinson Crusoe can’t be this hard? Or can it?
The search for azure blue seas stretches of long white sand, and coconut-lined beaches brings me to Khanom. For so many travelers the mention of the name draws a blank stare and the perfunctory ‘where’? Set on the Southeastern Coast of Thailand’s mainland between Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat. On a clear day, you can see Koh Samui and the famed five islands on the horizon.
Perhaps the cherry on top for Khanom, is that it offers the same stunning beaches as Koh Samui but being on the mainland is a far simpler proposition for a holiday or second home. Drive-to destinations in Thailand during the pandemic and after have been a boom for travelers, and are now an even stronger draw card for hotel and real estate developers. Look at the success of Khao Yai and Hua Hin where nature, space, and accessibility are key ingredients in the mix.
One of preferred demand generators when evaluating resort destinations is airlift. Simply put, the magic carpet effect. Khanom is easily accessible to Surat Thani International Airport and Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport where Thailand’s Department of Airports (DoA) has upgraded infrastructure to double capacity.
Stepping back and looking at property in the area, there is still access to larger land parcels. According to leading Thai property portal FazWaz, investment-grade real estate opportunities with reasonable land cost basis reflect pricing of early stage development.
Based on C9 Hotelworks’ ongoing analysis of Thailand’s resort residential markets, a defined shift back to end-users and urge in second or holiday-home buyers has pushed the sector to the beginning of a new cycle. This signals an uptick in growth but unlike more developed markets like Phuket, Hua Hin, or Koh Samui with prime land parcels soaring, Khanom offers an accessible beach destination with considerably lower underlying land costs. It has airlift, and a well-developed road network.
Taking a final look at Khanom, one of the key success factors in a resort location is DNA and aspect. The memorable views of the nearby outer islands in the Gulf of Thailand give a strong sense of place. Moreso, the nature in the area is amazing, highlighted by an abundance of pink dolphins. If you want wow, you got it. Coming out of the pandemic the pick-up in demand for lifestyle properties is going in a single direction and that’s up. If you haven’t been to Thailand’s Southeastern coast, there is no better time to visit than right now.
One of the most notable transformations for both domestic and international travelers in Thailand post-pandemic has been the realization that the old-school beach holiday stereotype is out the window. Rivers, mountains, farms, or even a jungle trek are now the hot ticket. For those who went to the just-wound-up Wonderfruit, you’ve already caught the vibe, and it won’t go away.
One of the latest destinations in Thailand that are buzzing is Khao Yai. A quick two a half hour drive from Bangkok, it can best be summed up as a ‘drive in’ getaway. Moving into the adventure zone, or going back to nature is also about escaping the four walls of a traditional cookie-cutter hotel, complete with those miniature umbrella-topped welcome drinks.
Set to the tune of a road trip soundtrack, it’s high time to admire the great outdoors with a visit to Marasca Khao Yai. This is a new boho-chic getaway with a tasty collection of 18 glamping tents, glamper suites, villas, and one very, very cool glamper van.
If you want space, you got it. Nature, a posh little bolt hole in the woods and next to the stunning World Heritage registered Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex. Complete with hiking and biking trails, it’s a place to try and get lost in (and hopefully found). Wander by a waterfall and, indulge in the cool weather. So cool in fact, you might want to light up that personal firepit or dive into your wooden hot tub at the Marasca.
Meanwhile back to the mountain chatter, another red-hot escape is the spanking new Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort which was designed by the creative icon Bill Bensley. This is a thematic-styled outing and homage to travel by rail. It’s romantic, has flair with all the mod-cons, and definitely goes over the top as only Bensley can.
Taking a step ahead is a fast-developing trend in the area, the country home property market. Bolstered by the ‘Zoom Boom’ and work-from-home shift, city-weary Bangkokians are increasingly buying or building estate homes in the area at a frenzied pace according to leading Thai online real estate marketplace FazWaz.
For Thailand’s adventure set, another top journey out of the box and into the tent is the 9 Hornbills Tented Camp on Koh Yao Yai Island in Phang Nga Bay. A quick trip from Phuket International Airport to the Ao Po Grand Marina and a chance to unwind on a scenic boat trip lands you at one of the country’s most picture-perfect locations. Small, intimate, and stunning views of the famed Bond islands create a fine opportunity to reconnect with nature.
With glamping now coming into more and more Thai holiday destinations, one of Asia’s best glamping tent and fit-out suppliers is Bali’s Escape Nomade whose motto is aptly summed up as ‘Living Without Walls’. Their designs, quality, and attention to detail are world-class.
With that, I have to get back to tending my firepit at Marasca, a name that means ‘cherry on top’, Now if I can just find a bottle of single malt scotch, I have a sky full of stars to gaze up at, and no box in sight.
This article also appeared in TheThaiger
Phuket’s Banyan Tree is rolling out two new products under their Grand Residences estate.
Ten premium oceanview villas are priced in the THB100-150 million range and 40 seaview condominiums with median pricing of THB85 million.
Located within the Laguna Phuket integrated destination resort, the group is expected to bring more real estate products to the market in the near future.
Given an uplift in villa demand on the island, developers are anxiously gearing up new developments to catch the surge in demand.
Leading Japanese hotel operator Hoshino has inked a deal for a luxury resort in Niseko with developer Zekkei Properties.
Located in a prime ski-in and ski-out location in Upper Hirafu Village, the 62-unit hotel and residence property will be named Hoshinoya Lodge Niseko.
With one of Hirafu’s best locations, the site was formerly occupied by the Yamada Onsen and was the first onsen hotel in the area.
An opening date is planned in late 2026. with construction starting in the summer of 2023.
Zekkei is a well-established developer with a strong track record of luxury properties in Japan, Thailand, China and Hong Kong SAR.
To download and read C9 Hotelworks recent Niseko Tourism and Property Market Review 2022 CLICK
Japan’s winter ski hotspot Niseko is set for a strong post-pandemic market rebound due to one simple thing – airlift. Timing is everything and the key touch point for airlines everywhere, moving out of a prolonged period of grounded commercial aircraft, has been to get them up and flying again onto high-demand routes.
In a right time, right place scenario, news of the 11 October 2022 lifting of restrictions of travelers to Japan and seasonal timing of airline winter schedules has created a potential windfall for Hokkaido’s international aviation gateway New Chitose Airport.
Singapore Airlines’ low-cost airline Scoot jumped the gun and was the first to announce a return of winter schedule flights commencing November. More recently Thai Airways will resume daily flights from the first of December this year. Last week Thai AirAsia X also made public plans to restart the Bangkok to New Chitose service in December.
The Thailand Hokkaido connection is driven by a strong Thai domestic ‘snowseeker’ market, and also Bangkok as an Asia hub for the broader international market transiting to Japan given favorable airfares. One key issue for Thais is whether a visa waiver will be put in place with the new reopening program, given a cost issue of approximately THB1500 and paperwork requirements. Japan has been slow to roll out extensive guidelines for the reopening which is creating some unrest for hotels and tour organizations in Japan.
Under a new mantra of ‘have plane, will travel’ the alpine destination of Niseko has seen winter bookings come at a blistering pace. Property developers in the destination are reporting a sharp uplift in inquiries given resort real estate is often an emotional buy, and potential purchasers want to get their boots on the ground, given the extended period they were unable to visit.
The newly released C9 Hotelworks market research report Niseko Tourism and Property Market Review gives the forward outlook that the combination of the favorable dollar-yen exchange rate and pent-up demand will see a return to high transaction levels from this winter through the rest of 2023.
A selection of properties creating a buzz at the moment range from the luxury ski-in and ski-out hotel and branded residence development Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, Zeikki Properties Intuition, Hinode Hils at Niseko Village, HakuVillas and the Andaru Collection. One key destination trait of Niseko remains that majority of tourism accommodation is in luxury and upscale condominiums and vacation homes and not traditional big box hotels.
Despite its airlift and demand trajectory, one immediate challenge for hotels and rental accommodations is how to gear up staffing levels for the upcoming winter, given the market typically relies on a large influx of foreign seasonal workers. Expect a strain on service levels for this season but moving forward the critical mass of international brands and impressive new developments bodes well for Asia’s dream ski destination.
