Known for its heritage as a royal resort town, Hua Hin has made a strong comeback as a popular post-lockdown destination, and Avani+ Hua Hin Resort has played a role in this revival by attracting millennials with a mix of wedding venues, wellness-focused MICE programmes, and pet-friendly facilities.

According to resort manager Ravi Ganglani, the property primarily serves as a “MICE-leisure” hotel, with around 65 per cent of its business coming from MICE and weddings, especially Indian weddings, and 30 per cent from leisure travellers, including families and honeymooners.

“Hua Hin’s accessibility from Bangkok, beautiful beaches and weather, and family-friendly atmosphere, make it ideal for destination weddings,” said Ravi, adding that with no flights involved, it makes it convenient to transit “for both local and international guests”.

The resort has also capitalised on the growing wellness trend, opening an integrated wellness centre on the property.

“We see a lot of travellers extending their stay one to two days to unwind, and they turn to our wellness programmes for activities, such as whole body assessments or physiotherapy,” explained Ravi.

He continued: “We’ve also integrated wellness into our MICE offerings. We offer a physiotherapist during break time to teach people how to sit and how to get the maximum best posture, and avoid what leads to tiredness during the day.”

Additionally, Avani+ Hua Hin Resort was one of the first hotels in the area to become pet-friendly.

“Previously, there was little demand for pet-friendly travel, but during this time, pets became valued members of the family. That’s why we transformed into a pet-friendly hotel. We trained the staff, developed best practices, and now it’s natural to see pets walking around the hotel without fear or hesitation (on our part),” he shared.

To further engage pet parents – many of whom frequently drive their pets from Bangkok to enjoy the beach side – the resort hosts an annual pet weekend where the entire resort becomes a haven for pets with a pet fashion show, games, and sessions with professional trainers.

Looking ahead, Avani+ Hua Hin Resort is preparing for the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2024 with a full moon island-themed farewell party. Ravi shared that the event will feature local culinary highlights from Petchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan in a relaxed atmosphere where participants can really let their hair down.

While the destination has seen growth, Ravi believes there is still potential to unlock.

“Hua Hin is starting to take off, but we need government support. With infrastructure improvements, like completing the expressway from Bangkok and increasing flights, Hua Hin can thrive even more, much like Pattaya after its expressway was built,” he concluded.