THE ERAWAN Group has ditched Six Senses Resorts & Spas for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, rebranding its resort on Naka Island in Phuket to a Luxury Collection property.
Six Senses has managed the property for about three years. A statement from Six Senses said the decision, effective August 1, was “mutual”.
The Erawan Group is pouring an additional investment of 70 million baht (US$2.4 million) to rebrand the resort as The Naka Island, including enhancing the 67 pool villas. The resort, closed on July 31, is scheduled to reopen on November 1.
A statement obtained by TTG Asia e-Daily quoted president of the group, Kamonwan Wipulakorn, as saying the rebranding would transform the resort from “its formerly restricted wellness destination” to “a broader market demand of luxury pool-villa resort”.
The company anticipates a growing number of tourists in the second half of the year with the increase in direct flights from various destinations to Phuket.
In Singapore last week, Starwood’s regional vice president South-east Asia, Chuck Abbott, said “there are lots of activities” with existing owners to rebrand properties into Luxury Collection.
There are 13 Luxury Collection properties in operation in Asia-Pacific and six more openings by 2014. The website shows the following: Keraton at the Plaza, Jakarta (December 1, 2011), Twelve at Hengshan (May 1, 2012), Vana Belle Samui Resort & Spa (July 1, 2012), The Royal Begonia, Sanya (February 18, 2012), The Sarasvati, Bali (July 1, 2013) and The Chengbao Hotel, Dalian (January 1, 2014).
