Absolute Group Invests Bht 200 million In Resort And Hotel Management, And Vacation Ownership Expansion
June 2, 2009 by Perspective Magazine | Timeshare & Fractional Reviews10 years of success and commitment to Thailand tourism.
New resort portfolios and rapid growth of demand in vacation ownership.
Absolute Group of companies – the multinational group specializing in mixed-use resort and hotel development and management, and vacation ownership – celebrates 10 years of success with rapid expansion in resort and hotel and mix-used resort management and vacation ownership.
Absolute Group is committed to Thailand’s tourism industry with an investment of more than BHT 200 million baht in 2009. The group’s expansion will help to boost tourism in Phuket and Thailand in the long-term.
Mr. Bryan Lunt, Chairman of Absolute Group commented, “We see the expansion plan during this crisis climate as a challenge, and it will bring the best from of our management and team. We are confident in our worldwide operations and there is a clear trend and demand for quality branded and professionally managed mixed-used resort management and share ownership products.”
Absolute Resort Management (ARM) is experienced in professional hospitality management for hotel and resort properties and mixed-use developments. The Group’s resort management division already has three new boutique hotels for opening in 2009 and 2010, and ‘yooPhuket’ – a high-end branded resort with 256 stylish suites and penthouses, open in 2011.
Absolute has entered a collaboration with yoo (the world’s most celebrated designer – Philippe Starck – and John Hitchcox’s company) to launch yooPhuket, which is located in Kathu, nearby Phuket’s newest golf course, Red Mountain. yooPhuket will be Thailand’s most exciting designer development that will showcase Phuket to a worldwide audience. yooPhuket is expected to open in 2011 and will be managed by Absolute Resort Management.
One major factor in Absolute’s resort management expansion is the growth in number of new resorts in Phuket, Pattaya and Samui in recent years. A trend that is likely to continue over the long-term. New resorts need a professional resort management company to manage everything from operations to marketing and market positioning of the resort, which is where Absolute Resort Management excel.
The trend of branded resort properties around the world is growing as management companies can leverage their brand due to their strong and loyal customer base. Absolute Resort Management, through resorts currently under its management and a long history of resort management experience, bring a level of professionalism and expertise valued by many independently owned resorts.
Already under Absolute’s management are Absolute Sea Pearl Beach Resort and Spa – Phuket and Absolute Patong Ville Resort and Spa – Phuket. In April 2009 Absolute Resort Management secured management of the luxury Absolute Chandara Resort and Spa – 49 luxury villas on the northeast coast, near ‘The Yamu’ and Jumeirah Private Island Resort.
Furthermore, Absolute Resort Management will manage two more properties this year; Absolute Bangla Suites – a new concept hotel with 47 suites and 7 penthouses located in Soi Bangla, and scheduled to open in July 2009; and the new Absolute Beach Resort at Nakalay – 33 luxury suites and penthouses in a stunning private location overlooking Patong Bay, to open in September 2009.
In 2010, Absolute plans to launch Absolute Sansabai Resort and Spa – 100 suites with five-star facilities in the heart of Patong, near Jungceylon shopping complex.
“Phuket has strong fundamentals and is the main focus of our resort management expansion. All resorts in our portfolio are boutique resorts with complete holiday facilities such as pool, spa and restaurants. Each resort has its own market niche be it families, couples, honeymooners, for example. Our resorts range from three to five-star and we offer an exceptional holiday experience for all our guests,” added Mr. Lunt.
Alongside the expansion in resort management in Thailand, Absolute Group continues to expand its Absolute Vacation Club (AVC) business. AVC is a leading vacation ownership operator worldwide and recently opened two sales offices in prestigious locations in Bangkok and a sales operation in Tehran, Iran. The Middle East is expected to be a growing market and more offices are planned.
“Thailand is one of the major markets in Asia for vacation ownerships, and Thai buyers are growing in number. We sold over 100 memberships in the first month of operation. The interest continues to grow.”
“We see the expansion of these two business segments as helping to boost tourism in Phuket and Thailand in the long-term by attracting frequently returning visitors through our resort ownership program. We have a global customer network due to the different business sectors Absolute Group operates in, and we can see from our resort and development operations that Thailand, and Phuket in particular, are strong markets with a high number of returning guests and scope for much further growth”.
Absolute Group currently employs over 950 staff and operates 21 offices worldwide including three offices in Tenerife, Barcelona and Marbella in Spain; two offices in Bangkok, offices in Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui in Thailand, Turkey, two offices in Beijing, two offices in Hong Kong, Sanya in China, Moscow, Vladivostock and Khabarovsk in Russia, Kiev in Ukraine, and Iran.
Absolute Resort Management Company (ARM)
Absolute Resort Management is experienced in professional hospitality management for hotel and resort properties and mixed-use developments. Established in 2004, ARMs head office is in Phuket. Absolute Resort Management provides comprehensive hospitality solutions for developers of resorts, hotels, condominiums, villa estates and mixed-use developments throughout Thailand and has the ability to work with branded hotels and with vacation ownership and fractional ownership business opportunities. More information, visit ARM.co.th
Absolute Vacation Club (AVC)
Absolute Vacation Club is a market leader in the vacation ownership business and has affiliated resorts with Interval International, a global quality vacation exchange organization, and offers its club members more than 2,500 destinations in more than 80 countries. The Phuket office is the Thai headquarters of Absolute Group and is the hub for the Group’s expansion throughout Thailand.
Absolute Vacation Club has over 16,000 member families worldwide and expects to generate global sales in excess of USD 50 million in 2009. More information, visit ClubAbsolute.com
Absolute Group of companies
Founded in 1998 the group consists of six business sectors: Absolute Developments – mixed-used resort and hotel developer, Absolute Resort Management – resort, hotel and mixed-use development management and services, Absolute Vacation Club – leading worldwide vacation ownership membership, AbsoluteThai – lifestyle magazine publishing; North Shore Real Estate – real estate broker licensed in Thailand; and Absolute Bangla Club – the most stylish bar in the heart of Soi Bangla. More information, visit AbsoluteWorld.net
About yoo
yoo is an international design, marketing and branding property company enhancing quality and adding value to development projects in major towns and cities across the world.
The brand is represented by four core design teams – yoo inspired by Starck, Jade Jagger for yoo, wanders & yoo and the yoo design studio; all of whom increase sales value and sales velocity through market leading design, branded marketing and by maximizing media exposure.
Over the past nine years yoo has been working across the world with international partners on a variety of landmark buildings and large residential projects throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America and the Middle East. Currently yoo is involved in the development of more than 25,000 apartments valuing over $10 billion. Visit yoo.com
For information on advertising and editorial opportunities with Perspective Magazine & Owners Perspective Magazine; the leading independent B2B & B2C magazines for the timeshare and fractional ownership industries visit www.perspectiverates.com
