Phuketindex.com Magazine Vol.32

8/16/2019 Phuketindex.com Magazine Vol.32

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P.12 P.30 P.38 P.64PeopleFocus

PropertyTalk

ChefTalk

GMTalk

Phuket

The Emerald Man

Sawit Ketroj Managing Director of Emerald

Development Group


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Design and producecustom made of

decorative art and furniture

099 - 294 - 9957 (Eng)094 - 584 - 1682 (Thai)

085 - 041 - 8182 (Thai)


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Dear readers,

Welcome to Phuket’s Green Season once again! The rain is nally falling and everythingis gradually turning green once again. This is our second issue of 2016, and we hope

that it brightens you up as much as the coming of the much-needed rain.

In this issue we’re very pleased to introduce you to ‘The Emerald Man’ – Sawit Ketroj –

Managing Director of the Emerald Development Group. Learn about his plans for this

year and his keys to success.

We also feature many other interesting articles such as our regular ‘GM Talk’ – this

month with Doeke Bonga, General Manager of Impiana Hotel Group who tells us all

about the ins-and-outs of hotel management. Take your time and enjoy the company

of Alessandro Martinelli, Head Chef at Hyatt Regency, who’s had more than 15 years of

culinary experience, from Europe to Asia: And check out Penprapa Chooklin Marcom’s

chic and cool style at Amari Phuket Resort.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Publisher Guide Vision Limited

Editor in Chief Jormnapa Utuchkul

Phuketindex.com Team Arnat Utuchkul, Nunghatai Cholchawalit, Pimnattha Angsiyanont,

Sirisawan Hemtanon, Paradorn Promkird

Advertising Enquiries [email protected]

Subscription Enquiries [email protected]

Tel. +66 (0) 76 240 749, +66 (0) 99 391 4056, +66 (0) 61 749 9392

Fax. +66 (0) 76 240 750 www.facebook.com/phuketindex

Phuketindex.com’s Team

There’s more… with rooftop and ultra-modern dining experiences at three cool restaurant locations in Phuket and follow

us to nd the best adventures in the Travel Destination section. Finally, don’t miss our favourite section, the Social and

Events Photos, to check out what’s been happening in Phuket in the last three months.

Bloom on and enjoy Phuket’s Green Season!

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PropertyTalk

ChefTalk

GMTalk

Phuket

The Emerald Man

Sawit Ketroj ManagingDirector of Emerald

Development Group


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Front Page

People

CONTENTSMAY 2016 - JUL 2016

12

28

30

12 - The Emerald Man - Sawit Ketroj (Mai),

Managing Director of Emerald

Development Group

People Focus

12 - The Emerald Man - Sawit Ketroj (Mai)

Managing Director of Emerald

Development Group

Life Talk

18 - Patsada Satthacharoen - Managing

Director of G Hospitality Consultants

Style

28 - Penprapa Chooklin - Marcom Manager

of Amari Phuket

Property Talk

30 - Matteo Capellino - Sales Director

of Blue Horizon Developments Thailand

Chef Talk

38 - Alessandro Martinelli - Head Chef

of Hyatt Regency Phuket

GM Talk

64 - Doeke Bonga - General Manager at Impiana

Resort Patong and Impiana Private Villas

18

3864

10 www.phuketindex.com


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Social

Property Guide

34 - The Jade Villa @ Emerald Nirvana

35 - The Emerald Ao Nang condominium @ Krabi

36 - The Signature Villas

37 - MONO Villa Phuket

Restaurant Guide

42 - Acqua Restaurant

44 - Baan Kalim Restaurant

46 - Savoey Seafood

48 - KEE Sky Lounge

Signature Dish

50 - Sustainable Prawn Salad

Dining Experiences

52 - Hot Box

54 - KEE Sky Lounge

56 - Meka Sky Lounge in Naka

Travel Destination

58 - Sky Walk at Hanuman World Phuket

60 - Banana Beach Koh Hey (Coral Island)

Lifestyle & Travel

58

20 - Event Photo Albums

62 - Phuket News Update

52

54

56

60

50

www.phuketindex.com 11


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Lifestyle - People Focus

K hun Sawit Ketroj is originally from

Nakorn Si Thamarat Province but he

has spent most of his life away from his

birthplace in his thirst for challenge. After

graduating, he began his career with a real estate

company in Haad Yai and later pursued a Master’s

degree in Nakorn Si Thamarat, eventually arriving

in Phuket in 2004.

The Emerald Man

Managing Director of Emerald Development Group



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Khun Sawit (or Mai) moved to Bangkok after he

got his Master’s degree. Working with a public

company he progressed to management level

and gained great knowledge as well as cultivated

extensive managing skills and subsequently hiscondence in the business world grew. He then

spent six months abroad before heading back

home for new challenges.

A friend invited Khun Sawit to come on down to Phuket to start a business

and this is where the journey of the Emerald Group began.

“The rst challenge was to revive a condominium project. We worked

to get it back from crisis level and managed to make it into a successful

project,” Khun Sawit recalls, “Then Emerald Terrace in Patong and Emerald

Central followed.”

It was a critical time, those early years of starting up and growth.

“We only had thee to fourpeople at the beginning yet nowadays we’ve gotabout 70 people drivingthe Emerald Goup andwe’e still gowing withmany moe developmentpojects to come.”

“

”



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Emerald Goup- The Beginning

After the first few successful

projects, it was time to start to

think about building up the brand.

“Emerald was the rst brand word

we thought up and from then onwe concentrated in being unique

in our philosophy and attitude

so that people could have a c lear

idea as to who we are and what

we stand for.”

Altogether, Emerald Group has

developed seven projects so far.

Pojects of Emerald Goup

“Most of our developments are condominiums”, says

Khun Sawit. “Emerald Terrace has just been completed,

Emerald Central is expected to be nished at the end of

the year and we’re working on a further developmentwhich is Emerald Nirvana. The new project is quite

large, it is on 30 rai of land and will see, thanks to a

successful management contract with Starwood, the

return of Sheraton in Phuket as well as a condominium

project with various phases. Emerald City Life Patong

was introduced early this year is now ongoing and

many more projects are on the books thanks to the

support and success that has allowed us to grow,”

he states.




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Emerald’s Stong Points

The major factor is location. Near Emerald

Central there will soon be two big shopping

attractions. “The location for Emerald Central

is absolutely prime. Its construction will becompleted about the same time. Our other

projects are also developed in locations

suitable for condo living, easy to access,

convenient and in demand,” he says.

Other than the locations, the Emerald Group

other strength is its team. “We have our own

construction team, sales team and after sales

team, they are good at what they do, we

take care of our projects from start to Finish

and even beyond, our involvement depends

on our clients as we can also manage their

investments if they so wish, insuring that their

assets increases in value.”

Newest Condo in the Heatof Patong, Phuket, Thailand




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company structure. “Emerald will spend more t ime building a

strong organization, developing from the inside to improve our

system. I will be CEO and the management team will be built

up and strengthened.” Khun Sawit says that the organization

will also put a focus on their people.

Some other noteworthy news is that Emerald is planning to

enter the stock market. “We are preparing for this and I’m

pleased to tell you at PhuketIndex that we’ve been invited by

the Singapore Stock Market to register there,” revealed Khun

Sawit. “Maybe at the end of this year we will be ready for that.

That will make us the rst Phuket Company to be there. And,

if possible, in the next year to come we will be in Thailand’s

Stock Market.

Futue Pojects

The Emerald Group is going to have a hotel soon. “We are

looking at balancing things out. You’ll see us working more on

rentals and in the hotel business,” he says.

In addition to a variety of developments the Emerald Group has

plenty of plans to work on. Paying back into the community is

also an area of concern. “We are in contact with a Swiss Hotel

Management School. If the talks are successful, we will see big

improvements in hotel management studies in Phuket. People

will have a chance to learn hotel management from an accepted

school well known at international levels.”

“We might be perceived as being a developer for the foreign

market but that’s not quite true for the future.” Khun Sawit says

that the Emerald Group now also is aiming at the local market.

“There’s a lot for us to do in that area, too.”


The Success of Emerald

Over the past few years, the Emerald Group has become

known as the ‘remarkable rookie’ in the real estate business

in Phuket. “We’ ve grown a lot in a few years, and developed

quite a number of projects.” You could say that all the hard

work has been repaid. “We tried to make a dierence and

we did it through quality and great design.” Emerald Groupwon the Thailand Property Award’s Best Condo Development

Phuket 2015 and was rst runner up for Best Boutique

Developer 2015. “We are very proud of it. We worked really

hard and nally we did it,” states Khun Sawit who promises

to continue keeping up the good work and improving his

projects’ quality. He says that the awards reassured them

that they were on the right track.

“The first challenge was toevive a condominium poject.We woked to get it back �om

crisis level and managed tomake it into a success�ul

poject.”

Looking to the �utue

Besides continuing to work delivering and improving

Emerald is now looking to develop and improve its



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9.00-24.00


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Lifestyle - Life Talk

well in Eastern and Western-style environments as well

as those which blend both. I lived and worked in Australia

for ve years.

How come G HospitalityConsultants?

It’s always been my dream to have my own business in the

hospitality industry or even to have my own hotel in the

future when I retire, just like my grandmother did. That’s

one of the reasons why I studied hotel management.

I basically know what I want and have never wasted my

time to get to know who I want to become.

Patsada

Satthacharoen Managing Diector ofG Hospitality Consultants

Gowing up inhospitality-orientated family

My grandmother owned a small hotel up in the north

of Thailand when I was a little girl and my uncle and

aunties own and run restaurants so you could say

that I grew up in a hospitality-orientated family. As for

myself, I graduated with a hotel management degree at

Gri th University on Australia’s Gold Coast and have

been working in the hotel industry for more than 10

years with various international ve-star hotel chains.

In addition to the hotel and tourism experience

I gained through working as a department head with

award-winning hotels such as Conrad Australia, Accor

(Novotel and Sotel brands), Millennium Hotels and

Resorts, Marriott, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group,

Compass Hospitality, Virgin Active (part of Virgin

Group own by Sir Richard Branson) and recently

Dream Phuket Hotel & Spa and Dream Beach Club,

my Thai-Australian background helps me to work

“We have a team dedicated to ourclients’ needs because we believe in

quality not quantity.”



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Lifestyle - Life Talk

After working with several international hotel chains

for more than 10 years, involved in ve pre-opening

projects, and rebranding projects for 10 hotels and

working for two operational stage hotels, I’ve come

to know and recognise every style of business; from

city to urban, hotels, restaurants, beach clubs, night

clubs, health clubs and real estate, from big to small

or even family-sized businesses.

My best friend, Mr. Phuchayoung Kongcharoun, who is

also my business partner, has been in the hospitality

industry for over 10 years as well. We decided that it

was time to make our own empire. Many of my friends

and colleagues said: “Why don’t you start your own

business as you have capability to do it?” so that’s why

I decided it was time to start my own company; after

all, I’d been planning it for a few years.

I’d like to say a big “Thank you” to all my bosses in thepast who taught me so well. I have a lot of respect for

them and I love them all. Without them, I wouldn’t have

been able to do this today.

About G Hospitality Consultants Co.,Ltd.

With all the background mentioned in my brief Bio

it made me understand what clients really need to

achieve for big, small, or even family-sized businesses.

We act as consultants to professionals as well as

people who don’t know where to start, for example,

some people who have property that they’d like to

convert into a hotel.

We can tailor made our advice individually for each

business, depending on their budget. We will not push

business owners into something they don’t want to do.

Rather we listen to their goals and achieve their targets

for them. It’s stressful for outsiders or business owners

who want to do something but don’t know where to

start and who they can really trust. You could say that

I’ve been through it already.

Our company oers ‘one-stop service’. We have a team

dedicated to our clients’ needs because we believe in

quality not quantity. We do this out of passion, not

for money and we’re looking for perfection, not justto nish the project and then move on to the next. We

see each project as our own baby and we’re proud to

help them grow.

We’ve got professional hospitality teams who have

been working in the hotel and restaurant industry

for decades and who can give advice, planning in all

areas such as operations; food & beverage, sales &

marketing, public relations, revenue management,

design concept details, branding and more.

We have three o ces in Bangkok, Phuket and Nong

Khai in order to deal with clients in those particular

regions.

What ae the obstacles in your joband how have you ovecome them?

Each task has its own unique obstacles from delays inconstruction, suppliers not delivering on time, cash-ow

problems, business owners who want to see their business

grow faster but don’t know what to do, personality clashes

between business owners and their management teams, etc.

Put yourself into their shoes. Explain the reasons why you

should do it this way. Just imagine it’s your own money.

It’s all about trust and at the end of the day each business

owner needs to trust their own management team because

basically they hire them to come in to run their business.

Without trust it’s all over.

Goals in 2016 for G HospitalityConsultants Co.,Ltd.

I’m also in the process of expanding more of my pipeline

businesses.

G Luxury Travel Thailand (high-end luxury tailor-made

concept travel planner for both inbound and outbound)

G Wedding Planner

G MICE services

G Marketing & public relations agency/consultant

G Design & branding concept consultant

How about your life style?

I love to read about future trends and business news updates.

I also love to travel and see dierent places or hotels and

how they do it at each destination. And of course I love to

spend time with my Great Dane ‘Baby’ and take her out as

much as I can.

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +66 (0) 90 602 0368



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On Friday 26th February Castlewood

Group celebrated the grand opening

of their agship luxury hotel

development in Asia, Dream Phuket

Hotel & Spa and Dream Beach in true

New York cosmopolitan style with

their signature world-class hospitality,

delectable Michelin-inspired food andbeverage complemented by seductive

grooves from jazz-funk meisters, Jan

Kincaid from The Brand New Heavies

and Caron Wheeler from Soul ll Soul.

Grand Openingof Dream PhuketHotel & Spa and

Dream Beach

Lifestyle - Event Photo Albums



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On Friday 11th March XANA Beach

Club celebrated its 4th anniversary

of smashing success in Phuket at

Bangtao Bay. The celebration hosted

a sensational Pink Party, featuring

a much-anticipated, one-time-only

performance by superstar DJ Soda.

As headliners for the event, DJ Soda

and DJ Roxy June brought a rush of

sonic energy to rock the crowd long

throughout the night.

XANA Beach Club

4th AnniversaryPink Partystarring DJ Soda




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On Saturday 19th

March, HiltonPhuket Arcadia

Resort & Spa

celebrated Earth

Hour between

8.30-9.30 p.m.

at the property’s

Ocean Beach Club.

Earth Hour is a

worldwide movement organized by the

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The event is annual and encourages

people to turn o their non-essential

lights for one hour.

Earth Hour2016 at HiltonPhuket ArcadiaResort & Spa




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On Sunday 13th

March Phuket held

the Supersports

10-Mile Run

2016 powered

by Thanyapura

Phuket. This is

the 2nd year that

this unique race

will start and

nish in the impressive sports stadium

at Thanyapura in Phuket. The running

route is specially designed around the

world-class sports facilities and beautifulscenery of the Khao Phra Taew National

Park and the surrounding rubber

plantations.

Supersports10-Mile Run

2016 powered by Thanyapura

Phuket



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On Wednesday 23rd March Sri panwa

invited VIP guests to visit The Habita.

Their latest addition to this oasisof calm and luxury is an enclave

of 20 new Pool Suites and 10 Pool

Penthouses. Guests were invited to

dinner at the new Chinese restaurant

Baba Chino.

Sri panwalaunches new baby - TheHabita: BabaChino & Baba

Hot Box




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The Mono project

held a Shibori

DIY workshop

on Saturday 2nd

April at their sales

oce – Japanese

Loft Home. Guestswere able to

experience indigo

dyeing.

Shibori DIY workshop byMono Phuket




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On Friday 8th April Mr. Chanintat

Pachantabutr (Mon), Managing

Director and team of Hanuman World

Phuket invited participants with a

warm welcome to celebrate at their

new ‘Kingdom’ and served specially

selected food and drinks together with

exciting the Hanuman World show at

Wanon Restaurant Phuket.

Hanuman World PhuketCelebration ‘ANew World of Adventure’




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PenprapaChooklin

Marcom

Managerof AmariPhuket

Lifestyle - Style

For this issue we have a verychic and cool girl, PenprapaChooklin, Marcom Managerof Amari Phuket. In order to

fulfill her many responsibilities

in internal communicationsand public relations for

domestic and internationalmarkets, being ready for

anything is essential. Butwhat makes her so active andenergetic day after day? This iswhat we learned from talkingwith her.



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I’d die without:My Samsung Note 5, with

a very useful built-in pen

that helps me to work

e ciently, especially in

rushed situations.

My style:Of course my Jump Suit makes me look chic

and smart in it. And it can be for both formal

and casual situations, depending on what you

match it with.

Lifestyle - Style

Lightens my day up:This Joe Malone perfume makes me feel fresh,

active, condent and ready for hard work all

day long. Another useful accessory is my red

Lancome lipstick. With dierent shades, it can be

suitable for any occasion.

Accessories:I always wear this watch. I love the design, it can

complement any situation. And this clutch bag

from Coach; it looks small but I can keep all my

stu in it.

A�ter wok:I have exercise machines at home and spend at least

30 minutes on them after work. Taking care of eight

Persian cats is my favourite thing of mine, too. I also love

traveling; just driving around the island and chilling with

nice food in new restaurants always make me happy.

Most impessive pictue:This image was when we opened

the new phase for the Ocean

Wing’s Clubhouse. I was taking care

of VIP guests and helped make the

successful event run smoothly.



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Lifestyle - Property Talk

MatteoCapellino

Sales Director of Blue HorizonDevelopments Thailand



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T

he west coast of Phuket is always the best place to look

for good opportunities. Blue Horizon Developments,

a professional real - estate development with over 15 years

of history, recently introduced its new project; Himalai,

located on Millionaires mile in Kamala. Sales director of Blue Horizon

Developments Thailand – Mr Matteo Capellino discusses this new

upscale development.

*Terms and conditions apply


About Himalai and how itwill stat.

“Himalai is located along Millionaires Mile in

one of the most luxurious areas in Phuket

– the same location as many of the island’s top

luxury developments, hotels and multimillion

dollar villas. We are right next door to Andara

Resort. This area is by far the most expensive

in Phuket and is where many VIP’s have their

own villas,” Mr Matteo remarked, guaranteeing

the exclusivity of the location. Himalai is

located 50 metres from the sea and is 300

metres to the beach so it enjoys fantastic

marine views.

“The best points of this project are rstly

the location which is surely the rst thing

to look at in property investment. Secondly

is the management.” He goes on to explain

that Hamalai will be under the managementof Best Western, a company with more than

4,400 hotels all over the world.

THE MOST

LUXURIOUSVIP-ONLY AREA

Himalaithe ultimate �utue

investment.



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“We oer a very professional management service. Best Westernhas dierent levels of hotel standards, starting from 3 stars and

ending with 5 stars. Our project will be branded as Best Western

Premier which is a ve-star category,” explained Mr Matteo.

Himalai Style

“Our project incorporates décor that blends within a 5 star hotel

category. The décor is of a simple and modern style. ”

This project is situated on 15 rai of land and located in Kamala,

very close to the beach.

Kamala is currently developing very fast over the last few yearsand introduced high level – high end standards by means of

adding more 5 star hotels. Within the next few years a new

Intercontinental hotel will be opening as well as high-end

beach clubs (relocating from Surin Beach), this will in turn be

responsible for a lot more development in the area as informed

by Mr Matteo.

Himalai will be comprised of 23 buildings, with 403 units. More

than 85% also oer sea views.

A large portion of the sea view units also oer direct pool

access. The remaining non sea view units oer garden views at

more aordable prices. The project is aordable for all buyers

one could say.

Himalai will feature 5 swimming pools,

a gym and a stylish club house.

“Three swimming pools are located

in the main club house along with

the main restaurant. One more is

attached to the Wellness Center Spa

in the central part of the development

and one on top of the hill with a

fantastic view over the ocean and

Kamala Beach, this particular pool is

the most luxurious oered within the

project being connected also to one

more exclusive restaurant.”

Other than its prime location, the

second strongest point is the well

know management service provided

by Best Western also mentioned byMatteo.

“This is important for three reasons; the rst reason

is for the return of investment. With Best Western

managing Himalai we can guarantee a great return

of investment. The second point is the proper

professional maintenance that will guarantee that

Himalai always looks fantastic over the years. And

last but not least, based on the fact that Himalai is

situated in a high-end area, the price and the capital

appreciation will rise over the years. Himalai will give

a fantastic return on the investment, also in capital

appreciation,” concluded Mr Matteo.

Blue Horizon Pevious Success�ulPojects

With almost two decades of construct ion history, Blue

Horizon Developments Thailand has experienced

success in developing several projects in Phuket. To

name a few projects, The Beachfront condominiums

in Rawai, Skylight Villas in Kamala and many more.

Check for more information about Himalai at

www.himalaiphuket.com

Most of the unitsae with sea views

and have poolaccess



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These are unique and exclusive sea-view pool villas nestled on a

slope with breathtaking views over the Andaman Sea and perfectly

in tune with the nature that surrounds them. Each villa is spacious

and ingeniously designed to provide an individual and stylish

character.

You’ll enjoy spectacular sunsets without even having to leave your own private

innity pool villa. The villas are on the ground oor of a luxury apartment

development, villas, and a ve-star hotel with an array of amenities as well

as an exclusive Beach Club.

With their existing rental guarantee & vacation home program, you’re assured

at least a 10% return on your investment per year taking into consideration

your individual nancial requirements.

About the Developer:

The Emerald Development Group is a real estate development company

specialising in the leisure and tourism industry. It focuses primarily on the

high-end tourism and residential market, oering innovative opportunities

for buyers and investors according to current and future market conditions.

The degree of involvement from the development right through the day-to-day operation by our team of experienced villa management professionals

and rental providers means that no-one knows their products as well as

Emerald.

The Jade Villa @ Emerald Nirvana

Unique Private Pool Villa with Panoramic Ocean�ont View

Location:

Emerald is located a few kilometres from Patong, allowing

easy and speedu access to the seaside town’s legendary

entertainment, shopping venues, restaurants, and its

electrifying nightlife.

Contact Information:

Tel: +66 (0) 96 474 6645, +66 (0) 98 787 9935E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.thejadevilla.com

Lifestyle - Property Guide

Featues:

Total Villa: 18 Pool Villas

Land Plot Area: From 107 – 180sqm

Villa Area: From 245- 350sqm

Nearby Amenities:

• Kalim Beach

• Phuket’s famous nightlife, dining,

and shopping



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The Emerald Ao Nang condominium @ Krabi

The Most Luxu Condominium @ Ao Nang, Krabi


The Emerald Ao Nang is a new

luxury condominium located in

the heart of Ao Nang, Krabi. It’s

presented by Emerald PhuketDevelopment, an experienced and

well-known developer with a team

of professionals.

The Emerald Development Group

is a real estate development

company specialising in the leisure

and tourism industry. It focuses

primarily on the high-end tourism

and residential market, oering

innovative opportunities for

buyers and investors according

to current and future market

conditions.

Contact information:

Tel: +66 (0) 96 474 6645, +66 (0) 98 787 9935


www.emeraldaonangkrabicondo.com

Construction period: 18 months

Total area: 4 Rai with 5 Buildings with 5 Floors

Total: 205 Units

Phase 1: 59 Units

1-Bedroom - 54 Units

2-Bedroom - 3 Units

Penthouse - 2 Units

Phase 2: 67 Units

1-Bedroom - 29 UnitsStudio - 38 Units

Phase 3: 79 Units

1-Bedroom - 24 Units

2-Bedroom - 3 Units

Studio - 52 Units

The fully-furnished Emerald Ao

Nang condominium is designed

in a modern contemporary style

that one would associate with

a ve-star luxury resort. It is suitable for

both residential and vacation living with its

wide selection of sizes and styles. Whether

you decide to live in it, use it as a vacation

base, or take advantage of our exclusive

rental program, you can be sure that you’ll

have made a good and sound choice of

investment.

Facilities:

Indoor parking

2 Elevators

2 First-class tness centres

5 Swimming pools (including kids’pool & overow pool)

Rooftop garden

24-hour security

Smart card access and CCTV

Internet and cable TV

Restaurant

Reception


Location:

Emerald is conveniently

situated centrally just

150 metres from Ao

Nang Beach with an arrayof rst-class facilities, including shops,

from local to ne dining, and many

sporting opportunities.

Ao Nang, Krabi, has a central location

on the Andaman Sea and with its

fabulous topography. It’s fast becoming

the best all-round beach destination in

the area and is suitable for individuals

or families attracted by its beauty and

charm. Colourful and fascinating day

trips to the various islands o the coast,

shing, kayaking, and the exotic diving

on oer make it a unique destination.



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The Signature VillasThe Signatue Villas - Pool Villa Nai Harn

The Signature Villas are set in a secludedspot with breathtaking mountain views, yet

they’re just three minutes from Nai Harn

Beach, one of the most pristine beaches of

Phuket Island. These stylish and beautifully appointed

one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas are the ultimate

in luxurious tropical island accommodation.

The villas are designed to complement their natural

environment. All villas come with private innity

swimming pools and waterfall features. Outdoor

showers and garden areas have been carefully

designed to complement outdoor living to the fullest.

About the Developer

Blue Horizon Construction’s success was built

on proactive communication and trusted

relationships and has the experience, knowledge

and commitment to provide products and services

that are unique to each project.

Location:

The Signature Villas are ideally

located within walking distance of

Nai Harn Village, on Nai Harn Beach

Road. This takes you directly to the

spectacularly white sandy beach,

and within just 800 metres of the

freshwater Nai Harn Lake. Promthep Cape View

Point is also only ve minutes away where you

can enjoy daily sunsets.

Contact Information:

Tel: +66 (0) 94 515 4661, +66 (0) 95 080 9993

Fax: +66 (0) 76 341 046

www.signaturevillasphuket.com


Featues

One, Two and Three bedroom luxury villas

Night and day sky views from the comfort of the living room

Fully equipped European-style kitchen

Sundecks with outdoor gardens and BBQ area

Luxurious bathrooms with built-in wardrobes

Large pool terrace and spacious decking in tropical gardens

Ample space and cover for private parking

Waterfall features and outdoor garden showers

Luxury furniture packages designed by No7 Interiors

Rental Management Seice

Signature Villas oers professional rental management services for

owners through Phuket Holiday Homes Co., Ltd. whose specialty is

villa rental and management. The company has been in the business

for over 20 years in Phuket.



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Contact Information

Tel: +66 (0) 98 326 3265


MONO – ‘Happiness is homemade’.They blend the charm of a country

house, learning from the wisdom

of native Asian home design to

suit a modern, up-to-date style of living.

The MONO concept has its roots in a simple

Japanese style; respect for nature and other

people.

The MONO – Japanese Loft Home was

designed with the Japanese concept; less is

more, space planning with functional design

details, a sense of nature, inside out - outside

in, kohji & shohji – grid & line, wabi sabi… here

you can tangibly feel the Japanese inuences.

Cataegories:

Semi-detached house – 2 storey

Detached house - 2 storey

Featues

3 bedrooms

3 bathrooms

3 metre-high ceiling

Two-car parking

*** With a free space behind the house that can be adapted as you

desire into a garden, a swimming pool, or a functions room.


Established in 1999 by a new generation of

Phuket property professionals with a passion

for creative business and who set a real

value for today’s contemporary lifestyles,

The Attitude Club Co., Ltd operates under

the banner, ‘Next lifestyle living’. The Attitude

Club began life as a small rm specializing

in bespoke architecture, design and real

estate management with a collective vision

to improve the quality of all aspects of

construction management in Phuket to put

the province on par with Bangkok standards.

The company later expanded into real estate,

focusing on managing pool villa rentals and

furniture distribution. More recently, The

Attitude Club has diversied into a property

agency and has become established in thehospitality and hotel business, currently

operating seven brands under the Attitude

Club umbrella.

Location:• Palai

• Koh Kaew

MONO Villa Phuket

Japanese Lo�t Home - Simplicity is Beauty


Palai Koh Kaew



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AlessandroMartinelliHead Chef of Hyatt RegencyPhuket

Travel - Chef Talk



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“15 yearsof culinaexperience,

�om Euopeto Asia ”

To follow his dream, Chef Alessandro

Martinelli, executive sous chef of Hyatt

Regency Phuket has had a long journeyfrom Italy to Thailand to combine his talents

and passion and to prepare some of the best dishes

we’ve ever tasted.

After work experience in Italy, Switzerland, Spain,

and London, Chef Alessandro moved to Asia and the

Hyatt Regency Baku Azerbaijan was his rst port of

call. Three years in China helped to make him skilled

in traditional Asian dishes. And now Hyatt Regency

in Phuket proudly welcomes him as their executive

sous chef.

He was originally inspired by home cooking: “I love

to cook. Since I was young I was always interestingin cooking, being in the kitchen with my mother and

grandmother - stealing secrets from them on how to

cook, how to make traditional dishes. Finally I decided

that this would be my job, so I started to focus on this.”

“I love to cook”

Travel - Chef Talk

The main menu here is original Thai cuisine but Italian

dishes are available. Of course authentic-tasting pizza

from a genuine wood-red oven is one of the most

recommended of these.

“We focus on the quality of ingredients, freshness and

the correct procedures in how to cook, these three

things are the most important,” says Chef Alessandro.



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About RestaurantsHyatt Regency Phuket welcomes you with two

main restaurants.

Travel - Chef Talk

Pool House, serves traditional Thai food, Italianand international cuisine. Next to it is the Pool Bar, an

outdoor bar next to the main pool with an attractive

ambience, especially in the evening. A buet BBQ is

also available twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays

from 6:30 – 9:30.

Special DishToday Chef Alessandro prepares for us

Yam Nuae YaangBeef Sirloin Tagliata – a simple dish but with a really

powerful combination of ingredients. Made with

sliced and grilled sirloin beef mixed with parmesan

cheese, balsamic vinegar, this combination is a

winning one.

The Sunset Grill, an al fresco restauranton top of the resort. Here you can enjoy stunning

sunset views.



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all-round satisfying dining experience. The restaurant has imaginative lighting,

nowhere more so than at the bar. Trendy without being gratuitously chic, cutting

edge without going over the top and spacious without being cavernous, Acqua’s

décor balance practicality and aesthetics in a ne dining environment in Phuket.

Acqua Restaurant is the rst of a series of restaurants designed by Alessandro

Frau, as Alessandro dedication for culinary doesn’t stop to cooking but also to

project and design restaurants and concepts. Chef Alessandro Frau was the

Winner of Iron Chef Thailand on November 2013. Find more about Alessandro

by visit www.fraualessandro.com

In 2013 Acqua Restaurant was appointed as one of the Best Italian Restaurantin Phuket and Thailand from Ospitalita’ Ita liana in the World.

Cuisine: Italian

Reservation: Recommended

Dress Code: Smart-casual

Open: every day from 16:00 – 23:00

Mobile phones allowed: Yes

Car parking: Yes

Credit cards: Accepted

Acqua Restaurant

Guide

Recommended Dishes

45-minute slow cooked egg on a

Parmesan cheese fondue, fresh

black truffl e and crispy pancetta

powder

Sous-vide cooked octopus

salad, marinated in extra

virgin olive oil, lemon and

vinegar, fennel leaves, celery

and taggiasche olives DOP

P a n - f r i e d U S A s c a l l o p s

with duck l iver , chi l i jam

and truffle pumpkin sauce

Trenette pasta with Alaskan

king crab in its own jus with

sliced Sardinian tuna bottarga

Wood-red roasted suckling pig,

saron and violette potatoes,broad beans in its own sauce

Tel: +66 (0) 76 618 127

E-mail : [email protected]/DD: 7.916537, 98.290996

Alessando FrauChef and Owner

Following a black-and-white theme that gifts

the restaurant clean lines and a good sense of

proportion, Acqua’s design fully complements an

Travel - Restaurant Guide



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324/15 Prabaramee Road – Kalim Bay - Patong - Phuket

Tel 076 618127 email: [email protected]

www.acquarestaurantphuket.com

Where Italian dining experience meet art and passion


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dishes, Royal Thai cuisine, and western classic dishes to suit all tastes, all under the

guidance of a highly experienced Chef and professional seafood restaurant team.

Great emphasis is placed on Thai hospitality service with a lot of interaction

between the service sta and diners. The restaurant has an array of fresh seafood,

ranging from live lobsters, tiger prawns and crab, along with a rich variety of local

sh prepared in many manners to suit diners’ taste.

The restaurant has stunning views overlooking the beautiful Andaman Sea and

a panoramic view of Patong Bay. The sunsets at Baan Kalim have to be seen tobe believed – with stunning, breathtaking views.

Experience: Seafood, Royal Thai cuisine, Phuket

traditional and international dishes



Open: 11:00 – 24:00


Credit card: Accepted

Guide

Recommended Dishes

Boiled fish balls with garlic

sauce

Deep-fried Phuket style sausage

‘My grandma’s sh’ and ginger

soup with a dash of sesame oil

Num-prik-khung-sod

Crab curry served with mee

hoon noodles

Fried crab with garl ic and

pepper

Stir-fried lobster with garlic,

butter and white wine sauce

Baked mixed seafood

Steamed mussels with Thai

herbs

Deep-fried sh with sweet and

sour sauceTel: +66 (0) 76 618 125

E-mail: [email protected]/DD: 7.906419, 98.297476

Wanlop Phothong Executive Chef

Baan KalimRestaurantBaan Kalim Restaurant and Seafood oers a

mouthwatering and taste bud tingling array of

dining choices ranging from seafood, to Chinese




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Savoey Seafood is a large, open-plan restaurant with a seating capacity of 400

plus, but you would never know. Despite its size, with 50 sta members the

service is excellent, polite and considerate.

Savoey Seafood is very popular and getting there early is recommended.

It would be a real shame if you missed the opportunity to dine at this rst-class

seafood restaurant during your stay on Phuket.

Experience: Seafood and Thai cuisine



Open: 10:30 – 24:30


Car parking: Yes


Savoey Seafood

Guide

Recommended Dishes

Baked lobster with butter and

garlic sauce

Tom yum koong

Stir-fried crab with curry powder

Stir-fr ied crab with spring

onions, ginger and garlic

Steamed sh with lime juice and

chili sauce

Deep-fried sh with sweet chili

sauce

Stir-fried mussels or clams with

roasted chili paste sauce

Oven-barbecued sh

Stir-fried mixed vegetables in

oyster sauce

Tel: +66 (0) 76 341 171 – 4


GPS/DD: 7.894471, 98.295719

Supit Jararith Asst. Manager

Open since 1980, Savoey Seafood is considered

one of the landmarks of Patong Beach. This

popular and bustling restaurant not only has

a wide array of fresh seafood but also oers

competitive prices.




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Choose from air-conditioned and open-air spaces to sip sundowners and enjoy

stunning views – all accompanied by sensational food, live music and wines from

around the world. These trendy rooftop venues oer something for every mood.

Have a romantic dinner with wine or party the night away while discovering the

Kee Sky Lounge’s signature cocktails.

Experience: Sensational sunsets & live entertainment

Cuisine: East-meets-West tapas and trendy fusion food



Open: 17:30 – midnight



KEE Sky Lounge

Guide

Recommended Dishes

Sea scallops with black pepper

sauce

Peking duck in fresh spring rolls

with Hoisin sauce

Canadian lobster & vegetables

with caviar dressing

Surf & turf platter with char-grilled

beef tenderloin, tiger prawns, sea

bass llet, spinach and wedge

potatoes

Roasted rack of lamb with Sichuan

pepper, grilled asparagus, mashed

potatoes and jus

Warmed chocolate volcano cake

served with chocolate sauce and

vanilla ice cream

Tel: +66 (0) 76 335 888 Ext 8241


GPS/DD: 7.895185, 98.296634

Chef Adul RattanasuwanExecutive Chef




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Sustainable

Prawn SaladIngedients for 4 Persons: Peparation:

24 pcs Sustainable Tiger Prawns from the Sarasin

Bridge, Phuket

2 small Thai Shallots

3 pcs Coriander with Root

2 pcs Thai Spring Onion

¼ Pomelo

12 pcs Cherry Tomatoes

1 pc Avocado

1 pc Lime

50 ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Black Pepper

Sea Salt

1. Peel the raw prawns, cut the prawns back witha sharp knife and clean them. Put the meat back

into your refrigerator. Place the heads and shells

in a pot, just covered with water and bring to boil,

then keep simmering on small ame.

2. Peel the shallots and dice them as ne as

possible. Add any end cuts to the prawn shell

broth.

3. Wash the spring onions and coriander well.

Pick some coriander leafs for decoration. Chop

all remaining coriander and spring onion greens

nely. Add the spring onion ends to the broth.

Crush the coriander roots with the side of a knife,add two to the broth, chop the remaining very

ne.

4. Clean the pomelo and break it into smaller

segments.

5. Cut the cherry tomatoes in halfes.

6. Cut the avocado in halfes, remove the seed and

dice the esh. Place it in a bowl and sprinkle with

juice from the lime. Add the chopped shal lots and

herbs, cherry tomatoes, pomelo segments and

olive oil. Season sea salt and fresh black pepper.

Toss gently and keep at room temperature.

7. Strain the shells out of the broth and add the

prawn meat. Turn o the stove immediately and

leave the prawns in the broth for 4 minutes.

8. Add the prawns to the avocado mixture, toss

carefully and keep chilled for 30 minutes.

9. Taste and adjust the seasoning with lime, salt

and pepper one more time, arrange all on plates

and decorate with coriander leaf.

Travel - Signature Dish

JW Marriott Phuket Resot and Spa

Andaman Grill – Steak and Seafood Restaurant



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Hot Box is an ultra-modern restaurant set in the

lush and verdant grounds of ve-star resort Sri

panwa on a towering blu above Ao Makham

on Phuket’s east coast. This is a comparatively

underdeveloped part of the island and is a poignant

reminder for many of how Phuket looked some 20 years

ago before major development took over.

‘Stylish’, ‘tasty’, ‘innovative’, and ‘trend setting’ are some of

the words that describe this unusual dining venue. Serving

Hot BoxInnovative Design and Cuisine

made to order barbecued meat dishes and ultra-fresh

side dishes along with an array of spicy and tasty sauces

to complement the culinary creations, Baba Hot Box is

a real treat for the senses. With its cutting-edge design

and clever lighting, music, serving arrangements and

even crockery, you can tell that this place has had a lot

of thought put into it.

The barbecue and grill section of the menu is the major

appeal in Hot Box. Here you’ll nd a great selection of

dishes on the a-la-carte menu and diners can simply

choose from the mouthwatering list of meats and

seafood then mix and mash with side dishes andsauces – especially recommended is the marinade

grilled premium meat. All grilled and barbecued dishes

are prepared in the Spanish-made ‘Josper’ combination

of a grill and oven, lending a unique aspect and avour

to the tastes and textures of the food prepared here.

As with all culinary outlets at Sri panwa you can rest

assured in the knowledge that an excellent wine list is

available with a selection of old and new world wines

sure to complement the great menu.

Adjacent to a refreshing forest waterfall pool and

surrounded by verdant splendour, you’re sure to wonder

at the setting here at Hot Box – perhaps it’s the most

unique dining location on the island and it’s certainlyone that you won’t forget in a hurry.

Enjoy your day by foest waterfall pool & monumental tees surounding

Travel - Dining Experiences



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Sri panwa has been setting the pace for luxury

holiday accommodation for over 10 years now and is

a veritable treasure trove of pool villas, fantastically

designed rooms and condos along with penthouses

and barely imaginable dream holiday and residential

accommodation with out-of-this-world facilities and

amenities. There are several dining options at Sri

panwa and it oers perhaps the most striking rooftop

bar in the entire region – Baba Nest – from where you

have 360-degree views of the south of the is land andout to the Andaman Sea as well as southern Phang

Nga Bay.

Open : 12.00 - 18.00Location : the Habita, Sri panwa

Sri panwa, Phuket

88 moo 8, Sakdidej Road, Vichit, Muang, Phuket

83000, Thailand

Tel: +66 (0) 76 371 000, +66 (0) 76 371 008


Website: www.sripanwa.com




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If you’re looking for quality rooftop dining, colourful

cocktails, up-to-date sounds and entertainment, look no

further than the KEE Sky Lounge, the largest and highest

rooftop bar/restaurant in Phuket, located in the KEE

Resort in the heart of Patong a mere two minutes from the

beach itself. With an international ‘East-meets-West’ Eurasian

menu of mains and tapas jam-packed full of eclectic and

original culinary creations all set in an ideal locat ion, KEE Sky

Lounge delivers the goodies in style. KEE is especially vibrant

on clear nights when the stars form a perfect canopy over

KEE Sky Lounge Fusion Heaven

diners’ tables and of course it’s a well-known sunset-

watching venue. So head along past six o’clock in the

evening, grab a happy hour drink (5:30 – 7:30 and 10:30

– 11:30) and take in the magnicent sights. Diners will be

regaled with up-to-the-minute sounds from a tuned-in

DJ and there is also live music. It’s all happening at KEE

Sky Lounge.

But what about the food? Well, the many dishes on the

varied menu include delicious appetizers such as honey

sesame chicken skewers, spicy crispy calamari, a ‘tuna

medley’ of sesame crusted tuna, tuna rolls and tuna

tartar. You’ll have a choice of six salads here, includinga full-on Caesar salad with egg, crispy Parma ham, and

parmesan cheese. More substantial dishes served at KEE

Sky Lounge include a great fall-from-the-bone braised

lamb shank but before trying that why not choose a soup

such as the delicious French onion soup with cheese

crouton? The two mains subdivisions feature succulent

choices in the ‘From the Land’ section such as classic

roasted Australian grain fed tenderloin with red wine

jus and for the real carnivores, a tomahawk prime rib

steak – a real ller that you will most l ikely end up sharing

with your dining partner; be warned. As for the ‘From the

Sea’ part of the menu, why not try Cajun swordsh with

spanking-fresh tomato and lime salsa and guacamole? Or

even pan-fried salmon with caramel sh sauce, linguineaglio and asparagus? Of course when it’s time for dessert

Sensational Sunsets & Live Entetainment




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KEE doesn’t slacken up any in this department as you

can order up a voluptuous warm chocolate volcano cake

or even a strawberry mille feuille.

So, for one of southern Thailand’s premier rooftop dining

experiences, head along to KEE Sky Lounge and nd out

just why everyone is talking about this place.

Open : 17.30 - MidnightLocation : 6th and 7th Floor(Roof Top) of The KEE Resot & Spa

The KEE Resort & Spa

152/1 Thaveewong Rd., Patong Beach, Kathu, Phuket

83150 Thailand

Tel : +66 (0) 76 335 888 Ext 8241

Email : [email protected]

Website : www.theKEEresort.com




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Located between party town Patong beach and

more laid-back Kamala Beach, Meka Sky Lounge at

the Naka resort is the last word in rooftop dining

and cocktail sipping for visitors to the west coast

of this alluring island in the Andaman Sea. Phuket can be a

bustling and busy place but Meka Sky lounge is the perfect

haven away from the rush to enjoy great food, expertly

mixed cocktails, ne wines, spirits, and much more. As with

most west-coast locations, Meka also has the advantage

of unadulterated sunset views – a perfect complement to

your end-of-the-day relaxing experience in a resort

dedicated to just that… your relaxation.

The resort is predominantly constructed in concrete

and timber – lending a post-modern feel to it

throughout; villas are cantilevered o the rising

valley oor, tastefully separated by substantial

concrete walls thus ensuring total privacy. Pool

villas are complete with a luxurious lounge, a fully

equipped kitchenette, an al fresco bathing area and

pool. Room amenities include a very welcome iPod

dock and free mini bar. It’s really hard to imagine a

better-equipped place for the perfect denition ofa romantic, even sexy, west-coast Phuket holiday.

There are free-ow drinks from 18.00 – 19.00 daily on

oer here when you can languidly enjoy the sight of

the golden orb sinking slowly into the Andaman Sea

and watch the brightly lit shing boats heading out

for the night’s catch while sipping some of the best

cocktails the island has to oer. Who could ask for

more?

The emphasis is on healthy dining at Meka Sky

Lounge with a fabulous hot and sour salmon soup

as a perfect introduction to the evening. Try some

more dishes such as the pepper-crusted Wagyu

beef tenderloin and white truffl e risotto and organicveggies and you’ll be sated. This level of culinary

Roof top estaurant and bar with Phuket west coast scene

Meka Sky Lounge in Naka

The ‘Wow’ Factor




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achievement is hard to nd, in addition to the views

from this resort built into the sloping environment

leading down a cli top to the sea – it all equates to

the perfect dining experience.

The restaurant sits astride a towering structure atop

the resort that oversees the entire resort. And yes,

there’s a comprehensive and well-thought-out wine

and cocktail list served up with ultra-friendly andcapable sta members to add to the ve-star feeling

of this alluring and well-designed resort and rooftop

restaurant. Tip-top, in more ways than one.

Open : 16.00 - 23.00Location : The NAA Phuket

The NAKA Phuket

1/18, 1/20 Moo 6 Kamala, Kathu, Phuket 83150

Thailand

Tel: +66 (0) 76 337 999

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.thenakaphuket.com




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Travel - Travel Destination

SY WALK AT HANUMAN WORLD PHUKET

SKY

WALK

ROLLER

ZIPLINE

SKY WALK WITH LONGEST TREE-TO-TREE

SKY BRIDGE IN THAILAND

HIGHEST SPEED ROLLER ZIPLINE

IN THAILAND!

SKY

WALK

WA LK ING THROUG H

THE TREETOP



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A journey though histo and myth

TROPICAL FRUIT ON SKY WALK

Hanuman World is your opportunity to explore the

playground of the Gods. Hanuman World shows

you how the monkey god has no limits, fears

nothing, and would do anything to reach his goals.

Become one of Hanuman’s playful warriors. You’ll soar over

the hillsides, skimming above the ground and spiraling

around trees, gliding through the branches and becoming

one with Hanuman’s treetop home.

Hanuman World oers you a sample of the time when this

monkey god showed that he had no limits, feared nothing,

and would do anything and everything to reach his goal. Just

like a dedicated adventurer should.

SY WALK : PHUKET SY BRIDGE

Up on the sky bridges, you’ll move about the treetops as

Hanuman does, living high above the ground, overlooking

his world. You can eat and drink as Hanuman does, and

understand why he loves his beautiful forest so much. This is

a journey through history and myth. It’s as much an education

as an adventure!

You can explore this adventure every day from 8:00 until

17:00 at Hanuman World on Chaofa West Road, Phuket.



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Coral Island: It’s just a step away to Paradise.You’ll be there within minutes from Chalong

Pier with warm white sand between your toes,

the gentle turquoise sea washing up on the

shore, with verdant and lush jungle rising up behind you.

There’s so much to discover here and the beauty of it all

is that it’s only a quick boat ride away.

Banana Beach is at Koh Hey (Coral Island). It’s one of the

most beautiful and popular attractions near to Phuket

and holds so many fantastic and adventurous activities

that you’ll be simply amazed. In fact, the scenicspeedboat ride from Chalong Pier to the island

and back is an adventure in itself. Don’t forget your

camera!

This is a classic Phuket day-trip that’s perfect for

you. Relax, and eat a great lunch in our nature-

inspired buildings surrounded by tropical greenery.

Try some thrilling Phuket water activities such as

banana boating, parasailing, snorkeling or even

scuba diving. All beginners are welcome!

Banana Beach Koh Hey (Coral Island)Welcome to your Island in the Sun

This is a classic

Phuket day-trip that’s perfect for you.



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Check out our tasteful and spectacular ‘Sunday Glitz’brunch. Delicious International cuisines featuring freshseafood, rock lobster, oysters, sashimi selections anda variety of desserts.

A live acoustic band will entertain you throughoutyour Sunday Glitz while little ones are kept happilyentertained with fun games by Kidz Paradise.

THB1,400 ++ per guestIncludes free ow of soft drinks and selected beverages

THB 700 ++ per child 6-12 yearsIncludes free ow of soft drinks

All the above prices include complimentary day pass accessto the resort’s swimming pools as well as free towel rental.

Every Sunday from12.00pm - 3.00pm

For information and reservation, 076 396 433-41or e-mail [email protected] us: HiltonPhuket

Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa | 333 Patak Road, Karon Beach, Muang, Phuket 83100


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ThanyapuraSupeKidzTriathlon held

for fouth yearstraight

April 2016, Phuket – Over 70 children of all ages and

nationalities attended the Thanyapura SuperKidz Triathlon.

Held at Thanyapura Phuket, a world-class sports resort

in southern Thailand, the event featured a swim in

Thanyapura’s Olympic standard 50-meter pool, followed by

a bicycle ride through the surrounding Khao Phra Thaew

National Park and rubber plantations, and a run culminating

at Thanyapura’s cushioned athletics track and grandstand.

With age-appropriate distances ranging from Tri-Tots (4 to 6

years old), Junior (7-10 years old), Intermediate (11-14 years

old), and Senior (15-18 years old) and the option to compete

as an individual or as a team, the SuperKidz Triathlon has

over the years paved the way for young people to begin

engaging in multisport.

Triathlon training for children led by Coach Ricki and

team are available all year round at Thanyapura. The next

Thanyapura SUPERKIDZ event will be held on November26, 2016.

Lives Changed

and FutueBrightened forPhuket LocalYoung Adults

April 2016, Phuket - Laguna Phuket hosted a Graduation

Ceremony to celebrate the success of Seedlings Phuket’s rst

group of interns, Class of 2016, who started their journey in

October 2014 and just completed their 18-month job skills

training and career mentorship programme.

Aimed at providing professional training and jobopportunities for marginalised local young adults, the

Seedlings Phuket initiative comprises a two-phase paid

internship programme. It starts with a 9-month food and

beverage skills training at Banyan Tree Phuket and Angsana

Laguna Phuket, followed by another 9-month working

experience in actual Seedlings Phuket – the resort’s very

rst social enterprise restaurant, located at Laguna Holiday

Club Phuket Resort in the heart of Laguna Phuket.

Amari Phuket

gows geen atPatong Libra

May 2016, Phuket – Amari

Phuket recently oered a

hand to support the local

community ’s Earth Day

activity. Led by Pierre-Andre Pelletier, Vice President and

Area General Manager, South Thailand (second from left),

Amari Phuket volunteers arrived to plant a tree and decorate

the garden at Patong Library. Waraporn Kamkeaw, librarian

(third from left) and a representative of Patong Library, gave

a special speech, thanking the team for the garden’s beautiful

new look, which is now ready to welcome visitors into its greenatmosphere.

Sofitel KrabiPhokeethraachievesThailand MICE

venue standadFebuary 2016, Krabi – General Thanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aairs of Thailand,

recently presented the “Thailand MICE Venue Standard Award”

to Ms. Khaewalee Chuaynukul, Senior Sales Manager for MICE

& Corporate at Sotel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort . The

resort’s three meeting rooms, Phokeethra 1- 2 and Phokeethra

Grand Ballroom, have achieved compliance with the Thailand

MICE Venue Standard. The event was organized by Thailand

Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) at Royal Paragon Hall

on 29 January, 2016.

The development of Thai MICE operators is one of the Thailand

Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s main missions. The bureaurealises the importance of having an eective tool to measure

service excellence and quality, especially for MICE venues, in

order to elevate MICE services and standards for operators in

Thailand and the ASEAN region. The standardisation will serve

as a guideline for investments, operations and management,

and marketing support. The standard will also help create a

good image for organisations and build customer condence

in Thailand’s MICE standard.

The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau made a bright

start to 2016 as it declared that the nine ASEAN member

countries officially agreed to abide by the Thailand MICE

Venue Standard as the model for the improvement of venues

across ASEAN. Additionally, 100 Thai MICE entrepreneurs were

approved by Thailand MICE Venue Standard in the scal year2016.

PHUKET NEWS UPDATE

Travel - Social News



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Travel - GM Talk

Doeke BongaGeneral Manager at Impiana ResotPatong and Impiana Private Villas

It’s my job to makethe operation un

smoothly and toimpove the hotel

“”



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Travel - GM Talk

In January 2016, Doeke Bonga

took the opportunity to challenge

himself by taking on the post

of General Manager at Impiana

Resort Patong and Impiana Private

Villas in Kata Noi. It’s his rst t ime with

the Malaysian Hotel Group, Impiana,

and he’s brought with him extensive

experience in hotel management,

having worked with several hotel

chains and groups around Phuket and

elsewhere.

General Manager Doeke, originally

from the Netherlands, has a degree

in hotel management from his home

country. After his internships back in

1989 and 2002, he decided to come

back to Phuket in 2003 where he

gained his hotel industry experience

and since then has never left Thailand.

Phuket such as the Ramada Khao

Lak, The Pavilions, Bel Air Panwa and

several other hotels, mostly in thesouth of Thailand. “In between, I was

even an IT manager for a property

management company for a year,”

he says.

GM Doeke revealed that around

October last year he was looking for

a new challenge after he had helped

open the Sheraton Samui and that

Impiana Hotel was looking for

someone to manage their property.

“I came here in January and am very

happy at Impiana,” he says.

IMPIANA

PRIVATE VILLAS

KATA NOI

IMPIANARESORT

PATONG

PHUKET

Focusing on his career path, GM Doeke

had his initial internship at the Banyan

Tree Phuket and then worked at theBanyan Tree Seychelles as well as the

Marriott Hotel in Amsterdam.

“I decided to come to Thailand in 2003

as the Assistant Front O ce Manager

for Kata Beach Resort and, aged 27, I

quickly got the opportunity to grow as

I accepted the post as Hotel Manager

at Karon Beach Resort which is now

Beyond Karon.”

GM Doeke also had other experiences

with many hotels in and around



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Travel - GM Talk

Talking about his role here, “I share

my time between both properties,

Impiana Patong and the Private

Villas in Kata Noi managing sales and

marketing, the daily operations, and

ensuring that the guests are happy

when staying with us. “It’s my job to

make the operation run smoothly

and to improve the hotel.”

“For me the objective here is to

try to increase our team spirit.” He

is now trying to improve people’s

capabilities, to teach employees to

be good at multiple tasks rather than

just specialise in one. Cross training

and cross exposure therefore is the

best strategy to achieve this goal.

“I encourage people to do more so

we can get more things done with

the same amount of people. So

basically we’re looking to invest more

in the team. We develop, we train, so

that sta members can do a better job

and serve our guests better.”

As for 2016, GM Doeke is looking to help

the business grow and to make i t even

better. “We’re looking at a very good

IMPIANA

PRIVATE VILLAS

KATA NOI

I came hee in Janua and am

ve happy at

Impiana

year so far so we’re continuing to build

on that and to make the sta happier.

In the past couple of months, the hotel

has performed great on TripAdvisor,

the world’s largest travel site providing

reviews of travel-related content.

“We rose quite signicantly from 54th

to 24th placing in their ratings so we

plan to continue to push on and to

constantly improve,” revealed the GMabout his target.

GM Doeke is originally from the

Netherlands now he’s building a home

with his family in Phuket. He has a Thai

wife and two young kids with whom he

spends most of his time after work.

“When they are not on their computer

I prefer to take them out and do

things together, go to nice restaurants

and chill out. I do some sports every

now and then, hang out with friends

sometimes. “It is a relaxing local island

lifestyle basically,” he says.



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Documents

Phuketindex.com Magazine Vol.32