THE PACIFIC is certainly making an impression this year along the Indian Ocean coast, otherwise known as the Andaman Sea.
With a hula wave, speculation about the large resort being built as part of the West Sands development at Mai Khao has finally ended.
The project will be the Outrigger Resort, an announcement that came out of Hawaii, where the group is based, over the weekend.
Just a couple of weeks ago, another Hawaii-based group, Castle Resort & Hotels, took over Phuket's Katamanda villa development on the bluff between Kata and Kata Noi.
Now the Hawaiians have a really big toe-hold further north, too, and we could repeat the headline: Aloha: Hawaiians Say Sawadee.
The West Sands is a large quality development that will have a 400-room luxury hotel and spa plus 350 luxury pool villas and condos and a world-class water park.
It is due for completion in 2009, and will add to the remarkable number of brand resorts that have chosen to open along the Andaman between now and 2010.
Marriott will be extremely active this year, along with Regent and Radisson on Cape Panwa. The large Centara resort group also has an opening scheduled on Phuket.
Raj, Raffles, Kempinski and the upscale development of Thai Muang golf course are set to bring Phang Nga's coast to international attention, too.
David Carey, president and chief executive officer of Outrigger Enterprises Group, said of West Sands: ''This is an exciting opportunity for Outrigger.
''We've had our sights set on Thailand - Phuket in particular - for some time now, and we're thrilled to be associated with such a prestigious project and a team of experienced developers known for their high standards and quality projects,'' he told a newspaper in Hawaii.
The first 160 villa and condominium units are well underway, and we've visited the site. It's impressive, reminiscent in scale of Laguna Phuket, with open spaces and lagoons.
The West Sands Outrigger Resort, Phuket, is scheduled to open by the end of 2009.
As a project, West Sands has won praise for its environmentally-friendly design, which includes insulation to conserve energy and keep indoor living areas quiet.
It picked up the Green Development gong at the Thailand Property Awards 2007.
The Outrigger Enterprises Group says it is ''one of the largest and fastest-growing hospitality services companies in the Asia-Pacific region,'' a family-owned company with 60 years of hospitality experience.
The company's most recent initiative - Waikiki Beach Walk, a $535 million, eight-acre hotel-retail-entertainment complex, is ''the largest development in the history of Waikiki.''
On its website, the Outrigger group includes the following details about West Sands and Phuket:
Central & City Developments Limited, whose principals include Sir Terry Leahy, [CEO of the Tesco brand] a former European Business Leader of the year, and Paul Mercer, well-known developer and president of Central & City Developments, is the developer of West Sands, which is the first in a series of lifestyle resorts to be developed by Central & City Developments.
Condominium units will be located in five-storey buildings set amid their own free-form swimming pools.
The one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments will feature large balconies, high ceilings, fully equipped kitchens and luxurious bathrooms.
Ground floor units will have their own gardens with private access.
The most luxurious of accommodations will be the Beach, Sea View and Lake View Villas - large apartment units offering spacious living and dining areas, each with its own Jacuzzi, swimming pool and maid's quarters.
According to Sir Terry, a unique aspect of West Sands is its commitment to being environmentally friendly. ''What makes West Sands so remarkable is its emphasis on harmonious living.
''Luxurious, yes, with exclusive leisure facilities throughout; but the development also has been made as environmentally friendly as possible.
''Solar energy, superior insulation, biodegradable refuse plants, hydrothermic air-conditioning and hot water systems - all have been carefully planned for the least ecological impact while at the same time maximizing a quality experience.''
Phuket is one of Asia's most popular beach destinations, offering an unbeatable combination of soft, white sand beaches and superb hospitality.
It is consistently voted among the world's favorite island destinations in the prestigious Travel + Leisure magazine's annual survey, ranking number eight in 2007.
Set in the Andaman Sea off the southwestern coast of Thailand, Phuket is connected to the mainland by a causeway allowing easy road access.
The island is serviced by the Phuket International Airport, which is the second busiest passenger airport in Thailand, behind only Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Since the early 1980s, tourism has been Phuket's main economic driver.
Whether it is world class diving in the Andaman Sea, golf at world-standard championship courses or exciting eco-adventures in tropical forests, Phuket is a favorite visitor destination.
''West Sands is Outrigger's first venture into Thailand, but it certainly won't be our only venture,'' said Mr. Carey.
''We're looking forward to gaining a significant presence within Asia over the next few years. With two projects presently underway in Bali, we are currently looking at other potential projects in Thailand, Vietnam and Hainan Island, China.
''Outrigger brings a strong reputation and more than 60 years of experience in hospitality management and development to the table, and we look forward to establishing Outrigger's presence in other areas of the Asia-Pacific region.''
More on West Sands: ''THE WEST SANDS project on the coast at Mai Khao seems likely to become the centre of community development for the far north of the island within a few years.''
With a hula wave, speculation about the large resort being built as part of the West Sands development at Mai Khao has finally ended.
The project will be the Outrigger Resort, an announcement that came out of Hawaii, where the group is based, over the weekend.
Just a couple of weeks ago, another Hawaii-based group, Castle Resort & Hotels, took over Phuket's Katamanda villa development on the bluff between Kata and Kata Noi.
Now the Hawaiians have a really big toe-hold further north, too, and we could repeat the headline: Aloha: Hawaiians Say Sawadee.
The West Sands is a large quality development that will have a 400-room luxury hotel and spa plus 350 luxury pool villas and condos and a world-class water park.
It is due for completion in 2009, and will add to the remarkable number of brand resorts that have chosen to open along the Andaman between now and 2010.
Marriott will be extremely active this year, along with Regent and Radisson on Cape Panwa. The large Centara resort group also has an opening scheduled on Phuket.
Raj, Raffles, Kempinski and the upscale development of Thai Muang golf course are set to bring Phang Nga's coast to international attention, too.
David Carey, president and chief executive officer of Outrigger Enterprises Group, said of West Sands: ''This is an exciting opportunity for Outrigger.
''We've had our sights set on Thailand - Phuket in particular - for some time now, and we're thrilled to be associated with such a prestigious project and a team of experienced developers known for their high standards and quality projects,'' he told a newspaper in Hawaii.
The first 160 villa and condominium units are well underway, and we've visited the site. It's impressive, reminiscent in scale of Laguna Phuket, with open spaces and lagoons.
The West Sands Outrigger Resort, Phuket, is scheduled to open by the end of 2009.
As a project, West Sands has won praise for its environmentally-friendly design, which includes insulation to conserve energy and keep indoor living areas quiet.
It picked up the Green Development gong at the Thailand Property Awards 2007.
The Outrigger Enterprises Group says it is ''one of the largest and fastest-growing hospitality services companies in the Asia-Pacific region,'' a family-owned company with 60 years of hospitality experience.
The company's most recent initiative - Waikiki Beach Walk, a $535 million, eight-acre hotel-retail-entertainment complex, is ''the largest development in the history of Waikiki.''
On its website, the Outrigger group includes the following details about West Sands and Phuket:
Central & City Developments Limited, whose principals include Sir Terry Leahy, [CEO of the Tesco brand] a former European Business Leader of the year, and Paul Mercer, well-known developer and president of Central & City Developments, is the developer of West Sands, which is the first in a series of lifestyle resorts to be developed by Central & City Developments.
Condominium units will be located in five-storey buildings set amid their own free-form swimming pools.
The one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments will feature large balconies, high ceilings, fully equipped kitchens and luxurious bathrooms.
Ground floor units will have their own gardens with private access.
The most luxurious of accommodations will be the Beach, Sea View and Lake View Villas - large apartment units offering spacious living and dining areas, each with its own Jacuzzi, swimming pool and maid's quarters.
According to Sir Terry, a unique aspect of West Sands is its commitment to being environmentally friendly. ''What makes West Sands so remarkable is its emphasis on harmonious living.
''Luxurious, yes, with exclusive leisure facilities throughout; but the development also has been made as environmentally friendly as possible.
''Solar energy, superior insulation, biodegradable refuse plants, hydrothermic air-conditioning and hot water systems - all have been carefully planned for the least ecological impact while at the same time maximizing a quality experience.''
Phuket is one of Asia's most popular beach destinations, offering an unbeatable combination of soft, white sand beaches and superb hospitality.
It is consistently voted among the world's favorite island destinations in the prestigious Travel + Leisure magazine's annual survey, ranking number eight in 2007.
Set in the Andaman Sea off the southwestern coast of Thailand, Phuket is connected to the mainland by a causeway allowing easy road access.
The island is serviced by the Phuket International Airport, which is the second busiest passenger airport in Thailand, behind only Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Since the early 1980s, tourism has been Phuket's main economic driver.
Whether it is world class diving in the Andaman Sea, golf at world-standard championship courses or exciting eco-adventures in tropical forests, Phuket is a favorite visitor destination.
''West Sands is Outrigger's first venture into Thailand, but it certainly won't be our only venture,'' said Mr. Carey.
''We're looking forward to gaining a significant presence within Asia over the next few years. With two projects presently underway in Bali, we are currently looking at other potential projects in Thailand, Vietnam and Hainan Island, China.
''Outrigger brings a strong reputation and more than 60 years of experience in hospitality management and development to the table, and we look forward to establishing Outrigger's presence in other areas of the Asia-Pacific region.''
More on West Sands: ''THE WEST SANDS project on the coast at Mai Khao seems likely to become the centre of community development for the far north of the island within a few years.''
The West: Tame and Pleasant
