PHUKET: The resort that will eventually become the largest on Phuket now has a new general manager, and Andreas Korf will be steering Centara Grand West Sands Resort and Villas Phuket through an interesting period.
His appointment to the role has just been announced in a media release by Gerd Steeb, President of Centara Hotels and Resorts.
Another media release last week announced the first birthday of the 262-room Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket.
When one considers that the northern Centara Grand not only has a longer name but will also eventually grow to be 784 units, it's possible to understand the scale of Mr Korf's job.
The largest resort on Phuket at present, the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa at Karon, weighs in around the 700-room mark, give or take a refurbishment or two.
Probably still better known to Phuket residents as the West Sands property development, the new northern Centara Grand also includes the Splash Jungle waterpark, with its 12 waterslides, including a huge Superbowl slide, and a 335-metre lazy river.
The 287 units of the present resort are to grow when Phase Two opens in October next year, to be followed by Phase Three in October 2013. That will take the number of units to 784, and a new Phuket record.
Phuketwan considered Centara's investment in the first of the Grands and a handful of smaller properties worthwhile enough to make it the Phuket Business of the Year 2010.
Our choice appears to have been a deserving one now that the first Grand has been followed by a second Grand.
However, it has to be said that even with our obvious support for Centara as a business, we are unable to get telephone calls returned or achieve a response to emails requesting information.
There have, of course, been controversies: the tuk-tuks and taxis at the entrance, and the restaurant on the beach in the case of the Karon Grand. West Sands has also not been without controversy on occasions.
Media releases are fine, but it would be a pleasant change to talk to a real person from time to time.
We wish all the best to Mr Korf, a German national with many years' experience in hotel management in Germany, US, Switzerland, Britain and China, and hope he manages to quickly establish a professional relationship with Phuketwan and Phuket's media in general.
His appointment to the role has just been announced in a media release by Gerd Steeb, President of Centara Hotels and Resorts.
Another media release last week announced the first birthday of the 262-room Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket.
When one considers that the northern Centara Grand not only has a longer name but will also eventually grow to be 784 units, it's possible to understand the scale of Mr Korf's job.
The largest resort on Phuket at present, the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa at Karon, weighs in around the 700-room mark, give or take a refurbishment or two.
Probably still better known to Phuket residents as the West Sands property development, the new northern Centara Grand also includes the Splash Jungle waterpark, with its 12 waterslides, including a huge Superbowl slide, and a 335-metre lazy river.
The 287 units of the present resort are to grow when Phase Two opens in October next year, to be followed by Phase Three in October 2013. That will take the number of units to 784, and a new Phuket record.
Phuketwan considered Centara's investment in the first of the Grands and a handful of smaller properties worthwhile enough to make it the Phuket Business of the Year 2010.
Our choice appears to have been a deserving one now that the first Grand has been followed by a second Grand.
However, it has to be said that even with our obvious support for Centara as a business, we are unable to get telephone calls returned or achieve a response to emails requesting information.
There have, of course, been controversies: the tuk-tuks and taxis at the entrance, and the restaurant on the beach in the case of the Karon Grand. West Sands has also not been without controversy on occasions.
Media releases are fine, but it would be a pleasant change to talk to a real person from time to time.
We wish all the best to Mr Korf, a German national with many years' experience in hotel management in Germany, US, Switzerland, Britain and China, and hope he manages to quickly establish a professional relationship with Phuketwan and Phuket's media in general.
