A NEW GOLF COURSE with a plush new golf resort, an array of property options, a water theme park and a retail centre for the north of the island . . . these are the latest dream projects bubbling away in concept phase at Laguna Phuket.
More than 20 years on from turning a desolate tin mine into a resorts parkland, Laguna Phuket continues to be a prime source of innovative ideas.
While sections of the island's property industry are struggling to find which way is up, Laguna reports record business. And the expectation is that the good times will keep rolling.
These days, Laguna melds Phuket's two big income sources so seamlessly that it's no longer possible to categorise the brand under the headings Tourism or Property alone.
Coming attractions, as managing director Michael Ayling told Phuketwan in March, include the seven resorts of Laguna Vietnam at Hue, plus Laguna Phuket's own seventh resort, the stylish Angsana, on the Bang Tao beachfront.
And now there's a whole lot more.
Having heard tales of woe recently from some of Phuket's resort and real estate fraternity, it was an upbeat experience talking to Dan Simmons, the Director of Property Sales at Laguna Phuket.
''Realistically, Phuket is going to be the Hawaii of Asia,'' he said.
''Regardless of the political situation and the world economy, Phuket is still going to thrive.
''It has so much to offer, being central to so many different areas.
''Someone was talking the other day about Phuket being overdeveloped. When you fly over it, you can see that 80 percent of Phuket is covered with greenery.
''You can't really say it's overdeveloped.''
Laguna moved cautiously into property sales in the late 90s and has never looked back. The tally of sales now tops 700, a remarkable number on an island the size of Phuket.
''Last year, as far as property sales went, it was our most successful year ever, by far,'' Mr Simmons said.
''This year, January through to the end of June, we are having another record year.''
So successful has been Laguna's rollout of new options that at times they have had to accelerate sales from the drawing board design phase to meet demand.
''When other developers slow down, we actually tend to pick up,'' Mr Simmons said.
He added that while the upper and lower ends of the market were both doing well, the middle market was suffering.
When it comes to the island generally, perhaps a bit of a slowdown isn't necessarily a problem.
''With the amount of people trying to establish green resorts, actually having a slow period isn't that bad,'' Mr Simmons said.
''Larger organisations will buy in, refurbish, and improve the quality of stock.''
The Angsana Resort at Laguna Phuket, which promises to be a radical change in approach and will become the flagship of the brand, is nearing construction.
Melding property seamlessly with tourism, with the new resort will come 17 sky pool villas, all facing the sea. The prospect of them being offered for sale later this year is eagerly anticipated.
''We are looking at the possibility of a golf hotel as well,'' Mr Simmons said. ''That would be a culmination of the broad range of existing resort options.
''A golf resort, a new clubhouse, new driving range . . . we are looking at what to do and already talking to some golf course designers.''
Next on the calendar is the launch of The Lofts @ Laguna Village, a seven-storey development behind Laguna Village, a housing estate set around lagoons, not far from the resort complex.
The Lofts is a ''cool modern product'' that marries happening city living to Laguna lifestyle. It will probably attract younger, different kinds of buyers to Phuket.
Versions for a variety of singles, couples and families will be available, beginning at around eight million baht for a one-bedroom option and moving on up to a 30 million baht, 509 square-metre outdoor-indoor penthouse with rooftop pool.
A younger market is expected to find this style of living attractive, with a lakeside clubhouse with restaurant and fitness centre adding to the appeal.
One surprise is that The Lofts will be launched in September at three back-to-back exhibitions . . . starting in Hong Kong, then onto Stockholm, Sweden and finally wrapping up in Singapore.
This is part of the new approach from Laguna Phuket.
As Public Relations and Sales Manager Rung Wichitwatee explains, Laguna no longer concentrates solely on so-called ''lifestyle buyers'' from among Laguna Phuket guests.
Their target now also includes investment buyers, worldwide. The previous two launches of Laguna products earlier this year took place in Beijing and Shanghai, attracting interest beyond the normal expat market.
Results have exceeded expectations. Such has been the reaction from investment buyers in China that the pace of project rollouts has had to be speeded up.
''It's possible that our sales even increase when some other developers sales decline, Mr Simmons said. ''Wealthy customers are not affected by an air fuel increase.
''Part of it is the fact that we are a publicly owned, publicly listed company.
''Consumers have a lot of confidence in Laguna as a brand. And we have invested so thoroughly in Phuket.
''Laguna is not like a small or medium sized developer, who builds and then leaves. Laguna has so much established and has invested so much that people have confidence.''
Coming up, perhaps, to add to that investment: possibly a retail centre, along with a water theme park.
Laguna projects this year have included establishing its own tour brand to maintain five-star standards. A tethered balloon, offering rides as high as 300 metres, is on the way.
Two decades of Laguna Phuket, and the ambitious innovations keep coming.
Phuketwan's parent, Big Island Media, provides articles and editing for Laguna's magazine for guests.
More Reports:
Coming off its best year ever in 2007, Laguna Phuket is untroubled by looming competition and has big plans to grow the island's leading brand in property and tourism. It is also exporting the Laguna concept to Vietnam.
Laguna Phuket Rolls Out Lucky Seven For Vietnam
Laguna Phuket reveals an innovative proposal to offer its own tourist attractions and tours, including a 35 metre tall tethered balloon that can fly as high as 300 metres. Official approval is expected before next high season.
Giant $2m Balloon Planned for Laguna Phuket
More than 20 years on from turning a desolate tin mine into a resorts parkland, Laguna Phuket continues to be a prime source of innovative ideas.
While sections of the island's property industry are struggling to find which way is up, Laguna reports record business. And the expectation is that the good times will keep rolling.
These days, Laguna melds Phuket's two big income sources so seamlessly that it's no longer possible to categorise the brand under the headings Tourism or Property alone.
Coming attractions, as managing director Michael Ayling told Phuketwan in March, include the seven resorts of Laguna Vietnam at Hue, plus Laguna Phuket's own seventh resort, the stylish Angsana, on the Bang Tao beachfront.
And now there's a whole lot more.
Having heard tales of woe recently from some of Phuket's resort and real estate fraternity, it was an upbeat experience talking to Dan Simmons, the Director of Property Sales at Laguna Phuket.
''Realistically, Phuket is going to be the Hawaii of Asia,'' he said.
''Regardless of the political situation and the world economy, Phuket is still going to thrive.
''It has so much to offer, being central to so many different areas.
''Someone was talking the other day about Phuket being overdeveloped. When you fly over it, you can see that 80 percent of Phuket is covered with greenery.
''You can't really say it's overdeveloped.''
Laguna moved cautiously into property sales in the late 90s and has never looked back. The tally of sales now tops 700, a remarkable number on an island the size of Phuket.
''Last year, as far as property sales went, it was our most successful year ever, by far,'' Mr Simmons said.
''This year, January through to the end of June, we are having another record year.''
So successful has been Laguna's rollout of new options that at times they have had to accelerate sales from the drawing board design phase to meet demand.
''When other developers slow down, we actually tend to pick up,'' Mr Simmons said.
He added that while the upper and lower ends of the market were both doing well, the middle market was suffering.
When it comes to the island generally, perhaps a bit of a slowdown isn't necessarily a problem.
''With the amount of people trying to establish green resorts, actually having a slow period isn't that bad,'' Mr Simmons said.
''Larger organisations will buy in, refurbish, and improve the quality of stock.''
The Angsana Resort at Laguna Phuket, which promises to be a radical change in approach and will become the flagship of the brand, is nearing construction.
Melding property seamlessly with tourism, with the new resort will come 17 sky pool villas, all facing the sea. The prospect of them being offered for sale later this year is eagerly anticipated.
''We are looking at the possibility of a golf hotel as well,'' Mr Simmons said. ''That would be a culmination of the broad range of existing resort options.
''A golf resort, a new clubhouse, new driving range . . . we are looking at what to do and already talking to some golf course designers.''
Next on the calendar is the launch of The Lofts @ Laguna Village, a seven-storey development behind Laguna Village, a housing estate set around lagoons, not far from the resort complex.
The Lofts is a ''cool modern product'' that marries happening city living to Laguna lifestyle. It will probably attract younger, different kinds of buyers to Phuket.
Versions for a variety of singles, couples and families will be available, beginning at around eight million baht for a one-bedroom option and moving on up to a 30 million baht, 509 square-metre outdoor-indoor penthouse with rooftop pool.
A younger market is expected to find this style of living attractive, with a lakeside clubhouse with restaurant and fitness centre adding to the appeal.
One surprise is that The Lofts will be launched in September at three back-to-back exhibitions . . . starting in Hong Kong, then onto Stockholm, Sweden and finally wrapping up in Singapore.
This is part of the new approach from Laguna Phuket.
As Public Relations and Sales Manager Rung Wichitwatee explains, Laguna no longer concentrates solely on so-called ''lifestyle buyers'' from among Laguna Phuket guests.
Their target now also includes investment buyers, worldwide. The previous two launches of Laguna products earlier this year took place in Beijing and Shanghai, attracting interest beyond the normal expat market.
Results have exceeded expectations. Such has been the reaction from investment buyers in China that the pace of project rollouts has had to be speeded up.
''It's possible that our sales even increase when some other developers sales decline, Mr Simmons said. ''Wealthy customers are not affected by an air fuel increase.
''Part of it is the fact that we are a publicly owned, publicly listed company.
''Consumers have a lot of confidence in Laguna as a brand. And we have invested so thoroughly in Phuket.
''Laguna is not like a small or medium sized developer, who builds and then leaves. Laguna has so much established and has invested so much that people have confidence.''
Coming up, perhaps, to add to that investment: possibly a retail centre, along with a water theme park.
Laguna projects this year have included establishing its own tour brand to maintain five-star standards. A tethered balloon, offering rides as high as 300 metres, is on the way.
Two decades of Laguna Phuket, and the ambitious innovations keep coming.
Phuketwan's parent, Big Island Media, provides articles and editing for Laguna's magazine for guests.
More Reports:
Coming off its best year ever in 2007, Laguna Phuket is untroubled by looming competition and has big plans to grow the island's leading brand in property and tourism. It is also exporting the Laguna concept to Vietnam.
Laguna Phuket Rolls Out Lucky Seven For Vietnam
Laguna Phuket reveals an innovative proposal to offer its own tourist attractions and tours, including a 35 metre tall tethered balloon that can fly as high as 300 metres. Official approval is expected before next high season.
Giant $2m Balloon Planned for Laguna Phuket
