UPDATE
ORGANISERS of the event told Phuketwan today that it will be contained within the resort, not extend onto the public beach. Phuket authorities said no application had been made to hold an event on Bang Tao beach.
Original Report
PHUKET: Laguna Phuket is playing a major role in a record-breaking annual incentive program being staged over six days on the island for 4000 delegates and staff of anti-aging products company NU SKIN Greater China, which is predicted to generate a business boom for Phuket and Thailand.
NU SKIN delegates from seven cities in mainland China, as well as Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, will arrive in Phuket from Sunday April 21 onwards in a succession of 160 flights operated by 11 different airlines.
More than 85 per cent of the complete delegation will stay at Laguna Phuket hotels, and the resort's XANA Beach Club at Angsana Laguna Phuket will be the venue of a grand Welcome Theme Party on Tuesday April 23.
The event comes a year after Laguna Phuket hosted the island's biggest-ever corporate gathering, a month-long incentive program involving some 15,000 delegates of Amway China.
For the NU SKIN event, the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), with the cooperation of Phuket Province under its MICE city committee, is organising official welcomes for delegates at Phuket International Airport and also co-sponsoring the XANA Welcome Theme Party.
During their stay, NU SKIN delegates will be in two groups scheduled to take part in a series of daily programs that include events at Laguna Phuket hotels, team-building, local sightseeing, shopping, and Thai cultural activities.
This year is the first time NU SKIN has chosen to base its annual incentive event in one location.
''Our event is called 'Nu Skin Exclusive Fantastic Trip to Phuket' and is record-breaking in all aspects,'' said Vincent Cheng, RVP, Alignment cum President, West & North Mainland, NU SKIN Greater China.
''Previously we held annual incentives in other Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and also Pattaya in Thailand - but those were just for short stays and this is the first time we have booked a whole resort.
''We wanted a venue that was world-famous and unique that would attract our business partners. Phuket, with its climate, beautiful scenery, fascinating culture and great food, meets all our needs.
''Asia is a key market for NU SKIN and has seen a great increase in the anti-aging products industry. We believe our Phuket event will build our brand image and create business opportunities to stimulate the local economy,'' he said.
Ziya Birkan, Deputy Managing Director of Laguna Phuket, said: ''We're delighted to have been chosen to play a major role in this prestigious business gathering.
''This is the latest in a series of corporate events we've staged that underlines our credentials as a unique and top-class venue for large business incentive groups,'' he said.
Thailand has a particular focus for NU SKIN, as the company launched its ''Force for Good'' charity program in the country to help poor children with congenital heart problems.
Regional President of NU SKIN Greater China Andrew Fan received the Thailand Red Cross Gold Medal from Princess Sirindhorn for his work in setting up the charity, and is one of the few Chinese to receive this award.
Andrew Fan will attend the Laguna Phuket event to meet Julyana, a young Thai girl whose life was saved by the NU SKIN Southeast Asia Children's Heart Fund.
About Laguna Phuket
Laguna Phuket is Asia's finest destination resort - a collection of deluxe hotels and villas including Angsana Laguna Phuket, Banyan Tree Phuket, Banyan Tree Spa Sanctuary, DoublePool Villas by Banyan Tree, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort, Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas, Best Western Allamanda Laguna Phuket, Laguna Holiday Club Resort, and Laguna Property offering luxury investment and lifestyle residential properties - all sharing 1000 acres of tropical parkland and three kilometres of beach frontage with the Laguna Phuket Golf Club, Canal Shopping Village, Banyan Tree Spa, four Angsana Spas, Laguna Wedding Chapel, Quest, an on-site team building facility, and Latitude a unique stand- alone function venue.
About NU SKIN Enterprises
NU SKIN Enterprises, Inc. demonstrates its tradition of innovation through its comprehensive anti-aging product portfolio, independent business opportunity and corporate social responsibility initiatives. The company's scientific leadership in both skin care and nutrition has established NU SKIN as a premier anti-aging company. The company's anti-aging products feature the new ageLOC suite of products including the ageLOC R2 nutritional supplement, ageLOC Galvanic Spa System and ageLOC Galvanic Body Spa, as well as the ageLOC Transformation daily skin care system. A global direct selling company, NU SKIN operates in 53 markets worldwide and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
