A NEW two-billion baht high-end resort of 87 pool villas is on target for an opening on Phuket in early 2012, Phuketwan has learned at ITB Berlin.
The resort, to be known as the Naka La Flora, will be five-star with an asterisk on a hillside at Kamala, the beach that is perhaps challenging to be Phuket's premium five-star with an asterisk resort zone.
La Flora is showing consistent growth with resorts at Khao Lak and in Patong, and a new 36 villa resort, Casa De La Flora, due to open in Khao Lak later this year.
The original La Flora Resort and Spa, rebuilt after the 2004 Andaman coast tsunami, earned a World Luxury Hotel Award in 2010.
Right on the beachfront in Phuket, the La Flora Resort Patong contains 67 rooms and villas to suit different tastes. The Kamala venture, a couple of beaches to the north, is expected to be an instant target for the kind of up-market visitors that Greater Phuket is seeking.
La Flora Chairman Sompong Dowpiset has high hopes that the Naka La Flora will set new standards. Every villa will have a sea view, he said.
The resort may have not been previously noted because the environmental permissions were sought and gained direct in Bangkok rather than through the Phuket Governor's special committee of the environment, which was established by Governor Tri Augkaradacha's predecessor, Wichai Praisa-ngob.
Khun Sompong likes the whole Phuket hub region but especially Phang Nga for its mix of sea and nature, with plenty of national parks.
However, he does say the premium Andaman coast region of the province does need more Tourist Police, a decent shopping mall and a better-equipped and staffed hospital.
The resort, to be known as the Naka La Flora, will be five-star with an asterisk on a hillside at Kamala, the beach that is perhaps challenging to be Phuket's premium five-star with an asterisk resort zone.
La Flora is showing consistent growth with resorts at Khao Lak and in Patong, and a new 36 villa resort, Casa De La Flora, due to open in Khao Lak later this year.
The original La Flora Resort and Spa, rebuilt after the 2004 Andaman coast tsunami, earned a World Luxury Hotel Award in 2010.
Right on the beachfront in Phuket, the La Flora Resort Patong contains 67 rooms and villas to suit different tastes. The Kamala venture, a couple of beaches to the north, is expected to be an instant target for the kind of up-market visitors that Greater Phuket is seeking.
La Flora Chairman Sompong Dowpiset has high hopes that the Naka La Flora will set new standards. Every villa will have a sea view, he said.
The resort may have not been previously noted because the environmental permissions were sought and gained direct in Bangkok rather than through the Phuket Governor's special committee of the environment, which was established by Governor Tri Augkaradacha's predecessor, Wichai Praisa-ngob.
Khun Sompong likes the whole Phuket hub region but especially Phang Nga for its mix of sea and nature, with plenty of national parks.
However, he does say the premium Andaman coast region of the province does need more Tourist Police, a decent shopping mall and a better-equipped and staffed hospital.
