THE ground-breaking Phuket International Academy Sports and Leisure Club is poised to become Asia's pre-eminent competition, training and event complex when it opens this November.

Combining a brilliant location with top rated facilities, it is already attracting interest from respected global sporting institutions and international corporations.

The club selected the prestigious World Sports Destination Expo, opening in Johannesburg, South Africa today, as the global event to launch itself to the world as a premier sports and corporate event facility in Thailand.

The US$45 million complex is set on 54 acres of land in the north-eastern region of Phuket and boasts an extensive array of high-class sporting facilities including an international-standard rugby pitch, FIFA-approved Limonta ''Soccer Pro''' football field, Phuket's only competition standard 50-metre swimming pool, a six-court tennis academy, a 500-metre athletics running track and a StarTrac equipped hi-tech gymnasium, as well as a dedicated arts centre and a Thai Herbal Garden Spa to compliment the sports facilities.

There are also two boutique hotels, offering 115 well-appointed rooms and suites to individual athletes, teams and corporate groups.

The club has rapidly gained recognition through high-profile affiliations with global sporting organisations such as Brazilian Soccer Schools, NZRugbyResources, and US-based IronKids Triathlon with more announcements pending in relation to tennis and swimming.

PIA Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Nick Seaver, said the club is being positioned as Asia's finest destination not only for sports, but also for corporate events such as conferences, incentives, retreats and teambuilding.

''Being in Phuket is a big advantage. It is not only an exotic location but the most exciting component of what we are doing is that every element of the club has been planned down to the finest detail from using cutting edge materials and equipment to employing the most qualified staff to manage and coach at the club,'' Mr Seaver added.

''As a fully-integrated complex, we are also going to be the perfect location for companies looking to build something active, creative or wellness inspired into their event programs.''

NZRugbyResources Director, David Adamson, said the club's rugby facilities were ''second to none'' in the region and perfect for conducting elite and amateur training camps and competitions.

''Rugby is an extremely popular sport throughout Asia and growing in numbers every year and NZRugbyResources believes this is the finest training and playing facility in Asia. It is just amazing how much detail has gone into the planning,'' Mr Adamson said.

Another key partnership for junior athletes has been with the internationally-renowned Brazilian Soccer Schools after officials from the organisation inspected the purpose-built floodlit artificial turf football field at the club and endorsed it as its official home in Phuket.

The club has also confirmed an affiliation with the US-based IronKids program. This partnership will focus on bringing four junior triathlon events per year as well as training camps for children aged between 6 and 15.

Mr Seaver added that to achieve partnerships with such esteemed organisations was a solid endorsement of the meticulous planning that has gone into the design and construction of the club.