PHUKET: West Sands has potential as a very grand resort and it's already showing the benefits of a Centara brand makeover, says General Manager Andreas Korf.
This large slice of villas and condos is certainly the grandest of the property developments on Phuket to have been converted to resorts.
It will one day soon top 700 units, and when complete become the largest resort on Phuket.
As we pull in to the car park, we can see the Splash Jungle waterpark on one side of the property and aircraft taking off from Phuket International Airport on the other. A golf buggy glides to a stop and we are soon on our way to the resort's main office.
''It's a beautiful location,'' says the affable Mr Korf, a German. ''It's for people who don't want to go to Patong.
''We have buffaloes on the beaches. West Sands is a beautiful product, very high quality material.''
The property sales side and the resort are separate entities, Mr Korf says, with Centara responsible for the resort.. The membership of the West Sands Vacation Club is now closed and existing members satisfied, their arrangements all honored.
Some owners of West Sands properties live on the premises. Others allow the rental pool to operate when they're not on Phuket.
Where Mr Korf's expertise is being brought to bear is in converting the property into a complete resort. Still to be created, for example, is a purpose-built reception area.
Progress is being made, step by step. ''We are opening the Kids Club tomorrow,'' he said.
''The more successful we make the resort, the better the investment for the owners. At the end of the day, they will make money out of it, and we will make money out of it.''
Expect more marketing for the water park as Mr Korf attracts customers from Phuket's populous lower west coast to Splash Jungle.
Having the park is seen as a huge advantage in Phuket's low season, when the beaches are less appealing. And there are new ideas.
''Most people from Bangkok when they go away for a weekend head for Pattaya or Hua Hin. We will be suggesting that they hop on a plane in 2012 and come to West Sands on Phuket instead.
''Fifteen minutes to the resort, walk on the beach, enjoy the nature, splash in the water park . . . West Sands Phuket is ideal for a short getaway.''
Being a Thai company helps enormously, says Mr Korf, although if West Sands had been built as a resort from the beginning, it would have been done differently.
But there's still space and time to adapt.
With more phases in construction shell form but yet to be completed, the outfitting can be done to suit a resort as well as the condos.
Twin-share rooms will allow for the business market expected when the Phuket conference and exhibition centre is built nearby, also in Mai Khao.
''We are talking 1500 or 1600 people for breakfast within the next couple of years,'' said Mr Korf, 40. '''Fortunately I've had experience in large resorts.
''Certain facilities are missing but we have time and hopefully enough influence over the future designs and location. The completed resort is going to be very beautiful.
''Phuket has infrastructure and beaches, Thai hospitality, it's warm, Phuket has the outlying reefs and islands, it's very attractive and up-and-coming still.
''From a business point of view, Phuket still has room to grow.''
There are some issues, though. ''How much of a voice we can raise on the environment . . . that's really up to the local government.''
But Mr Korf is convinced that solar power needs to be introduced.
''We installed solar panels - the development was built with that in mind - and with so much sun on Phuket, it's a puzzle why this is not more widespread.''
This large slice of villas and condos is certainly the grandest of the property developments on Phuket to have been converted to resorts.
It will one day soon top 700 units, and when complete become the largest resort on Phuket.
As we pull in to the car park, we can see the Splash Jungle waterpark on one side of the property and aircraft taking off from Phuket International Airport on the other. A golf buggy glides to a stop and we are soon on our way to the resort's main office.
''It's a beautiful location,'' says the affable Mr Korf, a German. ''It's for people who don't want to go to Patong.
''We have buffaloes on the beaches. West Sands is a beautiful product, very high quality material.''
The property sales side and the resort are separate entities, Mr Korf says, with Centara responsible for the resort.. The membership of the West Sands Vacation Club is now closed and existing members satisfied, their arrangements all honored.
Some owners of West Sands properties live on the premises. Others allow the rental pool to operate when they're not on Phuket.
Where Mr Korf's expertise is being brought to bear is in converting the property into a complete resort. Still to be created, for example, is a purpose-built reception area.
Progress is being made, step by step. ''We are opening the Kids Club tomorrow,'' he said.
''The more successful we make the resort, the better the investment for the owners. At the end of the day, they will make money out of it, and we will make money out of it.''
Expect more marketing for the water park as Mr Korf attracts customers from Phuket's populous lower west coast to Splash Jungle.
Having the park is seen as a huge advantage in Phuket's low season, when the beaches are less appealing. And there are new ideas.
''Most people from Bangkok when they go away for a weekend head for Pattaya or Hua Hin. We will be suggesting that they hop on a plane in 2012 and come to West Sands on Phuket instead.
''Fifteen minutes to the resort, walk on the beach, enjoy the nature, splash in the water park . . . West Sands Phuket is ideal for a short getaway.''
Being a Thai company helps enormously, says Mr Korf, although if West Sands had been built as a resort from the beginning, it would have been done differently.
But there's still space and time to adapt.
With more phases in construction shell form but yet to be completed, the outfitting can be done to suit a resort as well as the condos.
Twin-share rooms will allow for the business market expected when the Phuket conference and exhibition centre is built nearby, also in Mai Khao.
''We are talking 1500 or 1600 people for breakfast within the next couple of years,'' said Mr Korf, 40. '''Fortunately I've had experience in large resorts.
''Certain facilities are missing but we have time and hopefully enough influence over the future designs and location. The completed resort is going to be very beautiful.
''Phuket has infrastructure and beaches, Thai hospitality, it's warm, Phuket has the outlying reefs and islands, it's very attractive and up-and-coming still.
''From a business point of view, Phuket still has room to grow.''
There are some issues, though. ''How much of a voice we can raise on the environment . . . that's really up to the local government.''
But Mr Korf is convinced that solar power needs to be introduced.
''We installed solar panels - the development was built with that in mind - and with so much sun on Phuket, it's a puzzle why this is not more widespread.''
"We have buffaloes on the beach." That's no way to describe his female Australian guests! He could at least have said "lady guests of size".
Posted by Greg on December 25, 2011 17:58