Phuket News / Island’s Latest Updates

SALA Phuket Resort and Spa, the brand new resort from Thailand’s home grown hospitality company, SALA Resorts and Spas, has been selected as one of just a handful of new hotels and resorts worldwide to be featured in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler “Hot List” 2008.

The stylish new resort which is located on the unspoilt shoreline of Maikhao Beach in the north of Phuket has just been open since December, but is already becoming one of the most talked about new resorts on the island.

The resort’s relaxing SALA Spa, a chic haven offering a wide range of relaxing and therapeutic spa treatments in a spacious and tranquil environment, was also separately featured as one of the world’s hot new spas.

Following on from the huge success of SALA Samui, the first resort by SALA Hotels and Resorts, SALA Phuket offers the same signature style of spacious private pool villas, contemporary Asian-influenced design and great service, designed to makes guests feel like they are at home rather than in a hotel.

SALA Phuket is located amongst national parkland and 9km of pristine beach, and presents a sophisticated resort experience which is remote from mainstream Phuket, yet easily accessible from the airport.

The stunning new resort offers 79 luxurious villas and suites, of which 63 have their own spacious private pools. The villas range in size from 158 to 619 sqm, offering guests the ultimate in five-star luxury and privacy.

Features include stunning outdoor bathrooms with large freestanding bathtubs beneath custom designed chandeliers, relaxing daybeds and sun loungers overlooking a private lap pool. The resort’s main public area is grouped around two large beachfront swimming pools, and a stylish beachfront restaurant, lobby bar and beach bar.

The SALA restaurant serves a delicious mix of Thai and international cuisine devised by LA born chef Jan Hollister who was previously the executive chef of SALA Samui and now brings the same refreshing culinary creativity to SALA Phuket. Chef Jan focuses on identifying quality local suppliers of quality fresh produce. His menus are a mix of brasserie style international comfort food, delectable Thai dishes and succulent local seafood and grills.

Guests can choose to dine at the SALA Restaurant, poolside, in their own villa or on a candle lit beach table. By special arrangement they can also dine on the restaurant’s rooftop dining nook, where they can enjoy a stunning sea view dining experience in private.

The Beach Bar serves a great range of wines and cocktails and has oversized white day beds for guests to sink into and watch the sunset. Additional amenities include a library, gift shop, meeting room facilities and an activities desk.

SALA Phuket also sees the launch of SALA Hotels and Resorts’ own spa brand, the SALA Spa. A cooling mist-filled walkway leads guests to the contemporary oversized treatment villas. Both modern and ancient treatments are offered in this tranquil setting, designed to pamper and rejuvenate.

SALA Phuket’s unique and chic architectural style has already started to win the resort design awards. The multi-award winning designers from Thai-based Department of Architecture have drawn inspiration from the Sino-Portuguese heritage that is indigenous to Phuket to create a compelling blend of Chinese accents and a neutral contemporary colour palette.

Whites and olive greys are the predominant colour scheme, with splashes of red and the traditional Sino Portuguese patterned tiles which are indigenous to the area. The unique interiors have won SALA Phuket the prestigious ASA award (Architectural of Siamese Association), a prominent accolade for Thai architects. This is in keeping with SALA Resorts philosophy to create resorts with a strong sense of place, drawing heavily on the talents of local architects, designers and suppliers.

Some of the other unique design features of the resort include large custom-made Chinese style bird cages, with glittering chandeliers inside, and in-room furniture inspired by traditional Chinese medicine cabinets. Billowing white canopied day beds around the pool area also give the resort a chilled out and contemporary vibe.

Maikhao is a quiet spot on the northern tip of the island, making SALA Phuket the perfect place for hiding away and relaxing, away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Patong yet within easy access of sophisticated pastimes such as the Yacht Haven and the Royal Phuket Marina, the Blue Canyon Golf Course and picturesque Phang Nga Bay. The resort is less than twenty minutes drive from Phuket international airport which makes it the ideal place for a long weekend escape.

About SALA Resorts and Spas

SALA Resorts and Spas is a home grown Thai hospitality company which owns and operates two luxury resorts in the Kingdom, and has plans for further expansion domestically and internationally. SALA is also the majority shareholder of the Six Senses Hideaway in Koh Samui.

The company’s first resort, SALA Samui, has become one of Koh Samui’s most successful resorts, with a total of 69 luxurious villas and suites of which 53 have private swimming pools. The resort is located on pristine Choeng Mon beach on the northeast corner of the island, just 10 minutes from Koh Samui international airport, Bo Phut’s quaint Fisherman’s Village and Chaweng Beach shopping and nightlife district.

Contact Details
Name: Lucy Haslewood
Email: lucy.haslewood@ghcasia.com

Published on arabianbusiness.com