Phulin Resort, a three-star hotel in Phuket, is focusing on new market segments, family vacation packages and small corporate meetings to boost occupancy from 60 per cent now to 70 per cent by the fourth quarter.

The 79-room hotel launched a family promotion on March 15 offering a daily rate of Bt1,900 per adult and half price for children, based on a minimum five-day stay, general manager Krisda Chuenchitpisaikul said last week.

The package is inclusive of a 10-per-cent service charge and 7-per-cent value-added tax.

The hotel is also offering special rates this month for Songkran, starting at Bt1,450 per person for twin-sharing and Bt1,450 for a single room. It also wants to host small meetings for companies or organisations.

Located near Karon Beach, the hotel expects occupancy to increase to 80 per cent during Songkran.

"We are promoting these services as much cheaper than all of the five-star hotels along Karon Beach," Krisda said.

Although tourism in Phuket is recovering, the southern province has been losing many local tourists to Krabi and other island destinations. However, international tourists are expected to return this high season.

Phulin Resort is managed by the Briza Resort Group, which also owns the Briza Resort and Spa on Samui. That property started operating late last year running only 40 per cent full, but occupancy is targeted to rise to 60 per cent this year.

Briza features 57 villas aimed at upscale travellers particularly from South Korea, Japan, Italy and Spain.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation