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Published on December 18, 2007

Kamalaya Samui, reportedly Thailand's biggest wellness sanctuary and holistic spa, has announced plans to spend Bt100 million to add more pool villas and wellness rooms to its 60-unit resort.

Foreign therapists will also be brought in, to attract more international tourists.

Half of the expansion budget will be spent on building 15-18 pool villas on a plot of land adjoining the existing resort. More than Bt30 million will be spent adding 20 wellness and spa rooms.

The rest of the budget will go towards employing more local specialists and therapists and bringing Indian, Chinese and Western treatment specialists to the resort, said its operator, the Unique Collection Group. The expansion will be complete in 2009.

CEO Peter Kaelli said the resort was now not only the biggest of its kind in Thailand, but also in all of Asia. Its occupancy rate has risen to 30 per cent.

"We signed a five-year management contract, so we will add more marketing activities and strategies, in order to attract more international guests," he said, adding that wellness and holistic health treatment was becoming popular around the world and that the resort was approaching that potential.

Kamalaya Samui is expected to reach an occupancy rate of 50 percent next year and attract more guests from European countries, North America, Japan and India.

The resort currently features 60 units and offers a full package, including accommodation, a wellness programme and health meals for Bt8,000 per person per day.

The Bt750-million property, which occupies 32 rai, is owned by Canadian and other foreign investors.

Kaelli said more than 1,000 spa and healthcare businesses were operating on Koh Samui. However, Kamalaya Samui believes the only competition at its level comes from Chiva-Som in Hua Hin and some holistic spas in Chiang Mai.

The highlight services at the resort include Ayurvedic treatment, detox, Chinese chi gong, homeopathy, traditional Thai rehabilitation, Chinese tai chi, Indian massage, yoga and Chinese chi nei tsang.

"I have discussed with the owners the possibility of expanding to other tourist destinations, such as Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Koh Kradan in Trang province, if we reach our target here," Kaelli said.

Kaelli who managed hotels, resorts and golf courses both in Thailand and abroad for more than 15 years before setting up the Unique Collection Group, speaks five languages, including Thai.

The company currently manages a boutique hotel called Putahracsa Hua Hin in addition to Kamalaya Samui.

It recently created two new brands: Classic Collection and Charming Collection. Classic Collection will manage hotels of between 60 and 120 rooms, with the aim of lifting each property into the top three in its area. It currently manages two properties: the De Naga Chiang Mai; and the Sukhothai Heritage Resort, which is owned by Bangkok Airways.

Charming Collection is aimed at managing hotels of fewer than 50 rooms. It currently manages three resorts: the Ban Sabai Village Chiang Mai, the Ban Sabai Sunset Beach Samui and the Tusita Resort Chumphon.

Kaelli said the group was negotiating with hotels in Phuket, Bangkok, Trat and Chiang Mai, and has been approached to take over the management of several hotels in Vietnam and on Bali.

Suchat Sritama

 The Nation

Koh Samui