Samui selected for green model status

BANGKOK, 22 September 2011 – One of Thailand’s top tourist resorts, Samui Island, along with Danang in Vietnam were named “ low-carbon cities” by a forum of  energy and transport ministers of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation at a  meeting last week in San Francisco.

Samui and Danang were selected along with Peru’s San Borja as part of the low carbon model city project that was launched last year with the designation of Tianjin, China. Read more

Run around Samui for fun

BANGKOK, 31 August 2011 – Samui Island Marathon 2011 is back, 18 September, offering Bt150,000 in prize money for winners in six race categories.

Now in its second year, the 42 km race is hosted by Bangkok Airways and should attract 2,000 to 3,000 participants.

Last year, there were 1,600 participants of which 1,400 were Thais and 200 were foreigners.

This year’s event will feature six categories: Full marathon (42.195 km); half marathon (21.1 km); quarter marathon (10.55 km); local students, 12 to 14 years (5 km); other students, 12 to 14 years (5 km) and a 2 km fun run.

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Samui getting back to business

SAMUI, 25 August 2011 – C9 Hotelworks, a hospitality consulting firm based in Phuket, released its latest marketing update on Samui hotels, Tuesday, indicating there is an influx of international hotel chains entering Samui market with five brands ready to debut in the island later this year.

Well-known brands include InterContinental, Le Méridien, Conrad, Accor and Movenpick who will all be intent on luring more travellers to fill up the additional rooms.

C9 Hotelworks in its Samui Hotel Market Update claims five hotels managed by global operators will enter the supply chain on Samui. Read more

Airlines resume flights to Samui

BANGKOK, 31 March 2011 – Both Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways International resumed services to Samui, Thursday to relieve a backlog of passengers stranded on the island since storms hit South Thailand’s holiday destinations three days ago.

Bangkok Airways operates 56 flights a day between Samui and Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Trat, Hong Kong and Singapore. They all came to a standstill during  storms that caused flooding and landslides on the mainland and stranded over 1,000 tourists on holiday islands in the Gulf of Thailand.

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Report revives Samui’s plight

BANGKOK, 14 February 2011 – Samui’s long-term potential is being effectively capped by limited airline access and the need for airport expansion or relocation according to a recent C9 Hotelworks’ hotel update.

The company claims there is an oversupply of rooms that has impacted on the island’s hotels, dampening the island’s operating performance and points to airport limitations that place a cap on the number of flights that can serve the holiday island.

The report refers to a standing environmental restriction that allows just 36 flights a day at the existing airport and a runway length which is unable to handle larger aircraft.

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Langham cuts ties in Samui

BANGKOK, 8 February 2011 — Langham Hotels International will terminate its management at Langham Place Samui at Lamai Beach effective 28 February.

Last week, Langham and Gurich Company, the owner of the property, issued a joint statement saying both parties had reached a mutual agreement to end their relationship effective from midnight, 28 February.

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Outrigger sends Pink to Samui

PHUKET, 28 January 2011 – Outrigger Senior vice president Asia Pacific, Darren Edmonstone, appointed Leon Pink as general manager of Outrigger Koh Samui Resort and Spa, effective Thursday.

Outrigger’s new property on Samui Island, the company’s second in Thailand, opens on 1 February.

Pink, an Australian national, has 15 years’ hotel operations experience. He worked as a resort manager for over two years at the Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji, a five-star 254- room property.

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Outrigger expands to Samui

PHUKET, 16 December 2010 – Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Asia this week signed an agreement to manage Outrigger Koh Samui Resort and Spa in Bhoput Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand effective 1 February 2011.

The 81-unit villa and suite resort is currently operating under its former trading name Destination Beach Resort & Spa.

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Four-for-the-cost-of-three package

SAMUI 13 October 2010 – Rocky Boutique Resort, on Lamai Beach, just a short walk from the village, sells a four-night package for the price of three with added value features including free airport transfer and Wi Fi connection on site.

Tagged the Lotus Package, the deal is open until 19 December 2010 at the 33-villa resort.

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Record turnout for Adventure Race

SAMUI, 8 October 2010 – Thailand’s annual series, the Amazing Adventure Race, returned to Samui Island last week underscoring the island’s growing popularity for both leisure and sports related tourism.

Supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thai Hotels Association the race attracted around 150 participants, who had to demonstrate skills in running, cycling, swimming and kayaking on courses that were described by veteran participants as even more challenging than last year.

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