Karon Beach
Movenpick (359) is set on a large area with gardens, with its main meeting facilities adjacent to the lobby and a ballroom that is one of Phuket’s largest, seating 800 theatre style. There are seven additional meeting rooms, which seat up to 100 people. The resort welcomes a regular flow of insurance groups from Asia, including a 350-strong group from Allianz in June. For evening functions, the gardens can host events for 280 people and a marquee set on the lawn can host dinner for 600.
Hilton Phuket Arcadia (676) is spread over three wings and will soon complete renovations in two of its buildings, including the 128-room Andaman Wing. The other is Ocean Beach Club, reopened for events on November 1. The venue is free for corporate groups during the day and in the evenings it offers Asian and Mediterranean cuisine. The hotel offers nine meeting rooms and a marquee for 1,200 people.
New openings
Angsana Laguna (409 guestrooms) is the big opening here, following a US$30 million renovation of the former Sheraton. The rejuvenated hotel opens in December and will offer a variety of meeting spaces and on-site dining options for groups. The ballroom can host events for 400 people and there are four supporting meeting rooms for up to 120 guests, as well as five boardrooms. Market Place is the all-day dining international buffet outlet, Chao Lay will offer seafood and Thai favourites across an indoor and outdoor beachfront area, Bodega will serve Italian and Meditteranean cuisine, outdoor cocktail functions by the beach can be held at Beach Club, and there is nightly entertainment at Loy Krathong Bar. Additional facilities include an Angsana Spa and access to the 18-hole Laguna Phuket Golf Club.
Centara Grand (262) opened in late 2010 and has been welcoming groups including Grundfos and Ocean Glass. Everything is on-site and the low-rise property sits directly on the beach, meaning groups won’t have to cross the main road to access it for functions or post-meeting unwinding. The conference centre is separate from the other buildings and can be branded for business events. The ballroom seats 820 theatre style and is supported by five meeting rooms seating up to 54 people. The hotel’s Cove restaurant offers themed dining for groups such as Welcome to Thailand (US$25 per person), Silk Road ($29), Seafood Safari and Steakhouse Night ($32). There are also live shows here on most nights. Mare serves authentic pizza and pasta lunches and classical Italian cuisine in the evenings. For afterhours functions there is rooftop bar, Luna. Activities for groups are also available from pizza making and water volleyball to Muay Thai lessons and spa treatments.
Siray Bay
Westin Siray Bay (259) is ideal for small to mid-sized groups. All rooms have balconies and views over Siray Bay. Groups wanting to include island hopping can leave directly from the beachfront to visit the famed Phi Phi Island and others, saving a transfer to the public pier. The beachfront can be used for functions of up to 350 people and the restaurants can be held for private. The hotel offers five meeting rooms including a 340 sqm ballroom. The key benefit of the meeting rooms is the ocean views from the air-conditioned pre-function area. A new meeting facility and business centre will also take over the adjacent retail space in 2012. Fujitsu recently held an event here.