Veranda sprucing up resorts

Veranda Resort & Spa Group has earmarked 650 million baht this year to renovate a hotel in Hua Hin and complete a residential zone next to a hotel in Pattaya.

Of the budget, 150 million baht will be used to renovate the Veranda Resort Hua Hin and 500 million to complete the Veranda Residence near the Veranda Resort Pattaya, said president Verawat Ongvasith.

The renovation of the Hua Hin hotel will better serve guests, mostly families and couples, with a relaxing natural landscape design.

For the Pattaya residence, the Thai-owned hotel company sees a great deal of potential because the number of tourists visiting the resort town is on the rise.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Pattaya welcomed nearly 9 million foreign visitors last year, up from 6.5 million in 2014, and generated more than 100 billion baht in tourism revenue, up from 97 billion.

“Pattaya remains a tourism hub in the Eastern Seaboard, and its tourism prospects are brighter after the formation of the Asean Economic Community,” Mr Verawat said.

Pattaya is changing its image to become more popular among hipsters and younger travellers. New attractions include worldclass hotels, water parks and trendy hangout spots.

The group opened Veranda Resort Pattaya on Jomtien Beach last December. The Veranda Residence, a 320-unit condominium, is under construction next door.

Mr Verawat hailed t he Veranda brand for its strong reputation in design among Thai and foreign tourists since its founding 11 years ago.

The company now has three Veranda hotels — one each in Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Pattaya — and the Sofitel So Bangkok, a stylish hotel on Rama IV Road.

It also developed the Veranda High Residence Chiang Mai as luxury housing near the Veranda Chiang Mai.

“Our brand grows organically from strong developments and strategic locations,” Mr Verawat said.

“What is happening next is we are going to acquire a property in a prime location. We may or may not rebrand it, but we will improve it and fine-tune the design to become ours.”

The group reportedly has its eye on a Koh Samui hotel.