Siripanna steps into the ring with Thai Fight gym and hotel
Siripanna Villa Resort and Spa Chiang Mai has diversified into sport with a plan to open a Thai Fight gym and hotel worth up to 280 million baht early next year.
Chief executive Supamit Kitjapipat said the new project is under construction on a two-rai plot at the same compound as Siripanna resort in Chiang Mai province.
The project is scheduled to open in February 2019 and will be a mixed-use project consisting of 35 rooms, a boxing gym, a swimming pool, recreation areas, a yoga room, an event hall and a convenience store.
The hotel with boxing gym is called Thai Fight Physique Sport @ S Loft by Siripanna. The project is a collaboration with Thai Fight Co, the organiser of boxing programmes in Thailand and overseas.
Siripanna and Thai Fight signed a business deal yesterday. Under the agreement, Siripanna will run the hotel and gym under a franchise contract for the first three years.
Meanwhile, Thai Fight will provide professional boxers and know-how to the resort, as well training for guests.
“Thai boxing has become more popular in Chiang Mai,” Mr Supamit said. “Many foreigners come here to practise it, and we foresee a strong business opportunity.”
He predicted that the new facilities (hotel and boxing gym) will create about 30 million baht in revenue during the first year in operation, boosting existing Siripanna revenue by about 20%.
The gym and hotel is aimed at local and foreign customers at a 50:50 ratio. Target customers are the younger generation and guests who are health-conscious and love sport.
The resort will soon appoint sales and marketing representatives to promote the business overseas. Major agents will be in China and Europe.
The average room rate for the new hotel will be 7,700 baht per night, Mr Supamit said, up from the 6,000 baht charged at Siripanna Villa Resort and Spa Chiang Mai.
Siripanna does business with a Lannastyle theme. It operated at an average occupancy of nearly 80% for 104 rooms in 2017, but performance this year is likely down because of slower tourist arrivals.
Nopporn Wartin, president and chief executive of Thai Fight Co, said the company organises eight Thai Fight programmes a year. Seven are in Thailand and one is abroad. In the coming year, the overseas show will be in Shanghai.
Mr Nopporn said the partnership with Siripanna is the group’s first joint project. The tie-up is expected to help raise Thai Fight’s presence in local and international markets.
“Thai people and many foreigners enjoy watching or practising Thai boxing,” Mr Nopporn said. “We have many fans domestically and overseas. We have famous and professional boxers with us, so we will be able to shape the new business with Siripanna. The move is to respond to the popularity of boxing, as many make it their hobby.”
Aside from joining Siripanna, Thai Fight is planning to build its own hotel and boxing project in Bangkok, perhaps in the Ratchadaphisek area, to capitalise on the boom in Thai boxing and tourism.