Located in a complex across from

the luxury Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort, the renovation of the four-star hotel will take about six months. It currently has 41 contemporary-style bungalows.

Remko Kroesen, general manager

of the Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort, said the renovation of would complement the colonial style of his resort and help broaden its clientele across several market segments, from high-end guests to honeymoon couples and families.

Following renovation, the hotel will be integrated into the resort to create a total complex covering 6.27 hectares. The new resort will be called the Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort and Villa.

The company hopes the refurbishment will boost next year's revenues for the combined property by at least 15 per cent. After the renovation, half of the units at the Village property will be pool villas and the other half spa villas with Jacuzzis.

Kroesen, 43, joined the resort in March after almost three years as general manager of The Crown Princess Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Born in the Netherlands, he studied catering and hospitality at Amsterdam's De Kogge Hotel School, graduating in 1983. He then began his career as a trainee at the Hilton chain before moving to New Zealand in 1984 with Hyatt, which had set up the Regent Hotel in Auckland.

While there, he served as a cost controller for that hotel's food and beverage department.

Kroesen has worked also at the Rushcutters Harbourside Hotel and The Grace Hotel, both in Sydney, and the Hotel Capitol in Kuala Lumpur.

"As the new general manager at the Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort, I would like to promote a democratic approach to the business," said Kroesen. "I will learn together with 400 hotel staff as a team. I can only guide people, sharing experiences with them, while at the same time learning from our staff and moving forwards together," he said.

"I will look for opportunities and innovation through new ideas, to enhance our business potential further," said Kroesen. "I also would like to foster a harmonious environment for our staff and guests. Our 400 staff are the biggest assets," he said.

He said about 70 per cent of the hotel staff came from Hua Hin, and thus the hotel had become part of their personal lives.

"They even remember individual guests. Sixty per cent are returning clients," he said.

Originally known as the Railway Hotel, the first-class resort accommodated visitors to King Rama VI's Klai Kangwon summer palace outside of the town. Central Hotels and Resorts Group obtained a 30-year lease for the hotel from the State Railway of Thailand in 1985.

Operating for about two decades now, the Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort was the first international hotel in the Hua Hin area.

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation

Hua Hin