• 
• 

Published on November 29, 2007

Anthony Armas, director of marketing for Thailand, said three hotels in Phuket - on Patong, Surin and Kamala beaches - were under development and scheduled to open by next year's third quarter.

He said another one would be in Cha-am, probably bigger than those in Phuket.

"Each property will feature between 150 and 300 rooms," said Armas.

Marriott opened its first Courtyard brand in Thailand yesterday: the 318-room Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok, on Rajdamri Road.

Local developer the Amarin Group owns the hotel, which cost Bt1 billion to build. About 70 per cent of the guests are expected to be business travellers and the rest general visitors.

"Our competitors are the Holiday Inn Bangkok, the Novotel Siam Square and the Patumwan Princess Hotel. Those now offer similar rates," he said.

Armas said Marriott was expanding its hotel business in Thailand because the tourism industry was expected to grow in the long term.

Marriott operates 10 pro-perties in Thailand under

the Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance and Mayfair brands.

 Suchat Sritama

 The Nation