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Published on February 25, 2008

Verawat Ongvasith, owner of the new boutique hotel Veranda the High Resort, looks totally relaxed as he enjoys the cool, fresh air of the Chiang Mai hinterland with his son at his side.

Over the past three years, the president of Veranda Resort and Spa in Hua Hin has received nothing but compliments for his hip five-star boutique resort that successfully marries chic comfort with the beauty of Mother Nature.

The High Resort held its grand opening party last week and invited a number of VIP guests to enjoy the serene surroundings at the premium 30-rai property in Hangdong, just 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Chiang Mai.

Verawat expressed his thanks to his landscape and interior design team for their hard work in maintaining the contemporary Veranda style while capturing the unique Lanna heritage at the resort, which offers guests stunning views of the mountains.

A business graduate from Boston University, Verawat is passionate about travel. After completing his education, he joined the family construction business and later decided to specialise in luxury accommodation.

"I could see the new trend of boutique hotels," he explains. "A lot of travellers these days are quite discerning. They value their precious holiday time and want to go somewhere calm and feel rejuvenated by nature."

That's why an eye for design and attention to detail are so important, he adds.

"I want guests at our hotels to enjoy every minute of their stay. For that, our resorts have to be photogenic, by which I mean that every corner has the perfect angle, each space the right proportions. This is one of the strategies behind the success I've had in building the Veranda brand," he explains.

"We have many newlyweds visit Veranda specially for their wedding pictures. The memorable experience they take away with them helps in promoting the resort and, of course, is a boost for our services."

Verawat confesses he prefers the mountains to the sea. "People mainly head to the mountains during winter, so they tend not to experience what it's like in the rainy season. I think they are missing out. I love it when the clouds are low; the atmosphere is really dramatic."

Chiang Mai is one of Asia's leading destinations and Verawat admits that he was fortunate in being able to develop the land according to his plans. "I believe buying land is a combination of luck and art. I don't own lots of land so I set myself the task of finding a place that had the potential to satisfy the demands of travellers.

"Sometime it can take a long time to find the perfect spot. For this resort, I only had to walk the property once before making up my mind. The good feng shui was one of the things that sold it."

With all the work that's been put in, the property is now worth more than Bt300 million.

Ultimately, says Verawat, he is most proud of building a hotel image that is instantly recognisable to many foreign travellers. Recently, the High Resort was selected to be a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, a prestigious association of the finest boutique hotels on the globe with more than  400 members in 65 countries.

"Thais are second to none in the hotel business. We have remarkable geography, unique traditions and culture, and most importantly a unique hospitality. Despite a slowdown in the economy, I still see a bright future for our tourism business."

Kupluthai Pungkanon

The Nation