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Published on March 22, 2008

"Astudo will focus on small and mid-sized properties with 30-100 rooms and full-service hotels in Thailand and Asia," Anthony McDonald, owner and CEO of Astudo Holdings, said yesterday.

Most of the projects will be in this country but the company is also focusing on upcoming destinations such as Cambodia, Burma, Laos and Vietnam.

Astudo already runs four resort properties in the Kingdom.

Its management services cover sales and marketing, accounting, recruitment, risk management, food and beverage management, design and construction supervision, quality control and financial management.

Many local owners would like to hire professional management, but without the large overheads and demands of international chains.

"Being based in Thailand we can achieve excellent profitability for local resort owners, with flexible and personal service not offered by larger chains. Being a hotel owner as well, we know what is important to the owner, and how best to achieve the owner's objectives," he said.

Klaus Rauter, group general manager, said Astudo's core principles are centred on total transparency and honest dealings with all partners and staff, with keen attention to professional detail and hard work.

There are four resorts under management: X2 Resorts, the first local chain of designer resorts, which launched its first property last year in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Kui Buri district; a second X2 resort on Koh Samui, scheduled to open in June; Away Resorts, which is operating its first tropical, Polynesian-flavour resort, promoting slow tourism, on Koh Kood; and Le Bayburi, a luxury private beachfront villa for rent in Pran Buri.

The Nation