Opulence with a Malaysian touch
The Impiana's resorts and villas in Phuket offer privacy and serenity
When Malaysian company Impiana Group decided to expand overseas, they identified the holiday island of Phuket as the perfect location.
The group, which is active in the hospitality sector, acquired a three-star hotel and rebranded it as a four-star boutique resort some 15 years ago.
A stone’s throw away from the famous Patong beach, the resort was renamed Impiana Resort Patong Phuket.
Impiana’s decision has proved both wise and profitable, with the resort drawing tourists from all over the globe.
Group executive director Mohd Yusof Muhammad Isahak says the occupancy rate of the 70-room resort maintained stable throughout the year at around 90 per cent.
The rooms, which range from Bt4,000 to Bt15,000 a night, are almost fully occupied between December and March, he adds.
“Our guests like to spend their holidays in Phuket during the peak season,” he says, adding that many of them hail from Australia and Europe.
While the resort enjoys being in a bustling tourism spot, it also serves as a hideaway for those who want serenity, sun, sea and sand.
Guests can also enjoy traditional Thai massage, savour western and Thai cuisine and beverages at the beach bar.
Like many of the properties in this Andaman Sea province, the Impiana Resort Patong Phuket was hit by the December 26, 2004 tsunami but has now rebuilt.
“The resort was built from scratch after the tragedy,” Mohd Yusof says.
Impiana Group's business in Phuket has since expanded further with the opening of Impiana Private Villas Kata Noi four years ago.
The 11 luxurious villas, each with its private infinity pool and butler service, are perched on a cliff along the Kata beach.
“It’s a popular choice wedding ceremonies, and a perfect place for honeymooners," he says.
Average occupancy rate of the villas is about 70 per cent, with prices ranging from $500 (Bt15,000) to $800 a night.
Impiana Group-owned resorts in Phuket island have at least 10 competitors, who also target the high-end market.
Nonetheless, he said the resorts would remain unfazed by the competition, as long as there is a consistent flow of tourists on the island.
Besides running resorts in Phuket, the Group also owned a resort in Koh Samui, an island on the east coast of southern Thailand and the group is currently building a new hillside resort in Ubud, Bali.
Mohd Yusof says the management approach for its overseas resorts is identical to that adopted in Impiana’s Malaysian properties.
“Looking into the complaints of our guests is of utmost importance,” he says adding that customers’ experience at a resort directly affects revenue.
In Malaysia, Impiana Group owns Impiana Hotel KLCC, Impiana Resort Cherating, Pahang, and Impiana Hotel Ipoh, Perak.
