Outrigger picks up Thailand contract
Outrigger Enterprises Group, which got its start as a kamaaina company in the 1940s and has morphed into one of the largest privately held hoteliers in the Pacific, has picked up a major management contract in Thailand that will continue the company's aggressive push into Asia.
Central & City Developments Ltd. has contracted with Outrigger to manage its first mixed-use lifestyle resort on Mai Khao Beach in the northwest coast of Phuket. The property, which will be called the West Sands Outrigger Resort, Phuket, will feature a world class water park, a 400-room luxury full-service hotel and spa and 350 luxury pool villas and condominiums some with their own Jacuzzi, swimming pools and maid quarters.
"This is an exciting opportunity for Outrigger," said David Carey, president and chief executive officer of Outrigger Enterprises Group. "We've had our sights set on Thailand -- Phuket in particular -- for some time now; and we're thrilled to be associated with such a prestigious project and a team of experienced developers known for their high standards and quality projects."
Outrigger's expansion into Thailand is a continuation of the push that the company began making in 2005 when the still largely family-run company announced that it intended to pursue new initiatives in Asia.
"We're looking forward to gaining a significant presence within Asia over the next few years," Carey said.
With two projects presently underway in Bali, Outrigger is shopping for other potential projects in Thailand, Vietnam and Hainan Island, China, Carey said.
Work is already underway on the West Sands project, with the first 140 villa and condominium units set for completion by the fall of 2008. The West Sands Outrigger Resort hotel facility is part of phase two of the project and is slated to open by end of 2009.
Although not yet complete, West Sands has already been awarded a Lighthouse Club Green Development Award for its environmentally friendly design, which includes solar energy, superior insulation, biodegradable refuse plants, hydrothermic air-conditioning and hot water systems.