GROUP PLANS MORE HOTELS IN BANGKOK AND PHUKET

       Ritz-Carlton plan to manage at least three more luxury hotels in Thailand - one in Phuket by 2013 and two in Bangkok by 2015.
       "We are negotiating with developers to open more hotels in Thailand," Mark DeCocinis, regional vice president for Asia-Pacific, said yesterday.
       The market here has potential to grow, particularly at the high end, he said.
       The Phuket property will be under the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Hotel brand.
       In Bangkok, one Ritz-Carlton Hotel will be located on the Chao Phya River and the other in the city centre.
       The group will soon open its first residence in a prime Bangkok area, the Sathorn-Chong Nonsee intersection.
       "The group expects that tourism will rebound next year. The opening of new hotels here will help us to tap that growth," he said.
       The group plans to increase its hotels in Asia from 35 per cent of the total at present to 45 per cent in the future.
       The group will open its first hotel in Thailand, the Phulay Bay-A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, on December 22.
       The Singha Beer and beverage producer, the Bhirombakdi family, owns and developed the property at a cost of Bt3 billion.
       Estelita Sebeto, hotel general manager, said Ritz-Carlton is world famous for its luxury hotels, resorts and residences. The Reserve is the first brand to serve international high-end travellers.
       The opening rates range from Bt19,550-Bt68,000, subject to 18.7-per-cent service charge and tax.
       The published prices will be Bt100,000-Bt300,000 per night.
       Ritz-Carlton operates 73 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean.
       More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe with future openings including the Dubai International Financial Centre in the United Arab Emirates, Dove Mountain in Tucson, Arizona, and Lake Tahoe in California.

       "The group plans to increase its hotel in Asia from 35 per cent of the total at present to 45 per cent in future. It will open its first hotel in Thailand, the Phulay Bay-A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, on December 22.