Meliá Hotels & Resorts‘ first property in Thailand has opened on the beach-fringed island of Koh Samui.

Owned by Asset World Corporation (AWC), Meliá Koh Samui is located on Choeng Mon Beach, just 15 minutes from Samui International Airport. The seafront property, which opened January 10th, has 159 rooms and 41 suites. It also has seven multi-functional meeting rooms including a room with a unique beachfront view and a ballroom that can accommodate up to 200 guests as well as outdoor poolside and beachfront function spaces that were used recently to host a gala dinner for 500 guests.

Other facilities include:

• two restaurants;
• an executive lounge;
• beach club;
• two outdoor swimming pools, including a large lagoon pool that looks like a river through the resort’s tropical gardens;
• swim-up bar:
• YHI Spa;
• fitness centre;
• and for families, a kids’ club, outdoor playground and a mini water park.

Embodying AWC’s belief in “building a better future” and Meliá Hotels International’s efforts to improve lives in disadvantaged communities across Thailand, Meliá Koh Samui also houses The Gallery, a not-for-profit social enterprise of art and design gift shops under the aegis of the Asset World Foundation for Charity, which embraces socially responsible practices to contribute to society and communities.

The shop gives guests the opportunity to be part of supporting the local communities with all profits contributing to further artistic endeavours, as well as preserving and promoting local culture and areas in need. Meliá Hotels International has been recently acknowledged as the Most Sustainable Hotel Company worldwide, by the SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment.

“We are thrilled to partner with Meliá Hotels International and to introduce the Meliá Hotels & Resorts brand to Thailand for the first time. With its stunning seafront setting Meliá Koh Samui aims to offer a truly unique experience. As the hotel boasts the first lagoon pool and the largest swimming pool in Koh Samui, along with a creative combination of hydrotherapy facilities like jacuzzi, water massage and rooms with direct pool access, guests will find themselves relishing in the soothing fascination of water features. The hotel also offers a unique experience for guests who will be able to stay in suites fashioned after boats. These unique settings will enable them to enjoy a fun-filled and peaceful vacation in a serene atmosphere,” said Khun Wallapa Traisorat, Meliá Koh Samui’s owner, CEO and president of AWC. “This landmark project will mark the start of a strategic roll-out of the Meliá brand in Thailand, in line with AWC’s growth-led strategy. Together, we aim to build a better future for Thailand’s hospitality landscape and economy, and partnering with Meliá will allow us to set a new benchmark for Thai hospitality and drive global demand.”

“Today is a ground-breaking moment for Meliá Hotels International, as we celebrate our first hotel opening in Thailand—an extraordinary country and a strategic market for a leading global resort brand like ours,” said Gabriel Escarrer, executive vice-chairman and CEO, Meliá Hotels International, at the resort’s opening ceremony. “After more than 30 years of successful operations in Asia, we signed a strategic framework agreement with Asset World Corporation, we believe the opening of Meliá Koh Samui is the beginning of our expansion in Thailand, bringing our dream of establishing and growing in this country alongside a major local partner to fruition; a partner that understands, and shares, our strong service and hospitality philosophy, a fundamental factor for ensuring the quality, reputation, and sustainability that we wish for Meliá Koh Samui.”

In addition to Meliá Koh Samui, two more Meliá brand hotels are slated to open in Thailand: INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit and a hotel in Chiang Mai in partnership with AWC.