Shreya Shimpi
How has the year 2024 been for your property in terms of occupancy and ARR?
2024 was our best year so far in which the hotel performed exceptionally well since it opened 15 years ago. The revenues have increased by almost 55 per cent compared to pre-Covid time. The ARR has also substantially increased. With markets opening up, increased flight connectivity, increasing wealth, people becoming more aspirational and travellers seeking more experiences, there is a dearth of good quality hospitality and hotels. Phulay Bay steps into the space providing exceptional and transformative services.
What is the USP of the property?
Phulay Bay is the first Ritz Carlton Reserve. The rooms are extremely spacious with an area of 180 sqm. Every room is a unique product with a unique story to tell. We have Lana paintings in the rooms with double King beds, which are the largest beds that our guests will see anywhere in the world. There are around 700 hand-painted Lana wall panels.
Every guest is assigned a ‘Ton Hong’ which means a ‘Royal Butler’ in Thailand. They are well-trained and intuitive in providing personalised bespoke experiences. Every guest who comes in is welcomed with an arrival ceremony. The guest comes in, meets the Ton Hong and the management and we take care of the guest from there. There is also a departure ceremony when the guest leaves. There is no reception or concierge like a regular hotel. Everything is done through the Ton Hong who is like a magician. The success of Phulay Bay lies in the fact that every guest who leaves, wants to come back.
How strong is your food & beverage segment?
There are 54 villas with four restaurants and a bar. We have 11 different menus catering to different palates. Our big focus is on the Indian market so we have an Indian menu as well at all outlets. One of the things we started this year is a 24-hour breakfast experience. Catering to an Indian audience, we also have an Indian breakfast menu that is available any time.
What are the upcoming developments?
We are working on enhancing wellness space with a new Wellness program which is structured around three pillars: The Buddhist Traditions of Thailand, the Indian Yoga Philosophy and Contemporary Holistic Wellness. Each of the pillars are supported by its own individual program, including visiting practitioners as well our Resident Yogi, Khun Himani.
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