New resort delves deep into cultural and environmental essence of Phuket

PHUKET, Thailand – Leading boutique hospitality company, MANATHAI Hotels & Resorts, has raised the bar in hotel design with the opening of its new resort in hip Surin Beach in the southern Thai tropical island of Phuket.

In an industry where it seems that it has all been done before, MANATHAI Surin has found inspiration through a deep dive into the art and culture of Phuket to bring a new relevance and interpretation to the guest experience in the destination.

The result is a captivating journey into the Sino Portugese origins of the island, reimagining a history and heritage by offering a fresh new design palate of colours, themes and styles The highlight however is the oversized bird cage in the lobby which is an key example of how the designers linked age-old hobbies with customs still very much alive today — attractive bird cages can be found outside many local Phuket homes.

“It is an extraordinary experience and we are honestly delighted with the results,” said MANATHAI Surin Phuket’s General Manager Rudrojit Deb. “One of MANATHAI Hotels & Resorts’ core philosophies is to give its resorts a sense of place so guests can feel and experience the destination in the resort. They can certainly feel intimately connected here.”

MANATHAI Hotels & Resorts selected local Thai design firm CDG for the work, offering a brief that challenged as well as excited the CDG team due to the research and attention to detail that was required.

“We started in Old Phuket Town,” said CDG Design Lead Sopit Sucharitkul. “That was the beginning of an expedition into the past that was at once fascinating and enlightening as we worked to bring the culture and natural beauty of Phuket together.”

The end result is a design that brings key motifs such as the Pateh Sarong to the fore, unearthing a rich vibrancy of color and blending with shadow puppet play techniques bringing shade and shadow mood and tones to the interiors.

The highlight however is the oversized bird cage in the lobby which in a key characteristic linking age old hobbies with those of today as attractive bird cages are still found outside many local homes in Phuket. A distinct Thai thread travels through the materials from teak timber, colorful fabrics and ancient tile patterns.

In other Thai touches, lotus ponds grace the resorts’ pool and outer areas, which are enclosed by three-meter high hedges, around which rooms have direct pool access. Cuisine features prominently in the experience for all guests. The pool bar offers light fare while signature restaurant Pad Thai features the iconic Thai dish and a range of other traditional dishes cooked with authentic precision. Pad Thai is an all day dining restaurant in the day and a specialty Thai experience for dinner.