A Thai-German couple have built a stunning hotel and spa on the summit of a hill in Phuket. Hajo and Kewalee von Keller obviously took their dreams seriously when building the Mangosteen Resort & Spa. They have spent some Bt200 million to create 40 beautiful and cosy rooms on 13 rai, together with an infinity pool, a spa, a fitness centre and a sizeable wine cellar. Many people share a dream of having a resort of their own but few actually realise their vision. Originally from Munich, Hajo von Keller went to Thailand eight years ago for his import-export business. A few months after his arrival came the 1997 financial crisis, forcing him to struggle for the survival of his business. Eventually he sold it to his best customers and looked for a new opportunity. “It started off with a dream to have my own resort in Phuket,” says Hajo.

He and his Thai wife Kewalee, or ‘Ant’, looked around Phuket’s every beach and many hills. They even went further to Khao Lak in search of their dream site. Finally Hajo was urged by his real estate agent to walk up a bushy hill in Rawai. As he reached the hilltop and beheld the breathtaking sea view, Hajo decided that this was definitely the place. Construction started on the resort in the middle of 2002 and finished November 2003. The couple came to inspect everything at the site every single day. In cooperation with a Swiss architect, they got ideas for villa suites with oriental-style roofs, spacious rooms with big windows, rich fabrics, light wood, a private jacuzzi room big enough for a party and an MP3 player and flat screen in every room. Each suite has mellow lighting and is split into two areas, with plush sofas and a king-size bed. White mosquito nets dangle from the ceiling.

The style appeals to an upmarket crowd who love the compromise between oriental charm and urban modernity. Hajo and Ant are glad their guests don’t mind being amid the hills of Phuket. “The unique hilltop location seems to be the key to our charm,” says Hajo. From their balcony, guests enjoy a view of four bays in southern Phuket and even the outline of the Phi Phi Islands on a sunny day.The resort’s renowned spa plays its part in the relaxation process, with a wide choice of treatments and qualified therapists. The Mangosteen Restaurant is famous for Mediterranean specialties by a Spanish chef. A real treat was a surprise plate of collinelli, with a fine selection of wine to go with it. Guests at the Mangosteen stroll along happily, especially city couples who find it reminiscent of a honeymoon destination.

They can take a free shuttle bus to Nai Harn beach every hour during the day or swim in the pool all night. “When the resort was ready to open, SARS broke out in Asia. So we had a terrible time at the beginning,” says Hajo. But he reports that last year seemed to be brighter for Phuket tourism, and his resort has gained a nice mix of guests, both Asian and European. After spending eight years in Thailand, this German businessman is now a professional hotelier. “As I started from zero, I learned a lot in this business, and I’m getting to love it,” he says. Next year an extension of 24 suites will be built on an adjacent plot to cater for long-stay guests, says Hajo, adding that this holiday home project leaves him and his family with no time off for some years to come. “Looking back from when we first came and this was just a bushy hill to what it looks like now, we feel really proud of ourselves,” says Kewalee ‘Ant’ von Keller with a big smile.

Contacts...

The Mangosteen Resort & Spa 99/4 Moo 7, Soi Mangosteen Phuket THAILAND 83100 Phone: +66 76 289399 Fax: +66 76 289389 Email: info@mangosteen-phuket.com www.mangosteen-phuket.com Australian Office: Hotel Representation Australia (HRA) Phone: (02) 9403 7774 Fax: (02) 9403 7776 Email: admin@hotelrepresentationaustralia.com.au www.hotelrepresentationaustralia.com.au