THAILAND TRAVEL NEWS: Swiss based hotel management group, Golden Tulip Hotels, will take over the management of The Mangosteen Resort & Spa in Phuket commencing February 1 of next year.

Owned by Starwood Capital Group, the investment firm behind brands such as Westin, Sheraton, W Hotels & Le Méridien, the boutique Rawai resort will be renamed the ‘Golden Tulip Mangosteen Resort and Spa’ as part of the agreement.

The Golden Tulip Mangosteen Resort and Spa will be the Swiss groups first venture in Thailand, with the groups managing director for Southeast Asia, Mark van Ogtrop, saying the new management saw a new direction for the property.

“We hope to reposition The Mangosteen as a unique Ayurveeda destination offering very special Ayurveeda treatments to our guests for ultimate relaxation”, he said.

The five-year-old villa-style resort is built on a private hillside overlooking Chalong Bay and includes an extra-large swimming pool, a spa and an underground wine cellar.

The Golden Tulip group manages more than 780 hotels offering over 75,000 in more than 50 countries.

By John Le Fevre

Thailand Travel News for December 26, 2009