Residents and regular visitors to Pattaya over the past few years will have no doubt noticed the changing shape of the Naklua/Wongamat peninsula as the area undergoes something of a relative transformation, with a spate of luxury resorts and condominium developments now dotting the north Pattaya skyline.
One building which has risen rather unheralded, but with its unique design and helicopter pad on the top floor has also drawn many admiring glances, now occupies just about the premier location in the area and is the soon to be opened five-star Cape Dara Resort.
An artist’s render shows the completed Cape Dara Resort.
Built with a budget of over 1 billion baht and based on drawings from the IQ Design Company and the owner’s personal vision, this standout property rises 26 stories at its highest point and incorporates three separate buildings that aim to provide guests with the ultimate in both luxurious accommodation and services.
Standing on 4.8 rai of prime real estate on the scenic promontory of Cape Dara Beach (“Dara” stands for stars) at the end of the peaceful Soi 20, Pattaya-Naklua Road, the Cape Dara Resort promises to offer unparalleled views of Pattaya Bay and the nearby islands to its guests from the 264 staterooms, duplexes and VIP suites, all tastefully decorated in earth tones and teak wood furnishings. The corner Dara Deluxe rooms even offer outstanding vistas from the designer bathtubs in each unit.
The main entrance lobby.
A separate 5-storey building will encompass some of the all-day dining facilities and three floors of beach rooms which provide private terrace jacuzzis and three meter plunge pools, plus direct access to the beach from the ground floor.
For the ultimate in luxury the three-storey Top Star suites will offer five oversized bedrooms, private pool and deck, dining and living rooms, and beach access.
The project comes from the Connor Co. Ltd., which is a subsidiary of the Mekavarakul family business group, and has been four years in the making from initial design and concept to construction, which started a little over two years ago. The resort is expected to be ready to receive its first guests by Spring 2012.
Cape Dara Resort will be privately managed without any major branding affiliation as the owners and hand-picked management feel they can offer more exclusivity and a higher standard of service to their guests by keeping everything in-house.
Overseeing the administration of the resort will be Philippe Delaloye, no stranger to the hospitality industry in Thailand, who will bring his vast experience of running luxury resorts to bear on this exciting new addition to the Pattaya and Thailand hotel market.
Philippe Delaloye – General Manager Cape Dara Resort.
“All our major competitors are branded hotel chains so it will be a challenge, but there are some top rated independently run hotels in Thailand, including Pattaya, for example the Royal Cliff Group, that shows it can be done,” said Philippe during an exclusive interview to our Pattaya Mail reporters.
“It’s good to have the major brands here as they are adding to the prestige of Pattaya, but we have taken into account the rates charged by our close friends in the area and have set our prices to be competitive with those, whilst at the same time knowing that in many cases the rooms we offer will be superior in terms of facilities and especially the views,” Philippe added.
The Cape Dara Resort will offer a full list of business facilities including an executive club lounge, conference and boardrooms, free WiFi throughout the building and a spacious ballroom that can be utilized for large meetings and conferences.
Dining options include the 24th floor ‘Sphere’ lounge, the ‘Mellow’ café and patisserie in the main lobby, all day dining with sea views at the Radius, and ‘Ming Xing’ Chinese restaurant.
Guests can also relax at the Twinkle or Walala pools with swim up bar or be pampered at the ‘Luminous Spa’.
The main tower building will operate 11 elevators and a state of the art air-conditioning system, as well as incorporating many energy-saving and safety features. A total of 80 CCTV cameras will provide additional security and peace of mind for guests.
The hotel ballroom.
With its prime location and accent on 5 star services and accommodation, the Cape Dara Resort promises to add significant kudos to the already growing reputation of Pattaya’s luxury hotel and resort options and we look forward to visiting them again to provide you with an update in the near future.
