New logo heralds start of renovations at Hard Rock Hotel

Hard Rock Cafe Manager Matthew Carley (left) and Hard Rock Pattaya Marketing Promotions manager Fern (right) show off the new logo on a baht bus.

Pratchaya Kerdthong

A new logo will presage a new overall look at Pattaya’s Hard Rock Hotel, which is embarking on a resort-wide renovation.

Hard Rock General Manager Jorge Carlos Smith unveiled the new logo and its tag line, “See the Show Pattaya” Feb. 10. Plans call for the logo to adorn new advertising on a number of baht buses around the area.

The 20-month program marks the most extensive work in the hotel’s history, starting with guest room accommodation, which is estimated to complete by end of 2011, followed by upgrading works in public areas, hotel entrance, reception, lobby, bar, restaurants and eventually the poolside area. This comprehensive renovation project is scheduled to complete by mid 2012.

Hard Rock Cafe Manager Matthew Carley added that remodeling the restaurant will be done in sections, moving from one corner to the next.

In its typical light-hearted style, the hotel debuted the logo with hotel staff members impersonating Michael Jackson posing for photos on a baht bus.

Koh Samui air access hits hotel performance

Koh Samui’s four-year hotel building boom is threatening to undermine the destinationโ€?s long-term success, as supply outstrips a demand hamstrung by severely limited air access, according to a report released today by hospitality consulting firm C9 Hotelworks.

Samui Hotel Market Update 2010 reveals that oversupply and limited access heavily impacted last year’s operating performance for hotels on the island, with marked declines in occupancy (seven percent), average room rates (15 percent) and RevPAR (26 percent) compared to 2009.

C9 Hotelworks managing director Bill Barnett explained: “Private sector development in the hospitality sector has surged well ahead of transportation infrastructure improvements, which has caused the market to go into a tailspin.”

Located in an international flight corridor requiring low landing levels, coupled with environmental restrictions allowing only 36 flights a day and a runway length unable to handle larger aircraft, the long-term potential of the destination is effectively capped, especially with no airport expansion or relocation plans in the pipeline.

Comparing the destination to the more developed markets of Phuket and Bali, Barnett added that what was clearly missing in Koh Samui were high-demand generators such as regional low-cost carriers and charter flights. (TTG Asia)