Phuket offers a perfect blend of business and leisure, boasting easily accessible locations, stunning beaches, a wide range of hotels, exceptional event venues, a vibrant food scene, local expertise, and a commitment to sustainability, making it an ideal destination for events.
Phuket is known for its powdery white sandy beaches, offshore islands, delicious Thai food and great hotels and it’s a combination of these things that generates strong attendance for events held on the island. If you want to make sure everyone shows up to your next event, then stage your event in Phuket… Where business meets beach. And here are 7 reasons why Phuket is the perfect destination for events:
- Easily Accessible – Location, location, location. You can’t meet there if you can’t get there, and Phuket ticks all the boxes with robust direct international airlift, regional connectivity and is an attractive add-on for Bangkok events. Leading tourism expert Bill Barnett of C9 Hotelworks says “Phuket’s strategic geographic location and the rise of Thailand as one of the world’s major tourism destinations have helped drive the event sector. Within close proximity to Asia’s leading financial markets, Hong Kong and Singapore, Phuket is a winner with regional corporate meeting planners, as well as longhaul attendees coming from Europe, North America, Australia and the Middle East.”
- Great beaches – Kris Srisatin, Founder & Managing Director of Steam Events Asia recommends “Business event programmes in Phuket should aim to include downtime exploring some of the best beaches and offshore activities to the nearby islands. Phuket has some of the best beaches in Asia if not the world. Phuket is very unique in that there are in excess of 20 high-quality beaches to visit in a relatively compact area and there are stunning offshore islands to visit during a day cruise.”
- Choice of hotels. Bjorn Courage, President of Phuket Hotels Association says; “You’re spoilt for choice with a wide choice of hotels from international branded to local heritage, from beachfront to cultural charming Phuket Town, from large size to medium size, from luxury to midscale, and all within easy reach from airport, marinas and major attractions. Whatever a meeting planner might be looking for, Phuket hotels will for sure meet & exceed the expectation”
- Event venues are plentiful – Although mainly famous for its beaches and nearby islands, Phuket is much more than sea and sun. Sumate Sudasna, President of Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) says “Privileged with impressive hotel spaces, renowned restaurants, landmarks and luxury private venues, Phuket is a destination blessed with exceptional event spaces. The island has a truly wide array of venue options for every style, preference and budget. Backed up by creative themes, high-tech audio visual production and experienced staff, in Phuket you’re sure to find a venue that ticks all the boxes for your next event.”
- Food – Singing the praises of Phuket’s dining scene is Sumi Soorian, Restaurant and Bar Consultant. Sumi says “Food glorious food! Other than stunning beaches and friendly locals, there is the one thing most people agree on – one of Phuket’s big attractions is its food scene. Designated as a Gastronomic City by UNESCO, the island serves up delicious street food to Michelin starred restaurants and everything in between, so international delegates will always find something to their taste.”
- Local expertise. Claude Sauter, General Manager of The Slate assures “Phuket’s soft power with talented people is our strength. Phuket’s events industry and its people have a reputation for being warm, welcoming and willing to help. This ‘can-do’ attitude is present in our events planners who take pride in going above and beyond to nail the brief, and in our hospitality staff who are passionate about their line of work and deliver service with a smile.”
- Sustainability – On the checklist for most event planners, Sustainability is at the forefront of action in Phuket. Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, President, Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation (STDF) commented that “To meet the growing urge to give back to the destinations we visit, and operate low-carbon footprint events, Phuket’s tourism industry provides event planners and participants with the opportunity to leave a lasting impact.” He added “Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can take many forms from turtle releases, tree planting and beach clean-ups. And for socially responsible culinary experiences, where sustainability is on the menu with locally sourced produced, Phuket is committed to operating sustainable events that contribute to the environment and local community.”
David Barrett is a MICE Consultant, Marketing Strategist and digital video advocate. Founder of DBC Group, Member of Institute of Place Management (MIMP) his motto is “Everybody has a story to tell. Let me tell yours.”
David is a long-term resident of Bangkok having lived and worked in the Thai capital for more than 32 years. He is recognised in the Thai tourism and hospitality industry for his passion for promoting Thailand, his love of Thai food, and his creative approach to marketing.
64 years young, David is a Brit in Bangkok. Born in St Helier, UK, he returned to the UK and set up home in Cornwall during the COVID pandemic. With business back as usual, David has returned to Thailand. He’s a man on a mission to interview leaders and trend-setters in business, sustainability, the arts and entertainment. You can watch his weekly conversations on Trends YouTube channel.