Amanresorts
Encyclopedia
Amanresorts is a small luxury hotel group, located in 15 countries around the world. The word "Aman" is Urdu for "peace." It is owned by DLF Limited, India's largest real estate company.
in 1988, Amanresorts came into being when Zecha was looking for a holiday home in Phuket. He discovered the ideal location – a coconut plantation with no other developments in sight – when wandering along Pansea Beach on the island’s west coast. Plans to build a home on the site soon developed into an idea to build a small boutique resort in partnership with Anil Thadani and two other friends. They invested their own money in the venture as no banks would lend for the project due to the small number of planned rooms. At this time resorts usually featured 500 rooms or more, and the boutique hotel concept was still in its infancy.
Amanpuri
(Place of Peace) opened in January 1988 with 40 rooms and 30 private villas. From the positive response to this project, now Amanresorts’ flagship property, Zecha was encouraged to develop more resorts employing the same concept. While initially the resorts were concentrated in Asia (now including properties in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, French Polynesia, India, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand), over the last two decades the group has also opened resorts in France, Morocco, Montenegro, the Turks & Caicos Islands and the United States.
Growth continued apace until 1998 when due to circumstances unrelated to Amanresorts, Vaturi’s controlling interest fell into the hands of Los Angeles-based Colony Capital, a real estate investment fund. A lawsuit between Vaturi and Colony Capital promised to drag on, putting on hold Zecha's plans to continue the expansion of Amanresorts indefinitely. Zecha therefore resigned from his position at Amanresorts and for the next two years pursued other interests.
In late 2000 Colony Capital and Vaturi had settled their lawsuit and Vaturi sold his shareholding onto Lee Hing Development, a Hong Kong investment company. With controlling investors who he felt shared his vision once again, Zecha returned as chairman and CEO.
Over the next seven years, Amanresorts launched retreats in Cambodia, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. On 27 November 2007, DLF Limited, India's largest real estate company, acquired Lee Hing’s controlling stake in Amanresorts for $400 million.
Since its establishment, Amanresorts have been highly rated since its establishment by Condé Nast Traveler
, Zagat Survey, Gallivanter's Guide, Harper's Hideaway" and Travel & Leisure.
35% of Aman patrons originate from Europe, another 33% from Asia-Pacific, 30% from the Americas and 2% from the rest of the world.
Some resorts also have villas at the owners option these can be marketed developed by the company for exclusive rental and/or purchase. Such villas are available at Amanpuri in Thailand, Amanyara in the Turks & Caicos Islands, Amangani and Amangiri in the USA, Amanpulo in the Philippines and Amandari in Bali, for example.
, and Jean-Michel Gathy.
History
Founded by Adrian ZechaAdrian Zecha
Adrian Zecha is an Indonesian hotelier who is best known as the co-founder of Regent International Hotels and founder of Aman Resorts.-History:...
in 1988, Amanresorts came into being when Zecha was looking for a holiday home in Phuket. He discovered the ideal location – a coconut plantation with no other developments in sight – when wandering along Pansea Beach on the island’s west coast. Plans to build a home on the site soon developed into an idea to build a small boutique resort in partnership with Anil Thadani and two other friends. They invested their own money in the venture as no banks would lend for the project due to the small number of planned rooms. At this time resorts usually featured 500 rooms or more, and the boutique hotel concept was still in its infancy.
Amanpuri
Amanpuri
Amanpuri is a luxury resort located on Pansea Beach on the west coast of the island of Phuket in Thailand. The resort is owned by Amanresorts. Amanpuri means "place of peace" in Sanskrit.-History:...
(Place of Peace) opened in January 1988 with 40 rooms and 30 private villas. From the positive response to this project, now Amanresorts’ flagship property, Zecha was encouraged to develop more resorts employing the same concept. While initially the resorts were concentrated in Asia (now including properties in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, French Polynesia, India, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand), over the last two decades the group has also opened resorts in France, Morocco, Montenegro, the Turks & Caicos Islands and the United States.
Business
Amanresorts is owned by a holding company called Silverlink Holdings Limited. By 1992, the group had expanded to include several resorts in Indonesia, a resort on Bora Bora and one in the Alpine village of Courchevel 1850. In 1993, Clement Vaturi an old friend whose family controlled Hôtelière Immobilière (a Paris-listed public company) acquired 54% of the company and injected new capital.Growth continued apace until 1998 when due to circumstances unrelated to Amanresorts, Vaturi’s controlling interest fell into the hands of Los Angeles-based Colony Capital, a real estate investment fund. A lawsuit between Vaturi and Colony Capital promised to drag on, putting on hold Zecha's plans to continue the expansion of Amanresorts indefinitely. Zecha therefore resigned from his position at Amanresorts and for the next two years pursued other interests.
In late 2000 Colony Capital and Vaturi had settled their lawsuit and Vaturi sold his shareholding onto Lee Hing Development, a Hong Kong investment company. With controlling investors who he felt shared his vision once again, Zecha returned as chairman and CEO.
Over the next seven years, Amanresorts launched retreats in Cambodia, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. On 27 November 2007, DLF Limited, India's largest real estate company, acquired Lee Hing’s controlling stake in Amanresorts for $400 million.
Since its establishment, Amanresorts have been highly rated since its establishment by Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler is a US magazine published by Condé Nast. It has its origins in a mailing sent out by the Diners Club club beginning in 1953, listing locations that would take the card. It began taking advertising in 1955. In order to attract more advertisers, it became a full-fledged magazine,...
, Zagat Survey, Gallivanter's Guide, Harper's Hideaway" and Travel & Leisure.
35% of Aman patrons originate from Europe, another 33% from Asia-Pacific, 30% from the Americas and 2% from the rest of the world.
The resorts
Every Aman resort is unique, not only in its location, but in its design, mood and guest experience. Each is characterized by a small number of rooms (typically less than 55) and minimalist architecture designed to complement the resort’s natural and cultural setting. Indigenous building materials and techniques are used as much as possible to reflect the culture and country in which the resort is located. Also characteristic is a high staff count (typically four staff to one guest) and the absence of a reception desk, a lobby or bellboys. Aman resorts are designed to create the impression that guests are staying in a private residence. Guest accommodation is typically provided in individual private villas, bungalows or tents (in the case of Aman-i-Khás in India and Amanwana in Indonesia), often featuring private pools and outdoor lounging and dining areas. When Amanpuri opened in 1988, the combination of these features was groundbreaking in the luxury accommodation industry.Followers
The term "Amanjunkies" has been coined within the accommodation industry to refer to Amanresorts’ repeat customers.Some resorts also have villas at the owners option these can be marketed developed by the company for exclusive rental and/or purchase. Such villas are available at Amanpuri in Thailand, Amanyara in the Turks & Caicos Islands, Amangani and Amangiri in the USA, Amanpulo in the Philippines and Amandari in Bali, for example.
Architects
Among the architects who have designed Amanresorts are Ed Tuttle, Kerry HillKerry Hill
Kerry Hill is an architect who has specialised in hotel design in tropical Asia.He studied at Perth Technical College and the University of Western Australia graduating in 1968. He worked for Howlett & Bailey in Perth from 1969 to 1971...
, and Jean-Michel Gathy.
Locations
As of 2010 the group operates the following resorts (in order of opening):- AmanpuriAmanpuriAmanpuri is a luxury resort located on Pansea Beach on the west coast of the island of Phuket in Thailand. The resort is owned by Amanresorts. Amanpuri means "place of peace" in Sanskrit.-History:...
. Located on the island of PhuketPhuket CityPhuket is a city located in the southeast of Phuket Island, Thailand. It is the capital of the Phuket Province, covering all of the island. As of 2007 the city has a population of 75,573 people...
, ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. Designed by Ed Tuttle (1988).
- Amandari. Located at Kedewatan on the outskirts of Ubud, on the island of BaliBaliBali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
in Indonesia. Designed by Peter Muller (1989).
- Hotel Bora Bora. Located on Bora Bora in French PolynesiaFrench PolynesiaFrench Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
and currently undergoing renovation (1989).
- Le Mélézin. Located in CourchevelCourchevelCourchevel is the name of a ski resort located in the commune of Saint-Bon-Tarentaise in the French Alps, in the Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, Rhône-Alpes region. It is a part of Les Trois Vallées, the largest linked ski area in the world...
1850, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Designed by Ed Tuttle (1992).
- Amanusa. Located at Nusa Dua on the island of BaliBaliBali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
in IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Designed by Kerry Hill, interiors by Dale Keller (1992).
- AmankilaAmankilaAmankila is a luxury coastal hotel situated on the green hill of Indrakila, near Manggis in Karangasem Regency in eastern Bali, Indonesia...
. Located near Manggis on the island of Bali in Indonesia. Designed by Ed Tuttle (1992).
- Amanwana. Located on Moyo IslandMoyo IslandMoyo is an island in Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara province. It is off the north coast Sumbawa Island, and has an area of 349 km2....
, at the western end of Indonesia's Nusa Tenggara archipelago. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy (1993).
- Amanpulo. Located on the island of PamalicanPamalicanPamalican Island is a small island of the Cuyo Islands in the Sulu Sea, between Palawan and Panay, in the north part of the Palawan Province of the Philippines. The island is set in the middle of a 7 square-kilometer coral reef...
in the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Designed by Bobby Manosa (1993).
- AmanjiwoAmanjiwoAmanjiwo is a luxury hotel in the Menoreh Hills near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. It lies opposite the 9th century Buddhist sanctuary and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Borobudur. It is operated by Aman Resorts and was opened in 1997...
. Located in Central JavaJavaJava is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, Indonesia. Designed by Ed Tuttle (1997).
- Amangani. Located at East Gros Ventre Butte near Jackson HoleJackson HoleJackson Hole, originally called Jackson's Hole, is a valley located in the U.S. state of Wyoming, near the western border with Idaho. The name "hole" derives from language used by early trappers or mountain men, who primarily entered the valley from the north and east and had to descend along...
in USAUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Designed by Ed Tuttle. The resort opened in 1998.
- Amanjena. 36 rooms. Located on Route de Ouarzazate on the outskirts of Marrakech in MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. Designed by Ed Tuttle (1998).
- Amansara. Located in Siem Riep, CambodiaCambodiaCambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. Designed by Kerry Hill (2004).
- Aman-i-Khás, Located in RajasthanRajasthanRājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy (2003).
- Amankora. Consists of five lodges in BhutanBhutanBhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. Designed by Kerry HillKerry HillKerry Hill is an architect who has specialised in hotel design in tropical Asia.He studied at Perth Technical College and the University of Western Australia graduating in 1968. He worked for Howlett & Bailey in Perth from 1969 to 1971...
(2004).
- Amanbagh. Located in RajasthanRajasthanRājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, India. Designed by Ed Tuttle. The resort opened in 2005.
- Amangalla. Located in GalleGalleGalle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Interiors designed by Kerry Hill (2005)
- Amanwella. Located near the village of Tangalle on Sri Lanka’s south coast. Designed by Kerry Hill (2005).
- Amanyara. Located on Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy. (2006)
- Aman at Summer Palace. Located in BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China. Technical assistance by Jean-Michel Gathy and interiors designed by Jaya Ibrahim. (2008).
- Villa Miločer. Phase one of Aman Sveti Stefan, located on the coast of MontenegroMontenegroMontenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy (2008.)
- Aman New Delhi. Located on Lodhi RoadLodhi RoadLodhi Road in New Delhi, India, is named after the Lodhi Gardens located on it. Two Mughal mausoleums, Humayun's Tomb and Safdarjung's Tomb, lie at the eastern and western ends of the road respectively. A number of cultural, educational, and international institutions line the road...
in New DelhiNew DelhiNew Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Designed by Kerry Hill (2009). - was previously the government-owned Lodhi Hotel
- Amantaka. Located in Luang PrabangLuang PrabangLuang Prabang, or Louangphrabang , is a city located in north central Laos, where the Nam Khan river meets the Mekong River about north of Vientiane. It is the capital of Luang Prabang Province...
, LaosLaosLaos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
. (2009)
- Amangiri. Located in Utah’s Four Corners Region, the USA. (2009)
- Amanfayun. Located in HangzhouHangzhouHangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Interiors designed by Jaya Ibrahim (2010)