Explorar Hotels & Resorts announced its expansion into the popular island destination of Koh Samui and the cultural island experience of Koh Phangan.
The expansion is part of the hotel group’s ongoing rapid growth strategy in Asia and paves the way for one of the region’s fastest-growing hotel brands based in Thailand.
Explorar Koh Samui features 125 beachfront rooms, suites, and pool villas, located in the vibrant backdrop of Mae Nam Beach in Bo Phut, home to one of Samui’s most stunning sea views and the famed Fisherman’s Village. The resort features an incredible infinity pool that overlooks the sea with a swim-up bar, The Market, an all-day dining restaurant that focuses on being local, authentic and healthy, with fun lively events, festivals and market nights for guests.
Explorar Koh Phangan is situated on the golden sands of Haad Rin Nai Beach and offers 75 contemporary guest rooms, suites and villas, with a mixture of sea views and lush gardens with terraces or balcony. Regional cuisine sourced from local farmers, fishermen and markets at The Market, vibrant events throughout the year aligned with the popular Full Moon party, with one of Thailand’s most ‘Instagramable’ sunset vistas at the guests’ doorstep. Both properties will focus on a peaceful escape with an adult-only (16+) environment.
Unique to the Explorar Hotels & Resorts brand is ‘The Exchange’, a social co-working space for the digital nomad, with fast connectivity, charging facilities and premium Starbucks Coffee. The Exchange also serve as a vibrant meeting place to exchange information, quickly grab something to eat, a local snack or something more, and to talk about tales of adventures over a cocktail or local brew with other guests or one of Explorars’ crew members during the ‘social hour’.
“This continued growth and exciting development shows that Explorar Hotels & Resorts ‘experience-driven’ and ‘social travel’ ethos are gaining momentum in this new travel era. We’re thrilled to open both Explorar Koh Samui and Explorar Koh Phangan in the coming months. We are excited in the positive interest we are receiving for growth in the South East Asia region.” Explains Niels Huby, Co-Founder & Head of Development Explorar Hotels & Resorts.
Tim Sargeant, Co-Founder & CMO Explorar Hotels & Resorts, looks forward to creating an online buzz among travellers with Explorar’s unique online community forum called ‘The Exchange’. “Social travellers seek to share their experiences with others. We took this opportunity to develop The Exchange Community. This online forum features on our website where guests can post and share their stories about the best places to find local shops, excursions or ‘off the beating track’ experiences so that researching guests can plan their trips even before arriving. Tim explains.
He further adds that targeting the millennial traveller via strong social media presence is key to the success of both new Explorar locations, “we know that 75% of millennials want to travel abroad versus 50% of other generations, US millennials take approximately 5.6 trips per year versus 4.0 for Gen X, 4.4 for Gen Z, and 3.5 for boomers. Our Marketing team’s key focus is to communicate with this demographic using the channels they trust and imbibe in the latest travel trends.
“We are very excited to join the Explorar Hotels & Resorts brand and bring two exciting hotel properties back to life in Koh Samui and Koh Phangan; both islands are incredibly unique, raw and experience driven destinations, a perfect fit and pairing to the brand.” Gordon Oldham, Owner Explorar Koh Samui, Explorar Koh Phangan.
These exciting signings join Explorar Treehouses El Nido, designed by Underwood Art Factory’s award-winning design team. An experience like no other awaits where design meets nature with spectacular treehouses with private pools set in the lush tropical forest of El Nido, Palawan Island in the Philippines.
Explorar Hotels & Resorts’ management team continues the group’s growth by strategically establishing hotels in key destinations throughout Asia, Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean regions, offering four destination-based themes and unique experiences. Beach, eco, cultural and urban unite the brand and offer the social traveller clear choices for their individual experience.
