- Amanresorts
Aman resorts is a chain of
luxury resort s, primarily found in Southeast Asia. The word "Aman" is Sanskrit for "peace."History
While in Phuket looking for a site upon which to build a holiday home,
Adrian Zecha was walking along Pansea Beach when he came across a coconut plantation which occupied a prime location. [Miller, S. "Be my guest, please." "Condé Nast Traveller", Dec. 2007, p. 125.] 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 spent mainly their own money as no banks would lend for the project due to the small number of planned rooms, instead of the 500-room hotel they thought would be more practical.From the positive response to this project, known as
Amanpuri , Zecha was encouraged to develop more resorts employing the same concept. While initially the resorts were concentrated in Asia, the chain has expanded toFrance , theUnited States andMorocco .With the opening of Amanwana in 1993, Amanresorts was a pioneer in the development of luxury tented accommodation.
Business
The chain is owned by a holding company called Silverlink. In 1992, needing additional money to fund expansion, Zecha sold his controlling interest in Silverlink to Clement Vaturi, an old friend whose family owned the Hoteliere Immobliere chain of French hotels. Zecha was left with only 45% of the share holdings.Kan, W. [http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,103987,00.html "'My Resorts Are Not Otherworldly.'"] Time.com, 21 March 2001.]
The arrangement was satisfactory to both parties until, in a convoluted series of financial events, Vaturi’s controlling interest effectively came under the control 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 indefinitely Zecha's own plans to expand the number of Amanresorts. Dispirited and by how owning only 45% of Silverlink’s shares, he resigned from his position at Amanresorts in 1998.
By 2000 Colony Capital and Vaturi had settled their lawsuit which led to Vaturi reobtaining his Silverlink shares. He soon onsold his shareholding to Lee Hing Development, a Hong Kong property fund which was affiliated with Thadani's Schroder Capital Partners fund, a Singapore based investment fund. With investors in control who he felt shared his vision, Zecha returned as chairman and CEO. [Hilditch, T. "Paradise Regained." Asiaweek.com, 15 June 2001.] Zecha's return to a management role was welcomed with relief by fans of the resorts who felt that the service had deteriorated during his absence.
On 27 November 2007, Adrian Zecha announced that he had reached an agreement with DLF Ltd, India's largest real estate company, to form a partnership to acquire a controlling interest in Amanresorts. The entire transaction, when completed, is estimated to be valued at US$400 million with an assumed debt of approximately US$150 million. [http://www.dlf.in/wps/portal/!ut/p/c0/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hQD09XJzcPIwMDdyNjAyNTC4sQSzc3Y3djc_2CbEdFAFZvx7E!?command=DetailPage&itemId=A1001001A07K27C33800A90978 "Adrian Zercha & DLF partner to acquire AMAN Resorts."] Press release, DLF.in, 27 Nov 2007.]
Amanresorts have been highly rated since its establishment by "
Condé Nast Traveler ", "Zagat Survey", "Gallivanter's Guide", "Harper's Hideaway" and "Travel & Leisure ".Amanresorts is believed to have one of the highest average daily rates ("ADRs") in the lodging industry (2006 - US$778). 34% of Aman patrons originate from Europe, another 34% from Asia-Pacific, 28% from the Americas and 4% from the rest of the world.
The resorts
Each resort is characterised by a small number of rooms (typically less than 55) and minimalist architecture designed to complement the location’s natural settings while utilising an indigenous building style and materials that reflect the culture and country in which it is located. Also characteristic are a high staff count (typically 4 to 1) [Frederick, J. [http://www.time.com/time/asia/2004/journey/bhutan.html "The Kingdom of the Divine."] Time.com, 19 July 2004.] and the absence of a reception desk, bellboys or lobby, all of which are designed to create the impression that guests are staying in a private residence. Guest accommodation is typically provided in individual private bungalows or tents. At the time of the opening of the first Amanresort the combination of these features was groundbreaking in the luxury accommodation industry.
Further US Expansion
Currently (2008) the US is only represented by one location in
Jackson Hole WY however in late 2006 ADG Broadlands LLC acquired just north of theCatskills in Upstate New York almost convert|2000|acre|km2 of land for $10 million.This property was the still in tact but otherwise unused Gilded Age estate once known as Aknusti and later Broadlands. It had been the mountain retreat and stud farm of Peter L. Gerry Jr. The Gerry family continues to own significant adjacent property. The Aknusti estate had been partially composed of the family granted Hardenburgh Patent of 1708 [ [http://info.hartwick.edu/library/archives/gerry/moreinfo.html The Gerry Family Papers- Detailed Inventory ] ] .
It remains to be seen what structures or layout will be retained. At the time of purchase it featured an early 20th century sprawling mansion of over convert|22000|sqft|m2|abbr=on, landscaping by
Frederick Law Olmsted , numerous dependencies, streams and woodlands, stables/barns, pastures, and well in excess of convert|12|mi|km of private roads. [ [http://www.phoeniciatimes.com/archivesPT/pt.2.1.2007/newsbriefs.html The Phoenicia Times - NEWSBRIEFS ] ] The low key article citing the sale remarked "Amanresorts owner Adrian Zecha has reportedly visited the site a number of times and is excited about its development potential"Located partially in the township of
Bovina, New York the resort had to receive a special exemption with regards to the sale of alcohol on the would-be premisis. Bovina is otherwise one of the few remaining dry towns in the State of New York with the prohibition on the sale of alcohol. [ [http://www.allianceforbovina.org/bovina-news.html News | Alliance for Bovina | April 7, 2008 | Bovina New York | ] ]Followers
The term "Amanjunkies" has been coined within the accommodation industry to refer to repeat customers.
Typically associated with the resorts are villas developed by the company for exclusive rental and/or purchase.
Architects
Among the architects who have designed Amanresorts are
Ed Tuttle ,Kerry Hill andJean-Michel Gathy .Locations
As of 2008 the group operates the following resorts (in order of opening):
*
Amanpuri . Located onPhuket ,Thailand . Designed by Ed Tuttle. The resort opened in 1988.*Amandari. Located at Kedewatan on the outskirts of Ubud, on the island of
Bali in Indonesia. Designed by Peter Muller. The resort opened in 1989.*Hotel Bora Bora. Located in
French Polynesia . The resort opened in 1989.
*Le Mélézin. Located inCourchevel ,France . The resort opened in 1992.*Amanusa. Located at Nusa Dua on the island of
Bali inIndonesia . Designed by Kerry Hill. [ [http://www.architectureaustralia.com/aa/aaissue.php?article=12&issueid=200603&typeon=2 "2006 Kerry Hill - RAIA Gold Medallist."] www.architectureaustralia.com., March/April 2006.] The resort opened in 1992.
*Amankila. Located at Manggis on the island of Bali in Indonesia. The resort opened in 1992.*Amanwana. Located on
Moyo Island , at the western end of theNusa Tenggara islands in Indonesia. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy. The resort opened in 1993.*Amanpulo. Located on the island of
Pamalican in thePhilippines . The resort opened in 1993.*Amanjiwo. Located on the island of
Java in Indonesia. The resort opened in 1997.*Amangani. Located at East Gros Ventre Butte near
Jackson Hole in USA. Designed by Ed Tuttle. The resort opened in 1998.*Amanjena. 36 rooms. Located on Route de Ouarzazate on the outskirts of Marrakech in
Morocco . Designed by Ed Tuttle. The resort opened in 2000.*Amansara. Located in Siem Reip in
Cambodia . The resort opened in 2002.*Aman-i-Khás, Located in
India . Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy. The resort opened in 2003.*Amankora. Located in
Bhutan . Designed by Kerry Hill. The resort opened in 2004.*Amanbagh. Located in
Rajasthan , India. Designed by Ed Tuttle. The resort opened in 2005.*Amangalla. Located in Galle, Sri Lanka. The resort opened in 2005.
*Amanwella. Located in
Sri Lanka . The resort opened in 2005.*Amanyara. Located at Northwest Point on the
Turks & Caicos Islands. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy. The resort opened in 2006.External links
*Cohen, E. [http://www.interiordesign.net/id_article/CA6355732/id?stt=000&text=chaises "Subtlety and Luxury - Jean-Michel Gathy does it again at Amanyara in the Turks and Caicos,"] "Interior Design", July 1, 2006.
* [http://www.amanresorts.com Amanresorts Website]
* [http://www.phoeniciatimes.com/archivesPT/pt.2.1.2007/newsbriefs.html Phoenicia Times Feb 2008]
* [http://info.hartwick.edu/library/archives/gerry/moreinfo.html Hartwick College The Gerry Family Papers]References
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