Katagroup is Southeast Asia’s Pioneer in beachfront vacationing with a coveted portfolio of upscale hotels and resorts dotted along the coasts of Thailand. A prominent player in hospitality since 1980, Kata Group is one of the Kingdom’s longest established hotel operators and is known for its collection of properties characterized by highly desirable beachfront locations, and elevated standard of hospitality, and bespoke lifestyle experiences.
The Kata Group Holiday Experience
Each Kata Group property offers a gateway to tropical eacapism, surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty and alluring attractions. The beachfront resorts are built just steps away from Thailand’s most pristine waters and powdery white sands, and offer an immersive experience to reconnect with nature, with each individual property showcasing an original design and character distinctive to its locale
Pamuke Achariyachai arrived on Phuket Island in 1980, and started off by building nine beachside bungalows for European backpackers, who would stay for 40 baht a night. As the influx of travellers grew, Pamuke, his brother Prapan and future brother-in-law Eam Thavornwongwongse began to build more bungalows to meet the increasing demand, and Kakata Inn went from nine to 81 bungalows by the year 1985, when it was renamed KaKata Inn.
There was a lady named Kanda Thavornwongwongse who was courted by every man in the town, including Pamuke himself. She refused to accept his ring unless he was going to build more hotels. Pamuke persuaded Kanda’s sister to buy land in the Karon area, and they acquired two hectares of beachfront land in 1985. Here he built an 80-room hotel named Kata Inn 85, which later became known as Karon Beach Resort & Spa. Eventually, in 2013, the hotel was refurbished and rebranded as Beyond Resort Karon.
After pursuing her for several years, Pamuke succeeded in making Kanda his wife.
As demand continued to grow, those 81 bungalows of KaKata Inn turned into a 275-room hotel, which was renamed Kata Beach Resort & Spa. This remained the hotel’s name until 2017, when following a complete modernisation programme it was rebranded as Beyond Resort Kata.
Pamuke became vice president of Phuket Tourist Association, and on 5th December 1995, together with the association, hosted the longest beach buffet in the world in honour of the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Rama IX, charging guests a mere 500 baht for the all-you-can-eat 1.5 km-long feast.
Pamuke developed a third piece of land at the 85-room Karon Inn into a mega-size 525-room resort hotel equipped with a ballroom, facilities for hosting seminars, and a huge water slide in the main pool that became a major attraction for families and children. The resort was renamed Phuket Orchid Resort & Spa.
Pamuke decided it was time to expand his reach into Samui territory, another key tourist destination known for its Full Moon parties and island getaways. Pamuke named the hotel after his wife as Kandaburi Resort & Spa. In 2015, through partnership with and under management of the world-renowned Novotel Group, the hotel was rebranded as Novotel Samui Resort Chaweng Beach Kandaburi
Pamuke expanded his hospitality empire to Krabi and Khaolak under the Beyond brand, and his determination was tested when he built two near-200-room hotels, Beyond Resort Krabi and Beyond Resort Khaolak, simultaneously. Beyond Resort Khaolak is a honeymooners’ paradise, an adults only resort with 177 villas, and Beyond Resort Krabi is a family and couple concept, located on Klong Muang Beach and offering 211 rooms.
After nearly 36 years of Pamuke leading the creation, expansion and management of the various hotels under Kata Group, it was time for the new generation to get their hands-on hotelier experience. Pamuke decided to acquire a piece of land in the most expensive area in Phuket, Patong, to give the young generation the chance to start a project of their own: Beyond Patong. Branching out of the usual theme, Beyond Patong with 161 rooms is designed for young people on holiday, those who want to enjoy the bustling nightlife but also to wind down and relax by the panoramic swimming pool, sipping drinks at the rooftop Sky Bar.
Pamookkoo Resort opened its doors with a Mesopotamia theme. Located near to Kata Beach in Phuket, this family friendly resort has its own water park, and accommodation facilities of 512 rooms and suites. There are large conference and function rooms with a maximum capacity of 1,100 persons, suitable for all meetings and events.
Novotel Samui Resort Chaweng Beach Kandaburi was renamed as Beyond Kanda Buuri, and managed by Kata Group. A chic Thai-style beach resort, it is nestled at the northern end of Chaweng Beach.
The newest resort, number 9, is named Beyond Skywalk Nangshi. The resort has become a new landmark in the Phang Nga Bay area. Taking sightseeing to a new level, at about 80 metres above sea level the glass and steel state-of-the-art skywalk promises unforgettable views of Phang Nga Bay.
