The expansion into Khao Lak in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, by Phuket resort developers continues with the Kata Group announcing plans for a B1.2 billion resort–the Khaolak Cassaway Resort and Spa–to be built in this growing area for destinational resorts.

The 419-room Sheraton Grande, one of the longest established five-star hotels on Phuket, will close from 1 July, 2011 for B500 million worth of extensive renovations and refurbishment covering all rooms and public areas and re-open as Angsana Laguna Phuket on 1 December, 2011.

The Yamu, the 5-star+ hotel in Phuket that was stalled by the global financial crisis, is once more under construction, and Como of Singapore has been appointed to manage it.

The Chairman of Central Plaza Hotels Suthikiati Chirathivat – who’s also a director of Central Pattana, which owns Central Festival Phuket among other things – came to Phuket at the weekend with a couple of dozen Bangkok journalists to check out his latest creation, the 262-room 2.3-billion-baht Centara Grand Beach Resort on Karon Beach.

The five-star Indigo Pearl Resort at Nai Yang Beach has launched its first “eco-tour” package, inviting guests to “give back to the community” during their vacation.

When it begins to pour with rain in Phuket and then sunbirds fly back to their homes in the west or north, hoteliers’ hopes turn fondly to those of us who live here. “How about a weekend away from the housework?” they ask. “Or how about a special deal at our restaurants?”

Phuket has scored a number of useful hits in the sixth Smart Travel Asia poll. The Hong Kong-based online travel magazine (run by writer Vijay “He’s Everywhere” Verghese), asks visitors to rank a variety of business hotels, luxury resorts, spas, destinations, business cities, shopping spots, airlines and airports.

Centara Hotels & Resorts will open its new Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket at Karon Beach in October this year, its fourth hotel in Phuket.

Michael Ma’s getting pretty fit these days. It’s all that climbing up and down steps at his latest acquisition, the hillside Indochine Resort in Phuket, formerly the troubled Villa Santi property development.

LaTour Hotels & Resorts of San Diego, California, which recently signed up to manage the Indochine Resort in Kalim, has signed up its second property in Phuket: The Dewa at Nai Yang.