Three new resorts in Phuket or close by have been selected by Condé Nast Traveler magazine for inclusion in its 2010 Hot List.

The new Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, which held its soft opening recently, is the second resort on the 11km-long beach to be managed by Marriott International. The first was the well-established JW Marriot Phuket Resort & Spa, which opened eight years ago.

The latest Absolute property is the Nakalay Beach Resort in Phuket, which opened officially on January 27. Halfway between Patong and Kamala, on the west coast.

Three resorts in Phuket appear is this year’s Condé Nast Traveler magazine Gold List, which lists the “best places to stay in the world, selected by the readers”.

Cape Sienna, the chic cliff-top resort on Millionaires’ Mile, Kamala, is the most romantic hotel in Asia, and the fourth-most romantic in the world, according to the 2010 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice survey.

Andara Resort & Villas, the recently opened resort element at the Andara villa development in Kamala, is already drawing rave reviews, despite being a month or so away from its official opening.

The Mangosteen Resort in Rawai has signed a management agreement with Netherlands-based Golden Tulip Hospitality Group.

There was a time when visitors to Phuket would go to the Siray area, east of Phuket Town, for just one reason: to catch the big ferry to Phi Phi. Now Koh Siray has snagged its first five-star international hotel brand, with the opening of the Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa in March next year.

Outrigger Serenity Terraces “Festive Early-Bird” promotion offering internet users 15% off its best available rates for Christmas and the New Year.

Big hotel chains clearly take a long view and are seizing on this time as a good opportunity to enlarge their portfolios.