Luxury Hotel Brand Aman Originated in Phuket, Thailand

Key summary

The luxury hotel brand Aman, known for its rooms costing hundreds of thousands of baht per night and its unique locations around the world, began with its first hotel, which opened in 1988 in Phuket province. The founder was Adrian Zecha, an Indonesian businessman who previously co-founded the Regent group. Zecha wanted a private vacation home and spent two years searching for land near Patong Beach. He then expanded the project from a house for friends to a small hotel with 40 rooms, using his own personal funds because banks were unwilling to provide loans. The hotel opened under the name Amanpuri, with an initial price of $250 per night, which was higher than competitors like Phuket Yacht Club, which charged $75 per night. Today, the group has 36 properties and resorts in 21 countries, ranging from Tokyo to Venice to Utah in the United States. Vlad Doronin acquired the company in 2014, after having stayed there for the first time in 1990.