SPA STORES TO BE LAUNCHED IN BANGKOK

       Panviman Group of Resorts will launch two spa stores in Bangkok next month while adding new magnets to its three hotels.
       The first spa shop will open in CentralWorld on September 3 and the second in Siam Paragon on September 14.
       It will be the first time the group has diversified away from the hotel and resort business.
       President Chakarin Chantaravisoot said the company would import two Italian spa product lines, Angel and Mediterranean, to sell in Thailand.
       Angel products are aimed at those aged 15-20 and Mediterranean products at general customers more than 20 years old.
       "These are all organic products, so we are targeting upper-level customers conscious about their health," he said.
       The group expects to sell Bt12 million of the products in the first year of operation.
       The group manages its own spa called Viman Spa in the Panviman Hotel in Chiang Mai. All in-house products are called Puviman. The group produces and supplies its spa products to other hotels in Thailand and also to customers overseas.
       In the near future, it will open a spa in the Panviman Hotel on Koh Chang in Trat and the Panviman on Koh Pha-ngan in Surat Thani.
       A spa academy will be up and running at the Panviman Chiang Mai by year-end to train and certify therapists to serve the spa business.
       Recently, the first fish spa was introduced in Chiang Mai and has become a popular new draw.
       Panviman Chiang Mai is featuring 42 units priced at Bt7,000-Bt28,000 per night. However, all hotels in Chiang Mai are facing tough times as visitors stay away due to the political instability.
       About Bt120 million will be spent to add 45 rooms to the Panviman Koh Chang, which has been open for five years. Also 50 existing rooms will be refurbished by adding pool access. The renovation is expected to be completed within two months.
       A posh pub will open at the Koh Pha-ngan hotel by year-end, while 10 pool villas will be added to the scheduled hotel.
       Three hotels are on the drawing board for the next few years - on Koh Krud in Trat, in Sriboya in Krabi and on Koh Chang.
       "The group hopes the hotel business will recover this coming high season and we are seeing new bookings for that time," Chakarin added.