Santiburi Group to manage its own assets in Thailand

Effective September 01, 2004, the Santiburi Group is to commence management of all its company's assets as well as future developments through its own Management Company. This coincides with the conclusion of a successful 12-year affiliation with Dusit Hotels and Resorts as the current management partner.

The Santiburi Group was founded by Khun Santi Bhirom Bhakdi in 1992 when it opened one of Thailand's premium quality championship golf course in Chiang Rai, the Santiburi Golf and Country Club. This delightful northern golf course, presenting a perfect blend into natural hilltop landscape, was designed by Robert Trent Jones. Jr., one of the world's finest golf course designers. Simultaneously, the Santiburi Group expanded a second establishment, the Santiburi Dusit Resort in Koh Samui, one of the first and foremost luxury hotels on the island.

It has been the aim of Khun Santi to eventually establish his own management company overseeing the Group's existing operations as well as future projects.

In early 2004, the Santiburi Group added the first and only 18 hole Championship Golf Course in Koh Samui, the Santiburi Samui Country Club. This stunning golf course is built on the mountainside of Maenam, featuring breathtaking views of the Gulf of Siam with its numerous islands as well as Samui's famous coconut plantations. Moreover, the Group's second luxury hotel on Koh Samui, the Bophutburi Resort and Spa, is currently under construction and is scheduled to be opened in December 2004. Also in the Group's project pipeline is the "top of the end" Villas Real Estate project situated on the hillside overlooking Maenam bay, again in Koh Samui.

The Santiburi Dusit Resort will be renamed as the Santiburi Resort, Koh Samui.