Phuket, the darling of Thai tourist islands, is set to boom in a post-pandemic influx of both tourists and investors seeking fresh opportunities outside the hustle and bustle of big cities.
There is a global exodus of people from built-up metropolis areas to rural utopias. Due to this migration, Phuket residents and business owners are feeling quietly optimistic about what lies ahead after a tumultuous couple of years. Of course, emerging new variants are impeding speedy progress, however, there is a consensus that life must go on, albeit with caution.
A testament to burgeoning confidence in the region is the commitment and investment made by the owners of Phuket’s newest beach club ‘Carpe Diem’.
Benny De Bellis and Bruce Hanrahan, managing partners of ‘Carpe Diem Beach Club,’ are confident they have not only found the winning formula regarding strategy with a simple supply and demand logic, but are also thrilled to be adding to the rejuvenation of one of Phuket’s popular, yet serene beaches, ‘Bang Tao Beach’.
Bang Tao Beach is an 8km stretch of golden sand and is home to well-established hotel brands such as Banyan Tree, Angsana and the Laguna Phuket integrated resort, which the latter put this area, ‘Cherngtalay’ in the northwest pocket of Phuket truly on the map.
Benny comments, “We are so excited to offer a place that appeals to a slightly more mature and sophisticated crowd in Phuket”. He adds, “In our vision for Carpe Diem, we recognize that one size does not fit all.”
Bruce adds, “An excellent beach club experience is not just about the stunning setting of Phuket, but also about the ambience, service, cuisine and beverages.” He continues, “And it is these attributes which bring people here to live and invest so Phuket becomes more than a holiday destination.”
Bruce and Benny are both veteran professionals who are passionate about hospitality. Bruce has many years of experience working with ‘Nikki Beach’, a brand internationally acclaimed for its beach clubs. Benny is a familiar face on the Phuket scene, having run establishments such as Catch Beach Club, Siam Supper Club, and Opus One. For the past seven years, he has built his own American-style steakhouse, ‘Benny’s Cocktails & Grill’, providing excellent cocktails, service and food.
The beach club offers full beach service with comfortable sunbeds for those who enjoy relaxing by the sea with a cocktail in hand. There is a fully-fledged restaurant so diners can soak up the sea air and superb vistas whilst they eat. The menu is hand-selected by the owners and contains many dishes that Benny loved as a boy growing up in rural Italy, and Bruce imbibed in his time in southern Spain, so there is an element of authenticity and love in the preparation of each dish.
In both its cuisine and ambience, Carpe Diem Beach Club delivers a Mediterranean experience that is fresh, rustic and modern. A distinctive feature of this beach club is its commitment to providing a refined and upscale environment with a friendly welcome and uplifting atmosphere with daily DJ sessions.
