Newspaper Features: 2008
Archive of Bill's regular newspaper columns.
From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Thirty New Hotels in “Phuket 2.0” Development Pipeline
Despite a global financial recession and recent political unrest, investment in the Phuket tourism industry continues to forge ahead. From 2009 until 2011, at least thirty new hotels and 4,918 rooms are due to enter the...
Posted: December 27, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 287
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Battle for the Beaches
Tourism remains Phuket’s number one economic indicator and ask any of the islands many visitors what is deciding factor in taking a holiday to the island and more often the not the answer is its beaches. While we have a...
Posted: December 20, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 253
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Years of Living Dangerously
Every time I turn on my TV of late, I half expect to see that ominous red ‘breaking news’ box in the corner of the screen on BBC or CNN. As of late it’s become almost a permanent fixture and is so firmly etched in...
Posted: December 6, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 219
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Boutique Hotels – When Size Matters
When the all-pool-villa hotel Phuket Pavilions opened a few years back, one of their key positioning points against larger, upscale competition was, “no welcome drinks, no buffets and no tan line”. Now, meet the sexy...
Posted: November 29, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 239
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Paradise for Rent
As the wheels of tourist high season crank open the floodgates on our paradise island, it is the season to be renting. Never before have there been so many options for renters, with a range of daily, weekly, monthly and...
Posted: November 15, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 219
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Patong Condo Surge Reaches Sky High
Looking at condominium market absorption rates for the past 12 months, along with the number of new projects in the pipeline in Phuket, there some fundamental concerns regarding the possibility of oversupply. There has...
Posted: November 1, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 243
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Buyer Bailout: Bottom Feeders Could be Phuket’s Saving Grace
As Black October continues to unfold, there seems to be no escape from the chaotic fallout global financial markets’ free fall, Thailand’s political uncertainty and now what appears to be an Asian contagion. While...
Posted: October 18, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 210
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: The Ugly American
The goblins of ‘Black October’ are upon us, and while Halloween looms like a bad joke, the world has been struck by a wave of panic and fear reaching nearly every nook and cranny of the planet. I was standing in line...
Posted: October 11, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 231
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Tackling the Green Giant
It seems you cannot turn on the TV, read a newspaper or magazine these days and fail to be confronted by apocalyptic images of ozone depletion, vanishing rainforests and melting polar ice-caps. Recently, I...
Posted: October 11, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 233
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Koh Samui Update – Part 2
In the last column I talked about the fundamental historical growth of the market along keying in on important issues such as airlift capacity, infrastructure and tourism numbers. This now sets the stage for a more...
Posted: September 27 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 235
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Koh Samui in Full Bloom – Part 1
Over the years, Koh Samui has made a stunning market shift from backpackers’ paradise in the 1970s and 80s to its present push as one of the region’s premier island destinations. From the onset of significant tourism,...
Posted: September 13, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 219
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Phuket Rolls Up the Welcome Mat
Much will be written in the coming days about the stunning effects of the sudden closure of the Phuket International Airport. As I type this, no doubt the latest news ages faster then a fine cheese left out in the...
Posted: September 6, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 220
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Bali Supply Surges Ahead
In the not so distant past the Bali brand name was all that was glitter and gold in tropical Asian destinations. A mere whisper of the magical phase evoked images of swaying palm trees, exotic voyages and was revered in...
Posted: August 23, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 241
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Budget Brands Enter the Fray
Over the past few years, there has been a definite trend of international budget brands successfully entering the marketplace in Thailand. Be it the hypermart concept with Lotus Tesco, Carrefour and Makro, or low-cost...
Posted: August 9, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 246
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Distant Sound of Thunder
Hunting season is now open and the “woods” are teeming with “bears”. We’ve seen a rapid regression in both global and regional growth, so it seems if you want to run with the bulls, a plane ticket to Pamplona...
Posted: July 26, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 218
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Show Me the Money
The property market in Phuket is an entirely unique and rare, endangered species. For the duration of the real estate boom of the past six years, its growth has been driven almost entirely by cash. Finding similar models,...
Posted: July 5, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 216
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Condo Legislation Addresses Consumer Rights
Good news for condominium seekers who will benefit from the latest amendment to the 1999 Condominium Act, which will take effect from July 4. The changes come following a slew of complaints filed during the past year that...
Posted: June 29, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 217
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: US Woes Cloud Horizon
During a recent trip to the US, I spoke with several players in the domestic property and tourism industry. The reality of the current US market is a stark reminder of how quickly tides can turn. According to analysts, as...
Posted: June 14, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 221
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Panwa’s Property Renaissance
Despite living in Phuket for six years, I rarely venture past Phuket City towards Cape Panwa. Over the past few years, I can count on one hand the times I’ve journeyed there. But a few days ago, despite taking a few...
Posted: May 31, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 225
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Don’t Sweat the Global Stuff
The times are indeed a-changin’, as Bobby Dylan said, and these days my local watering hole has shifted from a pub to the petrol station. I’m now on a first-name basis with those who pump the liquid gold into my...
Posted: May 17, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 213
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Sky’s the Limit to Tourism Growth
With more than 5.4 million tourist arrivals to Phuket in 2007, the market will have to look to the skies in order to maintain its upward momentum. So far, the Airports of Thailand (AOT) has failed to grasp the scope of...
Posted: May 10, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 231
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Phuket’s Invisible Minority – A Day Without Burmese
Each and every day on my way to work, or wherever I travel on the island, one of the most common sights is truckloads of Burmese workers. The recent tragedy of 54 Burmese suffocating in a container truck while being...
Posted: April 26, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 226
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Leveling the Playing Field
There is a revolution going on around the world, one without guns, bombs or politicians. In this brave new world, small businesses and individuals have access to global consumers in a way that could not have been...
Posted: April 19, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 218
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Building a Global Brand
Speak to most developers and real estate agents and two things rapidly become apparent. The first is that with more than 400 developments now gracing Phuket’s shores, the supply chain is continuing to grow at breakneck...
Posted: March 29, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 245
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Phuket Design Enters Brave New World
The New year is already starting to show promise with the delivery of some highly-anticipated new projects on the island. Leading the way is Sala Phuket in Mao Khao, next to the JW Marriott. The 79-room,...
Posted: March 8, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 318
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Out With the New, In With the Old – Phuket’s Property Market
Whether you are property buyer, seller or developer, it is important to figure out where you stand in the market cycle. Developing markets tend to evolve from a Wild West stage set into a more sophisticated and...
Posted: February 23, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 195
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: What’s In a Name?
Johnny Cash touched on the subject of identity confusion in the song Girl Named Sue, but intellectual property rights are no light-hearted matter. At some point in between working on a business plan for your property...
Posted: February 9, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 245
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Living the Sub-Prime Life
As I sit in my hotel room in chilly Hong Kong, the TV is blaring news of a market meltdown. Major indexes are capitulating in the US, Europe and across Asia like the EKG of a heart-attack patient. Grabbing headlines in...
Posted: February 2, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 243
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From the Phuket Gazette Property Watch: Looking for Change in 2008
Now that 2008 has arrived and a blank page sits on my desk, it’s a good time to reflect on what’s needed for the property industry to prosper in the coming year. Phuket is experiencing population and economic booms....
Posted: January 19, 2008 12:00pm | Viewed: 222
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