Kimpton’s Thai expansion accelerates with new beach resort near Phuket to cater for scenic, low-rise escapes

IHG Hotels & Resorts is set to open its first Kimpton property in Phang Nga on Natai Beach in 2028, enhancing the brand's presence in Thailand with a new 150-room resort aimed at offering a scenic, lifestyle-focused escape close to Phuket and future connectivity improvements.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has added another Kimpton project to its Thailand pipeline, this time on Phang Nga’s Natai Beach, a stretch of coast that is becoming better known to travellers looking for a quieter, more scenic alternative to Phuket. The 150-room beachfront resort is due to open in 2028 and will bring the Kimpton brand to the province for the first time, according to the company. IHG says the development will include several dining venues, a spa, swimming pools, a fitness centre, a kids’ club and function spaces, giving it broad appeal for couples, families and guests planning longer stays.

The location is a key part of the story. IHG says Kimpton Phang-Nga Natai Beach will be about 20 minutes from Phuket International Airport, while the planned Andaman International Airport, expected to be completed in 2032, should further improve access to the area. For travellers, that could make Phang Nga easier to reach without losing the low-rise, beachside atmosphere that sets it apart from busier Thai resort destinations.

The new resort also builds on Kimpton’s growing profile in Thailand. The brand already operates Kimpton Kitalay Samui, a beachfront hotel on Choeng Mon Beach with rooms, suites and villas, five dining outlets, a spa and a large pool, and Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, which sits in the Langsuan area near Lumphini Park and gives guests easy access to shopping, dining and the city’s main attractions. That mix of island and urban properties suggests IHG is using Kimpton to target travellers who want strong design, generous facilities and a more lifestyle-led stay.

IHG’s wider Thailand plans show that expansion will not stop in Phang Nga. The company has also announced Kimpton openings in Pattaya, Hua Hin, Bangkok Chinatown and Chiang Rai’s Golden Triangle area, with some projects tied to major mixed-use or conversion schemes. For holidaymakers, the trend matters because it signals more choice across the country in the coming years, from beach resorts and city hotels to wellness-oriented escapes inland.