PING LONG - Myanmar Travel and Tour Agent Information

STAGE one of a new luxury hotel, the Amata Resort and Spa, will open at Ngapali Beach early next month, said the hotel's manager, Marvin Talbot.

The hotel is situated on 5.2 acres of land and will ultimately comprise 100 rooms, including attached bungalows, single bungalows and double bungalows. Twenty-five of the rooms will become available for guests in March.

Mr Talbot said he hopes that the hotel will be fully operational by the next high tourist season commencing in October this year, and he is aiming for an 80 or 90 per cent occupancy rate. "We have decided to build this new hotel because the the demand for hotel rooms in Ngapali is very high," Mr Talbot said.

According to the ministry of hotels and tourism, Ngapali Beach attracted more than 20,000 guests during the last high tourist season, and there are six hotels with 201 rooms.

US architects designed the hotel, and construction took seven months. The hotel has already recruited a staff of 80 and will employ another 70 during the next high tourist season when the hotel is fully operational.

Room charges will range from $100 to $400, and facilities include a freshwater swimming pool, tennis court, spa and health centre, and library. Some rooms will feature bathtubs, e-mail services, IDD telephones and water purification systems.