Hua Hin is about to become even more cosmopolitan with the launch of new resort mall Bluport. A recent contract signing ceremony for Bluport and launch party with the theme "The Voyage to the Port of Pleasure in the Heart of Hua Hin" gave a glimpse of Hua Hin's future.
Grisana and Supaluck Umpujh and Jaraspim, Sangvorn and Proudputh Liptapanlop.
The Bluport launch was held at the glamourous Intercontinental Hua Hin Resort, owned by former deputy prime minister Suwat Liptapanlop. Mr Suwat's family also owns Prayoonwitt Group, which together with The Mall group is developing the resort mall on a 25-rai property directly opposite the hotel. The shopping mall will include a department store, gourmet market, cinemas and a splash park.
Bluport aims to cater to the large numbers of Bangkokians who regularly frequent Hua Hin. Many of these have weekend homes there and there is also a large community of expats and retirees enjoying the relatively laid-back atmosphere of the traditional seaside town.
Pasu and Suwat Liptapanlop.
By late afternoon, guests were beginning to arrive at the Intercontinental, welcomed by hosts outfitted in various shades of blue in keeping with the name of the project.
By 5pm, it was evident that the project had drawn many of Bangkok's leading socialites and businesspeople. Late arrivals put the blame on heavy traffic that allegedly backed all the way to Dao Khanong.
The function room was packed to overflowing as guests witnessed the signing ceremony and speeches were then made by Jaraspim Liptapanlop, chairwoman of Prayoonwitt Co, Supaluck Umpujh, vice-chairman of The Mall Group, and Proudputh Liptapanlop, director of Proud Resort Hua-Hin.
Mr Suwat then gave an inspired talk on his vision for the town of Hua Hin.
The close link between The Mall Group and Prayoonwitt Group is not surprising, as Ms Supaluck and Mr Suwat have been friends since their student days in the US.
She recalled knocking on his door for a bite to eat. As they embarked on their respective careers, Mr Suwat would often point out lucrative investment opportunities for her, including The Mall Bang Khae and The Mall Korat, which both turned out to be highly successful, just as he predicted.
Mr Suwat talked about the transport mega-projects planned for this seaside town, including a motorway linking Rattanathibet Road in Bang Yai to Hua Hin and a high-speed train that would reduce travelling time from Bangkok to only 55 minutes.
Whether he was building castles in the air remains to be seen, but he was quite convincing, as evidenced by the fact that several suppliers signed up immediately afterwards for retail space in the mall.
To cap off the event a dinner party was held in the beachfront garden, and guests enjoyed al fresco dining and musical entertainment late into the night.
