The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket is taking shape on Phuket’s quieter east coast, with the major redevelopment of the former Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa set to deliver an exclusive 182-key luxury resort. The ambitious transformation on Koh Sire will introduce significantly larger accommodations, extensive wellness facilities, eight dining and drinking venues, and a stronger connection with Southern Thai culture and craftsmanship.
Image Credit: Phuket Hotel News
As this Phuket Hotel News report details, owner Asset World Corporation is working with Marriott International on a comprehensive transformation that goes considerably further than simply changing the name above the entrance. The former 257-key Westin is being reduced to only 182 guestrooms, suites, and private cliffside villas, creating a lower-density resort designed around space, privacy, wellness, and highly personalized luxury.
From 257 Rooms to Just 182 Keys
One of the most interesting elements of the redevelopment is the deliberate reduction in room numbers.
While many major hotel renovations seek to increase inventory and maximize the number of sellable rooms, The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket is moving in the opposite direction. The previous 257-key configuration is being reduced by 75 keys, leaving the transformed resort with 182 accommodations.
Those rooms, suites, and villas are planned to range from approximately 50 to 196 square meters, with some of the most exclusive accommodation positioned along the hillside overlooking Siray Bay.
The strategy effectively places greater emphasis on exclusivity over volume, giving the resort more space to create larger accommodations and a more private environment for high-end travelers.
Major Transformation Underway
The transition accelerated during 2026, with major restaurants and bars at the former Westin beginning to close on June 1. The entire resort subsequently closed to the public on July 1 2026, allowing the structural renovation phase to move ahead.
Earlier announcements had indicated earlier opening expectations for The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket. However, project information supplied for the redevelopment now points toward completion later in 2027 as the extensive transformation progresses.
The scale of the work means guests familiar with the former Westin should expect a substantially different resort when the property eventually reopens under The Ritz-Carlton flag.
A New Look for Siray Island
Design will play an important role in separating the new property from its predecessor.
The resort is being developed around a Rustic and Refined concept featuring natural materials, handcrafted furniture, and locally influenced decorative elements rather than relying solely on standardized international luxury design.
Southern Thai artisans and craftspeople are expected to contribute to the resort’s character, while planned artist workshops will allow guests to experience traditional craftsmanship more directly.
The location could prove equally important. Siray Island occupies a comparatively peaceful position on Phuket’s east coast while remaining within easy reach of Phuket Old Town and its historic Sino-Portuguese architecture, markets, restaurants, and Peranakan cultural heritage.
Wellness Becomes a Major Attraction
Wellness is expected to become another defining feature of the new Ritz-Carlton.
Plans include an extensive hydrotherapy mineral onsen complex incorporating plunge pools and whirlpools, alongside specialized nutrition and wellness programs. The project has been positioned as featuring Phuket’s largest hydrotherapy mineral onsen.
Health-focused experiences are also expected to extend into the accommodation through curated nutrition offerings, bringing elements of the resort’s wellness philosophy directly into guestrooms and villas.
Three swimming pools and four function rooms are also planned as part of the redevelopment.
Eight New Restaurants and Bars
Food and beverage will receive a substantial overhaul, with eight restaurants and bars planned for the new resort.
These will replace the former Westin venues and are expected to encompass a range of dining and social experiences. While final restaurant names and detailed individual concepts have yet to be confirmed in the supplied project information, plans have referenced specialty dining, open-kitchen experiences, lounge spaces, and poolside venues.
The elevated hillside setting overlooking Siray Bay should also give the resort opportunities to create destination dining and drinking experiences built around its coastal surroundings.
A Different Kind of Phuket Luxury
The arrival of The Ritz-Carlton could significantly raise the international luxury profile of Phuket’s east coast, an area traditionally overshadowed by the island’s heavily developed western resort districts.
More importantly, reducing the property from 257 to 182 keys signals what the developers believe tomorrow’s luxury traveler increasingly wants: more space, greater privacy, meaningful wellness experiences, distinctive design, and stronger connections to local culture.
When the transformation is complete, The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket will bear little resemblance to the resort it replaces. The combination of just 182 keys, spacious cliffside accommodation, ambitious wellness facilities, local craftsmanship, eight dining venues, and proximity to Phuket Old Town could make it one of the island’s most closely watched luxury hotel openings of 2027.
For more on AWC Hotels, visit:
https://www.assetworldcorp-th.com/en/businesses-and-brands/hospitality
