The name Thanet Traiwut may not be familiar to the party crowd in Bang Tao and Patong, but the business people in these areas know him well.

For nearly 25 years, Mr. Thanet has been the man introducing Phuket to innovations in construction, design, engineering, and the hotel and restaurant business. His annual Architect & Hotelex exhibition is a must-visit event for savvy developers, hoteliers, and property owners.

“When we started the show in 2001, it was mostly aimed at supporting the tourism business. We started by bringing new technology to Phuket to make a hotel or café better. As the island began its transition towards a mixed holiday and residential market in the 2010s, we began to cater to this broader demand,” Mr. Thanet explains.

Architect & Hotelex was the place where Phuket was introduced to the concept of the smart home, learned to utilize solar power and groundwaters, gained advanced knowledge of security, and even developed a taste for outstanding décor.

The most recent Architect & Hotelex exhibition included everything from construction materials to contemporary art, from teak furniture to home cinemas, and from smart locks to ice-cream machines.

“These are all things that make your property premium,” Mr. Thanet says.

One can safely say that Architect & Hotelex foresaw many of the challenges Phuket faced at various stages, be it the rapid growth of electricity costs in 2022 or the water shortages in 2023. Frequent visitors to the expo faced these challenges either armed with solutions or at least aware of them.

As the island keeps moving forward, Mr. Thanet is very enthusiastic about health and wellness tourism, or rather health and wellness being an integral part of Phuket’s offering as a residential destination.

“People moving to live in Phuket or stay here for several months will need something for their health and wellbeing. And if the owner of a rental property or the developer is able to offer a more wellness-oriented residence, it will create added value, directly bringing extra revenue,” he says.

Some would argue that the wellness component has always been part of Phuket’s appeal as a residential destination. When asked about their reasons to move to the island, many people highlight the desire for a healthier lifestyle. Mr. Thanet was no exception 25 years ago when he moved to Phuket from Bangkok to escape “too much stress.”

Mr. Thanet shines with excitement when he explains the idea of upmarket “home stay,” which he describes as “villa wellness.”

“It will be like you are renting a villa and a personalized wellness program for a certain objective, let’s say, losing some weight. So every morning, I take you to the Bang Wad Dam for a run, then we have a good healthy meal, we do some activities or relax in the afternoon. The day may conclude with a spa treatment or sunset yoga. We do it day by day until you reach your target,” Mr. Thanet explains enthusiastically.

This idea was among the topics presented at the inaugural Phuket Health Expo, Mr. Thanet’ new brainchild. Held at Central Festival in late July, the event attracted leading health service providers from Phuket and beyond. It is estimated that it will not take long for “villa wellness” packages to appear on the market. After all, some of Mr. Thanet’ previous innovations are now Phuket’s common standard.

Thanet Traiwut’s company, PIC Phuket Co Ltd, organizes four exhibitions held annually or every six months. These include Architect & Hotelex, Phuket Jewelry Fair, Phuket Renovation, and the brand-new Phuket Health Expo. For details, visit www.picphuket.com.