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<\/p>\nThe real estate legend is harnessing his deep knowledge to take the residential sector in Phuket to new heights<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI doubt you can still find outlooks like this anywhere on Phuket,\u201d says Andara\u2019s sales manager. \u201cOr the world for that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
It could easily come off as sales patter. But he\u2019s got a point. The view from one of the resort\u2019s grandest hilltop villas is the very definition of cinematic. Kamala Bay curves below, rooftops glint on Millionaire\u2019s Mile (a famously salubrious stretch of high-end residential homes), and the Andaman stretches out in layers of deepening blue. Even the Andara staff can\u2019t resist a few selfies against the backdrop whilst we wait on the terrace for Allan Zeman, Asia real estate development legend and Andara mastermind, to finish a last-minute call with a prospective buyer from Hong Kong. The midday sun breaks through the clouds, bouncing off the surface of the infinity pool. It\u2019s getting hot. Fortunately, the Proven\u00e7al ros\u00e9 about to be consumed with lunch is on ice. The in-villa chef checks if we\u2019re ready for his take on Thai classics. We are.<\/p>\n
A few minutes later, Zeman rocks up in one of his signature high-collared white shirts, yoga pants, and spotless designer trainers. Best known as the founder of Hong Kong\u2019s Lan Kwai Fong nightlife district, Zeman developed Andara more than 15 years ago as a personal retreat that quickly turned into one of Phuket\u2019s most luxurious resorts and helped set the tone for the island\u2019s upscale evolution. But the topic of our alfresco lunch is Sudara, his new hillside development just down the bay. Built on a dramatic slope in Bang Tao, it\u2019s aimed at a new generation of buyers seeking liveability, rental returns, and bold but restrained design. We also discuss Phuket\u2019s post-pandemic renaissance, the shifting psychology of luxury buyers, and Zeman\u2019s newfound love of Chinese EVs.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with what you\u2019re building now. What sets Sudara apart in today\u2019s market?<\/strong><\/p>\n Sudara is designed to deliver the feeling of a luxury resort at a more accessible price. That\u2019s what people want now: something beautiful, but also smart. One of the big moves we made was putting all the parking underground. It\u2019s rare in Phuket. Most developers avoid it because of the cost. But it completely transforms the environment. You get more space for gardens, proper landscaping, and a stronger sense of arrival. The whole place feels cleaner, more peaceful. It adds 15\u201320% to the cost, but it increases value and helps the project move faster. We\u2019re also thinking about the sensory experience: lighting, textures, aromatherapy. I had a designer in just the other day to talk about scent. That\u2019s the level of detail we\u2019re working at. People sometimes walk into the sales office thinking it\u2019s a spa and ask for a massage. That tells you something about how it feels.<\/p>\n How are buyers responding?<\/strong><\/p>\n Interest has been strong mainly from Hong Kong, the Middle East, Europe, and Russia. We\u2019ve seen buyers come in, look around, and make decisions quickly. When the product is good, it sells itself. Rental appeal is another draw. The market\u2019s changed. Phuket used to have a high and low season. That\u2019s gone. Climate change has brought new demand, especially from the Middle East. In Dubai, it\u2019s 55\u00b0C. Here, it\u2019s 35\u00b0C\u2014and that feels like a relief! So, what used to be quiet months are now full. That shift has changed the rental model completely.<\/p>\n Are you still focused solely on residential, or are there plans for something more?<\/strong><\/p>\n For now, we\u2019re finishing phase one of Sudara, and that\u2019s already got enough pre-sales for bank financing. We\u2019re starting construction right away. Thai banks have been more conservative since the pandemic, and because of the wider geopolitical situation, but we\u2019ve worked with them for years and built trust. We\u2019ll roll into Phase 2 next. Originally, we were going to do three more residential blocks, but the market\u2019s changing, so we\u2019re keeping it flexible. Maybe a hotel, maybe something branded. You\u2019ve got to respond to what people want and what the world looks like by the time you\u2019re ready to build. I like to leave room to pivot. Once you start pouring concrete, it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve built a reputation for delivering not just product, but experience. What makes the Andara and Sudara brands work?<\/strong><\/p>\n It starts with trust. People walk into an Andara villa or a Sudara unit and they feel calm, looked after, and comfortable. That\u2019s not something you can fake. It\u2019s about every decision from the lighting to the furniture and the layout. We\u2019ve had so many repeat guests at Andara that they feel like part of the family. The same thing\u2019s happening at Sudara. Homeowners from all corners of the world are coming in, feeling connected, and forming a community. That kind of loyalty gives us room to grow. We\u2019ve also brought in someone in Bangkok to explore brand expansion, offering Andara and Sudara as management flags for other properties. There\u2019s a real appetite for experienced operators who can deliver both standards and service. It\u2019s the next natural step.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve said Phuket is \u2018growing up.\u2019 What\u2019s driving that shift?<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s no longer just a holiday destination. People are choosing to live here. They\u2019re enrolling their kids in international schools. They\u2019re accessing quality healthcare. The airport\u2019s strong. The lifestyle works. The shift is visible. Walk around Boat Avenue (luxury mall) at night, and you see it. People from all over the world are settled in and going about their lives. It\u2019s still a resort, but it\u2019s also becoming a functioning city. That changes the type of product people look for, too. It needs to suit daily life rather than just weekend escapes.<\/p>\n Are their expectations changing, too?<\/strong><\/p>\n Completely. The checklist is longer. People want wellness, flexible layouts, natural light, and proper workspaces. They want to feel part of a neighbourhood. At Sudara, we\u2019re already seeing homeowners connect. Some are from Germany, some from the UK, and others from Asia. They meet at breakfast and exchange stories. That sense of belonging happens naturally. It\u2019s hard to quantify, but it makes a huge difference.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve worked across Asia for decades. What\u2019s your outlook on luxury real estate in the region?<\/strong><\/p>\n Luxury used to be about surface: brands, finishes, reputation. That\u2019s changed. Now it\u2019s about how people use space. How it supports their routine, their health, and their values. The buyers coming in now live across regions. They work in one city, invest in another, and travel often. Property must keep up with that. It has to feel intuitive, personal, and high-functioning. Branded residences can help if the name carries weight. But execution matters more than branding. Smaller players can stand out if they\u2019re focused and local. There\u2019s room for everyone if the product is smart.<\/p>\n What about the next generation of buyers?<\/strong><\/p>\n They\u2019re already here. Younger investors, especially across Asia, are entering the market with different priorities. They\u2019re less impressed by excess. They want functionality, connection to nature, and flexibility. Optionality is key. Live in it, rent it, sell it, whatever fits their moment. Developers who understand that will thrive.<\/p>\n How do you see proposals for casino development in Thailand playing out?<\/strong><\/p>\n I think it\u2019ll happen\u2014but likely as integrated entertainment complexes, not just gaming floors. Think Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. It\u2019ll be a full offering of hotels, shows, retail, food, and wellness. Thailand already has the brand. Tourists love it. With the right model, it could become a major draw. Phuket might even lead the way. It\u2019s manageable, it has the airport and the infrastructure, and the demand is there. What matters is quality. If it\u2019s done well, it\u2019ll bring in tax revenue, tourism spend, and better public services. But it must be world-class.<\/p>\n What role do you want to play in that future?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been lucky to contribute to Hong Kong\u2019s growth, and now Phuket\u2019s. I still love the process of seeing something come to life and knowing it works for people. We\u2019re living in an accelerated world. AI, EVs, and geopolitical shifts, for example, are all reshaping how we live and invest. Developers must anticipate more, adapt quicker, and build for longevity. I just bought an EV from China. Never thought I would! It\u2019s packed with tech, drives beautifully, and costs a fraction of a certain German car. It\u2019s a small decision, but it says a lot about how quickly things shift and how important it is to stay open to change. That kind of mindset matters in business. But it also matters in leadership. Progress depends on good government. You can feel the momentum in Bangkok, in Phuket, and elsewhere in the region. There\u2019s a lot still to do. But the direction feels right.<\/p>\n T<\/em>his article was originally published on\u00a0asiarealestatesummit.com<\/a>. Write to our editors at\u00a0propertyreport@propertyguru.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The real estate legend is harnessing his deep knowledge to take the residential sector in Phuket to new heights<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":44277,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[86,97],"tags":[4829],"class_list":["post-44274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interview","category-magazine","tag-alan-zeman","news_country-thailand","news_author-liam-aran-barnes"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n