The Pattaravornee family of Phuket has announced Matthew C Hindmarch, former Kata Sea Breeze Resort general manager and part of The SIS Kata Phuket development team, has now been promoted to Kata’s director of hotels and resorts.

In this role, Matthew who has been in Thailand for 29 years, will oversee the operations of all three properties – The SIS Kata, Phuket, Kata Sea Breeze Resort and Patra Mansion — owned by the family — plus the recently formed AKSARA Collection Group office, business development plus overseas representative offices, PR and marketing.

Commenting on his new position and promotion, Mathew, who joined the company four years ago said: “I am delighted to have accepted this new position to further develop AKSARA Collection into a strong Phuket family-owned brand blending family expectations and recognized hotel standards to ensure that our guests receive the best in Phuket hospitality plus our partners are able to do business with the collection easily and hassle-free.”

Matthew Hindmarch is a British national who graduated from Durham New College in England before joining ILG Travel in 1986. Here, he was initially assigned as a part of the team sent to Thailand to establish a Thai office for the UK tour operator.

However, in 1990, ILG ceased operations but Mathew, already smitten with Thailand, was keen to stay in the country — which resulted in him being invited to join the Regent Cha-am Beach Resort, where he stayed for nine years before moving to Phuket with Thavorn Hotels and Resorts for another 12 years.

Fully ensconced in the ‘Land of Smiles’ Mathew moved around the country taking assignments in Hua Hin, Chiang Rai and Bangkok before returning to Phuket four years ago to join the Phattaravoranee family as the general manager of Kata Sea Breeze Resort.