Key points
- The opening on September 7, 2026, marks a significant step in RIU’s continued international expansion and strengthens the Mallorca-founded hotel company’s presence in Asia.
- The company, which began as a small family vacation business in Mallorca in 1953, has expanded over seven decades into an international hospitality group operating around 100 hotels in more than 20 countries.
- A central component of the new resort is RIU’s 24-Hour All-Inclusive service, giving the Phuket property a point of differentiation from many of the island’s conventional luxury resorts.
Spanish hospitality group RIU Hotels & Resorts has officially entered Thailand with the opening of the five-star Hotel Riu Palace Phuket, bringing its signature 24-Hour All-Inclusive concept to one of Asia’s best-known resort destinations. The 504-room beachfront property on Mai Khao Beach represents RIU’s first hotel in Thailand and adds another major international brand to Phuket’s expanding luxury hospitality sector.
Image Credit: RIU Hotels and Resorts
The opening on September 7, 2026, marks a significant step in RIU’s continued international expansion and strengthens the Mallorca-founded hotel company’s presence in Asia. Located on Phuket’s quieter northwestern coastline, this Thailand Hotel News report highlights a resort positioned beside Sirinat National Park and approximately 16 kilometers from Phuket International Airport. The historic center of Phuket is around 40 kilometers away, giving guests convenient airport access while retaining the more secluded atmosphere associated with Mai Khao.
A Major New Beachfront Arrival for Phuket
Hotel Riu Palace Phuket has been developed as a full-scale destination resort, with 504 guest rooms spread across several buildings rising no higher than four floors. Covered walkways connect the different sections of the property, an important design feature given Phuket’s tropical climate and seasonal rainfall.
The opening also brings RIU’s established Palace positioning into the Thai market. The company, which began as a small family vacation business in Mallorca in 1953, has expanded over seven decades into an international hospitality group operating around 100 hotels in more than 20 countries.
Image Credit: RIU Hotels and Resorts
Thailand now becomes part of that global portfolio, with Phuket selected as RIU’s entry point into a market already crowded with established domestic and international luxury hotel operators.
A central component of the new resort is RIU’s 24-Hour All-Inclusive service, giving the Phuket property a point of differentiation from many of the island’s conventional luxury resorts.
Six Restaurants Build an International Dining Lineup
Food and beverage operations are extensive, with six restaurants covering Thai and international dining.
Chantra serves as the hotel’s principal buffet restaurant and includes live cooking stations, while Ruen Siam focuses on traditional Thai cuisine. Italian dishes are offered at Il Gusto, complemented by a dedicated Steakhouse and the more casual Pepe’s Food grill concept.
Image Credit: RIU Hotels and Resorts
A sixth restaurant is reserved exclusively for guests staying within the resort’s Elite Club by RIU category.
The beverage and entertainment offering extends across seven themed bars and venues. These include the Mai Khao lobby bar, Siang Sawan lounge bar, Khon Plaza, a Sports bar and Capuchino, a café specializing in coffee and ice cream.
Around the swimming pool area, guests can use the Sabai pool bar, which incorporates a swim-up bar, while Elite Club guests have access to their own lounge.
Elite Club Brings a More Exclusive Resort Experience
Of the hotel’s 504 rooms, 49 have been assigned to the Elite Club by RIU concept, creating a premium tier within the larger all-inclusive resort.
Elite Club guests receive a separate reception and personalized check-in experience, together with access to an exclusive restaurant and swimming pool. Other benefits include upgraded minibars, international-brand beverages and additional premium touches during the stay.
Image Credit: RIU Hotels and Resorts
Among the most distinctive accommodation options are Swim Up rooms featuring a private pool directly on the terrace, combining greater privacy with immediate access to the water.
The Elite Club proposition allows RIU to target travelers seeking enhanced services while maintaining the broader all-inclusive positioning of the resort.
Six Pools, Spa Facilities and Family Entertainment
Outdoor recreation is another major component of the development. Hotel Riu Palace Phuket contains six swimming pools, including two specifically designed for children and one reserved for Elite Club guests.
The resort’s Renova Spa anchors its wellness offering and includes a gym, steam bath and hair salon, alongside a menu of spa and beauty treatments.
RIU has also incorporated elements intended to connect the resort environment with its Thai setting. A dedicated area for meditation, prayer and offerings has been created in front of the spa, while an open-air wooden palapa near the dining area provides a setting for outdoor massage treatments.
Families are supported by the RiuLand children’s club, while RiuFit provides sports and fitness activities. Daily evening entertainment rounds out a program designed to keep guests within the resort throughout much of their stay.
Image Credit: RIU Hotels and Resorts
Sustainability Measures Built into Operations
RIU has incorporated several environmental systems into the Phuket property, including solar panels installed on two buildings in the hotel’s service area. The panels allow the resort to generate a portion of its energy requirements from a cleaner source.
Rainwater harvesting has also been integrated into the building design. Water collected from the resort’s roofs is recycled for irrigation across gardens and landscaped green areas, reducing the need to use other water supplies for maintaining the grounds.
These systems add an operational sustainability dimension to a property whose location beside Sirinat National Park places it close to one of Phuket’s important protected natural areas.
Thailand Becomes RIU’s Latest International Market
The launch of Hotel Riu Palace Phuket represents considerably more than another resort opening for Phuket. For RIU, it establishes a foothold in Thailand and extends the Spanish hotel company’s diversification into one of Asia’s most competitive and internationally recognized tourism markets.
With 504 rooms, six restaurants, seven bars, six swimming pools, an Elite Club section and an established all-inclusive operating model, the resort enters Phuket with substantial scale. Its beachfront Mai Khao location also gives RIU an opportunity to compete for travelers looking beyond the island’s busier southern resort districts.
The combination of a major international brand, an all-inclusive format, extensive dining and leisure facilities and premium accommodation could make Hotel Riu Palace Phuket a notable addition to the island’s evolving resort landscape. More importantly for RIU, Thailand now becomes part of a global expansion story that began with a small family business in Mallorca more than 70 years ago and has developed into an international hotel portfolio spanning multiple continents and destinations.
For the more details or to make reservations, visit:
https://www.riu.com/en/hotel/thailand/phuket/hotel-riu-palace-phuket
