Interview with Beckett Tucker, sales director for Above+Beyond Hotels

Powderlife magazine had a chance to speak with Beckett Tucker, the sales director for Above+Beyond Hotels and Resorts, to get his impressions of its flagship Niseko property.

Where is the Above+Beyond team located?
We are all based out of Hong Kong, however, I will be here in Niseko for the next four months. I am working out of the Nisade office. We do have a showroom there, but the main showroom and sales area is located in the Niseko Real Estate office. We also have a very nice office in Hong Kong that is open five days a week. Above+Beyond is the developer for the hotel phase of the project and Nisade is the developer for our residential chalet phase. Above+Beyond will be the appointed operator for both phases of the development upon completion.

What resorts has Above+Beyond been previously involved with?
This will be our flagship property. This is the first development for Above+Beyond, but our management team has extensive experience with resorts around the world. We are trying to bring an international flavor and create the quintessential all-season resort in Niseko. We don’t just want to cater to winter. I feel we are filling a void right now in Niseko. There is nothing presently that really offers proper facilities for conferencing, weddings or banquets, and we aim to plug that gap.

Where are you focusing your marketing?
The main focus of our marketing is within Asia. Australia was a big market, but I think that has shifted due to currency changes. We have had a lot of interest from Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia, but the last few qualified buyers that I have been speaking with have actually been from Tokyo.

It’s mentioned that there will be hydro pools in the basement. What is the difference between a hydro pool and a regular pool?
Hydro pools are like a jacuzzi but made with stronger jets that are meant to help with massaging the body.

Upon completion what new amenities will be available to the public?
It is going to be a gated hotel but everyone will be welcome to come in and enjoy the facilities. We will have the second indoor heated swimming pool in Hirafu. There will be private family onsens that are not really available anywhere else. We also plan on creating an extensive library and lounge where guests can read and order food from the bar and restaurant.

How many sales are necessary before construction is a go, or are you building regardless?
We are 100 per cent go. We have already sold half of block A of the hotels and a couple of the chalets. There will be three blocks of hotels totalling 102 units. The three hotel blocks will be connected with covered walkways. Blocks A and B are available now and C will be released at a later date. We have development approval already and building approval is forecast to be granted in the next few months.

What are some of the future plans of Above+Beyond Hotels and Resorts?
We have a beach club and retail development in Phuket that were working with, which is not so much a hotel as it is a bar-restaurant project. We are also looking at Bali, Malaysia and maybe somewhere in the Indian Ocean.