Features

Gulu Lalvani

31 May 2009 by intern22
The founder and chairman of the Binatone Telecom Group, the world’s second largest manufacturer of digital cordless phones, appears regularly on various Rich Lists. But there’s nothing he likes doing more than dressing down and spending a day on the high seas on his yacht (one of five). Recently, the high-profile sailor/captain of industry pulled into harbour and chatted with Margie T Logarta about a number of topics, including his love affair with Phuket and Thailand and the retirement that never was.

You’re in and out of airports a lot, which is your favourite and which would you avoid?

My favourite is Suvarnabhumi. I always look forward to breaking my journey there because of the excellent massage services, especially at the THAI Airways lounge. However, that’s only good for 20 minutes, so if I have a long layover, I go to one of the standalone places for another half hour or more. All the staff are well trained and give great shoulder massages.

I avoid the airports in Delhi and Mumbai – they’re terrible, but they’re being renovated as we speak. The US ones, I also avoid because of all that security – who needs it? I prefer to just do video conferencing rather than fly to America.

Why have you made Phuket your main base now?

From the 1970s to the early 1990s, my hobby was to visit at least three new destinations each year. In 1991, some friends of mine raved about Amanpuri Resort there, so I went with my family to check it out. What clinched it was the yacht ride I took – I was enchanted by the beautiful scenery.

Then, I heard one of the villas was for sale, and I told my wife I would buy it. She asked me: “What about your hobby of travelling?” I said that I had already seen most of the world, but Phuket was incredible with its islands, each one better than the other.

And now you're investing in it big time with your THB6 billion (US$173.6 million) Royal Phuket Marina and "Aquaminium" (Condominium by the water).

Look, I’ve been everywhere as a yacht enthusiast – Florida, Caribbean, the Mediterranean, France. Phuket has all the ingredients to become one of the best yachting hubs in the world.

It’s one of the rare places where your yacht can be used 12 months of the year – if you don’t have the time, your friends can use it, or you can rent it out for charters. The fuel, mooring costs and captain and crew’s salaries are cheaper than in Hongkong, certainly than anywhere else in Europe. And the service is always done with a smile!

At first, you thought you were going to retire in Phuket.

That’s what I thought when I turned 60. But after six months of just going out on the boat, I wondered if I had made a mistake.

After some reflection, I concluded: Phuket was still the right place, the problem was me – I’m a workaholic. I just can’t sit still; I like to be creating something new all the time.

So I thought of a world-class marina that would be on par with similar communities I had seen on my travels. This is the Royal Phuket Marina project, with the first phase – 66 condominum units and penthouses – fully sold out; and the second phase – villas and a condo block right on the water, called Aquaminium – about 85 percent sold out as well. There’s also a convention centre that’s now operating.

Imagine, being able to go out on your boat whenever you want and then go straight back home without any traffic. That’s true luxury.

What does being out on the water do for you?

It only takes hours for me to relax out there. Somewhere else, it might take me a week or so.

You have homes as well in London, Gstaad AND Bodrum (TURKEY). Where's the next one?

Ha, ha! I don’t have time for another. We spend six months of the year in Phuket and the remaining time is divided among the rest. We like to catch the music festival in Gstaad and the Grand Prix in Istanbul.

You must have complete sets of clothes in each house.

In Phuket, I don’t have a black-tie outfit. So recently when I had to go to Dubai from there to attend a formal event, I had to ask my son, who lives in Hongkong, to bring one.

Where do you get your suits made? Sam the Tailor in Hongkong?

How did you know? Yes, Sam the Tailor is my favourite.

You were raised in Mumbai. How did last year’s terror attack affect you?

I was in shock. My favourite suite, Rajput Suite (in the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel & Tower) is in the wing that was on fire.

Thailand has been going through a tough time lately. How can it recover?

Yes, it’s gone through so many ups and downs – SARS, bird flu, the tsunami. But it’s such a unique place, especially Phuket. The people are so welcoming and the scenery isn’t found anywhere else. I know, I have been everywhere.

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