Issue 15 | Feature brought to you by Oriental Invest
It is always nice, and reassuring, to hear of someone at the top of a company willing to get their hands dirty. In the case of Flemming Bo Sørensen, chief executive officer at Oriental Invest, this means both getting stuck into the everyday running of the business, and in a literal translation as he is not shy to get muddy as the construction of a property commences.
Bo Sørensen’s attitude and commitment is a result of the path that led him to becoming a developer but undoubtedly his character too. Starting out as a real estate agent in Rayong, Bo Sørensen quickly realised that there is no bigger challenge than selling your own development. “It is easy to promise the world as an agent,” he comments, “But following it through is another story entirely and something that I relish”. His most recent residential project, Oriental Beach Pearl, has been designed and built amalgamating Bo Sørensen’s years of experience in the industry.
Situated 35 kilometres south of Hua Hin in Sam Roi Yot, this impressive resort is home to a range of villas from one to three bedrooms with a host of facilities including a sweeping swimming pool, tennis court, restaurant and 62 metre waterslide – possibly the longest of any residential resort in the area. Each villa has its own private roof terrace designed for residents to enjoy the beauty of the mountain and surrounding views. Partly covered with a canopy that resembles a sail of a yacht, the area provides an additional living area day and night. Complete with a Jacuzzi and plenty of space to relax, it is ideal for sun worshippers or a place to dine to benefit from the evening cool temperatures.
Living on site, Bo Sørensen is there on hand to help in any way he can. The residents are a mix of permanent owners who were quickly lured by the resort’s appeal, and holidaymakers who are simply enjoying the setting and facilities that Oriental Beach Pearl has. Loving it so much they return year after year or even end up buying a property on the resort – no better testament to its success.
As an agent, Bo Sørensen provided what can only be described as an exemplary level of customer service. Unlike some of his competitors he continued the relationship with investors long after the deal was done. This ethos has continued today as Bo Sørensen constantly seeks to improve Oriental Beach Pearl to exceed residents’ expectations, a pizza oven has recently been added to the resort and a mini golf course is currently under construction.
There is no doubt that Bo Sørensen is passionate about what he does. He wants to present and maintain the best investment for his clients. One example is his appearance on a property programme on Danish prime time television putting Thailand on the radar as a place to invest, which was only achieved by his dedication to repeatedly pursue the programme. Soon after it was aired all units at the former development, Oriental Mountain View, were sold in less than one month, no mean feat considering this was at the height of the financial crisis.
This theme of devotion is a comforting characteristic when making an investment. Nothing could be more transparent or provide reassurance than a developer wholeheartedly throwing themselves in. And all for the benefit of the investors.