Outrigger Hospitality Group announces the appointment of Chris Long as General Manager of the forthcoming Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort, scheduled to open in February 2026. Long assumed the role in April 2025, bringing nearly a decade of leadership experience with Outrigger and an extensive background in culinary and operational roles across the Maldives and Southeast Asia.
His appointment marks a key milestone in the transformation of the resort into a five-star Thai sanctuary, where Southern Thailand’s natural beauty, local culture and barefoot luxury converge.
A respected culinary and operations leader, Long has built his career around a thoughtful, place-based approach to hospitality. After nine years with Outrigger in senior culinary management roles, he returns to Asia for his first General Manager position, equipped with deep expertise in remote island operations, local sourcing and weaving culinary identity into the overall guest experience.
“Outrigger has been a defining part of my professional life, and returning to Asia in this role feels like a homecoming,” said Long. “Phi Phi offers a rare balance of culture, landscape and community, making it the perfect setting for a relaxed, locally connected style of hospitality.”
Located on Laem Tong Beach at the secluded northern tip of Phi Phi Don and accessible only by boat, the resort features 63 suites and villas arranged along leafy pathways inspired by traditional Thai village life. Guests arrive directly onto the sand, encouraging a slower pace and a closer connection with the surrounding Andaman Sea landscape.
Sustainability forms a cornerstone of Long’s operational vision. Chef’s gardens are being developed to supply fresh produce, while partnerships with local Urak Lawoi fishermen will deliver daily catch to the resort’s restaurants. Coconut husks will be repurposed into charcoal for grilling, food waste will be reduced through circular farming systems, and freshwater pools have replaced chlorine to lower environmental impact. Guest education on sustainability will be discreet, shared via QR codes rather than overt messaging.
Cuisine will play a central role in expressing the resort’s sense of place. Mala Kitchen will showcase Southern Thai flavours through open cooking and breakfast theatre, while Edgewater Bar & Grill will offer an intimate open-grill experience highlighting local ingredients and live preparation.
Beyond dining, guests will be able to engage with Phi Phi’s cultural and ecological heritage through low-impact marine activities, Thai cooking experiences, traditional bead-making with the Urak Lawoi community, and wellness rituals at Zeavola Spa, inspired by Southern Thai traditions.
“Sustainability should feel natural, not instructional,” Long added. “When guests connect with the food, the people and the environment, the island tells its own story.”
Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort will join the group’s expanding Thailand portfolio, alongside properties in Koh Samui, Khao Lak and Phuket. Inspired by the Thai concept of Nit Thra, meaning the soul of rest, the resort will celebrate local craftsmanship, Southern Thai cuisine and the protected beauty of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park upon its opening.
