Geonet Goes to Bangkok to Celebrate ELLE’s 80th Anniversary

We’ve just returned from a milestone week in Bangkok, where the Geonet team joined ELLE and global partners for the 80th Anniversary celebrations, along with key meetings with Cross Hotels & Resorts and Brand Atlas. This article is written by Elissa Doyle, Deputy CEO of Geonet, sharing her reflections from being on the ground during this pivotal moment.

Fresh off our groundbreaking ceremony for ELLE Resort & Beach Club Bali, the Geonet team flew to Bangkok for a week of milestone events. For me personally, it was a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come, from planning in small offices only a year ago, to now standing side by side with global brands as we build something truly iconic.

Going to Bangkok meant having the opportunity to meet our incredible partners Cross Hotels & Resort, on their home turf. CEO Harry Thaliwal, Country Manager Evan Burns, and their team welcomed us to Thailand with a dinner when we arrived, and having them join us for the week, gave us the chance to strengthen our partnership and align on future opportunities.

As our investors know, Cross will be instrumental in filling ELLE Resort & Beach Club with guests, maximising revenue from hotel room nights, operations, and the signature Beach Club. As world-class operators, we seek their expertise to deliver returns for our investors across the 50-year model.

“It was fantastic to meet with Harry and Evan and the Cross team in Bangkok, on their home ground. The conversations over the last week, drew excitement from both sides, and as we look ahead to what’s possible together.” — Chad Egan, CEO, Geonet

The centrepiece of our week was the ELLE 80th Anniversary. As sponsors of the travelling exhibition at the Alliance Française in Bangkok, we were proud to stand with ELLE at such a historic moment. The exhibit featured 34 works of art by 31 women from around the world, celebrating creativity, resilience, and culture.

The daytime exhibition and anniversary events were attended by ELLE partners from across Asia, leading media outlets, top-tier influencers, and cultural tastemakers. It was more than a celebration of ELLE’s 80 years of influence, it was a gathering of the people and brands shaping the next wave of lifestyle and luxury.

Being in that room was significant for Geonet, as conversations naturally turned toward future collaborations, partnerships, and opportunities tied to ELLE Resort & Beach Club in Bali. For us, it reinforced that we are building something with global resonance, backed by a network of partners eager to align with the project’s vision.

During these few days we also met with ELLE’s global leadership, including Anne Billaz, CEO of ELLE International, and corporate teams from Paris, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan. These are the visionaries taking ELLE into new realms of real estate and hospitality, with cafés, spas, residences, boutique hotels, and now, the first-ever ELLE Resort & Beach Club.

“After opening, three years ago, the first Maison ELLE boutique hotels in Europe, we are proud to now reach a new milestone with our partner Geonet, launching in Bali the brand new concept of the ELLE Resort & Beach Club. — Anne Billaz, CEO of ELLE International

That evening, a smaller group — Chad, Pierre, Alberto, and I — were invited into the home of the French Ambassador to Thailand for an intimate dinner prepared by the chef of ELLE Café Bangkok. It was an unforgettable honour to represent Geonet in such a setting, celebrating ELLE with leaders, creators, and cultural icons.

“Being welcomed into the Ambassador’s residence was a highlight, a true sign of how important this partnership is, and what it means for Bali’s place on the global stage.” — Chad Egan

Stay tuned! ELLE PR Launch for Bali - scheduled for October!

During our week with ELLE we also finalised plans for a global PR launch with the ELLE team. ELLE will be rolling out PR support for the project starting in October, including a feature in the mid-October edition of ELLE (digital and print), followed by coverage across Southeast Asia in November. Additionally, ELLE’s global PR team will launch the Bali endeavour to their global media partners, which include the top international publications for news and lifestyle, thanks to the strength of the ELLE name. Every investor will receive a copy of the magazine, and we’ll have plenty of copies in our office and beachfront sales pod…. and this is only the beginning!

The week concluded with a showcase hosted by Brand Atlas, our new channel partner representing the world’s leading branded residences. Over 200 clients, investors, and brand partners attended, giving Geonet an incredible platform to present ELLE Resort & Beach Club and to position ourselves within the Southeast Asian branded hospitality space. We know the conversations and introductions we had on that evening will become cornerstones to building our presence throughout Southeast Asia and beyond.

For Geonet, this week was more than just a launch event. It marked the beginning of a new chapter. We’ll look back on it as the moment we showed the world how far we’ve come — and where we’re heading — alongside our exceptional partners and visionary collaborators.

Looking back, Bangkok was inspiring, energising, and deeply affirming. For me as someone who has been a part of Geonet from the start, it was extraordinary to see our whole team come together, side by side with our partners, in what I believe will be remembered as a pivotal week in Geonet’s journey.

Our team is excited. Our investors will love what’s coming. And this is just the beginning.

— Elissa Doyle, Deputy CEO, Geonet