Just about everybody in Koh Samui has heard of Nikki Beach but perhaps not everybody knows who founded the company and why.
Nikki Beach was founded, and is owned by international entrepreneur Jack Penrod, a hard working man with clear visions for success. Jack Penrod came from humble beginnings and started out working at McDonald’s as a cook where he earned 85 cents an hour, eventually he became one of the largest franchise owners within the corporation with 16 McDonald’s in South Florida. Capitalizing on his innate marketing skills Jack moved into the entertainment and hospitality industry and quickly found success as the owner of several clubs in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Daytona. In 1988 Jack Penrod opened Penrod’s Beach Club on South Beach and in doing so changed the area’s demographic from that of a retired community to a young and vibrant and trendy crowd.
In 1998, after tragically losing his daughter Nicole to a car traffic accident in 1997 jack decided to honor and celebrate her life by transforming Penrod’s Beach Club success into the unparalleled ultra trendy Nikki Beach brand of beach clubs, restaurants and lounges all over the world. Now, almost 15 years later, Nikki Beach has evolved to become synonymous with the one true luxury entertainment lifestyle brand in the world, combining the elements of dining, music, fashion, art, film and entertainment into one.
Today, Jack Penrod’s Nikki Beach concept has transcended its international venues and grown into a global multifaceted luxury brand comprising of a Bach Club Division, a Nikki Beach Lifestyle division (including an exclusive branding & clothing line found at the boutiques located at all Nikki Beach locations, a music label and Nikki Style Magazine and a lifestyle publication produced three times a year): a Special Events Division, and a Hotels & Resorts Division. Nikki Beach, which can now be experienced in eleven cities in eight different countries, is also firmly supportive of the movie industry by entertaining and catering to celebrities, producers and VIP’s with pop-up beach club locations during the prestigious Cannes, Toronto & Sundance Film Festivals.
Jack Penrod is so respected in the industry that the State of Florida, Miami Dade County and the City of Miami Beach honored him for the phenomenal success of Nikki Beach and his contribution to the transformation of the infamous South Beach Miami over the past 25 years by declaring April 17th 2012 Jack Penrod Day.
An avid driver and pilot Jack’s love of nature greatly influences his choice in new locations around the world. He truly believes in living life to the fullest and the Nikki Beach family business reflects that philosophy.
On Friday August 23rd Jack and his family cordially invited VIP’s and members of the press to join them in celebration of the Grand Opening of Nikki Beach Samui’s expansion of 32 new suites and villas, an event that coincided with the second annual Fashion and Arts weekend event series. Nikki Beach has a total of 48 rooms, a restaurant, bar, beach club, café, fashion boutique, two swimming pools, a massage sala and a fitness centre.
Nikki Beach were honored to have the support of Lacoste, My Second Home, Pommery Champagne, Grey Goose, Lola Swimwear and Eric Kuster Metropolitan Luxury for the event.
The Food is Art gala dinner on Friday began with a cocktail reception located at the end of the new 75 meter swimming pool at sunset complete with an elephant and a mermaid. Guests were entertained by a tenor on their way to a lavish dinner of Pan Seared Hokkaido Scallops, slowly braised Wagyu Beef Cheeks, Roasted Chilean Sea bass and Nikki Beach signature chocolate lava cake as well as an incredible firework display.
While there guests were shown around the new villas that were designed by Dutch interior designer Eric Cluster who put is signature under the 32 unit expansion. The chic, aesthetic and exotic surroundings of the property combined with the Nikki Beach brands iconic style that embraces glamour, comfort and sophistication were a wonderful opportunity for conceptual designer Erik Kuster who masterfully put together a uniquely lavish and profusely inviting design in each room and bungalow. The expansion features fantastically appointed deluxe rooms, luxurious suites and private villas complimented by the beautiful brand new 75 meter pool located in the very center Bungalow Resort area of the property.
On Saturday, August 4th breakfast was served at the bakery before Executive chef Peter Montemayor & executives from Nikki Beach Worldwide corporate team hosted a lunch where guests were invited to explore the global luxury lifestyle and hospitality brand’s global cuisine. During the evening guests boarded a yacht for early evening canapés on the water before returning to enjoy dinner and the evenings big fashion bash.
On Sunday August 25th guests enjoyed an expansive buffet, live food stations, in-house entertainment and a fashion showcase.
Nikki Beach Timeline
1998 – Nikki Beach opens a permanent Beach Club location in Miami Beach Florida.
1999 – Pearl Restaurant and Champagne lounge opens in Miami Beach, Florida
2001 – Nikki Beach Music, an in-house music label launches
2002 – Nikki Beach opens a permanent Beach Club Location in St.Tropez, France
2002 – Nikki Beach opens a permanent Beach Club Location in St. Barth, French West Indies
2003 – ikki Beach debuts pop-up locations in Cannes, France during the Cannes international Film Festival (annual location)
2003 – Nikki Style opens a permanent Beach Club location in Marbella, Spain
2004 – Nikki Beach opens a permanent Beach Club location in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
2005 – Nikki Beach opens a permanent Beach Club location in Marrakech, Morocco
2007 – Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts Division is established
2008 – Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts EMEA is established
2009 – Nikki Beach lifestyle launches a branded clothing collection
2009 – Nikki Beach debuts a pop-up location in Toronto during the Toronto International Film Festival (annual location)
2009 – Nikki Beach opens a permanent Beach Club Location in Koh Samui, Thailand with the opening of Nikki Beach Bungalow Resort adjacent to the beach club
2012 – Nikki Beach opens a permanent Beach Club location in Mallorca, Spain
2013 – Nikki Beach debuts a pop-up location in Park City, Utah during the Sundance Festival.
2013 – Nikki Beach opens a permanent Beach Club location in Ibiza, Spain
2013 – Nikki Beach in Koh Samui, Thailand debuts a 32 villa expansion (in addition to the existing Beach Club & Bungalow resort) thus becoming known as Nikki Beach Resort in Koh Samui.
Over the next three years Nikki Beach pan to open a Beach Club in Phuket and Beach Resorts and Spa’s in the Maldives, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Croatia
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