How the hit show The White Lotus is booking out Thailand’s luxury hotels

[BANGKOK] Luxury hotels across Thailand’s Koh Samui island are riding a wave of soaring bookings and skyrocketing room rates, thanks to the so-called “White Lotus” effect.

Since the hit HBO series rolled out its third season last month – filmed primarily on the country’s second-largest island – Koh Samui’s luxury hotels have been flooded with bookings, sending demand for five-star stays rocketing up to 40 per cent year on year, some tour agents confirmed.

Room rates at some four-star and five-star hotels on Koh Samui have also reportedly jumped by 40 to 50 per cent shortly after the release of the latest season of The White Lotus on Feb 16, and it has become difficult to book rooms and even flights to the island.