Andrew Stocks: Building a New Vision for Retirement in Thailand  

Retirement can look like freedom from the outside, yet for the person stepping into it, the decision can feel deeply personal. After spending decades building a career, raising a family or simply moving through life, there comes a point when the question shifts from what will I do next? to where do I want to wake up every day? Sometimes, that answer comes from a place that has held meaning long before retirement ever arrived, as it did for Andrew Stocks. 

Andrew arrived in Thailand as a young boy. Even then, he says, he sensed that the country would eventually become the place where he built his life and career.  

Decades later, that early connection has developed into a wide-ranging business journey spanning golf courses, hotels, condominiums, restaurants and property ventures. It has also led to the creation of Sunshine International, a retirement and lifestyle company that began with a modest 24-room resort and has grown into a business valued at approximately US$80 million.  

Now recognised for building one of Thailand’s fastest-growing foreign-led retirement brands, Stocks is entering another phase of expansion, while also preparing to create a deeply personal resort of his own in Chiang Mai.  

A Career Built Around Thailand  

Stocks’ decision to remain in Thailand was formed by his early experiences with the country and its people.  

He has often spoken about the kindness, hospitality and warmth he encountered during his early years, as well as the relationships he developed with Thai people through business and everyday life. Those experiences helped convince him that Thailand was where he wanted to build his future.  

Over the years, he became involved in a broad range of industries, gaining experience across hospitality, property development and tourism. That background eventually led him towards the retirement sector, where he saw an opportunity to create a different kind of living experience for international residents.  

His approach was not based solely on providing accommodation. Instead, he wanted to combine the comfort and service of a quality resort with the reassurance of long-term support.  

From a 24-Room Resort to an International Brand  

Approximately a decade ago, Sunshine International began with a small 24-room resort.  

Since then, the company has expanded its ambitions and developed a growing portfolio of retirement residences and lifestyle resorts aimed at international retirees from around the world.  

The central idea is straightforward: retirement should offer more than a place to live. Residents should be able to enjoy independence, hospitality, social connection and access to support as their needs change over time.  

Sunshine International’s developments are designed to provide a resort-style environment rather than a traditional retirement-home setting. Residents can enjoy hotel-style services, comfortable surroundings and an international community, while selected developments also offer access to additional care and medical support.  

That combination has become increasingly relevant as retirees look for greater certainty about their future. Many want to remain active and independent, but they also want reassurance that assistance will be available if their circumstances change.  

Sunshine Reeva Brings Care and Lifestyle Together  

One of the company’s latest developments is Sunshine Reeva, a boutique residence created around comfort, independence and peace of mind.  

The residence includes medical staff on site 24 hours a day, providing additional reassurance for residents and their families while maintaining the atmosphere of a private residence rather than an institutional care facility.  

The concept reflects a broader shift in the international retirement market. Increasingly, retirees are looking for accommodation that brings together lifestyle, hospitality, healthcare access and long-term security in one location.  

Sunshine Reeva is intended to respond to that demand by offering residents a place where they can enjoy their daily lives while knowing that professional support is available when required.  

Expansion Continues with Pool Villas  

Sunshine International’s growth is continuing, with Stocks expected to announce a new pool-villa resort in the coming weeks.  

The development will add another option to the company’s existing retirement and lifestyle portfolio, offering private, resort-style accommodation for guests and residents seeking greater space and exclusivity.  

The pool-villa project is part of a wider expansion strategy that aims to give international retirees more choice while maintaining the company’s focus on comfort, service and quality of life.  

Personal Investment and an Old-Fashioned Business Philosophy  

Stocks says he has invested hundreds of millions of baht of his own money into Sunshine International and its developments.  

For him, the company is more than a commercial enterprise. He describes it as a personal passion and says one of his greatest motivations is helping people move to Thailand and enjoy a peaceful, comfortable retirement.  

That personal commitment is also reflected in the way he approaches growth.  

Stocks describes himself as old-fashioned in business and says Sunshine International has focused on controlling debt and developing from a solid financial position rather than expanding at any cost.  

According to Stocks, the company’s debt-conscious approach has allowed it to grow steadily while maintaining control over its direction.  

From its beginnings as a small hospitality operation, Sunshine International has developed into a business that Stocks values at approximately US$80 million.  

Connecting Directly with an International Audience  

Stocks have also built a substantial public profile through social media.  

His Facebook videos reach large audiences, with millions of views generated across his content in some months. Through these videos, he discusses Thailand, retirement, property, business and everyday life in the Kingdom.  

That direct communication has helped introduce Sunshine International to potential residents around the world while giving audiences a more personal view of the company’s founder.  

For many people considering a move overseas, trust and familiarity are important factors. Stocks’ public presence allows prospective retirees to see not only the developments themselves, but also the personality and philosophy behind the brand.  

A Different Kind of Project in Chiang Mai  

While Sunshine International continues to expand, Stocks is also preparing to announce his own separate resort and spa project in Chiang Mai.  

Unlike his other retirement developments, the Chiang Mai resort will be personally owned and operated by Stocks rather than being run through Sunshine International.  

The distinction is important to him. This is not simply another company project; it is something he wants to create himself, in his own way, with direct control over the details and the guest experience.  

Set in the middle of a small jungle, the resort is planned as a peaceful sanctuary surrounded by nature. Its purpose will be to offer privacy, tranquillity and a slower pace of life away from the pressures of everyday living.  

Stocks intends to focus closely on the smaller details that can shape the character of a resort, from landscaping and food to service, wellness, atmosphere and the way guests feel when they arrive.  

The property will mainly operate as a hotel and resort for the over 50s, but it will also include a limited number of private residences for carefully selected retirees.  

Rather than pursuing a large-scale commercial model, Stocks wants to create an intimate environment with a strong sense of community and personal attention.  

A Resort Designed with His Own Retirement in Mind  

The Chiang Mai project has a particularly personal purpose.  

Stocks plans to spend a significant part of his own retirement at the resort. That intention is influencing the way he approaches the development and helping define the atmosphere he wants to create.  

He does not want the property to feel like simply another hotel. He wants it to become a sanctuary, a place where guests can relax, reconnect with nature and enjoy a more personal style of hospitality.  

The resort will bring together the lessons Stocks has learned during decades of working in hotels, property, hospitality and retirement living. At the same time, it will give him the freedom to develop the project according to his own standards and preferences.  

While Sunshine International will continue to operate as a broader retirement and lifestyle brand, the Chiang Mai sanctuary will remain separate and distinctly personal.  

It will be a place created not only for guests, but also for the future Stocks imagines for himself: a peaceful setting surrounded by greenery, where he can live, work and eventually enjoy his own retirement.  

A Long-Term Vision for Retirement  

At the centre of Stocks’ business philosophy is the belief that retirement should not mean giving up quality of life.  

His vision is for residents to enjoy the facilities and services of a quality resort while they are active and independent, with additional care and medical support available if their circumstances change later.  

That creates a model based on continuity.  

A resident may initially arrive looking for sunshine, good food, social activities and a comfortable home. Over time, that same resident may require nursing assistance or more regular medical supervision.  

By developing communities that can support different stages of retirement, Sunshine International aims to provide residents and their families with greater long-term certainty.  

The Next Chapter  

Stocks’ story is also part of a wider narrative about foreign entrepreneurship in Thailand.  

Having first encountered the country as a young boy, he went on to build much of his professional life in the Kingdom. His career has included a wide range of ventures, but Thailand has remained the constant foundation of his work.  

Today, Sunshine International is moving into another period of growth, with new residences, pool villas, enhanced care services and further retirement-focused developments on the horizon.  

At the same time, the Chiang Mai sanctuary represents a more personal chapter, one shaped by nature, privacy and Stocks’ own vision of how he wants to live.  

From a 24-room resort to a business now valued by its founder at approximately US$80 million, Sunshine International’s growth reflects the impact of long-term commitment, personal investment and a clear philosophy.  

For Stocks, the future is not only about building a successful company. It is about creating places where people can live well, age with dignity and enjoy a peaceful life in Thailand, while, ultimately, creating a sanctuary where he can do the same.