Keeping up with travel and vacation trends

BANGKOK, Thailand – It seems that the global economy is slowly coming around, which is good news, of course, for almost every industry, including travel and tourism. Yet, even with the upswings, many have learned valuable lessons after their economies took a sharp nose dive, and they began watching their budgets re-thinking how they would spend their hard-earned dollars.

Today’s travelers use the Internet more as they search for specials, deals, and value. They eat at less-expensive restaurants, and they shop less. The bottom line and the good news is, those with a penchant to travel are still going on holidays – they are just, in general, spending less.

Following the trends and the market, Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced that it will further expand its presence in Phuket with the addition of a second Centra value brand hotel on the island, signing a management contract for a new property that is being built in Bangtao.

Centara, Thailand’s leading operator of hotels, has four of its brands in Phuket, extending its reach across a range of tourism market segments.

The management contract was signed at the Centara head office in Bangkok on July 24 with owning company Adler Group Co. Ltd., with the opening expected during August 2016.

The new hotel will be named Centra Bangtao Resort Phuket.

“Bangtao is set on one of Phuket’s longest beaches,” says Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts. “This part of the island has become very popular with visitors, and we are delighted to be opening a hotel here.

“This gives us the opportunity to expand the range of our Centra brand in Phuket, where we at present have one other Centra property, at Patong, which is very successful.

“The new hotel will be our eighth property on the island, which indicates the strength of our confidence in Phuket as a world-class tourism destination.”

Chris Bailey, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Centara Hotels & Resorts, says that Centara has a strategic expansion plan for Phuket, with currently four different brands to cater for specific market segments.

“We have at present properties in Patong, Karon Beach, Kata Beach, and Mai Khao Beach,” he says.

“We also have a resort at Khao Lak, and two in Krabi.

“Opening a new resort at Bangtao gives us extra strength in the Southern Thailand market, and extends our range in the value sector.”

Centra Bangtao Resort Phuket is a new-build project standing on 1.6 acres of land. Currently in the design and planning stages, construction will begin in July 2014.

The resort will have 150 rooms, with a swimming pool and sundeck. There will be one restaurant, a Cense by Spa Cenvaree, a mini-gym, a business corner, and a kids’ corner.

Centra hotels are designed to deliver the Centara style of service with quality accommodation and facilities, but without the facilities that may be superfluous to guest requirements.

Centra Ashlee Hotel Patong opened in 2010 and was the first Centra brand hotel. Now, in addition to the Bangtao and Patong properties, there are two Centra hotels in Bangkok, one in Samui, and one in Bali.

Centra Ashlee Hotel Patong is an eight-story hotel with 110 rooms, set in the island’s premier shopping and leisure town of Patong, within a few minutes’ walk of the beach.

The hotel has a swimming pool on the rooftop, with a Jacuzzi, steam rooms and fitness center, and the Air Rooftop Bar & Lounge next to the pool, with its view across the town to the sea, is a popular evening venue for cocktails and enjoying the spectacular sunsets.

Centara Hotels & Resorts’ latest Centara brand is named COSI Hotels, and is an economy brand designed for travelers who predominantly make their bookings via the Internet and who want comfort and convenience at the most friendly prices available.

For more information about Centara Hotels & Resorts, please visit: www.centarahotelsresorts.com