Thai hospitality groups expand into South Asia

With management deals freshly sealed for three new hotels in Myanmar, Centara Hotels & Resorts now has a total of nine properties in development in the country.

The latest trio of hotel management agreements with SL International Construction, an office and residential construction firm, will include Centra by Centara Hotel Thiri Hpa-An, Hpa-An Hilltop Resort & Spa and Centara Hotel Mandalay.

Opening first in 2021 is Centra by Centara Hotel Thiri Hpa-An, a 77-key hotel featuring two F&B outlets, outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and meeting facilities. Set in the picturesque town of Hpa-An, in Kayin State, the property can be reached overland from the western Thai city of Mae Sot via a new road connecting Kawkareik to Myawaddy on the Myanmar side of the border.

Coming up in 2022, a short 20-minute drive from Centra by Centara Hotel Thiri Hpa-An is Hpa-An Hilltop Resort & Spa, which will be managed under the Centara Boutique Collection brand of upper upscale and individual boutique hotels. The new-build resort will feature 60 guest rooms and bungalows, two F&B outlets, a spa, kid’s club, fitness centre with swimming pool and an entertainment centre. A glass-bottomed skydeck will offer 360-degree views across the town’s unique natural landscape.

In 2024, Centara Hotel Mandalay will open as part of a mixed-use project which will also include a shopping mall, office and casino. The 200-room hotel will feature three restaurants, meeting facilities, fitness centre with swimming pool, and guest recreational facilities.

Centara has signed management deals with six hotels this year outside of Thailand, including the three Myanmar properties, as well as one in Oman and two in Vietnam. The latest signings add 337 keys to the group’s portfolio now totalling 17,154 keys across 81 properties.

Another Thailand-based hospitality group, Dusit International, has announced its expansion into India with a debut property planned in Kolkata.

Slated to open in Q2 2022 as part of franchise partner Jain Group’s high-end residential development project, Dream One, Dusit Princess Serviced Suites Kolkata will occupy a prime location near the green expanse of Eco Park, only five minutes by car from both the city centre and the airport, and just one minute from Kalakshetra Metro Station.

Comprising 42 three-bedroom units, the new property will provide a base for business seeking extended stays. A swimming pool, an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant, and a fitness and wellness centre will be among the recreational facilities. Banqueting and meeting facilities will also be available for small and midscale events.

Alongside the signing of Dusit Princess Serviced Suites Kolkata, Dusit is expected to conclude at least four more signings within the next 12 months. The group plans to open at least two Dusit-branded hotels per year from 2021 onwards in Tier I and Tier II cities – such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore – as well as key leisure destinations throughout the country.

“While Covid-19 has brought immense challenges for tourism and hospitality worldwide, we remain confident that our resilient industry can and will bounce back, and we expect India to be a key player in international and domestic tourism in the brighter days ahead,” said Suphajee Suthumpun, group CEO, Dusit International.