Centara announces aggressive overseas expansion plan
CENTARA HOTELS & Resorts is undergoing further expansion overseas including in Doha, Muscat, Cuba, Dubai and Turkey.
Chris Bailey, chief operating officer at Centara, said two properties scheduled to open in the final quarter in Doha and Muscat would become the company’s first properties in the Middle East.
In Doha, the Centara Grand West Bay Hotel is located in the new business and shopping district, West Bay, at the heart of the city.
The property will have 261 rooms and suites plus 96 apartments that will vary from one to three bedrooms.
There will be a signature Thai restaurant, Suan Bua, along with four other food and beverage outlets and Spa Cenvaree.
In Muscat, the Centara Muscat Hotel, with 152 rooms, will offer travellers a centrally located property with all the Centara facilities, which include Spa Cenvaree, a fitness centre, and ample meeting and event space, along with a premium lounge and roof deck that will be available for private events. The roof deck will have a swimming pool.
“There will be further expansion in Doha with two additional properties. Centara West Bay Residence & Suites will open in mid-2017 in the West Bay area close to the Centara Grand.
“Slightly further down the pipeline in 2018, there will be a third property to open that will have 514 keys in the West Bay area,” he said.
In partnership with Nakheel, a global developer, a four-star Centara-branded property will open in 2018 on Deira Island, Dubai.
This property will be a beachfront-themed family property that will include an extensive water park.
“We believe that there is great opportunity for a four-star beachfront product in Dubai that is family focused,” Bailey said.
Cuba is going to provide Centara with other growth opportunities.
The first property there, Centara Grand Beach Resort Cayo Guillermo, will have about 250 keys and will be the company’s first five-star product in the region.
This property will mirror the successful Centara Grand in Maldives with the introduction of over-water villas. It is scheduled to open in late 2017. Additionally, Centara is working on two more projects in complementary locations.
Centara Grand Lykia World Resort & Spa will be the company’s first venture in Turkey. The property is in Denizyaka, between Belek and the Koprucay River. The resort will have 449 rooms, 10 restaurants and 10 bars and will offer an all-inclusive concept, allowing guests to experience a cash-free stay.
“As we start to create a presence in Europe, I think it’ll become apparent that blending the Centara/Thai quality with the local culture and styles will allow us to deliver unique, premium experiences for our guests,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, the group’s chief executive officer.
Maldives has been a key destination for Centara, which has encouraged the company to invest further there with four new properties.
Centara says it has been very strategic in the products and services offered at its current two properties there. Centara Grand Island, open for more than six years, was one of the first properties to introduce safe family travel in Maldives, it says.
The company says the expansion plan will take Centara Hotels & Resorts to a new level.
Currently Centara has about 14,000 rooms over six brands across Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East, which span city, resort and beachfront destinations. The group has a strong international presence in key leisure destinations such as Maldives, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Bali.
