Bangkok- Thailand’s leading hotel operator, Centara Hotels & Resorts, is to open its first property on the African continent following the signing of a management contract for Centara Grand Addis Ababa Hotel Ethiopia.
The contract was signed in Centara’s head office in Bangkok on 29 July 2013 with developers Yencomad Construction Plc, represented by Mr. Yemeru Nega, Ms. Mekdes Ayele and Mr. Asamnew Barega Birgane.
The hotel is under construction and is expected to open in December 2017.
“We are very proud to be announcing our first hotel on the African continent, and believe this reflects the growing reputation of the Centara brand overseas,” says Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts.
“Our Thai-style hospitality and our proven track record in hotel and resort management are now increasingly accepted by international investors who know they can rely upon Centara to attract guests from around the world to their properties.”
Centara Hotels & Resorts is following a policy for growth in the Indian Ocean region and strategic destinations in Africa. The company opened its first resort in Mauritius early this year, and will be opening a second under its premium five-star brand in December.
“We firmly believe that our track record as both an owner and management company places us in a very advantageous position for expansion in Africa, where there is enormous potential,” says Chris Bailey, Senior Vice President of sales and marketing of Centara Hotels & Resorts.
“Ethiopia is an exciting destination and we believe that our reputation and our Thai management style will combine with our growing customer base around the world, generating global business for what will be an outstanding new hotel in Addis Ababa.”
Centara Grand Addis Ababa Hotel Ethiopia is a new-build property, located on 6,742 square meters of land at Africa Avenue. As part of Centara’s premium five-star brand, the hotel will have at least 300 rooms, three restaurants and one bar, and extensive meeting and banqueting facilities. A Spa Cenvaree, fitness club, swimming pool and kids’ club will all be featured.
Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s leading operator of hotels, with 42 deluxe and first-class properties covering all the major tourist destinations in the Kingdom. A further 18 resorts in the Maldives, Vietnam, Shanghai, Bali Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius Indian Ocean, Ethiopia brings the present total to 60 properties. Brands and properties within Centara ensure that specific categories such as couples, families, individuals, and meetings and incentives groups will all find a hotel or resort that is appropriate to their needs. Centara operates 27 branches of Spa Cenvaree, one of Thailand’s most luxurious and innovative spa brands, together with its newly-launched value brand Cense by Spa Cenvaree, which provides core spa services for busy travelers. The company’s Kids’ Club is available at all the family-friendly resorts to ensure that the youngsters and teens are taken care of. Centara Hotels & Resorts also operates three state-of-the-art convention centers in Bangkok, and two in northeastern Thailand, one being located in Udon Thani and the other in Khon Kaen. The latest Centara brand is named COSI Hotels, 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, which is under development with the first property due to open in 2015.
PHOTO: Suthikiati Chirathivat (4th right), Chairman of the Board of Centara Hotels & Resorts, and Yemeru Nega Dembel (3rd left), Managing Director of Yencomad Construction PLC, shaking hands and exchanging the contract as looking on from the left are:
-Asamnew Barega Birgane
-Mekdes Ayele
-Dr. Ronnachit Mahattanapreut, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration of Centara Hotels & Resorts
-Suparat Chirathivat, Vice President for Development of Centara International Management Co Ltd.
-Kristina Fischer, Director of Business Development and Legal Service of Centara International Management Co Ltd.
The signing took place at M23, Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- The latest Centara brand is named COSI Hotels, 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, which is under development with the first property due to open in 2015.
- “We firmly believe that our track record as both an owner and management company places us in a very advantageous position for expansion in Africa, where there is enormous potential,” says Chris Bailey, Senior Vice President of sales and marketing of Centara Hotels &.
- “We are very proud to be announcing our first hotel on the African continent, and believe this reflects the growing reputation of the Centara brand overseas,” says Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels &.
