Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • SpherePay launches in-app credit function in Singapore

    SpherePay launches in-app credit function in Singapore

    Singaporean mobile payment app SpherePay has introduced a “micro-loan” concept for its users.

    It is the first mobile payment app to offer a buy-now-pay-later scheme, which it terms advanced credit. A QR code enables payments. Users must be at least 18 years old to sign up for the service, which allows users 30 to 45 days to repay.

    Processing and approval can be done within two hours. Applications can be made by clicking the Advanced Credit icon on the SpherePay mobile app. For first time users, the credit amount is set at $300. As the app monitors spending patterns and repayments, the credit amount can increase.

    “The advance credit will benefit people without credit cards, especially students,” says the company.

    Launched in November, SpherePay has more than 60,000 users in Singapore and 100-plus merchants. Meanwhile, the company plans to expand to Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia this year.

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  • Pertamina Needs Up to $70m to Support National Single-Price Fuel Scheme

    Pertamina Needs Up to $70m to Support National Single-Price Fuel Scheme

    State-owned energy company Pertamina needs to spend around Rp 800 billion to Rp 1 trillion ($70 million) this year to support the government’s single-price fuel scheme in 54 of the country’s most remote areas, a minister said on Monday (08/01).

    The administration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo initiated the single-price fuel scheme in October 2016 to provide cheap, subsidized fuel in remote areas to help spur growth.

    According to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan, Pertamina needs as much as Rp 1 trillion to help fund logistical, operational and development costs to distribute the fuel in the country’s hard-to-reach districts.

    Pertamina has been tasked with developing a total of 150 fuel distribution facilities by the end of 2019, estimated to cost about Rp 3.8 trillion in total. The government targets to offer the same fuel prices across the country at Rp 5,150 per cubic meter for subsidized diesel and Rp 6,450 per cubic meter for low octane “Premium” gasoline.

    “[Subsidized] fuel products are very important, especially in the frontier, outermost and most remote areas, in which the disparity [with big cities] is pretty high. This is a three-year program as [reaching] the areas is not easy,” Jonan said in a press conference on Monday.

    Since former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration, the government has continuously liberalized fuel distribution businesses to the private sector from, previously, Pertamina.

    Last year, the state-controlled company, along with privately owned chemical distribution company AKR Corporindo, built a total of 57 fuel distribution facilities: Pertamina developed 54 of those facilities. In total, the new facilities have a combined distribution capacity of 48,000 kiloliters per year.

    However, last year, distributors from Pertamina and AKR only distributed 11,000 kiloliters of Premium gasoline and 6,000 kl of subsidized diesel.

    For the 2018-2022 period, the government has appointed Pertamina and AKR to procure subsidized fuel products in the country.

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  • Central Group to add its online presence with JD.com

    Central Group to add its online presence with JD.com

    After forming an e-commerce partnership with China’s JD.com, Thai retail giant Central Group expects online sales to account for as much as 15 per cent of its revenue in five years’ time, from 2 per cent now.

    CEO Tos Chirathivat says the $500 million JV, announced in September, will help it compete in Southeast Asia’s booming e-commerce market and also open up businesses opportunities in China.

    Tos estimates online retail in Thailand could rise fivefold to 10 per cent of the market as web access spreads via smartphones.

    While Central Group is a privately held investment arm of the Chirathivat family, it controls a range of publicly traded businesses – Central Pattana is a mall developer, Central Plaza Hotel runs resorts and restaurants, Robinson is a chain of department stores and COL is an office supplies company. Central Pattana turnover surged 50 per cent last year, Central Plaza 47 per cent and COL more than doubled.

    Outside of Thailand, Central Group owns Italian luxury department store La Rinascente, Danish retailer Illum and the Big C hypermarket chain in Vietnam, along with interested in retail chains including Nguyen Kim (Vietnam) and B2S (Thailand).

    Central Group is targeting annual revenue growth of 13 per cent this year, says Tos. Local sentiment is helping the company, with consumer spending in Thailand picking up after the October cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej ended the nation’s year-long mourning period.

  • Kendrick Lamar Debuts the Nike Cortez “Kenny I”

    Kendrick Lamar Debuts the Nike Cortez “Kenny I”

    With the release date for his “DON’T TRIP” Cortez “Kenny” collaboration with Nike fast approaching, Kendrick Lamar has now given another take on the collaborative sneaker. Stepping out for his performance at the 2018 NCAA College Football National Championship, Lamar was wearing a previously-unseen take on the Cortez silhouette, which Nike described as “a tribute to his album DAMN.“ in an Instagram post.

    DAMN. is celebrated through contrasting red embroidery of the album’s title along the sneaker’s lateral side, as well as custom Nike branding on the tongue with “DAMN.” appearing above a Swoosh logo. Other features of the shoe include its black tongue and red stitching across the upper.

    Nike has confirmed that the “Kenny I” collaboration is set to drop via the SNKRS app on January 26, with a reported retail price of $100 USD. For more new Nike sneakers, take a closer look at the Air Max 270 “Teal.”

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  • The Golden Gaytime skips Indonesia market

    The Golden Gaytime skips Indonesia market

    Under social-media fire in Indonesia over its Golden Gaytime ice-cream brand, Unilever has issued a statement to say the brand is not even sold in the country.

    Protesters say the name and design promote LGBT rights, a big issue in Indonesia. The outrage follows social-media posts featuring a Rainbow Gaytime ice-cream bar that is not an official product but a tribute concept created by an Australian fan for Sydney’s Mardi Gras festival. The posts went viral, followed by ugly comments and calls to boycott Unilever subsidiary Wall’s.

    Unilever Indonesia clarified that the ice cream was not a product of Wall’s Indonesia. It said it has been in Indonesia for 84 years and respected and upheld the cultural and religious values and norms of the country. It also said Wall’s brand was halal certified in Indonesia, and had won an award for its efforts in this area.

    Golden Gaytime first released in Australia in 1959, keeping its name despite the change in connotation of the word “gay”. In recent years, as with the rainbow edition, it has embraced the modern use of the word.

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  • Indonesian Gov’t to Modernize Thousands of Traditional Markets

    Indonesian Gov’t to Modernize Thousands of Traditional Markets

    Indonesia will refurbish 1,592 traditional markets across the country this year as part of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s nine-pronged and domestic-focused Nawacita development program, its Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said on Thursday (04/01).

    A total of Rp 5.5 trillion ($409 million) will be made available to modernize 267 markets through co-administration funding (TP), 1,275 markets through special allocation funding (DAK) and 50 markets under the management of the Cooperatives and Small Businesses Ministry.

    Enggartiasto said the government faces many challenges in trying to modernize traditional markets, ranging from budget limitations to protests from market sellers.

    “It’s not easy to rebuild or move [traditional] markets. Moving an old market always raises problems… even if we only move it 500 meters away from its original site. The sellers never want to move,” Enggartiasto told reporters during a press conference in Jakarta.

    The ministry’s director general of national export development, Tjahya Widayanti, warned regional administrations to treat sellers fairly when they refurbish a market.

    “Don’t abandon the old merchants. [City administrations] should reserve stalls at the new market for them, not just for new sellers coming in,” Tjahya said.

    The government will focus on refurbishing traditional markets in the suburbs this year — mostly markets that are open at least twice a week and comprising at least 50 sellers in a 500-square meter area.

    It will also refurbish some weekly markets with at least 500 sellers in a 500-square meter area.

    The government has already refurbished 2,715 traditional markets since 2015 till last year, out of an eventual target of 5,000 markets by 2019.

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  • L Brands hit by sagging Victoria’s Secret sales

    L Brands hit by sagging Victoria’s Secret sales

    L Brands, which owns the Victoria’s Secret, Pink and Bath & Body Works brands, has reported positive comparable and net sales for December.

    However, Victoria’s Secret sales failed to pick up during the holiday season.

    Net sales reached US$2.5 billion for the five weeks ended December 30, up 3 per cent compared to the same period the previous year, while comparable sales increased 1 per cent.

    Bath & body Works sales rose 4 per cent while Victoria’s Secret comparable sales declined 1 per cent. Minus the effect of online sales, Victoria’s Secret comparable-store sales fell 6 per cent.

    This follows Victoria’s Secret brand quitting the swim and apparel categories.

    For the 48 weeks to the end of December, the company reported net sales of $11.5 billion, down from $11.7 billion. Comparable sales dropped 4 per cent.

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  • UL-OS to appoint its new brand ambassador

    UL-OS to appoint its new brand ambassador

    TVXQ ‘Yunho (Jeong Yun-ho)’ was selected as the first solo male cosmetics brand model.

    UL-OS, a male total skin care brand in Otsuka Pharmaceutical Korea, announced on  that the brand selected Yunho, the leader of group Dong Bang Shin Ki (TVXQ).

    An UL-OS official said, “We decided to choose Yunho as a new model, judging that Yunho’s healthy skin and sophisticated image fit well with the Ul-os brand image.”

    Yunho finished shooting a new TV advertisement of UL-OS’s representative product of all-in-one moisturizer. In this advertisement, Yunho’s stylish and manly charm will appeal to viewers with his UL-OS brand message and will be aired from January 1, 2018

    Yunho said “I am very interested in skin care products for normal moist and healthy skin.” “I am very pleased to be a model of the UL-OS brand that helps people to understand skin troubles and needs accurately and to provide effective skin care.”

    Yunho, who was selected as the fourth model of UL-OS after Cha Tae Hyun, Jung Woo and Eric, is the 13th year of his debut this year, as a K-POP leader, Korea’s best male idol, and he has been loved by fans home and abroad. He has been still active in the five major dome tours in Japan since November 2017.

    Meanwhile, men’s total skin care brand UL-OS presents three all-in-one moisturizers (skin milk, skin lotion, and skin conditioner) as men’s all-in-one products and has a full skin care line including scalp shampoo, skin wash, sunblock and face sheet.

    In particular, UL-OS Skin Milk has recently been selected as a men’s cosmetics standard at the Olive Young 2017 Health & Beauty Awards, and received continuous support from male consumers, including the Olive Young Health and Beauty Award in the men’s all-in-one category for the second consecutive year.

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  • Suning Unmanned ‘Biu’ Store goes International

    Suning Unmanned ‘Biu’ Store goes International

    Suning Commerce Group, one of China’s largest non-government retailers, is showcasing its unmanned, automated Biu store at CES 2018 in Las Vegas this week.

    Running until Friday, CES is the global stage for new innovative consumer electronics. Suning’s promotion of its Smart Retail program comes as the company prepares to launch its developments internationally,

    “Suning’s Biu store concept showcases the latest in our online-to-offline retail strategy, designed to offer consumers a one-stop seamless shopping experience,” says the group’s R&D executive VP Joshua Xiang, who is also GM of Suning Global Research.

    Suning’s Biu store concept is big-data driven and powered by facial recognition and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Since launching its first self-service store in Nanjing in August, Suning has opened a further four cashierless stores in China, in Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing and Xuzhou.

    It says shoppers have been flocking to the stores to buy gadgets, personal electronics, FMCG and sports accessories. They can also find branded football merchandise, including Italian team Internazionale Milano, which is owned by Suning.

    Immediate identification

    Bui shoppers who link their bank card to the Suning Finance app are immediately identified by camera at the store’s entrance and granted access. Inside, they can be helped with their purchase decisions by Suning Smart Recommendation, a shopping guide system based on big-data analysis. RFID technology along the payment pathway ensures an effortless check-out experience taking no longer than 15 seconds.

    At CES, Suning is also showcasing its e-commerce services and tech products that focus on enhancing the consumer experience. These include the Smart Sue shopping assistant, with voice and text interaction system; the Anywhere AR shopping experience, allowing shoppers to place virtual products into a real scene; Suning Smart Home, incorporating advanced Internet of Things automation systems to control electronic home appliances and built-in technology; smart retail chain software; and logistics and shopping financial services.

    A Created in China forum at CES tomorrow, hosted by Suning and the China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute, will explore electronics industry trends in China and also demonstrate Suning’s Smart Retail concept.

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  • AirAsia Indonesia’s share price skyrockets after listing

    AirAsia Indonesia’s share price skyrockets after listing

    The price of PT AirAsia Indonesia’s shares has skyrocketed since they were listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) last week.

    The airline’s shares reached 25 percent per day over the last five days.

    Air Asia entered the bourse through a backdoor listing scheme named PT Rimau Multi Para Pratama. After the transactions, the company changed its name to PT Air Asia Indonesia on Jan. 3.

    On Monday, AirAsia Indonesia president director Dendy Kurniawan said the company planned to add two more planes — Airbus A320 planes — to its fleet as it wanted to open up new routes this year.

    He, however, declined to further explain the company’s plans. “We will announce the details next time,” said Dendy.

    Meanwhile, Bertoni Rio, a senior analyst from Anugerah Sekuritas Indonesia, said the price jump was temporary due to the euphoria after the name change from PT Rimau Multi Para Pratama to PT Air Asia Indonesia on Jan. 3.

    He said AirAsia was well-known brand among aviation firms. “The investors have a positive expectation that makes the share price increase.”

    Similar comments came from Achmad Yaki, an analyst at BCA Sekuritas. “It is still in euphoria, we still don’t know the performance of Air Asia,” Achmad said, adding that currently  airline businesses were facing various challenges.

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  • AirAsia to close Surakarta-Kuala Lumpur route

    Low-cost carrier AirAsia is set to close on Jan. 16 its route from Surakarta in Central Java to Kuala Lumpur.

    AirAsia Berhad commercial head Spencer Lee told Antara news agency that the closure was due to commercial reasons.

    The airline is currently spreading the news among passengers through email and text messages. Those affected by the closure will receive a full refund or be allowed to change their flight by taking off from Semarang, Central Java, or Yogyakarta.

    Despite the move, Lee assured the carrier was still committed to adding more flights to Indonesia this year.

    Meanwhile, Purwanto, operation and service department manager of state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I at Adi Soemarmo International Airport in Central Java, said the operator had heard about the news, but has yet to receive an official confirmation from the carrier.

    “Based on our data, the average number of passengers for the route is relatively high, up to 70 percent capacity,” Purwanto said.

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  • The Different Advantages And Disadvantages Of Cell Phone Charging For Retail

    The Different Advantages And Disadvantages Of Cell Phone Charging For Retail

    Living in a digital society, wireless phone charging has become a commonplace daily activity.  Technology is becoming more advanced in the 21st century and it is creating an ecosystem of various wireless charging gadgets that are not just for smartphones.  Nowadays, wireless phone charging can be done not only at home but also at public companies.  While the advantages of wireless phone charging are quite obvious, there is a negative side to this feature.  If you are planning to switch to wireless charging, it may be useful to read this article on its benefits and drawbacks.

    Before heading further into this discussion, you should have some idea of how wireless chargers operate.  Through an elimination of cables and connectors, the wireless charging has various benefits over wired chargers.  In this fast-changing digital society, it is obvious that people need “smart chargers” to charge the “smart phones”.

    What Are The Different Benefits Of Phone Charging?

    1. Convenience

    The first benefit to using wireless charging devices is that you will not need to deal with cables or cords.  By removing the need for cords, it becomes far simpler to place the phone at a charging station.  Furthermore, you will not have to concern yourself with where you left the cable or the need for different types of chargers.  Wireless chargers are also able to charge different phones simultaneously. Cell Phone Charging Stations with Lockers are also safe, providing you with peace of mind.

    1. Integration

    One of the greatest advantages to using wireless chargers is that it can integrate with almost all mobile phones regardless of the size or shape of the phone’s charging socket.  It should also be mentioned that other devices beyond a smartphone can be charged using the wireless charging option.

    1. Multiple Device Charging

    Nowadays, it is common for several smartphones to be within the same room.  In many cases, the smartphones will have the same or similar chargers; however, there are still differences when it comes to Android and Apple cell phones.  By using a wireless charging pad, you will be able to charge numerous types of smartphones at the same time.  It is also possible for you to charge other devices using the wireless charging pad including laptops and tablets.  This is beneficial because you will reduce the number of cables required and other international power adapters used at the workplace or at home.

    What Are The Disadvantages Of Wireless Phone Charging?

    Despite the different benefits of wireless charging, everyone knows that this concept is not perfect and there are several drawbacks.  To make an informed decision regarding this item, it is important that you know these drawbacks.

    1. Performance

    Unlike traditional device chargers, wireless chargers are not fully integrated for all devices.  This is because it lacks efficiency and the charging process is much slower than traditional charging options.  Furthermore, wireless chargers generate heat that is higher than traditional options which can be highly detrimental.  Click here to read tips on how to boost a smartphone’s battery life.

    1. Mobility

    While the signals transmitted between a phone charger and the mobile phone are wireless, it is still necessary to plug the wireless charging station into a wall socket.  This means that the charging station is not portable.  In addition, you will need to keep the device (mobile phone, tablet, or laptop) on the charging pad at all times for it to be charged.  If the device is moved from the pad, it is no longer being charged.  This can cause difficulties to operate the phone when it is being charged.

    1. Compatibility

    Despite the fact that charging stations can be used for different gadgets, people have experienced issues when charging different devices at once.  Reports claim that there are compatibility problems with smartphones not being charged or drawing power from the wireless power station.

     

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  • Taiwan tourism Bureau Partners With FOX Sportss To gear up Tourist in Taiwan

    Taiwan tourism Bureau Partners With FOX Sportss To gear up Tourist in Taiwan

    Capitalizing on travelers’ rising interest in exploring Taiwan, FOX SPORTS and the Taiwan Tourism Bureau today announce a newly launched campaign to help tourists easily research and plan a cycling trip to Taiwan. Media partner to the Taiwan Tourism Bureau for four years, this is the first time FOX SPORTS has orchestrated a digital campaign for the Bureau.

    The Taiwan on Two Wheels website is now live (www.taiwanon2wheels.com). Built by FOX SPORTS and powered by creative production house FOX Content Labs, this online hub supports the Taiwan Tourism Bureau in driving more cycle tourism to Taiwan by providing everything a cycle-happy visitor could need – including English-language bike routes, rental information and packing advice. The website highlights an influencer program curated by FOX SPORTS, featuring globally renowned celebrities on Taiwan cycle adventures including Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonso Wurtzbach, renowned cyclist Owain Doull from Team Sky, and FOX-produced video content of the influencers.

    High-profile influencers featured in the branded video series include:

    • Team Sky rider Owain Doull, a Team Sky member who won Olympic Gold in 2016
    • Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonso Wurtzbach who hails from the Philippines
    • German-Indian Bollywood actress and philanthropist Evelyn Sharma
    • Ollie Phillips, former captain of the England Rugby 7’s team and Guinness World Record holder for ‘Most Northerly Rugby Match’
    • Edward Russell, an Asia-syndicated travel show host and full-time FOX SPORTS presenter

    Together, these celebrities make up a unique collective of influencers capable of engaging a wide range of tourists; from leisure peddlers, to cycle enthusiasts, to nature lovers and beyond. With support from the FOX SPORTS production team, these stars are, on camera, exploring Taiwan by bike and showing tourists the astounding variety of cycle exploration on offer in the country.

    Joe Y. Chou, Director General, Tourism Bureau, said, “We’re encouraging everyone to come and explore Taiwan on two wheels; from pro cyclers to those who prefer to take it slow. Working with FOX SPORTS, they have been able to highlight the wide variety of cycle adventures on offer in Taiwan through a diverse group of people. FOX SPORTS was key to creating this group of influencers; producing content around their unique personalities and on-the-bike experiences, then bringing it all together through the new website and on social media.”

    Along with developing the Taiwan on Two Wheels website, FOX SPORTS is also partnering with the Taiwan Tourism Bureau to publicize the campaign and website via social channels such as Instagram. The campaign’s collective of influencers has a combined social media following of 18 million, further enabling the Taiwan Tourism Bureau to engage with potential visitors across the region, and the globe.

    Mike Rich, EVP, Sales and Content Partnerships, FOX Networks Group Asia said, “Taiwan is one of the world’s best places for a cycle holiday and we’re thrilled to partner with the Taiwan Tourism Bureau in showcasing what this stunning destination has to offer. By leveraging the global scale and local expertise of FOX Content Labs, FOX SPORTS can unlock exceptional value for partners like the Taiwan Tourism Bureau – producing best-in-class content, leveraging our connection to celebrity talent, and creating campaigns that stand apart from the crowd.”

    FOX SPORTS drives bespoke strategies to reach a passionate, loyal, highly attentive audience of sports fans on every relevant platform, across 14 APAC markets. With industry-leading expertise in sports storytelling, FOX SPORTS’ capabilities are further powered by FOX Content Labs – a creative production house that leverages FOX’s production capabilities and celebrity talent access to create integrated, multi-channel campaigns that uniquely resonate with consumers.

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  • Courts Invests in Growth by Reimagining Its Omni-Channel Retail Experience

    Courts Invests in Growth by Reimagining Its Omni-Channel Retail Experience

    Specialising in electronics, IT and furniture, COURTS Singapore has put more than a year into researching and redesigning its in-store experiences and omni-channel customer journey. The results are two recent announcements: the relaunch of its e-commerce website, built by e-commerce agency SmartOSC, together with the opening of its newly redesigned Megastore in Tampines, transforming the store experience to serve a wider range of customers seamlessly across touchpoints.

    There has been a significant change in the way customers shop around the world, and they now take a more sophisticated path by engaging with both online and offline channels to collect information and make purchasing decisions. With the new releases, COURTS seeks to catch multi-channel customer generations who, according to recent research published in HBR, spent an average of 4% more on every shopping occasion in the store and 10% more online than single-channel customers. Even more compelling, with every additional channel they used, the shoppers spent more money in the store.

    The new COURTS Online now boasts over 17,000 SKUs, making it their largest store across COURTS’ regional network. SmartOSC, COURTS’ e-commerce partner, has helped them to establish a new mobile first and user-centric experiences with features that connect their digital and physical stores. COURTS customers can research and purchase online to later pick up in-store or ship-from-store, all while accessing their personal accounts. The system also gives COURTS customer service and retail associate teams the information they require to meet customers’ end-to-end needs by connecting all of their touchpoints.

    Built upon Magento Enterprise 2, combined with innovative solutions for omni-channel retailing, marketing automation, and content management, COURTS’ new e-commerce system offers a real-time single view of inventory and customer profiles, activated through integrations with ERP and retail management systems. The website has also been built to be easily navigable, featuring a completely refreshed intuitive navigation, search and faster check-out experience.

    Mr. Stan Kim, Chief Strategy Officer at COURTS Asia shared, “The COURTS Online relaunch was timed strategically around key retail events of the year such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Powered by the new platform, online sales for both events grew almost 100% year-on-year. Engaging with the right partners has proved to be pivotal to our e-commerce growth this year. COURTS will continue strengthening its back-end infrastructure to offer customers the seamless online-to-offline experience they expect from best-in-class retailers. We will continue to drive online growth, and our ambition is to grow online sales to comprise 10-15% of the business in five years’ time.”

    The relaunched COURTS e-commerce site augments the transformed retail experience in the physical stores, delivering the ultimate in ‘bricks and clicks’ shopping. The newly redesigned COURTS Megastore in Tampines stands as an aspirational hub featuring the latest in-store experiences, with dedicated experiential retail spaces that have been redesigned to be more immersive, focusing on memorable and informative experiences that will bring customers into the store to encounter the products firsthand.

    COURTS features a 30-day lowest price guarantee and 30-day hassle-free returns both online and in all stores, and tourist tax free scheme to help customers feel secure and confident with their purchase decision. The retailer operates more than 80 stores across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, spanning over 1.6 million square feet of retail space.

  • Centara Signs Private Partnership Agreement for Centra by Centara Government Complex

    Centara Signs Private Partnership Agreement for Centra by Centara Government Complex

    Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, announced a long-term lease agreement for Centra by Centara Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre Chaeng Watthana.  Centara’s Chairman of the Board Suthikiati Chirativat signed the agreement for the 204-room hotel and conference property in the Thai government community 10 minutes from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport. Centara had managed the property for its owner, Dhanarak Asset Development Company Ltd., since 2011. The 20-year, around 1.2 Billion Baht lease deal with Dhanarak effectively turns ownership over to Centara.

    “Centra by Centara Government Complex continues to play a vital role in the facilitating of official and government business in Thailand. Having managed this successful hotel and convention centre for 6 years the investment in a long term lease in this property was a logical step and supports our strategic plan to double Centara’s size within the next five years,” said Centara’s Chairman of the Board Suthikiati Chirathivat.

    Centra by Centara is one of the hospitality group’s six hotel brands. The Centra by Centara Hotel and Convention Centre at the Government Complex offers ideal accommodations and meeting facilities for businesspeople, delegates and officials. Its 24 meeting rooms, including the large Vayupak Grand Ballroom, can host a variety of large and small conferences and events simultaneously. Hotel and conference facilities are integrated so that guests can easily walk between meeting and event venues, restaurants, and their hotel rooms. The Centra by Centara property also hosts weddings and concerts.

    The Government Complex in which the property is located is home to over 30 official departments and agencies. It functions like a small town, including banks, retail shops, restaurants, clinics and other amenities. There is parking for over 2,000 vehicles.

    Dhanarak Asset Development Company Ltd., the property’s original owner, was established by the Thai Ministry of Finance to build and manage the Government Complex. Centara has ambitious plans to eventually renovate both the hotel and its attached convention centre.

    Over the next five years, Centara Hotels & Resorts aims to double its size with additional properties in Thailand and its new international markets, while spreading its footprint into new continents and market niches. Its flagship properties in Bangkok, Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, and Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao, have established the company’s reputation as the leading meeting, conference, and large event host in Thailand.

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