Tag: centara resort

  • Centara listed in Thailand Sustainability Investment (THSI) 2018 for Sustainability Performance Excellence

    Centara listed in Thailand Sustainability Investment (THSI) 2018 for Sustainability Performance Excellence

    Centara Hotels & Resorts (CENTEL), Thailand’s leading hotel operator, was categorised a “Thailand Sustainability Investment (THSI)”, an annual recognition for listed companies that operate with responsibility for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects. The THSI list aims to recognise and motivate companies for their efforts towards sustainability, while offering investors an alternative investment in high-performance ESG stocks.

    Centara Hotels & Resorts aims to balance its operations to attain financial goals and practice good governance, while creating positive social impact, reducing its environmental footprint, and encouraging innovation to sustain the organisation’s competitiveness. The company has formally developed environmental, social, and innovation initiatives since 2008, including energy, water, waste and safety management. Centara also engages management, staff, suppliers, guests and communities, for both the long-term growth of its business and vitality of the destinations where it operates. One testament to this commitment is that 15 of Centara’s properties have already achieved Gold and Silver Certifications by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking and impact assessment body for sustainable travel and tourism.

    “Centara intends to operate ethically and sustainably across our entire portfolio. We are committed to sustainable practices throughout our hotel operations, whilst delivering an exceptional level of Thai hospitality for our guests,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer. “Companies that respond effectively to the challenges of sustainability can gain a competitive advantage and increase share value. We strive to develop sustainable hospitality strategies and encourage sustainability wherever we operate.”

    Thailand Sustainability Investment (THSI) was first created in 2015 to recognise companies that adopt ESG principles into responsible and sustainable business management to create a positive impact on the Kingdom. This year, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) selected Centara as one of 79 listed companies that incorporate a high level of ESG practices to support sustainability. This effort is in line with SET’s vision “To Make the Capital Market Work for Everyone”, supporting a vision of capitalism that benefits all stakeholders.

  • Centara Makes Life Easier for Chinese Travelers by Accepting WeChat Pay for Online Bookings

    Centara Makes Life Easier for Chinese Travelers by Accepting WeChat Pay for Online Bookings

    Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, has announced that it is now accepting WeChat Pay transactions on its websites for online room reservations. This is in addition to the 15 hotels that already deploy nearly 100 EDC devices for QR code scanning on WeChat Pay, making it the largest hotel group in Thailand offering Chinese tourists omni-channel payment solutions. Bills for accommodation, restaurants and spa treatments can be paid directly from smartphones. The company expects to have WeChat Pay at all Centara Hotels & Resorts globally by the end of 2018, thus providing convenience to customers, especially Chinese guests.

    Thirayuth Chirathivat, Centara Chief Executive Officer, said: “A seamless payment experience for consumers using any channel is an element of our platform for expansion, which should see us double both revenue and the number of our properties over the next five years. As consumer behavior evolves, Centara has adopted an omni-channel strategy to stay relevant and to provide a great customer experience. We embrace these types of disruptive opportunities to better serve our guests and stay on top of the industry.”

    Chinese tourists account for almost one third of all foreign travellers to this country. Thailand is welcoming an ever-increasing number of Chinese visitors, for whom the kingdom remains the top travel destination. This year, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports expects more than 10 million Chinese tourists to travel to Thailand.

    WeChat Pay is the payment solution of WeChat, one of the largest social networks in China. WeChat Pay has become the main cashless payment method for daily small transactions in China and has more than 800 million active users in its database.

    “The number of Chinese tourists booking with Centara keeps growing. They are a significant customer base for all businesses in Thailand. Centara’s Chinese website receive hundreds of thousands of visits from Chinese users. Almost half the visits come from a mobile device. Earlier this year we signed an agreement with TreePayCo.,Ltd., a payment platform facilitator to develop a system that allows Chinese customers to use their mobile phones to make e-payments outside of China for accommodation and services at Centara properties. WeChat Pay users and Chinese travellers can stay and enjoy the whole trip with Centara with only a few quick taps on their smartphone. Today’s consumers are connecting their omni-channel experiences with the likeability of the brands. In order to maintain our brand leadership, we are committed to providing seamless guest satisfaction across touchpoints.”Thirayuth added.

    Other than the 2 main websites, Centara’s 15 hotels also welcome WeChat QR code payment. These are: Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Center at Central World, Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao, Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui, Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, Centara Villas Samui, Centara Villas Phuket, Centara Kata Resort Phuket, Centara Karon Resort Phuket, Centara Mae Sot Hill Resort, Centara Hotel Hat Yai, Centra by Centara Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre Chaeng Watthana and COSI Samui Chaweng.

  • Three Centara resorts are the best hotels for families say TripAdvisor users

    Three Centara resorts are the best hotels for families say TripAdvisor users

    TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website, just released its prestigious Travelers’ Choice Awards for their users’ favourite hotels. In the family category, Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort in Pattaya was ranked #1 in Thailand. Centara Grand Beach Resort in Phuket was #4 and Centara Karon Beach Resort, also in Phuket, was #7.

    “Being family-friendly is part of our company DNA,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, Centara’s CEO. “We work hard to welcome families with children and offer them a superior holiday experience. It starts with the design of the hotel and continues through family amenities, activity programmes, and service attitude. These awards are evidence we’re succeeding.”

    TripAdvisor gives the awards annually, based on the reviews and opinions of millions of its users. The rankings are based on people who have stayed at each hotel during the past year.

    Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort was the first true themed resort in Thailand. Its Lost World motif features several swimming pools, waterslides, giant sculptures and palm trees towering over a lazy river and Monsoon Island. Children enjoy the Kids’ Club, E-zone, and organised activities supervised by hotel staff. The resort even has a family version of club level: its Zulu Family Club has a play area for toddlers while their parents enjoy an afternoon refreshment. The resort lies along a 230-metre stretch of sandy beach.

    Like Centara Grand Mirage in Pattaya, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is a 5-star resort built around a waterpark with multiple pools, river, and waterslides. Its Kids’ Club and Camp Safari are complemented by a cliff jumping platform, and water sports in the Andaman Sea including kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and snorkelling. The resort features Sino-Portuguese style and has direct access to Karon Beach.

    Centara Karon Resort is a unique concept for Phuket, featuring four distinct zones so guests can find the perfect match for their needs. Family amenities include rooms that easily accommodate four; three large swimming pools, including the Lagoon pool with two waterslides; and a Kids’ Club, Camp Safari, and E-Zone to keep children and teens entertained.

    This year marks the third time Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort has won TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice award for family-friendly accommodations. Other Centara resorts in Thailand have received the recognition from TripAdvisor users each year since 2014. Centara was also recently listed among Smart Travel Asia’s Hot 25 Family Hotels.