As a result, the property has been renamed Centara Grand Beach Resort and Spa Boracay as of Oct 1, the day the deal took effect, making it the second Centara property in the Philippines, after the Centara Hotel in Manila that is due to open later this year.
"We believe the two properties will complement each other perfectly, connecting Manila with one of the most popular resort locations," said Centara President Gerd Steeb.
Located in northeast Boracay, the property comprises a hotel outstanding for its Spanish architecture, outdoor pools, a private beach, a spa, bars, restaurants and an 18-hole golf course designed by former Australian pro Graham Marsh.
It can be reached by air via a 45-minute flight from Manila to Caticlan, site of the local airport, from where available is round-trip transfer service courtesy the hotel.
Centara operates 44 properties in Thailand, Vietnam, the Maldives, the Indian Himalayas, the Philippines and Egypt, and plans to add 100 more to its portfolio over the next five years.
Qatar Airways expansion
Qatar Airways will launch a third daily flight to Bangkok starting Nov 1 to cope with the recent surge in tourist traffic, particularly from Europe, North and South America.
"Our third daily flight to Bangkok will create further connectivity across our networks in Thailand and Vietnam. We already fly Ho Chi Minh City and look forward to adding Hanoi to our schedule," said its CEO Akbar Al Baker.
In addition, the airline has also begun six weekly flights to Phuket via Kuala Lumpur.
The flights constitute a major expansion on part of the airline and reaffirm its commitment to Thailand.
Aquarium adds value
The aquarium at Chiang Mai Zoo now features a new attraction on weekends and public holidays - underwater dancing, performed by a former Olympic swimmer from Belarus.
Entitled "Phra Suthon-Manohra" and held twice on such days - at 10.45am and 2.45pm - the performance is 15 minutes long and there is no extra charge, just the entrance fee to the aquarium. It is on view until the end the year.
In addition, visitors can play scuba divers and explore the aquarium, feed fish and even pose with sharks, for which the price is 190 baht for Thai children and 290 baht for Thai adults, while foreigners pay 390 baht and 520 baht respectively.
For details, call or 053-893-111 or visit http://www.chiangmaiaquarium.com.
Bypassing Bangkok
Bangkok Airways plans four weekly flights on the Trat-Samui-Phuket route starting Dec 2 using the 70-seater ATR72 aircraft.
The flights - on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday - with a 30-minute stop in Samui will originate in Trat or Phuket, and enable tourists travelling either way to bypass Bangkok.
For more information, call 02-270-6699 or visit http://www.bangkokair.com.
Hotel in major expansion
Singapore-based Park Hotel Group plans to expand its business to Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Australia.
The hotel currently has eight properties in Asia Pacific including three in Singapore, three in China and one each in Hong Kong and Japan, all boasting between 300-400 rooms.
According to its director Allen Law, the group plans to add two new hotels a year over the next three years.
"Our focus is on the gateway cities in Asia Pacific such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City," he said, and also eyeing opportunities in Australia, China, Japan and Singapore.
The goal is to take the Park brand to a truly international level.
Additionally, the group would also spin off its business operation next year to manage third-party hotels.
"We are specialised in Asia Pacific for branding and we also have an owner who can add value to third-party properties," he noted.
The group is also planning dual listing of the company on Hong Kong and Singapore stock exchanges next year.
THAI-Haneda direct
Thai Airways International (THAI) will fly Bangkok-Haneda daily starting Oct 31 using the 215-seater Airbus A340-500 on the route.
The aircraft has 60 seats in business and 155 in economy class.
Passengers flying THAI to Tokyo can now choose to arrive at Narita, which the airline already connects three times a day from Bangkok, or at Haneda, the other airport in Japan's capital city.
The Haneda flight will take the number of daily flights THAI operates from Bangkok to Tokyo to four.
Haneda Airport, which is about 30 minutes' drive south of central Tokyo, has been operating since 1931 when it was known as Tokyo International Airport, but it was relegated after Narita opened in 1978, and thereafter only catered to carriers plying domestic routes.
At the end of this month when a new runway and terminal building now under construction are completed, Haneda will revert to its former status and resume serving international carriers calling in from Bangkok, Singapore, Hawaii, San Francisco and Paris. The airport can handle 60 million passengers annually.
Ironman cometh
Phuket will play host to its inaugural Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship on Dec 5. It is being held on the sidelines of the 17th Laguna Phuket Triathlon that gets going on Nov 28.
"As Thailand recovers from the effects of political turmoil earlier this year, events such as this are crucial to rebuilding tourist confidence," said Debbie Dionysius, director of the triathlon organising committee.
Close to 1,000 participants are expected for each event, she said, adding: "This will be a sporting and tourism showcase of the best that Thailand has to offer the world."
The Ironman 70.3 race features 1.9km swim, a 90km bike and a 21.1km run.
The week-long triathlon, on the other hand, features 1.8km swim, 55km bike and 12km run.
Also on the cards are sporting activities, training sessions, entertainment and social events where participants can meet pros such as Simon Lessing, Craig Alexander, Paula Newby-Fraser and others.
The winner last year was Olympic gold medallist Jan Frodeno of Germany. For course maps, visit http://www.ironmanphuket.com.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com
"We believe the two properties will complement each other perfectly, connecting Manila with one of the most popular resort locations," said Centara President Gerd Steeb.
Located in northeast Boracay, the property comprises a hotel outstanding for its Spanish architecture, outdoor pools, a private beach, a spa, bars, restaurants and an 18-hole golf course designed by former Australian pro Graham Marsh.
It can be reached by air via a 45-minute flight from Manila to Caticlan, site of the local airport, from where available is round-trip transfer service courtesy the hotel.
Centara operates 44 properties in Thailand, Vietnam, the Maldives, the Indian Himalayas, the Philippines and Egypt, and plans to add 100 more to its portfolio over the next five years.
Qatar Airways expansion
Qatar Airways will launch a third daily flight to Bangkok starting Nov 1 to cope with the recent surge in tourist traffic, particularly from Europe, North and South America.
"Our third daily flight to Bangkok will create further connectivity across our networks in Thailand and Vietnam. We already fly Ho Chi Minh City and look forward to adding Hanoi to our schedule," said its CEO Akbar Al Baker.
In addition, the airline has also begun six weekly flights to Phuket via Kuala Lumpur.
The flights constitute a major expansion on part of the airline and reaffirm its commitment to Thailand.
Aquarium adds value
The aquarium at Chiang Mai Zoo now features a new attraction on weekends and public holidays - underwater dancing, performed by a former Olympic swimmer from Belarus.
Entitled "Phra Suthon-Manohra" and held twice on such days - at 10.45am and 2.45pm - the performance is 15 minutes long and there is no extra charge, just the entrance fee to the aquarium. It is on view until the end the year.
In addition, visitors can play scuba divers and explore the aquarium, feed fish and even pose with sharks, for which the price is 190 baht for Thai children and 290 baht for Thai adults, while foreigners pay 390 baht and 520 baht respectively.
For details, call or 053-893-111 or visit http://www.chiangmaiaquarium.com.
Bypassing Bangkok
Bangkok Airways plans four weekly flights on the Trat-Samui-Phuket route starting Dec 2 using the 70-seater ATR72 aircraft.
The flights - on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday - with a 30-minute stop in Samui will originate in Trat or Phuket, and enable tourists travelling either way to bypass Bangkok.
For more information, call 02-270-6699 or visit http://www.bangkokair.com.
Hotel in major expansion
Singapore-based Park Hotel Group plans to expand its business to Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Australia.
The hotel currently has eight properties in Asia Pacific including three in Singapore, three in China and one each in Hong Kong and Japan, all boasting between 300-400 rooms.
According to its director Allen Law, the group plans to add two new hotels a year over the next three years.
"Our focus is on the gateway cities in Asia Pacific such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City," he said, and also eyeing opportunities in Australia, China, Japan and Singapore.
The goal is to take the Park brand to a truly international level.
Additionally, the group would also spin off its business operation next year to manage third-party hotels.
"We are specialised in Asia Pacific for branding and we also have an owner who can add value to third-party properties," he noted.
The group is also planning dual listing of the company on Hong Kong and Singapore stock exchanges next year.
THAI-Haneda direct
Thai Airways International (THAI) will fly Bangkok-Haneda daily starting Oct 31 using the 215-seater Airbus A340-500 on the route.
The aircraft has 60 seats in business and 155 in economy class.
Passengers flying THAI to Tokyo can now choose to arrive at Narita, which the airline already connects three times a day from Bangkok, or at Haneda, the other airport in Japan's capital city.
The Haneda flight will take the number of daily flights THAI operates from Bangkok to Tokyo to four.
Haneda Airport, which is about 30 minutes' drive south of central Tokyo, has been operating since 1931 when it was known as Tokyo International Airport, but it was relegated after Narita opened in 1978, and thereafter only catered to carriers plying domestic routes.
At the end of this month when a new runway and terminal building now under construction are completed, Haneda will revert to its former status and resume serving international carriers calling in from Bangkok, Singapore, Hawaii, San Francisco and Paris. The airport can handle 60 million passengers annually.
Ironman cometh
Phuket will play host to its inaugural Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship on Dec 5. It is being held on the sidelines of the 17th Laguna Phuket Triathlon that gets going on Nov 28.
"As Thailand recovers from the effects of political turmoil earlier this year, events such as this are crucial to rebuilding tourist confidence," said Debbie Dionysius, director of the triathlon organising committee.
Close to 1,000 participants are expected for each event, she said, adding: "This will be a sporting and tourism showcase of the best that Thailand has to offer the world."
The Ironman 70.3 race features 1.9km swim, a 90km bike and a 21.1km run.
The week-long triathlon, on the other hand, features 1.8km swim, 55km bike and 12km run.
Also on the cards are sporting activities, training sessions, entertainment and social events where participants can meet pros such as Simon Lessing, Craig Alexander, Paula Newby-Fraser and others.
The winner last year was Olympic gold medallist Jan Frodeno of Germany. For course maps, visit http://www.ironmanphuket.com.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com
