More Centara Resorts coming to Maldives

Maldives may see more of Centara resorts in a near future. A senior executive of Centel has revealed that the company is discussing the addition of three hotels in other Asian countries and one local hotel. Currently Centel, the parent company runs three hotels in the Maldives — one under a management contract and two company-owned properties namely, Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa and Centara Ras Fushi Resort and Spa Maldives.
Featuring 112 suites and villas Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives is a five star resort set in Machchafushi Island in the South Ari atoll of Maldives. The resort offers diving enthusiasts outstanding diving opportunities in an excellent house reef complete with a dedicated sunken ship wreck and is in the neighbourhood of the top dive spots in Ari atoll Maldives. Recently the resort started offering underwater weddings for couples who seek a unique wedding ceremony.
Centara Ras Fushi Resort and Spa Maldives is less than 20 minutes away from Ibrahim Nasir International airport by speedboat. The resort is an adults only retreat set in the North Malé atoll island of Giraavaru that is ideal for couples and honeymooners.
Ronnachit Mahattanapreut, the senior vice-president for finance and administration of Central Plaza Hotel Plc (CENTEL), Thailand’s leading hotel and restaurant operator and owner of the Centara brand, has told the Bangkok Post that the company plans to acquire more hotels as a key strategy to diversify its revenue sources. He said the company has expanded into hotel management services, with the latest contract signed with a hotel in the Maldives and another on a nearby island under the consideration of the hotel owner.
“Revenue from the two hotels in the Maldives was the main engine to help cushion the impact from local politics that began last October,” Mr Ronnachit has revealed to the Bangkok Post. The two hotels in the Maldives contributed 15% of overall hotel revenue last year.
Centel at present manages 8,176 rooms in 43 hotels — 28 hotels under management contract and 15 wholly owned or joint-venture assets. Of the total hotels, seven are in foreign countries.