New Krabi resort and name change for Centara’s Centra brand

Centara Hotel & Resorts has just opened a new resort in beautiful Krabi, southern Thailand. The resort falls under the Centra brand which has been rebranded to Centra by Centara, allowing it to benefit from the company’s strong brand equity.

Tucked away in the serenity of Ao Nang, just 10 minutes away from the buzzing nightlife, the new Centra by Centara Phu Pano Resort Krabi is an affordable hotel offering great facilities at excellent value.  This contemporary resort, just 35 minutes away from Krabi International Airport, was is designed as a cluster of low-rise buildings with 158 guest rooms, and gives guests great access to shopping, dining and Krabi’s lively beachside entertainment.

Each room has generous living space of 24 to 49 square metres, and comes available in either a “Family Room” or interconnecting style, with the choice of twin or double beds. The resort is fully equipped for activities and for complete relaxation, with an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, bistro-style restaurant, free Wi-Fi access and meeting facilities.

Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort redefines Hunter Valley hospitality with multi-million dollar transformation

Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort in the heart of New South Wales’ popular wine region, the Hunter Valley, is reaping the rewards of a multi-million dollar investment, which will further transform the property into one of the Hunter’s most sought after accommodation, conference, events and wedding destinations.
Part of leading accommodation provider Oaks Hotels & Resorts’ 54-strong property network, Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort has already seen $6 million invested in upgrades since it was acquired by the hotelier in October, 2013.

Now the 100-hectare Resort is undergoing additional improvements to further enhance the overall guest experience, with significant investments costing approximately $4 million allocated to upgrading its villa accommodation, championship golf course, conference and events facilities, common areas, and onsite food and beverage establishments.

IHG launches lifestyle brand EVEN® Hotels in Australia and New Zealand

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and international investment company Pro-invest Group today announced an exclusive agreement to develop a portfolio of  EVEN® Hotels across key Australian and New Zealand capital cities and economic hubs. This is the first portfolio from the brand to be developed outside the United States and is an industry first; no other hotel brand provides a holistic wellness experience under one roof. IHG has recognised that health and wellness is one of the fastest growing industries in Australia, making it the perfect place to grow the brand.

This agreement, signed at the HICAP conference in Hong Kong this week, is an important milestone for IHG, Pro-invest Group and the Australian travel and tourism industry. Following the success of IHG’s partnership with Pro-invest for the Holiday Inn Express brand in Australia, both parties have been exploring the launch of further IHG brands in the market.

Jan Smits, Chief Executive Officer Asia Middle East & Africa, IHG commented: “The launch of the EVEN Hotels brand in Australia and New Zealand comes at a great time for IHG and is a strong fit to local consumer tastes and trends. We are continuing our expansion in bringing new brands to this market. We have established a strong hotel franchising model to provide owners and investors in Australia, such as Pro-invest, with a reliable and profitable alternative to our equally-successful management model. This is an exciting example of the growth and development of IHG, and a strong signal of our ambition.”

Amilla Fushi Villa Residences joins Elite Havens Luxury Villa Rentals portfolio

Elite Havens Group, Asia’s leading luxury real estate, villa marketing and management distribution company, is delighted to announce the addition of Amilla Fushi Villa Residences in UNESCO protected Baa Atoll, Maldives to its outstanding portfolio of luxury villas. This acquisition in the coveted Maldives represents an exciting expansion into new territories for Elite Havens and furthers their collection of exceptional holiday villas located in the best islands in the world, Bali, Lombok, Phuket and Sri Lanka.

“We are delighted to represent and market Amilla Fushi Villa Residences,” said Jon Stonham, CEO of the Elite Havens Group. “The Maldives are rightfully perceived as the pinnacle of tropical island beauty and luxury and this coupled with the superb experience Amilla Fushi offers their guests we are proud to welcome these eight stunning villas to our portfolio.”