ACCOR EXTENDS CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT WITH CENTRAL HOTELS & RESORTS

Central Sukhontha Hat Yai added to Novotel network

Accor is pleased to announce the extension of its co-operation with Central Hotels and Resorts with an agreement to brand the Central Sukhontha Hotel Hat Yai a Novotel.

Located in the key commercial centre of Hat Yai Thailand, the property will become the first international hotel brand in the city, and will give Accor an important strategic selling point in southern Thailand.

The 238-room Novotel Central Sukhontha Hat Yai is situated 20 minutes from Hat Yai International Airport and is just forty-five minutes away from the Malaysian border by train or bus. It is also less than half a block away from the popular Santisuk Market, renowned for its diverse selection of electrical, agricultural and consumer goods.

The hotel features three innovative restaurants and a bar, fitness centre, swimming pool and sauna. The Novotel Central Sukhontha is the preferred meeting venue in town, with 240sqm of available space capable of handling up to 300 people, with the latest state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment on offer.

Accor Vice President Sales & Marketing – Asia, Mr Rob Hornman, said the Novotel Central Sukhontha was an important addition to the Novotel network in the region.

“This latest addition to our Novotel brand will link well with our existing Novotels in Bangkok and Singapore.

“It extends our reach as the first international hotel in Hat Yai — a commercial hub that is the centre of two-way traffic between Malaysia and Thailand — in addition to our developing hotel network in southern Thailand.”

According to Central Hotels & Resorts Vice President Sales & Marketing, Mr Bob James, the Novotel Central Sukhontha is well positioned to cater to thousands of business and leisure travellers that pass through the city on a daily basis. Malaysia and Singapore are Thailand’s top two ASEAN in-bound markets, with almost 400,000 Malaysian crossing the border during the first six months of 2001.

“Prior to the rebranding, over 30 per cent of hotel guests were from Malaysia, 20 per cent from Singapore and 20 per cent were Thai. We believe bookings generated from Accor’s global sales and marketing will only help increase this business.”

In southern Thailand the property will join Novotel Coralia Phuket near Patong Beach, Mercure Coralia Resort on Koh Samui and the Panwa Beach Resort in Phuket, which will be rebranded Mercure Panwa Beach Resort in May 2002.