Centara Hotels & Resorts has increased the size of the sales and marketing team at its Phuket regional sales office in order to strengthen marketing activities for the South of Thailand. The regional sales office, which is located in Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, at Karon Beach in Phuket, opened in September 2010.

The new team now comprises a Cluster Revenue Manager, a Director of Sales, a Sales Manager, two Sales Executives, and one Sales Coordinator.

“Southern Thailand has become a very large and important part of our network, with the number of properties expanding and the region contributing an ever-increasing volume of revenues,” said Chris Bailey, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Centara Hotels&Resorts.

“We have, therefore, added strategically to our South Thailand regional sales office, both by bringing in new personnel and by promoting existing members of staff.”

The new Regional Director of Sales for Southern Thailand is Ms. Laddawan Somniyam, who joined on July 9 of this year and who will oversee the sales operations of all Centara properties in the South of Thailand, including Phuket, Krabi, Samui, and Hat Yai.

She will report to Philip Hall, Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing at the Centara head office in Bangkok.

Ms. Laddawan replaces Jason Lu, who has been promoted to Corporate Director of Sales for China and Northeast Asia, and has been transferred to Centara’s Bangkok head office.

Effective from September 1 this year, Ms. Surangkana Waronpongtorn is promoted to Sales Manager from her previous position as Assistant Sales Manager.

Amir Reiner is promoted from his position as Director of Sales and Revenue Management at Centara Grand West Sands Resort & Villas Phuket to head up the new cluster revenue management division at the regional sales office in Phuket, effective from August 20.

Amir reports to Boris Sertic, Head of Commercial and International Marketing Services in Bangkok.

“With both domestic and international expansion of Centara Hotels&Resorts, the distribution and revenue management capability of our properties is becoming an even more critical part to delivering profit and the brand promise,” said Mr. Bailey, “This strategic role covers the leadership and direction of the revenue management for our Phuket properties by ensuring that individual hotel revenue delivery through our distribution channels is maximized, depending on business mix and company strategy.”

Another new member of the team is Axel Jehangir, who has joined since August 1 as Assistant Director of Sales at Centara Grand West Sands Resort & Villas Phuket.

Centara Hotels &Resorts currently has seven properties in Phuket, two in Krabi, three in Samui, and one in Hat Yai.