Following quickly after the signing of management contracts for properties in the Maldives and the Indian Himalayas, Centara Hotels & Resorts has signed a contract with the Amer Group to manage a new five-star luxury resort in Sokhna, Egypt.

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Spa Sokhna is scheduled to open in April 2010 and is set on the beach at Ain Sokhna, on the Red Sea coast between Suez and Zafarana, about one hour from Cairo and regarded as one of the main upcoming resort destinations in Egypt.

This is the third overseas property of Centara Hotels & Resorts after the openings of Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives and Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort, Centara Boutique Collection in India late 2009.

The Amer Group is a leading Egyptian developer of leisure and lifestyle projects, and places a strong emphasis on family-friendly tourism developments.

“Our move into these three very exciting overseas markets with top quality properties and highly respected local partners is very indicative of the international growth policy for Centara Hotels & Resorts,” says Suthikiati Chirathivat, chairman of the executive board of Central Plaza Hotel Plc (Centel).

“Each property builds on and enhances the Centara brand, and at the same time we are very proud to be representing Thailand in these destinations, bringing the gentle touch of Thai hospitality to these destinations and to other new destinations that we shall be announcing.”

Centara Hotels & Resorts currently operates 21 hotels and resorts in Thailand, and three overseas. The group has set a target to manage at least 65 hotels in both local and international markets over the next five years.

President of Centara Hotels & Resorts Gerd Steeb says that the group’s very strong growth strategy is backed by close adherence to Centara’s core policies on quality and service.

“We have city properties and resort properties, and at the same time we have diversified with our branding so that our portfolio ranges from the mid 4-star to the 5-star range and encompasses large, medium and boutique properties.

Each property however carries the unique Centara approach to quality management and service, and this will continue at home and overseas.”

The architectural design of the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Spa Sokhna is based on a butterfly-shaped main structure, with 98 rooms and suites as well as 21 villas. All Deluxe rooms, Club rooms and Suites have their own private balcony or patio, while the Villas have two bedrooms, open-plan dining room and kitchen, and their own private pool and garden, and are ideal for families.

Guests in the Club rooms enjoy a hotel-within-the-hotel experience, including access to the Club Lounge with its five complimentary meal servings per day and all-day complimentary coffee, tea and beverage service.

For dining the resort offers an all-day restaurant on the ground floor that features breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets along with an extensive menu of Arabic and international favourites. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating and is linked to the lobby lounge, which serves snacks and beverages. Nearby is Centara’s own-brand Hagi Japanese restaurant, with its extensive menu of authentic Japanese cuisine. On The Beach has a beachfront setting and features a menu of seafood specialties together with a selection of Thai dishes.

The resort has two swimming pools and an extensive beachfront, while the recreation service centre offers a variety of watersports and boating activities with trained staff, high-quality equipment and individual instruction available.

The resort is designed as family-friendly, and there is plenty to keep the youngsters happy, with a Camp Safari that offers supervised indoor and outdoor activities for the younger ones and a Kids’ Club that provides a dedicated games and activities centre for teenagers.

Centara’s own-brand SPA Cenvaree offers luxurious therapies and treatments, and is located on the ground floor with its own pool access. There is also a well-equipped fitness centre.

With six function rooms, the hotel will be an attractive venue for the corporate market wishing to organise meetings and seminars in an ideal setting close to the capital.