Centara and OR will collaborate to launch new budget hotel brand | News
Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s largest hotel operator, has announced a strategic joint venture with PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR) to launch a new budget hotel brand, marking a major milestone in the company’s continued growth and expansion into new market segments.
Through this partnership, Centara and OR will develop a network of budget hotels located next to the PTT station service complexes, creating a convenient and accessible accommodation option for modern travelers. The collaboration combines Centara’s hospitality expertise with OR’s extensive national network of gas stations and lifestyle stores.
The first phase of the project will see the development of six budget hotels in Thailand, with openings planned between 2027 and 2028. The properties will be strategically located in Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, Phuket, Chon Buri and Songkhla, targeting travelers moving along major highways and regional transport routes.
Each property will feature approximately 69 to 80 rooms, with prices expected to start at THB 800 to THB 900 per night, while the Bangkok property is expected to offer approximately 120 rooms with rates ranging from THB 1,200 to 1,300 per night. Designed to provide clean, safe and comfortable accommodations at an accessible price, the hotels primarily target domestic travelers, road trippers and business travelers looking for convenient overnight stays.
The joint venture represents an investment of approximately THB 700 million, with Centara owning a 51% stake and OR 49%. Leveraging OR’s ecosystem of more than 2,000 PTT station locations across the country, the project unlocks new opportunities to serve travelers in highly accessible locations that already combine fuel services and electric vehicle charging options, as well as food and beverage outlets, convenience stores and rest areas.
The partnership will also connect and leverage the loyalty program integration between CentaraThe1, The 1 and OR’s Blue Plus program. With a combined membership base of more than 40 million, Centara and OR can work together to create better benefits, superior experiences and greater value for customers in both organizations in the future.
“This partnership represents an exciting new chapter for Centara as we expand into the budget hotel segment and continue to diversify our portfolio,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts. “By combining Centara’s hospitality expertise with OR’s nationwide network of high-potential locations, we are creating a new hospitality concept designed to serve modern travelers who value convenience, reliability and exceptional value. With fuel stations along major transportation routes, this concept will provide travelers with clean, safe and comfortable accommodation exactly where they need it.”
He added that the concept is designed to meet the needs of travelers who commute by car, including sales professionals, business travelers and families and friends on road trips looking for short overnight stays during interprovincial travel.
The move into the budget segment reflects Centara’s long-term growth strategy to expand its portfolio into multiple market segments while capturing emerging opportunities within Thailand’s evolving travel landscape. As demand for convenient and affordable accommodations continues to grow, the new brand will complement Centara’s existing portfolio, which includes luxury resorts, luxury hotels, lifestyle properties and family destinations.
“This partnership marks an important milestone that reflects the combined strengths and expertise of Centara and OR in jointly developing a budget hotel project to respond to the changing travel behavior in today’s landscape,” said ML Peekthong Thongyai, Chief Executive Officer of PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR). “At OR, we view travel not simply as reaching a destination, but as a meaningful experience along the way. This partnership therefore strengthens our OR ecosystem and allows us to better serve modern travelers with a more complete and integrated travel experience.
For more information about PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR), visit https://www.pttor.com/en/home
For more information about Centara Hotels & Resorts, please visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/
