Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to launch its ninth hotel in Phuket. The Thai hotelier has acquired the management contract for The Blue Marine Resort & Spa Phuket, and will start operating the property from 5 January 2014. The resort, which is located at the northern end of Patong Beach, will be temporarily renamed as The Blue Marine Resort & Spa Phuket managed by Centara Hotels & Resorts. Renovations will now be undertaken to bring the property in line with Centara’s four-star brand, which are expected to be completed by October 2014. Following this, the resort will be renamed as the Centara Blue Marine Resort & Spa Phuket. “We are pleased and proud to be announcing that The Blue Marine Resort & Spa is to join the Centara portfolio,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, CEO of Centara Hotels & Resorts. “This will bring to nine the total number of Centara properties on the island, which illustrates the enormous confidence we have in Phuket, one of the most famous holiday destinations in the world.” The Blue Marine Resort & Spa features a mix of rooms and suites, plus several one- and two-bedroom pool villas. The resort also has three swimming pools, two kids’ pools, a spa, fitness centre and kids’ club. F&B options include Thai and international restaurants, while the MICE market is catered to with a two large event rooms capable of holding 270 people. Centara now operates 43 hotels and resorts across Thailand, plus a further 18 international resorts in the Maldives, Vietnam, Shanghai, Bali Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Source: Travel Daily