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Gerd K Steeb, president of Centara Hotels and Resorts, said this year was one of the toughest trading periods experienced in the Thai tourism industry, due to the ongoing political instability and the global economic downturn.

However, in the first quarter Centara was able to maintain an average occupancy of 70.5 per cent with revenue per available room (REVPAR) dropping only 16 per cent against the same quarter last year.

The figures exclude the newly opened Centara Grand at CentralWorld.

The industry occupancy average for the same period is reported at 53.5 per cent, with REVPAR falling 21 per cent year on year.

Steeb said Centara would expand the chain to a portfolio of at least 24 properties by year-end.

Centara recently announced two new managed properties, on Samui and Koh Pha-Ngan. These will be joined by three more new hotels in Thailand and a third - a brand-new spa resort - joining its Boutique Collection in the Himalayan region of India.

Centara chairman Suthikiati Chirathivat said the management infrastructure was strong and the company was confident of expanding to 40 hotels managing at least 8,000 hotel rooms during its current business plan.