Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand-based hotel operator continues to expand internationally with the opening of a four-star, 152-room hotel in Muscat, its fifth hotel outside Thailand and first of three planned for the Middle East. The Centara Muscat Hotel is ideally located in the Omani capital’s bustling Ghala Heights business district, close to the convention centre, Royal Opera House, and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. It is conveniently midway between the airport and historical district, about 15 minutes from each. The hotel is a modern new building featuring three restaurants, a spa, and a rooftop pool and terrace with views out over the Gulf of Oman. Its premium lounge, banquet and meeting facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi, plus proximity to Muscat’s shopping and historical sites, are designed to serve both business and leisure travellers.
Centara is known for combining appealing Thai qualities, such as graceful service and pampering spa treatments, with expertly-prepared Thai and international cuisine. The new Muscat hotel follows this blueprint. Akdeniz, an authentic Turkish restaurant, features fine coffees, Middle Eastern snacks and mezzes, plus meats and fresh fish seared on a traditional Ocakbasi grill. Tip-tara restaurant serves Thai dishes and international choices, while The Roof offers a relaxed venue for barbeques and private events. Centara’s signature SPA Cenvaree offers a variety of therapies and treatments, plus Thai herbal spa products. The rooftop pool is complemented by a children’s pool and fitness centre. The hotel’s 237-square-metre banquet hall is large enough to accommodate cocktail receptions of 280 people. Three smaller venues include a boardroom which can be adjusted to fit a range of uses. Another conference room, along with the pleasant rooftop terrace, can accommodate up to 80 people – ideal for an evening event, with the Gulf of Oman as a glittering backdrop.