Thai hotel chain Centara Hotels & Resorts has signed a management contract with local hotel owner and developer Nova Group to manage three properties in Pattaya and one property in Bangkok.

The new properties will fall under two new brands being launched by the chain: Centra and Centara Residence and Suites.

The Centra brand is described as an economy brand, with typically 100 rooms or more plus a single F&B outlet, while the Centara Residence and Suites brand is targeted at long-stay travellers.

The properties will be named Centra Pattaya Resort, Centra Nova Hotel and Spa Pattaya, Centara Residence and Suites, Pattaya, and Centra Sukhumvit 15 Hotel, Bangkok

All four of the new properties are slated to open in July 2011.

Centara Hotels & Resorts has a total of 41 properties, 35 in Thailand and six internationally. Of this total, 28 are open for business and 13 are under development. Three are set to open by end 2010, three in 2011, six in 2012 and one in 2014.