Over 57 million Chinese tourists will travel abroad this year and Thailand expects to lure 1.3 million visitors from the mainland in 2011. According to the China Tourism Academy, China remained Asia's largest source of outbound tourists and their spending abroad this year is expected to climb to a staggering US$55 billion (1.6 trillion baht).

Growth for Starwood's high-caliber brands is also picking up in Thailand, where it will add four Starwood hotels to its portfolio this year, including two Four Points by Sheraton hotels, an Aloft hotel and The St. Regis Bangkok. Starwood is also growing its footprint in Malaysia, with two ...

The group plans to open three hotels in Bangkok and one on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province.

It will start with the Okura Prestige Hotel in Bangkok in March 2012, which will be managed by Japanese hotel chain Okura Group.

The group later will open Hilton Bangkok on Sukhumvit Soi 26. The hotel will feature 280 rooms and will target luxury markets, both business and leisure travellers.

Another hotel is Double Three by Hilton, representing a new brand of fourstar hotels in Thailand, on Sukhumvit Soi 24. Leisure travellers are the main targets for the hotel.

The last property will be Sheraton Samui, consisting of 88 pool villa units, to open its doors late next year. Its main market is international tourists.

Baurin said Charoen owned 40 hotels with a total of more than 9,000 rooms in Thailand and overseas, in Japan, Singapore, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia and the United States.

Twenty of the hotels are in Thailand and the rest outside, and most of the hotels are managed by international chains.

The card, available for personal and business use, offers services such as a dedicated concierge and travel agent, complimentary companion airline tickets on international flights on selected airlines with the purchase of a full fare ticket, personal shoppers at retailers such as Escada, Gucci, and Neiman Marcus, access to airport clubs, first class flight upgrades, membership in Sony's Cierge personal shopping program, and dozens of other elite club memberships. Hotel benefits include one free night when at least one paid night is booked during the same stay in every Mandarin Oriental hotel worldwide once a year (except for the New York City property), and privileges at hotel chains like Ritz-Carlton, Leading Hotels of the World, and Amanresorts. All of the benefits mentioned above are for United States-issued cards. American Express Centurion cards issued in other countries may include different benefits. The card has recently added new amenities, including access into the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold, as well as US Airways Platinum Preferred status as of June 1, 2007 in addition to Continental Gold* and Delta Gold. As of August 14, 2007, American Airlines Admirals Club access was added to the list of amenities. As of August 1, 2010, the card will provide unlimited access to all US Airways Clubs regardless which carrier the cardmember is traveling on (unlike Delta, Continental & American). The card also features complimentary enrollment in Hertz Rent A Car #1 Club Gold and the Avis Rent A Car Presidents club.

According to a letter sent to Centurion cardholders, Continental benefits will cease in October 2011.