CENTARA GRAND BEACH RESORT – A CLASSIC COLONIAL HOTEL AMIDST THE ROYAL HISTORY OF HUA HIN

With 13 hectares of private landscaped gardens, Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, Hua Hin has a unique old-world charm that reflects “Old Siam”. Considered as Asia’s most romantic hotels, this luxurious resort offers charming colonial-era architecture with teak work furnishings of the superbly maintained guestrooms and suites, which date back to 1923.

It was used as a setting for several Hollywood films, most notably the Oscar nominated “The Killing Fields”. Hua Hin itself has a royal history. As a beach town in Prachuab-khirikhan province, Hua Hin is situated on the sunrise side of the stunning Gulf of Siam, and remains Thailand’s oldest and most desired beach destination.

This powdery white sand beach first came into the limelight in 1922, when King Rama VI’s royal architect constructed Klai Kangwon or “Far from worries” seafront summer palace of golden teak.

Hua Hin still maintains a quaint Old World feeling with its small streets and night market.Thailand’s first golf course also began here and today Hua Hin is a haven for golfers and water sports lovers. Its beautiful railway station is renowned. Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin fits nicely with the historic town. Its 251 guestrooms offer its clients superb luxury in an Old World setting. The beautifully Colonial rooms range from Deluxe, Premium Deluxe, Family Room Pool Terrace, Premium Deluxe Club, Junior Suite, Deluxe Sute, Duplex Suite One Bedroom with Pool View, Royal Suite Ocean View, Villa One Bedroom with Private Pool and Villa One Bedroom Suite with Private Pool. Every guestroom offers the ultimate in comfort and convenience with bedside control panel, safe deposit box, remote control television (LCD TV for the Villas), DVD player (only for the Villas), mini-bar, satellite channels, Internet connections,individual air-conditioning, IDD telephone, hair dryer and coffee and tea making facilities.

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, Hua Hin’s Colonial Hall, Hua Hin Hall and Board Room offer the business travellers the ultimate in meeting and conference needs. The Colonial Halls offer 336 square meters and can host up to 300 guests. Each room can be arranged in various setups to meet your business needs.or choices. The Railway restaurant features both Thai and Western food that evoke the days on the history National Thai Railway, with our speciality “Khao Phad Rot Fai”. Dine in style at Coast Beach Club & Bistro and enjoy inspiring cuisine of the world, authentic fresh-made pizza, grilled meats and seafood in a cool, tropical beach side setting. The Museum Coffee and Tea Corner gives guests the chance to step back into the British colonies to enjoy high tea. For a relaxing drink, guests can visit the Elephant Bar.

The resort’s landscaping highlights its long history and royal underpinnings. The giant green topiaries have been artistically trimmed and shaped to add to the hotel’s splendour,featuring additions such as elephants, birds, peacocks and many more. Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, Hua Hin offers a wide range of leisure activities, from 4 swimming pools, the SPA Cenvaree, a fitness centre, tennis courts, badminton, croquet,snooker, giant chess, table tennis, Boccia / Petanque, Kids Club and Beach Volleyball.

HISTORY

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, Hua Hin has played an important role in the development of Thailand’s highly respected tourism sector. This legacy dates back to the romantic days of “Old Siam”, when railways were the primary mode of transportation and elephants ruled the jungle.

1834

Hua Hin’s lHin’s legacy begins… Hua Hin has been inhabited since the reign of King Rama III. During the 1830’s, people seeking a better life settled in Bo Fai and Nongsakae. The settlers named their seaside village Samoriang, referring to the largerock outcroppings scattered along the beach. They later changed the name to Hin Riang, and then to Lam Hin, which means, ‘stone cape’L

Late 19th Century

After years as a trade route, the trip from Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River to Singaporebecame a pleasure journey as well. In the late 19th century, the royal steamer, the Siam Orasumphol, sailed out of Bangkok along the western Gulf of Thailand, passingnumerous small communities, including Hua Hin. The steamer provided comfort andconvenience for the Royal Family, while the vivid scenery and fascinating villages piquedtheir interests

1911

After the Royal Family’s passage near Lam Hin, officials renamed the city Hua Hin, or ‘stone head’ in English. When engineers finished the railroad from Bangkok to Hua Hin, inspired members of the Royal Family, aristocrats, and the Bangkok elite began to build bungalows at the seaside town. Prince Nares, the Minister of Public Works during the reign of HM King Rama V, was the first person in the Thai Royal Family to recognize the unrivalled beauty of Hua Hin. His home on the end of Lam Hin Village inspired further construction.The Saen Samran Royal Residence was built on beachfront land, and the nearby Ban Plub Pla bungalows were built as a home for Prince Tewawongworapakorn and his family.

1919

The Hat Yai-Padang Besar train opened for service.

1922

To carry out Prince Purachatra’s ideas and raise the standard of accommodation in Hua Hin, the newly established Hotel Division of the Thai Royal State Railway began construction on the western style Railway Hotel.Prince Purachatra personally oversaw the construction of the new hotel, while Mr. A Rigazzi, the State Railway’s Italian architect, designed the original building. The hotel featured a luxurious, two-storey European style building built of brick and wood, as commanded by the Royal Family. The new hotel was situated on State Railway land,which relocated the existing bungalows. King Rama VI further established Hua Hin when he commissioned engineer A.D. Robins to build a golf course on the land opposite the railway station. Robins and his crew completed the nine-hole, 3,000-yard Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, and its tennis courts, in time to welcome the first hotel guests on October 26, 1922. The hotel spent the staggering sum of Baht 128,366.75 to complete 14 bedrooms, a lobby lounge, a bar, restaurant, billiards room, wine storeroom and several large veran-das. A cleverly designed verandah surrounded the building, protecting guests from the sun’s heat and preventing rainwater from entering the building. The beautiful hotel’s appearance strikingly resembled the Marukhatayawan Royal Residence in nearby Ch-Am.

The Railway Hotel spared no efforts in luxury. A European manager directed the hotel’s fine dining continental restaurant, and the hotel even provided room service, a rare luxuryin the 1920’s. The restaurant served Gourmet European food on elegant western-style china. The silverware with the State Railway emblem, now on display in the lobby museum, was made to order in Europe.

January 1923

Locals still remember the awe of the Railway Hotel’s grand opening on January 1, 1923. Putra Intarmayura, whose father worked in the hotel gardens since it opened in 1923, recalled, “At first the staff wore khaki short sleeved shirts, khaki shorts and sun helmets with the Garuda emblem. But this uniform changed to trousers instead of shorts after a manager had an excursion to Japan.” As the most luxurious and modern hotel in the region, the Railway Hotel became an instant favorite among Thais and foreigners alike As the years quickly passed, other members of 1916 the Royal family built a group of houses near the scenic rocks at the northern end of the village.

During the reigns of King Rama V and VI the railroad completed its southern railway line connectiong Siam to British Malaya, and before long passengers traveled for over three days to reach their destinations. Because of the length of the journeys, the State Railway organized food and accommodation services for passengers traveling on longer trips. Hua Hin became a common overnight stop, and visitors stayed in basic public accommodation near the Railway Hotel spared no efforts in luxury.A European manager directed the hotel’s fine dining continental restaurant, and the hotel even provided room service, a rare luxury in the 1920’s. The restaurant served Gourmet European food on elegant western-style china. The silverware with the State Railway emblem, now on display in the lobby museum, was made to order in Europe.

January 1, 1923.

Putra Intarmayura, whose father worked in the hotel gardens since it opened in 1923, recalled, “At first the staff wore khaki short sleeved shirts, khaki shorts and sun helmets with the Garuda emblem. But this uniform changed to trousers instead of shorts after a manager had an excursion to Japan.” As the most luxurious and modern hotel in the region, the Railway Hotel became an instant favorite among Thais and foreigners alike.

1924

The Hua Hin Railway Hotel’s reputation quickly spread. To take advantage of this success, the State Railway’s advertising division, established 1924, encouragedforeigners and Thais to take train holidays through Thailand.The division printed posters, brochures and guidebooks for various tourist attractions.The original Guidebook of Siam described Hua Hin as, “an easily reached seaside resort.

If one has the time, it should be favored with a visit. The sea is some 10 minutes quiet walk from the railway station, and situated right on the beach are furnished bungalows which can be rented by applying to the Traffic Superintendent at Bangkok. Here, in addition to excellent sea bathing, one may shoot leopards, deer, hares and doves, but except for the latter, guides and permits must be obtained.”

As Hua Hin and the Railway Hotel grew in popularity, the town quickly needed more guest rooms and bungalows. Construction began on temporary lodgings, called the Abbass House, near the railway station. This soon proved inadequate and the State Railways added 19 additional bungalows and 13 rooms in the original style.

1926

In 1926, the Railway introduced European express trains with sleeping berths.

The efficiency of the new trains decreased travel time between Bangkok and Butterworth,the station at Penang, Malaya. Because the shorter journey meant that passengers no longer had to change trains between Bangkok and Penang, the new service quickly lead to a four-fold increase in ticket sales. With the new business, the Railway hotel increasingly became the haunt of sun seeking tourists, rather than the overnight stop of stressed railway passengers.

Major Seidenfaden’s opinion echoed the growing popularity of Hua Hin. He claimed, “Hua-Hin on-the-sea in Siamese territory is one of the finest seaside resorts east of Suez, with swimming, shooting and fishing among the popular sporting activities to be foundthere. It possesses one of the best golf courses in the Orient. The Railway Hotel also maintains a stock of golf requisites and loans are often made to visiting golfers.

1939

During chaos of World War II, stories of Hua Hin’s tranquility spread through- out the East. After Thailand joined the war, Thais and Bangkok based foreigners soughtrefuge in the ever-full hotel.

1945

After the war, Thailand’s infrastructure drastically improved. Engineers built new roads and bridges, and automotive transportation increased in popularity. With the added freedom of the car, Bangkok residents could easily cross the Tachin River to other resorts near Hua Hin.

1948

More bungalows were built north of Damnernkasem Road, and six years later bungalows A, B and C were pulled down to construct a new building. The new building connected to the old one on land purchased from the Royal Family. The resulting three-storey building now stands adjoining the Museum Coffee & Tea Corner.

Thavorn Boonyaketu, the State Railway’s architect, designed the modern new building. It featured three restaurants, a bar downstairs, 23 rooms on the second and third floors, as well as a panoramic sea-view restaurant. Designers carefully selected a wide variety of modern construction materials, with the furniture and interior decoration designed with the guests’s comfort and convenience in mind. Unfortunately, critics attacked the building’s style, as clashing with the original structure.

1986

In 1986 the State Railway of Thailand granted the Central Hotels and Resorts (CHR) and Accor restoration rights to the grand hotel. CHR and Accor meticulously preserved the much loved historic building, adding a new swimming pool and Thai Pavilion. The hotel refurbished the old bungalows and added new gardens, lawns, and fountains.Central Hotels and Resorts and Accor re-launched the hotel as a Sofitel after two years of extensive refurbishment. The new Sofitel emphasized the Edwardian architecture and colonial traditions.

The Architects Association of Thailand awarded the Sofitel the grand prize for “outstand-ing conservation” in the category dedicated to preserving historic Thai buildings.

1988

The hotel welcomed a new generation of guests under the name Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort.

1993

Sofitel began serious additions to the hotel, adding a 300 person conference and banqueting hall. Also included in the addition were a game room, library, night club,shops, a beauty salon, an elegant cocktail bar and the Railway Restaurant.Sofitel also upgraded the Central Hua Hin Village, the old bungalow site formerly known as the “Villa Wing,” in the same style as the Colonial Wing. Shaded by many exotic varieties of plants, the 22 villas transformed from the original bungalows into beautifully decorated two room suites, each with a living area, pantry and balcony. This area now Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, Hua Hin offers a delicious array of Food & Beverage choices. The Railway restaurant features both Thai and Western food that evoke the days on the history National Thai Railway, with our speciality “Khao Phad Rot Fai”. Dine in style at Coast Beach Club & Bistro and enjoy inspiring cuisine of the world, authentic fresh-made pizza, grilled meats and seafood in a cool, tropical beachside setting. The Museum Coffee and Tea Corner gives guests the chance to step back into the British colonies to enjoy high tea. For a relaxing drink, guests can visit the Elephant Bar.

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, Hua Hin offers a wide range of leisure activities, from 4 swimming pools, the SPA Cenvaree, a fitness centre, tennis courts, badminton, croquet, snooker, giant chess, table tennis, Boccia / Petanque, Kids Club and Beach Volleyball.

For over 90 years, Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, Hua Hin has played an important role in the development of Thailand’s highly respected tourism sector. This legacy dates back to the romantic days of “Old Siam”, when railways were the primary mode of transportation and elephants ruled the jungle.

1834

Hua Hin’s legacy begins… Hua Hin has been inhabited since the reign of King Rama III. During the 1830’s, people seeking a better life settled in Bo Fai and Nongsakae. The settlers named their seaside village Samoriang, referring to the large rock outcroppings scattered along the beach. They later changed the name to Hin Riang, and then to Lam Hin, which means, ‘stone cape’

Late 19th Century

After years as a trade route, the trip from Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River to Singapore became a pleasure journey as well. In the late 19th century, the royal steamer, the Siam Orasumphol, sailed out of Bangkok along the western Gulf of Thailand, passing numerous small communities, including Hua Hin. The steamer provided comfort andconvenience for the Royal Family, while the vivid scenery and fascinating villages piqued

1939

During the chaos of World War II, stories of Hua Hin’s tranquility spread through- out the East. After Thailand joined the war, Thais and Bangkok based foreigners soughtrefuge in the ever-full hotel.

1945

1948

More bungalows were built north of Damnernkasem Road, and six years later bungalows A, B and C were pulled down to construct a new building. The new buildingconnected to the old one on land purchased from the Royal Family. The resulting three-storey building now stands adjoining the Museum Coffee & Tea Corner.

1986

In 1986 the State Railway of Thailand granted the Central Hotels and Resorts (CHR) and Accor restoration rights to the grand hotel. CHR and Accor meticulouslypreserved the much loved historic building, adding a new swimming pool and Thai Pavilion. The hotel refurbished the old bungalows and added new gardens, lawns, and fountains. Central Hotels and Resorts and Accor re-launched the hotel as a Sofitel after two years of extensive refurbishment. The new Sofitel emphasized the Edwardian architecture andcolonial traditions.

The Architects Association of Thailand awarded the Sofitel the grand prize for “outstand-ing conservation” in the category dedicated to preserving historic Thai buildings.

1988

The hotel welcomed a new generation of guests under the name Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort.

1993

Sofitel began serious additions to the hotel, adding a 300 person conference and banqueting hall. Also included in the addition were a game room, library, night club,shops, a beauty salon, an elegant cocktail bar and the Railway Restaurant. Sofitel also upgraded the Central Hua Hin Village, the old bungalow site formerly knownas the “Villa Wing,” in the same style as the Colonial Wing. Shaded by many exotic varieties of plants, the 22 villas transformed from the original bungalows into beautifullydecorated two room suites, each with a living area, pantry and balcony. This area now includes 20 newly built villas and a central service area, the Salathai Restaurant, a swimming pool, large garden area, confer- ence rooms, a charming open-air cocktail bar, and several attractively landscaped decorative fishponds. Encompassing an area of 13 hectares (76 rai), the Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villas, Hua Hin and the Central Hua Hin Village define beautifully landscaped grounds and sculptured gardens. Additional facilities include the elegant Palm Seafood Pavilion, an al fresco beach bar with terrace swimming pools, two tennis courts, giant chess, putting greens, a maze, a fishpond, and the historical Museum Coffee & Tea Corner.

The scale of restoration and improvements of the two hotels reflects not only the needs of today’s modern traveller, but also the building’s rich history and heritage. It is thisunique combination that stands as a testament to the beauty and tranquility of a bygone era.

1995

The hotel continued further reconstructions. The management arranged to transform the original hotel’s bungalow D into a Fitness Centre and Spa. Two privatetreatment rooms with an en suite Jacuzzi, comfortably accommodating two people, made up the Spa. Two separate saunas are also connected to these rooms. In addition, the spa offers three additional private aromatherapy treatment rooms, two of which are equipped for beauty treatments. Both the Fitness Centre and Spa command dramatic seaviews and are conveniently located next to the Railway Pool.

1998

In January 1998 expansion of the property continued with the addition of the Garden Wing. The sixty rooms overlooking the newly designed gardens and swimming pool perfectly matched the original colonial architecture. A new swimming pool complex with a children’s pool, large whirlpool and snack bar were added as well.In October 1998, the hotel moved the fitness room and upgraded the space into a Thai traditional massage area with four private massage rooms.

August 2000

Renovation of Railway Wing, which converted twenty-two standard rooms into larger superior rooms, another twelve standard rooms into six junior suites, began in August 2000. In addition, seventeen deluxe rooms and two executive suites were renovated to complete the entire Railway Wing upgrade.

July 2001

With renovations on the hotel’s Railway Wing completed by July 2001, each room in the Railway Wing contained with enlarged bathrooms and spacious showers. The hotel retained most of the existing colonial furniture, while newly made teak furniture blended harmoniously with the teak parquet flooring, high ceilings and antique fans.New fabrics, from the finest cotton, made curtains and soft furnishings and bedspreads were replaced with white and airy duvets.

The Sofitel now comprises of 207 rooms. Accor faithfully restored the historical building to preserve the valuable architecture, interior decoration and its old lobby in its original

October 2002

In October 2002, the Renovation Team completed the first phase of the Colonial Wing. The meticulous improvements to forty superior rooms, twelve deluxerooms and five executive suites preserve the hotel’s unique historical heritage. The superior rooms all feature new closets, new bathrooms, comfortable furnishings and refinished woodwork. All balconies offer a panoramic sea view where guests can enjoy Hua Hin’s cool ocean breezes.

May-August 2003

Finished in August 2003, the second phase of the Colonial Wing upgrade renovated thirty-two superior rooms, eight deluxe rooms and the hotel’s famous Crystal Suite.September 2005September 2005 Completely finished in September 2005, the new SPA Cenvaree (formerly known as Centara Spa) upgraded to higher level of luxurious facilities and services. There are nine treatment rooms, ]Jacuzzi and separated steam bath and locker for male and female.

November 2006

Centara Hotels & Resorts began to renovate the former Central Hua Hin Village in 2005, with a determination to preserve its Colonial style as a unique attribute for the new resort. The renovation of the forty-two contemporary-style bunga- lows has been completed in November 2006 and has been elevated to our premium resort under the new name; The Villas at Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort.

June 2007

Centara Hotels & Resorts decided to establish a sub brand by using “Grand” in the title of all five-star hotels and resorts. As the result, the name of Sofitel Central Hua HinResort has officially been changed to Sofitel Centara Grand Resort and Villas, Hua Hin. Based on the same idea, so that the Centara Spa has been renamed as SPA Cenvaree, from a combination between “Cen” and “Varee” which can refer as another meaning of “Water” in Thai.

December 2010

November 2015

Palm Pavilion and Palm Terrace have been upgraded and renamed to “Coast Beach Club & Bistro”. The new restaurant comprises a redesign of the new bar function to enrich its classic ceiling structure and a new décor with a slightly different colour palette of blue and green tones. The ambience is relaxed, stylish andsophisticated with low-back armchairs and beautiful rich hardwoods, offset by oversized lamps and elegant bar stools. The COAST Beach Club & Bistro was expanded to a luscious easygoing open-air lounge and class

October 2002

In October 2002, the Renovation Team completed the first phase of the Colonial Wing. The meticulous improvements to forty superior rooms, twelve deluxe rooms and five executive suites preserve the hotel’s unique historical heritage. The superior rooms all feature new closets, new bathrooms, comfortable furnishings and refinished woodwork. All balconies offer a panoramic sea view where guests can enjoy Hua Hin’s cool ocean breezes.

May-August 2003

Finished in August 2003, the second phase of the Colonial Wing upgrade renovated thirty-two superior rooms, eight deluxe rooms and the hotel’s famous Crystal Suite.

September 2005

Completely finished in September 2005, the new SPA Cenvaree (formerly known as Centara Spa) upgrade renovated to higher level of luxurious facilities and services. There are nine treatment rooms, Jacuzzi and separated steam bath and locker for male and female.

November 2006

Centara Hotels & Resorts began to renovate the former Central Hua Hin Village in 2005, with a determination to preserve its Colonial style as a uniqueattribute for the new resort. The renovation of the forty-two contemporary-style bunga-lows has been completed in November 2006 and has been elevated to our premium resort under the new name; The Villas at Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort.

June 2007

Central Hotels & Resorts announced it’s rebranding to Centara Hotels & Resorts and the spa business. Commenting on the change, although “Central”is more famous in Thailand, especially in retail business, for the hotel’s international customer base but it does not truly reflect “Thai-ness”, the depth and quality of it’s products and services. “Centara” does sound more Thai, exotic, and still links the association with the group, created from a combination between “Cen” which coming from Central and “Tara” which means “Water” in Thai.Centara Hotels & Resorts decided to establish a sub brand by using “Grand” in the title of all five-star hotels and resorts. As the result, the name of Sofitel Central Hua HinResort has officially been changed to Sofitel Centara Grand Resort and Villas, Hua Hin.Based on the same idea, so that the Centara Spa has been renamed as SPA Cenvaree,from a combination between “Cen” and “Varee” which can refer as another meaning of “Water” in Thai.

December 2010

Club Millésime located on the hotel side open its doors for the first time, to all “Villas, Suite and booked Club guests” offering an exclusive area with an assortment of food and beverage to the satisfaction of the guests.January 2012 Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villas Hua Hin, changed its brand into Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin. November 2015 Palm Pavilion and Palm Terrace have been upgraded and renamed to “Coast Beach Club & Bistro”. The new restaurant comprises a redesign of the new barfunction to enrich its classic ceiling structure and a new décor with a slightly different colour palette of blue and green tones. The ambience is relaxed, stylish andsophisticated with low-back armchairs and beautiful rich hardwoods, offset by oversized lamps and elegant bar stools. The COAST Beach Club & Bistro was expanded to a luscious easygoing open-air lounge and classy Thai Sala with spectacular ocean views.

*Report compiled by Connoisseur Magazine Editor Axel Ritenis using CENTARA GRAND Hua Hin Historical Brochure

Images by Axel Ritenis