Michael Henssler, Chief Operating Officer, Centara Hotels & Resorts, , Ben Montgomery, Centara Corporate Ambassador and PATA Thailand Chapter Chairperson, Chaiphun Thongsuthum, General Manager of Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya along with the Centara Hotels & Resorts management team, visited the TIL and received presentations on its activities from the BBS management team, led by Associate Professor Dr. Punnee Pimapunsri, Dean, and faculty members. BBS, spearheading the Tourism Innovation Lab, and Centara, a prominent global hotel chain with over four decades of operation in Thailand, engaged in discussions regarding collaboration. The focus was on supporting the development of professional expertise and advancing workforce skills within the industry.
In 2022, Burapha Business School (BBS) secured funding from the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) to establish the EEC-NET: Tourism Innovation Lab (TIL). This groundbreaking initiative encompasses six core operational units, spanning 19 operational areas: Hotel Lab, Restaurant & Culinary Lab, Co-Experience & Event Lab, Spa & Wellness Lab, Travel Consulting Lab, and Airline Service Lab. By strategically aligning with demand-driven workforce development initiatives, the TIL functions as a central hub for enhancing workforce skills in the tourism and hospitality sectors. It focuses on reskilling, upskilling, and fostering the development of new skills, thereby bolstering the region's competitiveness.
Centara, particularly Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, continuous collaboration and support have been extended to enhance experiences and careers in tourism and hospitality industries through cooperative and work-integrated education (CWIE) with Burapha University. In the future, there are plans to further elevate cooperation and support for talent creation and development in the tourism and hospitality industries leveraging the potential of globally renowned hotels.
Source: Centara Hotels & Resort