PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR), the fuel trading division of PTT Plc, is set to finalize its long-delayed investment in a budget hotel within a petrol station next month, confirmed Wilaiwan Kanjanakanti, senior executive vice-president for finance and chief financial officer.
Having completed a feasibility study and secured approval from the board, the company plans to develop a hotel at an existing PTT petrol station. Strategic partners for the joint development are expected to be announced in the fourth quarter, with construction scheduled for the first half of next year. The hotel is anticipated to open by late 2026.
While the development budget has not been disclosed, OR officials indicated that the hotel will cater to travelers and professionals seeking affordable accommodations during long journeys. The hotel is expected to feature 70-80 rooms, along with amenities such as ample parking, a Café Amazon outlet, Ottari laundry services, and a 7-Eleven convenience store, designed to serve as a modern rest stop.
Earlier, CEO Peekthong Thongyai highlighted that several locations are being considered for the project and emphasized that safety and service standards remain top priorities. The concept was initially explored in 2016 but was put on hold due to concerns about PTT’s majority ownership, which is held by government entities, potentially conflicting with regulations on competition with private operators. The project was further delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted Thailand’s tourism sector.
Meanwhile, OR continues to face challenges internationally. Wilaiwan noted that, in Cambodia, 50 PTT petrol stations have been rebranded under local ownership amid ongoing territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia. Rising ultra-nationalism and boycotts of Thai brands have significantly diminished sales, despite OR operating 186 stations and 254 Café Amazon outlets as of June. Consequently, OR is reviewing its five-year investment plan for 2025-2029, allocating 60.4 billion baht across oil and non-oil sectors. The company is adjusting its strategy based on forecasts of prolonged low crude oil prices and slower growth in Thailand’s electric vehicle market.