Why Ratana
What Operators Find Different About Working with Ratana
A sector-specific practice, written advice, stated fees, and people who understand the Thai hospitality licensing environment from the ground up.
← Return to HomepageAt a Glance
Six Reasons Clients Work with Ratana
Hospitality-Only Focus
We do not maintain a general caseload. All three services we offer sit within the hospitality and tourism sector, which means the same regulatory knowledge applies across every matter we handle.
Fees Stated Before Work Begins
Each service carries a fixed fee for a defined scope. ฿31,500 for hotel licensing counsel. ฿9,800 for TAT operator licensing. ฿4,200 per contract review. You read the number before you agree to anything.
Written Advice, Every Time
Verbal summaries are easy to forget and easy to misremember. Ratana delivers advice in writing — memos, annotated applications, redline contracts — so you have a document you can act on.
Based in the Eastern Seaboard
Our office is in Pattaya, not Bangkok. We work directly with the Bang Lamung and Chonburi district offices, the TAT Eastern Region, and local government bodies without relying on intermediaries.
Thai & English, Without Compromise
Clients communicate with us in English. Government submissions are prepared in Thai to the standard required. You do not need to find a separate translator or wonder what was submitted.
The Lawyers Who Meet You Do the Work
We operate with a small team by design. The person who reviews your hotel license application is the same person who discussed it with you at the outset — there is no handoff to a junior who has not seen the matter.
Professional Expertise
Sector Knowledge That Cuts Through Complexity
Thai hospitality regulation is layered across multiple authorities. A hotel application under the Hotel Act involves the district office and may intersect with environmental clearance, fire safety certification, and land title considerations. A TAT license application involves financial bond structures that differ by operator category. Contract disputes with booking platforms involve choice-of-law questions that appear in the fine print.
Ratana's team has worked in this sector long enough to know which questions matter in each situation and which paths through the process tend to be more direct. That orientation comes from doing this work repeatedly, not from reading about it.
Hotel Act eligibility assessment included in hotel licensing counsel — no separate fee to understand what applies
TAT bond structure explained in plain terms before you choose a license category
Contract review memo flags issues without creating unnecessary alarm — context matters
฿31,500 hotel licensing covers the full scope — eligibility assessment, application preparation, district coordination
฿4,200 contract review is per contract, not per hour — you know the cost before you send the agreement
Additional work outside original scope is discussed and agreed before proceeding — no surprise invoices
Value & Pricing
Fees That Are Readable Before You Commit
Open-ended hourly billing is the norm in many law practices. Ratana does not use that model for hospitality licensing and contract work, because the scope of those matters is clear enough to state a price in advance.
Fixed-fee work is also easier to budget for. Hotel developers and tour operators are running businesses with real cash-flow constraints. Knowing the legal cost before the engagement starts allows that cost to be incorporated into the project plan without uncertainty.
Results & Outcomes
What a Completed Engagement Produces
The purpose of legal advice in hospitality licensing is a completed and correctly lodged application that meets the district office's requirements without unnecessary back-and-forth. The purpose of a contract review is a memo you can use in negotiation — not a list of concerns with no suggested path forward.
Ratana structures each service around a deliverable you can use: a prepared application, a reviewed and redlined contract, or a licensing memo. The work ends with something in your hands, not a billable relationship that continues indefinitely.
Hotel licensing counsel ends with a submitted application and a summary of ongoing obligations
Contract review delivers a written memo with redline suggestions you can use directly in negotiation
TAT licensing counsel ends with a submitted application and a summary of post-license compliance requirements
How We Compare
Ratana vs Typical Providers
| What to Consider | Typical General Practice | Ratana |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitality licensing focus | ||
| Fixed fee stated before engagement | ||
| Written memo as deliverable | Sometimes | |
| Direct work with Pattaya/Chonburi district offices | ||
| Bilingual (Thai & English) throughout | Varies | |
| Same lawyer from first meeting to completion |
What Sets Us Apart
Particular Features of the Ratana Practice
The Hotel Compliance Map
Ratana produces a static compliance reference map for hotel and resort clients — a schematic showing the licenses and permits that a typical hospitality operation in Thailand may need, organised by phase: pre-opening, operational, and seasonal. Each item lists the issuing authority and renewal frequency. It is a starting reference, not a sales tool.
Pre-Application Eligibility Review
Before preparing any hotel license application, we conduct an eligibility assessment as part of the engagement. This identifies whether a property qualifies under the Hotel Act as currently structured, and whether any preliminary steps — building safety, land title, zoning — need to be addressed first.
Mid-Application Pickup
We are used to taking over applications that have stalled — either because they were initially prepared without legal support or because a previous adviser has left the matter incomplete. We review what was submitted, identify the gap, and advise on the next step without billing for a full restart.
No Obligation Initial Discussion
We offer a brief initial discussion — by phone or written note — to help you understand whether a matter falls within our services before you commit to anything. If your situation is outside our scope, we will say so plainly rather than take a fee and disappoint you.
Track Record
Practice Milestones
12+
Years in Hospitality Law
340+
Applications Handled
190+
Contracts Reviewed
2
Languages of Service
Lawyers Council of Thailand
Full member in good standing — annual compliance confirmed
PDPA Compliance Practice
Client data handled in line with Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act
Eastern Region TAT Liaison
Regular working relationship with the TAT Eastern Region office since 2015
Ready to Move Your Licensing Forward?
Describe your situation in a few lines and we will let you know how we can help — before any fee is involved.
Send an Enquiry