Client Experiences
What Operators & Investors Have Said About Working with Ratana
Feedback from hotel operators, resort developers, tour agency founders, and hospitality managers across the Eastern Seaboard.
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Applications Handled
12+
Years in Practice
4.8
Average Client Rating
2
Languages of Service
Client Feedback
What Clients Have Shared
Marcus Holmberg
Resort investor — Naklua, Chonburi
We came in with a resort that had operated informally for two years under a management agreement that never got properly licensed. Ratana took the matter from the beginning, identified which building compliance steps were needed first, and handled the application from there. The whole thing was explained to us step by step — we knew at each point what was happening and why. The fee was fixed, which mattered because we had no idea what this kind of work normally costs.
March 2025
Priya Thanabalachandran
Tour agency founder — Pattaya
I was setting up a new inbound tour operator and had spoken to two other firms before Ratana. Both of them gave me vague answers about timelines and costs. Ratana sent me a short, clear note explaining which TAT license category made sense for my business model, what the bond options were, and what the process would look like. That note alone was more useful than the two previous conversations combined. The application went through without problems.
February 2025
Jeroen Klasen
Hotel GM — Jomtien, Pattaya
We used Ratana for a contract review on a new booking platform agreement. The memo they returned was thorough — it flagged three clauses in the indemnity section that I had not thought to question, and the suggested redlines were reasonable rather than defensive. I took the suggestions into the negotiation and got two of the three changed. The ฿4,200 fee is straightforward for that kind of work. I would have paid hourly fees for five or six hours elsewhere and gotten something less organised.
April 2025
Somchai Rungsrisawad
Guesthouse owner — Nong Prue
I had been running my guesthouse for three years without a hotel license, not fully understanding whether I needed one. Ratana did the eligibility review and explained the situation honestly — I did need to apply, and there were two documents I needed to obtain from the building department first. They handled the full application after that. The process took about four months, which was longer than I had hoped, but Ratana was clear from the start that this was typical and kept me updated throughout.
January 2025
Luisa Bergmann
Travel agency director — Bangkok / Pattaya
We had an existing domestic TAT license and wanted to expand to include outbound categories. I was not sure whether this required a new application or an amendment to the existing one. Ratana clarified that in the first exchange and handled the amendment process from there. The ฿9,800 fee covered the full scope. What I appreciated most was that the communication was direct — I did not have to follow up repeatedly to get status updates. When there was something to report, they reported it.
March 2025
Anya Chaikittirat
Dive resort manager — Koh Larn area
We brought Ratana in to review the management contract on our dive resort before we signed it. The review identified a termination clause that would have made it very difficult for us to exit the agreement in the first three years without penalty. The redline suggested a more balanced version, and the other party accepted it after one round of negotiation. Given the value of the contract, the ฿4,200 cost for that review was a straightforward decision. The memo was also written in a way I could share with our non-lawyer partners without confusion.
February 2025
Detailed Examples
Three Client Situations
Case Study One — Hotel Licensing
Condotel Transition to Full Hotel License, Naklua
Challenge
A 45-unit condotel development in Naklua had been operating under a property management arrangement for eighteen months. The operator wanted to transition to a full hotel license to access a wider range of corporate accounts, but was uncertain whether the building met Hotel Act requirements and which authority to approach.
What We Did
Ratana conducted an eligibility assessment, identified a gap in the fire safety documentation, and coordinated with the relevant municipal office to obtain the necessary clearance before the main application was lodged. The hotel license application was then prepared and submitted to the district office, with follow-up on two queries from the officer reviewing the file.
Outcome
The hotel license was issued approximately five months after the initial instruction. The operator received a written summary of ongoing obligations — staff registration, safety inspection schedule, and annual license renewal. The fixed fee of ฿31,500 covered the full scope without additional billing.
Timeline: 5 months from initial instruction to license issuance
Case Study Two — TAT Licensing
New Inbound Tour Operator, Pattaya
Challenge
A European national with a long-standing connection to Thailand wanted to launch an inbound tour operator focused on specialist group travel. She had spoken with the TAT office directly and come away uncertain about the bond structure required and whether her proposed business model required an inbound or domestic category license.
What We Did
Ratana reviewed the business model, confirmed that an inbound category license was the appropriate route, and explained the bond options in plain terms. After the client selected the bank bond route, we prepared the application documents and liaised with the TAT Eastern Region office through to issuance.
Outcome
The inbound TAT license was issued within three months of the initial instruction. The client received a brief memo on annual compliance requirements — renewal date, reporting obligations, and the process for adding guide licenses to the account. The ฿9,800 fee covered the engagement in full.
Timeline: 3 months from initial instruction to license issuance
Case Study Three — Contract Review
OTA Agreement Review, Boutique Hotel
Challenge
A 22-room boutique hotel in central Pattaya was approached by an online travel agency with a preferred partnership agreement. The hotel manager wanted to understand the indemnity provisions, the rate parity clause, and the exit terms before signing — particularly around what would happen to outstanding bookings if they chose to leave the platform.
What We Did
Ratana reviewed the full agreement, prepared a memo identifying four provisions that merited attention, and produced a redlined version of the contract with suggested amendments. The summary section of the memo was written to be readable without a legal background, so the hotel owner could use it in discussions with the OTA's account manager.
Outcome
The hotel used the redlined version as the basis for negotiation. The OTA agreed to three of the four suggested changes, including a modification to the rate parity clause and a clearer exit procedure for outstanding bookings. The ฿4,200 fee was noted by the client as reasonable relative to the value of the contract in question.
Turnaround: Memo delivered within 5 business days of contract receipt
Reach Us
Contact Information
Phone
+66 38 396 8541Address
192 Pattaya 2nd Road, Nong Prue,
Bang Lamung, Chonburi 20150
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00 ICT
Sat 10:00–14:00 (by appointment)
Credentials
Professional Recognition
Lawyers Council of Thailand
Full registered member — annual compliance maintained
PDPA Data Practice
Client data handled under Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act
TAT Eastern Region Liaison
Established working relationship with TAT Eastern Region office since 2015
Would You Like to Discuss Your Situation?
A brief note about your licensing or contract question is a good starting point. We respond within one business day.
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