Minor International Plc, a food and hospitality group, set its five-year investment plan for 2014-2018 at 30-37 billion baht to expand both its food and hotel businesses.
Of the total, 20-25 billion will be used to diversify its existing business, while 10-12 billion baht is for new investment opportunities, likely hotel acquisitions, said Chaiyapat Paitoon, vice-president for strategic planning.
"With our aggressive investment plan, we hope our earnings will rise 15-20% and the return on investment will be 16% over the next five years," he said.
Minor's board approved this five-year investment plan last month.
For its food business, the company will keep growing its existing food brands and allow more investors to become franchisees. Its major fast-food chains include The Pizza Company, Sizzler, Swensen's, Dairy Queen and Burger King.
For its hotel business, it plans to operate at least 150 hotels in Thailand and abroad in five years. Minor has 100 hotels of its own and under management contracts for the Anantara, Avani, Oaks, Per Aquum, Marriott, Four Seasons, St. Regis, and Elewana labels.
Mr Chaiyapat said the current political unrest has not affected its hotel business as the demonstrations are taking place in limited areas, not major commercial districts in Bangkok. Moreover, foreign tourists are still visiting Thailand, with the forecast of 26.2 million tourist arrivals this year unchanged.
"I don't think the anti-government protestors will cause violence. But if it happens, we hope we can deal with the situation and implement a business contingency plan," he said.
The red-shirt protests in 2010 caused major business interruptions at MINT's Four Seasons Hotel and some food outlets near the Ratchaprasong intersection.
Mr Chaiyapat said the company's hotels in Bangkok generate less than 10% of its total revenues.
However, Minor still sees bright prospects for the hotel industry next year as the tourism industry recovers. Tourist arrivals next year are projected at 28 million by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
During the first nine months of this year, MINT reported total revenue of 26.84 billion baht, up 11%, while net profit was 2.54 billion baht, up 22%.
Contributing to the strong performance was revenue from hotel and retail, which rose 8% each, while revenue from restaurants surged 16%.
Minor shares (MINT) closed at 26 baht, up 75 satang, in trade worth 125.28 million baht.