 |
|
 |
| TRAVEL & TOURISM |
|
|
|
Qantas awarded Best Pacific Airline for the eighth consecutive year
Qantas Manager for Thailand
and Vietnam Bob Everest (centre), accepting Qantas award for ‘Best Pacific
Airline’ from Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organisation)
President Nopparat Maythaveekulchai (left) and TTG Asia Media Publisher
Michael Chow (right) at the 24th Annual Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Travel
Awards ceremony held in Bangkok at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre
at CentralWorld.
Qantas has been recognised, for the eighth consecutive
year, as being the Best Pacific Airline at the 24th Annual Travel Trade
Gazette (TTG) Travel Awards.
Qantas Regional General Manager for Asia, Nick McGlynn, said Qantas was
delighted to have been recognised by Travel Trade Gazette.
“As an indicator of customer satisfaction, for Qantas to be recognised as
the best in the Asia-Pacific region reflects our investment in creating
great travel experiences,” said McGlynn.
“Winning this award for the eighth year in a row is a tribute to our team
and our valued industry partners, for their ongoing support and drive to
consistently deliver outstanding service to our customers.
“Earlier this year, we announced more seats and an improved schedule for
Qantas flights to Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok, the first phase in our
strategy to be the first choice for travel between Australia and Asia.
“Asia continues to be one of our key markets. We have opened a multi-million
lounge in Singapore, with another due to open in Hong Kong in the first
quarter of next year.
“From late 2014, we will be introducing our refurbished A330-300 aircraft,
which will operate on key Asian routes. The new Business Class seats, that
can be left in a recline position for take-off and landing, will be a key
point of difference between Qantas and other carriers flying into Asia,”
added McGlynn.
Qantas International offers 130 flights to Asia every week, with direct
flights to 11 cities, and fares available with partner airlines to over 120
more cities in Asia.
|
|
 |
Safety First at Thai Garden Resort
TGR staff were trained using the exciting
“learning by doing” motto.
Danilo Becker,
Hotel Manager
Thai Garden Resort recently held his annual fire prevention training in
cooperation with the Pattaya City Fire Department in and in front of the
Moon River Pub.
The training was separated into two sections
The first part took place in the morning between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in
the Moon River Pub, where the members of the fire department informed
the TGR staff how to use the right fire extinguishers in the right time
for the different kinds of fire. They have been trained how to avoid
dangerous situations and the right handling with dangerous equipment,
such as gas bottles or electric devices. This training was supported by
a PowerPoint presentation.
After the theory training in the morning, they started in the afternoon
with the praxis session in and in front of the Moon River Pub. The Fire
Department has been teaching our staff how to find a way out from a room
or building, if it is impossible to see. This was followed by live fire
training, following the motto “learning by doing”.
At about 4 p.m. the training was finished and beside a lot of helpful
information and a lot of new experiences, it was a lot of fun for
everyone too.
We would like to say a special thanks to the Pattaya City Fire
Department.
The entire staff is now trained in fire
prevention.
|
|
BOC Aviation orders 25 A320 Family aircraft, including 12 A320neo
The A320neo is offered as an option for the A320
Family and incorporates new more efficient engines and large “Sharklet” wing
tip devices, which together will deliver up to 15 percent in fuel savings.
BOC Aviation, the Singapore-based aircraft leasing subsidiary of Bank of
China, has announced during the 15th Aviation Expo China 2013 in Beijing an
additional firm order for the purchase of 25 A320 Family aircraft comprising
13 A320ceo and 12 A320neo family aircraft. The order comprises A320 and A321
variants. BOC Aviation will make its engine selection at a later date.
The order from BOC Aviation for 25 more A320 Family aircraft comes less than
a year after their previous order for 50 A320 Family aircraft, confirming
the fast pace at which the market requires Airbus’ fuel efficient
single-aisle planes.
“The Airbus A320 and A321 family has a proven track record of operational
efficiency as well as the support of airline customers seeking a superior
travel experience for passengers taking short-haul and medium-haul routes,”
said Robert Martin, BOC Aviation’s Managing Director and Chief Executive
Officer. “The fact that we have placed orders for 75 of these aircraft in
less than a year speaks of our commitment to our customers to be their
lessor of choice with modern, fuel-efficient aircraft for their benefit and
for the comfort of their customers.”
“The announcement from BOC Aviation is another vote of confidence in the
long-term appeal of our popular A320 Family, both the current engine option
and the NEO,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer - Customers.
“It already has a wide operator base, proven excellence in operating
economics and strong residual values, all factors the financial community
welcomes. BOC Aviation’s latest re-order for A320 Family aircraft puts the
company in a strong position as a top tier leasing company tapping into some
of the world’s fastest growing markets.”
Including this latest purchase agreement, BOC Aviation’s cumulative orders
for new Airbus aircraft reach a total of 212 (206 A320 Family and six A330
Family aircraft).
The A320neo is offered as an option for the A320 Family and incorporates new
more efficient engines and large “Sharklet” wing tip devices, which together
will deliver up to 15 percent in fuel savings. At the end of August 2013,
firm orders for the NEO stood at 2,348 from 42 customers, making it the
fastest selling commercial airliner ever and underlining its market
leadership position with close to 60 percent market share.
The A320 Family is the world’s best-selling and most modern single aisle
aircraft Family. To date, more than to 9,800 A320 Family aircraft have been
ordered and over 5,700 delivered to more than 380 customers and operators
worldwide.
|
|
Andrew Wood wins Skål Merit award
Andrew Wood (left), National
President of Skål Thailand, shown here with Tony Malhotra, President of
Skål Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard, won a certificate of merit at the
recent Skål International Congress in New York.
Don Ross
Veteran hotelier and writer Andrew Wood was awarded a certificate of
merit at the recent Skål International Congress hosted for the first
time on a cruise liner, in New York.
Andrew, who is a long-time resident of Thailand and a former president
of Skål International Bangkok, is the 85 recipient of the award, in the
81 year history of an Association with 18,000 members worldwide.
He is the second Thailand resident to be recognised after the late Malai
Sakolviphak, who was a founding member of Skål in Thailand.
Andrew keeps the travel industry up-to-date with an informative and
entertaining blog in addition to keeping tabs on the hotel industry, his
first passion. He also has a stake in a recently established destination
management company headquartered in Bangkok.
There were other awards presented to Thailand-based
organizations during the congress at sea. They included:
Two ecotourism (Sustainable Development in Tourism) awards. The first in
the category of educational programs and media:
1. The code of conduct for the protection of children from sexual
exploitation in travel and tourism. Submitted by The Code Organisation,
supported by Skål International Bangkok. www.thecode.org
2. Electric Boats (Thailand) - in the transportation category. Submitted
by Mermaid Cruises & Shipping Company, supported by Skål International
Hua Hin & Cha Am. www.huahincruises.com
Skål International Phuket won the Development Award for increasing
membership (Chiang Mai won this award last year).
In other related news, the Rembrandt Hotel and the Bangkok club won the
bid (beating Germany) to host the Mid-Term International Skål Council
meeting in April/May 2014.
Andrew Wood is currently National President of Skål Thailand and
overseas Skål clubs in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Samui and
Phuket.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
