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THAI welcomes HRH Princess Ubolratana
at World Travel Market 2013 in London
HRH Ubolratana Mahidol (center);
Danuj Bunnag (third from right), Executive Vice President Product and
Customer Services; Krittaphon Chantalitanon (second left, front row), Vice
President Product and Services; Suvadhana Sibunruang (second left, second
row), Director Brand Management and Commercial Communications.
Thai Airways International (THAI) management and staff
recently welcomed HRH Princess Ubolratana Mahidol to their promotional stand
at this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
In her capacity as Tourism Ambassador and representative of the people and
of the Royal Thai Government, HRH Princess Ubolratana Mahidol visited the
THAI booth celebrating the 40th anniversary of its operation from the United
Kingdom.
From November 4 - 7, THAI joined almost 5,000 exhibitors representing 184
countries at the ExCel Centre. WTM remains one of the most important global
gatherings with enlightening talks and industry innovation, providing the
most reliable indicators of where the aviation and tourism industries are
heading.
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Mövenpick White Sand Beach Pattaya makes pre-opening executive appointments
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, celebrating 40 years of excellence, has
announced two key executive appointments for the upscale hotel company’s
upcoming beach resort in Pattaya, scheduled to open during the third
quarter of 2014.
Alexander Haeusler.
Alexander Haeusler will head the property as General Manager and Takako
Tomizawa will be responsible for commercial development in her position
as Director of Sales & Marketing.
The Mövenpick White Sand Beach Pattaya is a unique beachfront resort
comprised of a 264-room hotel, 205 residences and 34 pool villas located
on a pristine stretch of beach close to Ocean Marina Yacht Club. Once it
opens the resort complex will offer all day dining and specialty
restaurants, a piano and karaoke lounge, a pool bar, spa, kids club as
well as comprehensive banquet and meeting facilities. The project is
developed by Apex Development Public Co., Ltd.
Alexander Haeusler is an Austrian national who has spent many years
working in Asia. He held senior positions while employed with Regal
Hotels International in Hong Kong as well as with Starwood Hotels &
Resorts in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. In Pattaya, he was General Manager
for the Royal Cliff Beach Resort for five years. Haeusler has also
worked for other international hotel management companies in Cyprus,
Shanghai, Jeddah and Vienna.
Takako Tomizawa.
Takako Tomizawa is a seasoned destination specialist with over 18 years’
work experience in Thailand. The Japanese national also knows the
company, having previously worked for Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts in a
cluster role, representing properties in Samui and Chiang Mai. Her past
employers include InterContinental Hotels Group in Bangkok and Pattaya
and Starwood’s Luxury Collection in Phuket. Prior to joining Mövenpick
Hotels & Resorts, she held the position of Area Director of Sales &
Marketing, South East Asia for Holiday Inn Express.
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Britain’s Ambassador to Thailand addresses Skål International Bangkok
Dale Lawrence,
President - Skål International Bangkok
Britain’s Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent has welcomed news that UK
tourists now consider Thailand as a year-round holiday destination.
Britain’s Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent addresses
Skål International Bangkok.
Ambassador Kent, guest speaker at a networking luncheon hosted by Skål
International Bangkok, was responding to comments made by Club President
Dale Lawrence that the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s marketing efforts in
the United Kingdom were finally paying dividends. The TAT has been pitching
Thailand as much more than merely a summer destination for British holiday
makers.
Kent noted the increasing popularity of Thailand amongst UK nationals with
the TAT forecasting some 838,000 arrivals from the United Kingdom for
calendar year 2013. He welcomed the news that the average length of stay by
Brits in Thailand (17 days) was above average with a significant average
daily spend of Baht 3,800.
He warned of the dangers of travelling without adequate health insurance but
refused to be drawn on the Thai government’s proposed compulsory Baht 500
health insurance scheme. The Ambassador told the Skål Bangkok luncheon group
that most injuries and fatalities amongst UK nationals visiting Thailand
were as a result of motor bike accidents where the victims were not wearing
helmets.
Asked about the proposed rail infrastructure programme across Thailand, Kent
said that this would undoubtedly benefit the country as a whole and added
that he was pushing for the Thai government to tap into the considerable
rail engineering and design consultancy expertise offered by British
companies.
Finally, Kent acknowledged that the British Government had sometimes
overreacted to events when issuing travel advisories via the official
Foreign and Commonwealth website but he believed that the Embassy staff in
Bangkok were very much in tune with local events. He added that his team
uses social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter to reach as many
travellers and UK ex-pats as possible.
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