Fellow Skålleagues pose for a group photo.
Paul Strachan
The guests and Skålleagues of Skål Pattaya & East Thailand were treated
to a tour of the new Executive Tower at the Holiday Inn prior to their
networking and meeting held on Thursday the 21st of August.
The Executive Tower sits behind the first building (the Bay Tower), and takes
many of the same themes from the front building that are replicated and enhanced
with a feel that is trendy, functional and attractive.
The tower features an Executive Lounge nestled atop of the building on the 25th
floor, with a huge balcony offering spectacular views across Pattaya. These
views are also on offer from each of the new 200 rooms making a total of 500 for
the Holiday Inn in Pattaya.
The Executive Tower features the East Coast Kitchen where guests can create
their own dishes and enjoy the infinity pools that look across the bay of the
city.
But the focus this evening was on the new meeting space which is entitled the
Workshop. The decoration pays homage to the industrial sector of the eastern
seaboard with metal plated walls and staff dressed in boiler suits. The space is
roomy enough for networking, meetings and the highlight of which is a splendid
auditorium with superb acoustics. This was the venue for the night’s Skål event.
President Tony Malhotra welcomed guests and started with the traditional Skål
toast before asking the attendees to introduce themselves and their business.
Skål is an international tourism group that attracts hoteliers, travel agents
and those who make a living from the tourism sector. Representatives from hotels
such as the Hilton, Thai Garden Resort, Amari, Hard Rock, Centara Grand
Pratamnak and of course Holiday Inn were in attendance.
This was in addition to the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Massic Travel, Defense
International Security Services, the South African Chamber of Commerce, Pattaya
Blatt, Pattaya Mail and PMTV.
President Tony also welcomed the general manager of the Holiday Inn Kate Gerits
to the podium who outlined the concept of the Executive Tower.
The MC for the evening then gave a brief resume of the guest speaker, Gerry
Rasmus, and explained that nowadays Gerry simply prefers to be called KOTO which
stands for Keeper of the Ocean.
KOTO hails from Hawaii and was given the moniker KOTO 30 years ago when he took
to cleaning the beaches; he gave up drink, drugs and eventually cigarettes,
which was when Gerry disappeared and KOTO was born.
For the past thirteen years KOTO could be found every day on the beaches around
Pattaya feeding over one hundred stray dogs, picking up garbage and bringing a
smile to those he comes into contact with.
KOTO gave an overview of his life and how he tries to help make a change; four
years ago he helped save a baby that was choking on a discarded cigarette butt
on the beach and another 3 children since then who he has had to save simply
because people are too lazy to clear up their trash.
He went on to speak about CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and how hotels
can help create awareness and get their staff involved in beach clean ups - not
once a year but every week.
He acknowledged that the local government needs to do more, more garbage bins,
more removal and empting of the bins, imposing fines, etc., but until that
happens let’s all take some responsibility ourselves; let’s create a better
example for a better, cleaner and safer society.
The beaches of Pattaya are a vital aspect of the city and to its tourism. If we
rely on them, we should treat them with a bit more respect and care.
After his speech there was a quick Q&A session before the guests retired back to
the main area for more wine, beer and delicious snacks, burgers and pies.
The next Skål evening will be held towards the end of September. Full details
will be published in the Pattaya Mail and on facebook
www.facebook.com/skalpattaya
Raising a toast to all attendees: “To fellow
Skålleagues everywhere, happiness, good health, friendship, long life, Skål”
says Tony Malhotra, President of Skål International Pattaya & Eastern Thailand.
Kate Gerits, General Manager of the Holiday Inn
Pattaya and host of the evening gives a warm welcome to everybody and introduces
the designs & features of the new Executive Tower at the Holiday Inn Pattaya.
The guest speaker of the evening, Gerry Rasmus,
tells his story of being KOTO (keeper of the ocean) and what changed his life.
Stunning couple, Joe and Aoy Cox from Defence
International Security Services, regular attendees to Skål who pledged fifty 20
kg bags of high quality “Smart Hearts” dog food to KOTO.
Elfi Seitz, Executive Editor of the Pattaya Blatt,
greets Neil Maniquiz, Head of the International Marketing Department at the
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
Yet another stunning couple enjoying the scenery
from the 25th floor of the Executive Building, Holiday Inn Pattaya, Ploy and
Rene Pisters, General Manger of the Thai Garden Resort Pattaya.
Bernardo de la Garza (left), Director of F&B,
Holiday Inn Pattaya chats with Thierry Danzas (right), Director of F&B, Pullman
Pattaya Hotel G.
Carl Duggan, Executive Assistant Manager, F&B of the
Centara Grand Pratamnak Resort Pattaya chats with Allan Riddell, Director of the
SATCC.
Kate Gerits (left), General Manager of the Holiday
Inn Pattaya smiles for the camera after doing an interview for PMTV with Paul
Strachan, PMTV Productions Manager (right).
Dr. Iain Corness chats with Papakan Saguansap.
Gerry Rasmus (left), aka KOTO (Keeper of the Ocean)
and his buddy, Roberto Novoa (right).
The first person to donate cash, Papakan Saguansap
(right) donates 500 B to Gerry Rasmus, aka KOTO (Keeper of the Ocean), to help
feed 100 stray dogs a day.
From Cape Dara Resort, Sittidej Rochanavibhata, the
General Manager, Nipaporn Phesatcha, Executive Catering, and Tanin
Suphavittayakorn, the Executive Assistant Manager pose for a photo on the
rooftop of the Executive Tower, Holiday Inn Pattaya.
(L to R) Thanagon Poungbubchart, PR & Mar Com
Manager of the Holiday Inn Pattaya, Pichaya Nitikarn, PR Manager of the Amari
Orchid Pattaya and Madtiga Sutamchaem, Sales Executive - Catering of the Holiday
Inn Pattaya.
Bernardo de la Garza (left), Director of F&B,
Holiday Inn Pattaya chats with John Manley (right), Executive Assistant Manager
of the Hard Rock Pattaya.
(L to R) Papakan Saguansap, Tony Malhotra, President
of Skål International Eastern Thailand and Rungratree Thongsai, Managing
Director of the Siriram Spa greet people at the door.
The management team of the Holiday Inn poses for a
photo: Sittichok Puttakun, Sales Manager, Madtiga Sutamchaem, Sales Executive -
Catering, Benchamat Phudthiradvittaya, Senior Sales Manager and Chananchida
Wongsa-ard, Sales Manager.
(L to R) Papakan Saguansap, Scott Tanner from MJ’s
Smokehouse, Tony Malhotra, President of Skål International Eastern Thailand and
Greig Ritchie, Vice President-Sales South East Asia of the Pan Pacific Travel
New Zealand and Australia.
(L to R) Neil Maniquiz, Head of the International
Marketing Department at the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Janya Rattanaliam, Deputy
Head of the International Marketing Department at the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya,
Paul Strachan, PMTV Production Manager, and Madtiga Sutamchaem, Sales Executive
- Catering of the Holiday Inn Pattaya.
(Standing L to R) Danilo Becker, Hotel Manager of
the Thai Garden Resort Pattaya, Tony Malhotra, President of Skål International
Eastern Thailand and Pichaya Nitikarn, PR Manager of the Amari Orchid Pattaya.
(Seated L to R) Sattawat Charoenlarp, Assistant Manager, Sales of the Amari
Orchid Pattaya, Duenpen Thongsombat, Assistant Director of Sales, Amari Orchid
Pattaya and Sukhumnanda Sukudom, Assistant Director of Sales, Holiday Inn
Pattaya.
(L to R) Holiday Inn’s Executive Chef Jason Large
joins Bernardo de la Garza, Director of F&B, Holiday Inn Pattaya, Jatuporn
Phiukhao, Executive Assistant Manager of the Holiday Inn, Thierry Danzas,
Director of F&B, Pullman Pattaya Hotel G, and Jean-Philippe De Haes, Director of
Operations from the Hilton Hotel Pattaya for a photo.
Vicky and Marlowe Malhotra from Massic Travel
enjoying their evening with Sue Kukarja, PMTV’s Director of Communications.
Vicky and Marlowe Malhotra join the fun from Massic
Travels Pattaya.
Allan Riddell (left), Director of SATCC consults Dr.
Iain Corness (right).
