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BUSINESS NEWS

HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
Unlimited Budget... A new initiative to promote car rental from the Thai travel industry

Not always a Pub Night for BCCT committee

TNT Express launches industry’s first global PDA services

German businessmen to “wait and see”

Unlimited Budget... A new initiative to promote car rental from the Thai travel industry

Budget Car and Truck Rental has launched an Unlimited Budget program for its travel trade partners to further promote Budget car rentals in Thailand.

At a recent press briefing, senior executives from Budget, UOBR & Concepts Alliance officially set in motion the Unlimited Budget-UOBR Card.

The Unlimited Budget program originated in the USA in 1999, aimed at travel agents.

Senior executives from Budget, UOBR & ConceptsAlliance officially set in motion the Unlimited Budget-UOBR Card.

Allan Davidson, general manager of Budget Car and Truck Rental, said the success of the Unlimited Budget program in USA was tremendous. It increased bookings by 59 percent over the rewards program it replaced. “We expect similar results in Thailand as well,” he said.

Davidson said the Unlimited Budget program in Thailand would directly target Budget’s travel agents and provide them with incentives to promote the company’s car rentals. The program is being run in conjunction with travel agencies, who still receive their normal commissions, to help their staff to proactively promote car rental.

Thanachai of UOBR said, “We are very excited that our debit card product is now utilized by a corporate loyalty program like Unlimited Budget. This is a positive sign to show that card products, like the Visa Electron card, have gained awareness and acceptance among cardholders, and at the same time, it is very flexible and can be simply adopted by businesses to promote loyalty with their customers.”

“With the outstanding coverage of Visa Electron in Thailand, we believe the Unlimited Budget - UOBR card will give travel agents higher satisfaction levels, better reward experience and value,” Thanachai added.

Wazinee Punyanitya, ConceptsAlliance general manager said, “We see the Unlimited Budget - UOBR card bringing true benefits to Budget and its travel agents simply because the travel agents will have freedom to choose what their rewards should be. With the Unlimited Budget - UOBR card, the days of countless catalogs and time-consuming accumulation of points to redeem an item (you might not really want) are probably numbered.”

Further, the Unlimited Budget - UOBR card actually makes the management of reward programs a lot more cost effective, Wazinee added.

Somboon Krobteerawong, Visa Electron country manager Thailand said, “We are especially delighted to be working with Budget, UOBR and ConceptsAlliance. The opportunity is all the more auspicious because this is the first time that a business-to-business loyalty program has been linked to the VISA Electron.”

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Not always a Pub Night for BCCT committee

The committee of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (Eastern Chapter) met at the Amari Orchid Resort last week. The meeting was chaired by eastern region chairman Graham Macdonald, under the watchful eye of BCCT executive director Greg Watkins.

The BCCT Eastern Seaboard chapter had their, “most constructive meeting ever” last week at the Amari.

Matters up for discussion included welcoming new members to the committee and the importance of attracting new members from the various Eastern Seaboard based companies. Graham stressed the importance of this membership drive as it wasn’t only beneficial to the chamber but more so for the companies and their employees, as it gives them a great opportunity to network thereby creating business prospects among the members. But most important it would bring together members of the community in friendship and solidarity.

The meeting ended on a very high note with plans being made to hold a BCCT Eastern Seaboard Christmas party for the whole family. At the end of the meeting Graham exclaimed, “I can safely say that it was the most constructive meeting we have ever had.”

Those wishing to know more about the BCCT may contact Graham Macdonald through his e-mail: [email protected] or Greg Watkins email: [email protected]

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TNT Express launches industry’s first global PDA services

Global express carrier TNT Express became the first carrier to provide customers with a worldwide mobile delivery service designed specifically for use on a PDA (personal digital assistant). The launch of TNT PDA services enables customers to request a pick-up, track packages, check the price of a delivery, and receive news about TNT Express on their PDA direct from the TNT PDA internet site, www.tnt.com

TNT PDA services include ‘Track my package’ and ‘Check the price’, allowing customers to track consignments and check delivery costs quickly and easily. Also, the ‘Pick-up request’ feature enables customers to order packages to be collected and delivered, all without access to a PC or needing to speak to customer service.

TNT Express developed services exclusively for PDA’s to provide customers with a fast and reliable alternative for ordering deliveries and tracking consignments to suit increasingly mobile business practices.

Igal Nagar, e-commerce product development manager at TNT Express said, “A vast number of TNT Express customers will already regularly use internet and email services on their PDA, often just to access information whilst out of the office. TNT PDA Services utilises this valuable business tool to give customers a fast and reliable consignment service, as well as an easy and economical way to track packages, check the price of a delivery, and catch up on the latest TNT news.

“Indeed, because internet access is faster than making a phone call to customer service, checking the price, ordering a pick-up, and tracking consignments in this way can actually save customers money that might otherwise be spent on phone calls to customer service.

“We anticipate PDA Services to prove a big success with our customers. Together with SMS and WAP tracking and email services, PDA Services offer TNT Express customers a convenient portfolio of solutions for those on the move. TNT Express is committed to developing the best technological solutions to ensure we communicate in the most effective and efficient way possible with all of our customers.”

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German businessmen to “wait and see”

German Thai Chamber of Commerce visits Pattaya

When the German Thai Chamber of Commerce held their network, or ‘Stammtisch’ evening on the Eastern Seaboard earlier this month, the group moved from its ‘traditional’ meeting place at the Red Baron to the lively Henry J Bean’s.

(L to R - back row) Hans-Dieter Westphal, Wilfried Trautwein (CFO Siemens), Dieter Brandenburg (ABB), Volker Fischer, Stefan Buerkle (Chamber), Eberhard Podleska (Liebherr), and Michael Vogt. (L to R front row) Chakrin Thamavit (Chakrin Office); Dr. Strunk, and Axel Foellmer.

The general feeling about the economic climate of many of the members attending this month’s Stammtisch appeared very much to be ‘wait and see’ what the Taksin government will do, pending the new foreign investment laws.

With German businesses still actively investing in Thailand, including Bayer’s several multi-billion baht facilities, long time resident of Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard, Hans-Dieter Westphal, managing director of Rieckermann Thai Engineering, sees Pattaya as the heart of the Eastern Seaboard. He notes that it is logistically sound and within close proximity to all the major industrial estates. For Rieckermann, “There has been an improvement in the business on the Eastern Seaboard and the decision to invest after the economic crisis was a good one. Businesses is currently good, and Rieckermann is working on many projects,” Hans-Dieter said.

“Pattaya has a good future in industry, with many companies investing in and around the region and using Pattaya as a base for their expatriate employees,” he added.

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