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ATCC Seaboard
Sundowners - not everyone is downsizing
The Australian invasion of the Eastern Seaboard took place
last weekend when the Australian Thai Chamber of Commerce (ATCC) held their
networking evening, called the Seaboard Sundowners, at the Pattaya Marriott
Resort and Spa.
 Kirwan
Industrial Services MD Steele Lambrinos (center) with his sales manager and
marketing manager
Down for the event was the new executive director Anita
North, who charmed everyone with her open manner. Amongst others who came down
from Bangkok were Keith Boyd, the sales manager of Crown Relocations and Jim
Holloway from V. Pack and Move, whilst welcoming the visitors from the capital
were Australian businessmen such as Philip Stone, the managing director of CSR
Bradford Insulation at the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate.
 New
ATCC executive director Anita North (right) charmed everyone with her open
manner
Sponsor of the evening was Kirwan Industrial Services, with
MD Steele Lambrinos advising the chamber members on the movements on the
Eastern Seaboard. He said that as far as he and his company were concerned,
they were now entering phase 2 of their planned expansion. Next year they would
be involved in water treatment and then security, to mirror the development of
the parent company in Australia. Despite some initial opposition from competing
companies, Steele Lambrinos was more than confident that Kirwan Industrial
Services would be a major player in all fields during 2002 and was looking
forward to the challenges that come with expansion.
Also on the agenda for the energetic Aussies was a visit to
the Ban Khao Huai Mahad School at Rayong on the Saturday where members took on
the role of teaching (Australian) English to the students. This school has been
one of the charity projects for the chamber this year.
Rewe rules ou majority
stake in ailing LTU
German business developments
Rewe has decided not to buy a majority stake in LTU,
leaving the fate of Germany’s second-largest charter airline in the hands
of local politicians and banks. The state of North Rhine Westphalia is set
to provide a short-term loan of up to DM300 million to support heavily
loss-making LTU but the airline still needs a rapid capital injection as
well as big cost reductions to secure its future.
“I cannot justify to my board taking DM250 million out
of Rewe’s core business to put it into another area with a highly
unsatisfactory situation,” Reischl told FVW. Instead, the Swissair group,
which still owns 49.9% of LTU, and former shareholder WestLB should provide
funds “because they are responsible for the state of LTU,” he said.
North Rhine Westphalia, the home region of the
Duesseldorf-based airline, “wanted to save LTU”, according to the state
economics ministry. Officials have already been in talks with the European
Commission over approval for a loan of DM200-300 million. The Duesseldorf
Building Society confirmed it was checking the LTU books before deciding on
a loan or possible stake.
LTU chief Sten Daugaard has meanwhile presented staff
with a new cost-cutting programme, seeking DM50 million annual savings from
a 10% cut in pilots’ wages and 5% reduction in cabin and ground staff
earnings. The airline also wants to save a further DM200 million by hedging
future fuel costs at the present low price, cutting airport and other costs.
Thomas Cook cuts 2,600 jobs, grounds aircraft after sales
slump
Germany’s Thomas Cook AG is to cut some 2,600 jobs to
prevent a slump in profits next year after seeing sales fall dramatically
since September 11. Europe’s second-largest leisure travel group aims to
save 530 million euros, which amounts to the 15% drop in turnover which the
company now forecasts it will suffer next year. It hopes to stabilise
profits in 2002 at this year’s expected level of 160 million euros.
“New bookings for the winter season across the company
are 12% down on last year,” said CEO Stefan Pichler. Thomas Cook had
targeted 4-5% turnover growth next year but bookings have failed to recover
in recent weeks after the Sept 11 attacks.
The job losses, aimed at reducing personnel costs by 105
million euros, will be made in Germany, the UK and other countries. About
100 loss-making travel agencies will be closed. Some 260 million euros will
be saved by grounding aircraft and re-negotiating hotel capacity to reduce
guarantees. This winter, four Condor B757 will be grounded, eight JMC A320
will be leased out and capacity on other German airlines will be cut 30%. In
summer 2002, capacity will be cut 16-17% and six aircraft will be switched
from the UK and Germany to Belgium to replace now-bankrupt City Bird.
British Embassy to host
BCCT Breakfast Briefing
In partnership with the British Embassy, the BCCT is
delighted to announce the third BCCT-British Embassy Breakfast Briefing on
Monday 12 November 2001 at 7.30 a.m., at The Residence, British Embassy.
The Ambassador, H.E. Barney Smith, and David Wyatt will
be on hand to answer questions and discuss issues of importance. However,
for a more structured and therefore more useful exchange of views, when
sending your RSVP, please indicate any issues you wish to raise or
discuss.
For security and other reasons, this event will be open
to members only and only to those who book in advance. A maximum of 2
persons per member company may attend. The Embassy will kindly supply food
and beverages for a ‘working breakfast’. Car parking will be available
inside the embassy grounds only to members who have booked in advance.
Please remember that this is an embassy compound and your vehicle may be
subject to security searches. (NB if you have a bona fide overseas visitor
from UK (only) on that day and would like him or her to attend, please
contact Greg Watkins in advance.)
Please book your place urgently ([email protected]) -
if a large response is received it may be necessary to limit numbers of
attendees but hopefully all those who wish to attend this event will be
accommodated. Please inform the BCCT in advance if you have booked but
cannot attend as others may be on the waiting list.
Reply to British Chamber of Commerce Thailand, fax: +66
(0) 2651-5354, tel. +66 (0) 2651-5350-3, email: [email protected]
Sophon Cable continues
expansion
The managing director of Sophon Cable TV, Chanyut
Hengtrakul states that his local cable network is aggressively expanding,
with a 20% increase in investment to support this. Having started 10 years
ago with one channel, in an attempt to give Pattaya good news and TV
reception since all that was available in Pattaya was Channel 7, Sophon
Cable TV grew to 24 channels 5 years ago and now boasts 39 channels for
its subscribers.
Not only has the number of channels grown, but the
ethnic groups being catered for has also grown, including English language
film channels, and the dedicated English TV news and features on the
Pattaya Mail’s own “mini” programme, in addition there is also an
Indian channel for the 400 Indian Thais living in Pattaya, as well as
German, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Pakistani and of course Thai
language programming. Chanyut is firm with his resolve of disseminating
news, both local and overseas. “Foreigners who work here need to know
what is happening throughout the world,” he said. With overseas news
having global impact these days, the need for TV to be an informative
source becomes paramount.
With a membership of over 8,000 subscribers, Chanyut is
however looking to expand this number by laying fibre-optic cable networks
down as far as Soi Chaiyapreuk in Jomtien and back as far as Nong Prue.
Updated every Friday
Copyright 2001 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel. 66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax: 66-38 427 596
Updated by
Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.
E-Mail: [email protected]
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