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Mercure opens gateway to Indochina
Nongkhai Grand to be re-branded Mercure after extensive renovation
Accor is bringing its Mercure brand to the gateway of
Indochina in Northeast Thailand with the signing of a management contract
for the Nongkhai Grand. Located in downtown Nongkhai near the Thai - Lao
Friendship Bridge that spans the Mekong River, the 130 room hotel is only 15
kilometers by road from the Laotian capital of Vientiane.
All guest rooms and public areas will be completely
renovated - featuring a blend of Thai and Lao interior design reflecting the
region’s cultural heritage before the hotel is re-branded Mercure Nongkhai
Grand in August 2004.
Accor managing director Asia Pacific, Michael Issenberg,
said Mercure Nongkhai Grand was another important addition to the group’s
growing portfolio of hotels throughout Indochina. “Nongkhai is perfectly
positioned to attract visitors looking to travel overland to Indochina. It
is a major transit point for cross border trade into Laos and Vietnam, plus
major tour operators are selling more overland tours, especially from
Thailand across into the central highlands of Vietnam. Mercure Nongkhai
Grand will provide a wonderful transit point for Thai businessmen or
overseas tourists crossing the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge into Laos.”
Accor currently manages the Novotel Vientiane in the
capital of Lao PDR, seven hotels in Vietnam, two properties in Cambodia and
18 hotels around Thailand.
World Tourism Organization cites Thailand as regional leader
Thailand won more praise for its tourism industry when
the World Tourism Organization (WTO) described Thailand as a regional
tourism leader, and said that it would award a certificate to Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra for his role in the nation’s tourism industry at the
beginning of next year.
Speaking after discussions with the WTO’s Asia-Pacific
Regional Director, Tourism and Sports Minister Sontaya Khunpluem said,
“The WTO praised Thailand for its outstanding role in developing tourism
at an international level on a year-on-year basis, and has passed a
resolution naming Thailand as a leader in the region’s tourism sector. The
WTO will grant an award to Thailand‘s prime minister in a ceremony to be
held in Bangkok at the beginning of next year.”
Explaining the WTO’s decision, Sontaya noted
Thailand’s role in drawing up tourism promotion and development policies,
in particular, through its work in developing its tourism industry in line
with neighboring countries. This was shown in the development of the Emerald
Triangle region, and the recent developments drawn up under the Pagan
Accord. (TNA)
Rivalry of two cities continues
Competition between Shanghai and Hong Kong continues with
yet another survey of rankings of the two cities. The result for business
competitiveness sees Hong Kong staying in a comfortable lead with 4.017 on a
scale of one to five (ranked 3.927 last year) against Shanghai’s score of
3.26 (3.16 last year). The survey was staged by leading universities in both
cities.
Researchers quizzed 187 top businessmen and professionals
over the summer asking them to rate and score 32 indicators. The survey is
considered important as it could affect business travel patterns.
Results showed a drop in Hong Kong’s rating for good
government which Shanghai rose on that score. Business chiefs also thought
the Hong Kong government was inefficient in putting policies into effect.
The survey put Hong Kong well in front as far as enjoying
a cosmopolitan image and investment environment, but Better Hong Kong
Foundation chief executive, George Yuen, said the gap was clearly narrowing.
(TTG Asia)
Thaksin reaffirms timely opening for new airport
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has reiterated his
promise Bangkok’s new airport will open on September 29, 2005. Addressing
the managing directors of the main companies involved in the construction of
Suvarnabhumi Airport 25 kilometers east of the capital, the prime minister
said he would “stand shoulder to shoulder” with them to ensure that the
facility is ready on time.
“The airport will open as scheduled with two runways,
and all necessary facilities. I will be with you, I will help you complete
the project on time,” Thaksin said, adding a high-speed rail link taking
only 15 minutes from downtown would also be ready at the same time.
The constructing companies had earlier signed a
memorandum of understanding (MOU) confirming their commitment to “fulfill
the government’s policy on the construction of the passenger terminal
complex.” The MOU is further proof of the Thaksin government’s
determination to defy the odds and have the project completed much earlier
than experts believe possible. (TTG Asia)
Thai hotels’ Green efforts rewarded
Eleven hotels in Thailand were recently given top honors
for excellence in management standards on energy savings and environmental
preservation.
The Bangkok Marriott Resort, Banyan Tree Bangkok, Dusit
Resort Pattaya, Grand Hyatt Bangkok, Imperial Queens Park, Laguna Beach
Resort, Le Meridien Phuket, Phuket Arcadia, Siam Bayshore Resort, Siam
Bayview Hotel and Sofitel Central Bangkok, were each given five stars by
Thailand’s Green Leaf Foundation.
Emirates offers BBC news headlines live in-flight
Emirates has signed an agreement with BBC World to become
the first airline to offer live BBC news headlines from the www.bbcnews .com
website on its aircraft. The new service is effective immediately.
The news items are displayed on the overhead monitors or
personal video screens, where they alternate with the Airshow map. Senior
spokesman, Mike Simon, said, “We are excited to be the first airline in
the world to offer our passengers live BBC news during flight. In trials
over the past few weeks, passenger response to the new service has been
enthusiastic. Now it’s available to most across the fleet.”
The new service now becomes available on all A330’s and
Boeing B777-300’s, as well as some B777-200’s. “Updates are sent to
the aircraft every hour or so, but we can do it more often if there is a
particularly busy news day,” passenger communications and visual services
vice-president, Patrick Brannelly, said. (TTG Asia)
9th PATA forum adds crisis management to agenda
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has added a
full-day session on tourism reputation and crisis management to the 9th PATA
Mekong Tourism Forum which will be held in Chiang Mai from March 26-28,
2004.
Participants in the March 26 pre-Forum seminar will have
to cope with a simulated crisis which touches on issues which now affect
tourism: terrorism, diseases, computer crime, environmental disasters and
biological warfare. The program, called “Catch Me If You Dare”,
encourages people to work together to solve problems effectively.
The initiative is a joint effort by PATA, Bangkok-based
The Winning Edge managing director, Bert van Walbeek and the international
consultancy firm, TIRIAN. The cost for the seminar is US$80 per person and
will be held on March 26, 2004 at the Sheraton Chiangmai Hotel. (TTG Asia)
Finnair’s new pricing for European flights
New pricing rules are introduced for all Finnair European
flights. You can now combine the flights according to your needs in
different price categories. You can depart and return to your destination
from different cities. If you adjust your departure times, we’ll offer you
a lower price. Off peak flights are clearly less expensive.
The pricing rules are clear and there are only 3 base
price categories. Advance purchase is history, excluding the lowest price
category on weekday departures. Minimum stay on weekdays is always 3 days
but during weekends even same day return is possible. Under 25 years old and
over 65 years old have their own special price also for one way journeys.
Tourist Class is traditional tourist price category.
Changes for this ticket are restricted, but no advance purchase is required.
Tourist Special availability is restricted, but price is lower. Happy Hour
is the best price for your tourist travel needs. You’ll need to book this
ticket a week in advance. No refunds granted.
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