|
On the piste in Pattaya
Norwegian resident keeps fit with a feel for home
Chatchanun Chaisri
Norway is known for its winter sports, especially skiing.
Norwegian Kalla Kristensen was not going to let a little thing like
Pattaya’s tropical climate stop him enjoying his favourite sport, so he
has brought here with him his own version of cross-country skiing.
 Kalla
Kristensen “skis the slopes” of Pattaya & Jomtien. One can only hope
he doesn’t fall, for with that amount of protection the road rash could be
severe.
Using roller skis, Kalla can be seen keeping fit as he
makes his 20km ski run daily from Walking Street to the end of Jomtien
Beach.
Kalla’s activities have intrigued locals, since this is
something not normally seen here in Thailand. Roller skiing is, however,
popular in Europe and the United States, where skiers train in the summer
months in preparation for the snow packed ski slopes of the winter.
Reporters spoke with the Norwegian who said that he had taken up the
activity seriously a year ago and that there were many curious Thais
wondering what he was up to...
Last orders at
one of Pattaya’s oldest hotels
2.5 billion baht later, it will be a luxury 5 star hotel
Suchada Tupchai
The Central group has closed a hotel over 45 years old on
Wongamart Beach and will invest 2.5 billion baht to redevelop the 43-rai
site as Pattaya’s first “jungle theme” hotel. Under the name Central
Pattaya Beach Resort, the new 5-star hotel will open its doors in 2007.
(from
left) Veeranat Limprasutr (general manager of Central Wongamart Beach
Resort), Chris Bailey (vice president of sales and marketing at Central
Hotels & Resorts), Supatra Chirathivat (vice president of development at
Central Hotels & Resorts), Dr Wanchai Chirathivat (vice chairman of the
board of directors), Suthichai Chirathivat (executive director of the board
of Central Hotels & Resorts), Gerd Steeb (executive vice president of
Central Hotels & Resorts), and Nattapong Chanyawetsiri (group director
of sales for Central Hotels & Resorts).
May 15 saw Central Hotels & Resorts management, led
by directors Suthichai, Wanchai and Supatra Chirathivat, gather for a
farewell party at the Central Wongamart Beach Resort Hotel. With a host of
celebrities and press also present, the old property was bid farewell in
fine style. The hotel has been in service since 1960, with its last guest
leaving on May 14.
Construction of the new hotel, which will have 551
guestrooms plus conference facilities, will begin almost immediately.
Supatra Chirathivat, vice president of development at
Central Hotels & Resorts, said that the Central Wongamart Beach Resort
Hotel was bought from the former owner in 1988, and the site had not been
redeveloped before because the market capacity had not been growing as it is
now.
Vice chairman of the board of directors Wanchai
Chirathivat said that the Pattaya economic view would be clearer when
Suwanbhumi Airport opens. Now is an appropriate time to build a 5-star hotel
in Pattaya, because at this moment Pattaya has only two 5-star hotels.
Wanchai said that the new hotel would have a 2,000sq m conference centre
that will expand the seminar market capacity by 20 percent or more.
Suthichai Chirathivat, managing director of the board of
Central Hotels & Resorts, said that 2.5 billion baht was being invested.
The former hotel was inappropriate for the value of the land, he said, and
such a large investment is necessary to provide a unique style of hotel that
will enhance Pattaya’s image and attract tourists, especially family
groups, who are the main target, in addition to the seminar market. The new
building will be 18 floors in height.
Bunwong Amartayakul created the Wongamart Hotel in 1960.
It was originally a set of bungalows for rent under the name Wongamart
Villa. After the business did well they decided to turn the property into a
hotel with 15 million baht in registered capital. Running out of space to
accommodate their guests, they built 200 more rooms and a big conference
room.
Central Hotels & Resorts took over in 1988 and changed the name to
the Central Wongamart Beach Resort. They invested funds to modify the hotel
and eventually made the decision to demolish the property and redevelop the
site.
Presentation for students
on future shape of Pattaya
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Green Park Hotel in North Pattaya was the venue on
May 14 for a seminar on ways to develop Pattaya for the future, held for
students and administrators of Ratchapat Suan Dusit University. Opening the
session was Chonburi province MP Chanyuth Hengtrakul.
 Chonburi
province MP Chanyuth Hengtrakul was the seminar’s opening presenter.
Guest speakers were Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon,
vice president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association Surat
Paepiromrat, and Pattaya Police Superintendent Police Colonel Somnuk
Changate.
The purpose of this seminar, organised by Winai Sua-Udom,
was to create understanding for the students and the public on the ways,
methods, and trends of Pattaya City development regarding the economy,
society, and tourism.
Health checks for public sector employees
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Deputy Mayor Wirawat Khakhai inaugurated the Pattaya
health-check project on May 17, a two-day checkup service for city hall
officials conducted at the public health centre on Soi Buakow.
City hall worked in conjunction with Somdejpranangchao
Sirikit Hospital on this scheme to promote health care amongst workers. A
specialist on work-related illnesses from Banglamung Hospital acted as a
consultant.
Medical officials checked blood pressure, eyesight, took
X-rays, measured cholesterol levels, and took blood and urine samples. They
also recommended medicines and other treatments for various medical
conditions, and explained how to prevent health problems.
Wirawat said it’s important for the city to take care
of its public sector employees, both for their individual benefits and those
of their families, and that the good health and well being of the employees
was reflected in the standard of service given to the public.
Amari Watergate Hotel celebrates 11th Anniversary
Pierre-Andre
Pelletier (2nd right), general manager of the Amari Watergate Hotel recently
organized a religious ceremony on the occasion of the hotel’s 11th
anniversary. As part of the ceremonies, Kurt Rufli (right), managing
director of Amari Hotels & Resorts, also presented alms to the invited
monks. The ceremonies took place on the 3rd floor of the hotel.
United Airlines appoints Eric Wilson as general manager – Thailand
United Airlines, the world’s second largest airline,
recently appointed Eric J. Wilson its general manager for Thailand. Wilson
is the primary and official company representative in Thailand and is
responsible for all passenger sales and marketing activities.
 Eric
Wilson
Before becoming general manager, he held the position of
regional manager-international and regulatory affairs at United’s world
headquarters in suburban Chicago. Wilson was responsible for monitoring
civil aviation bilateral developments and regulatory matters affecting
United’s operations in the Asia-Pacific region. He served as a
communications link between the U.S. departments of State and Transportation
and the airline.
Eric Wilson, 35, joined United in 1993 as a customer
service representative at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. He has
held a variety of positions in the company and has more than 10 years’
experience in passenger and cargo sales, and business development. From
1998-2000, Wilson served as United’s passenger and cargo sales manager in
Shanghai.
Wilson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin
at Madison, with a double-major in Chinese history and East Asian studies,
and a minor in Japanese. He is married with two children.
THAI chief outlines main challenges of super long haul route
The biggest challenge for Thai Airways International
(THAI) on their nonstop Bangkok–New York (JFK) service which started May 1
will be to keep the passengers entertained. The second biggest is to beat
the competition, the airline’s president said.
Kanok Abhiradeee said a major investment in flight
entertainment in the two brand new Airbus 340-500s flying the route would
meet the first challenge.
“And when it comes to competition we believe we have
the edge. We have the fastest service, faster than Singapore Airlines or
Cathay Pacific, and we have plenty of strategies to encourage New Yorkers to
make Bangkok their entry point into Asia,” Kanok claimed, without giving
away any details. Free stopovers have been hinted at by other THAI
executives.
Kanok said he was confident the service would be
profitable for THAI. Earlier, commentators had been quoted as saying the
service would not make money until its third year of operation. “We are
looking for an average cabin factor of 70 to 75 percent in the first year,
and 75 to 85 percent in the second year. We are fully expecting this to be a
profitable route,” Kanok said.
The promotional roundtrip fare from Bangkok is 34,000
baht (US$850) in Q Class, 45,000 baht in Y Class and 111,000 baht in C
Class. (TTG Asia)
|
|
|
|
|
