TRAVEL & TOURISM
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

On the piste in Pattaya

Last orders at one of Pattaya’s oldest hotels

Presentation for students on future shape of Pattaya

Health checks for public sector employees

Amari Watergate Hotel celebrates 11th Anniversary

United Airlines appoints Eric Wilson as general manager – Thailand

THAI chief outlines main challenges of super long haul route

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)