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SATS to upgrade products
Sze Toh Yuin Munn
Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) will invest
S$23 million to upgrade its products and services in the next financial year
of 2005/06.
New offerings for this year include a SATS Special Care
Check-in Lounge for airline passengers with restricted mobility and
accompanying family and friends, and a 24hr check-in service at Changi
Airport, both available from August.
Come October, subject to regulatory approval, SATS will
introduce a “Pet Hotel” for pets in transit.
To further improve communication with customers, SATS
also recruited about 60 native language speakers from China, Korea and
Japan, with Hindi speakers to be introduced in September.
Next year, self-service check-in kiosks will be
introduced.
Aside from new product offerings, SATS will invest money
on staff training, strengthening its air cargo hub, and upgrading its
in-flight dining. (TTG Asia)
Le Méridien re-opens in Phuket
Le M้éridien Phuket Beach Resort will re-open on August 15th with
a special re-opening rate from US$95++.
Regional General Manager Philippe Seigle said, “We have
spent a number of months preparing for the opening and I’m sure that all
our visitors will be delighted with the fresh new look...”
The hotel has completely refurbished the reception, main
lobby, swimming pools and several restaurants. Public areas of the hotel now
have a contemporary Thai style with the use of fabrics and silks from the
Mae Fah Luang Foundation, an organization established by Her Royal Highness
the Princess Mother to promote hill tribe products. Only Le Spa, which is
being extended and undergoing refurbishment, will open at the start of
October. Massage rooms, however, will be available for use.
“There is a new feel to the resort, but the same
excellent service standards will remain. We have supported our 700 staff
members throughout this closure period and are delighted to be working again
as one team serving our guests,” he said. (TTG Asia)
SIA adds another chain
to discount scheme
Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts has joined Singapore
Airlines’ (SIA) boarding pass privileges program.
Until September 30, travellers who book hotel rooms at
the property before they fly, and upon presentation of their SIA boarding
pass at check-in, will get 50 percent off their room rates.
Included in the promotion are complimentary breakfasts
for two, complimentary upgrades, late check-out at 15.00 and 50 Krisflyer
miles per stay. This promotion is available at Pan Pacific properties in
Bangkok, Malaysia and Singapore. (TTG Asia)
TAT zooms in on three regional markets
Faith Chang, Melbourne
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is boosting its
advertising and marketing budget to draw more visitors from Australia, China
and Japan, following deputy prime minister and finance minister, Somkid
Jatusripitak’s recent trip to China.
TAT governor, Ms Juthamas Siriwan, has requested 470
million baht from the government to devise and implement tourism marketing-
driven strategies in China and Japan.
The TAT is projecting to gain around 20 billion baht in
tourism revenue from an expected 1.1 million Chinese and Japanese tourists
in the second-half of this year.
Although inbound figures from Australia dropped 16.97
percent for January to December 2003 from the same period in 2002, Thailand
saw a marked improvement of 36.8 percent in arrival figures in 2004.
Thailand also experienced growth of a 5.7 percent in
January 2005 compared to January 2004, with 34,507 Australians visiting the
country. (TTG Asia)
Amari Watergate hosts cocktail reception for TTG Asia executives
Pierre
Andre Pelletier (back row, right), general manager of the Amari Watergate
Hotel recently hosted a cocktail reception to welcome TTG Asia executives,
led by Ms. Raini Hamdi (front row, 3rd right), accompanied by Jeremy Colson
(back row, 2nd left), bureau chief of TTG Thailand, and reporter Jeffery
Studebaker (back row, 2nd right), at the hotel’s Headlines Lobby. Kurt
Rufli (back row, left), managing director of Amari Hotel & Resorts also
welcomed the TTG Asia executives.
Premium Economy sales take-off while first refitted aircraft enters service
Air New Zealand’s new long-haul product delighted
customers when their first refitted 747-400 went into commercial service. At
the same time, sales for the new Pacific Premium Economy seats on the
upcoming available routes of San Francisco, Los Angeles and London have
surpassed the airline’s initial expectations.
Group general manager for marketing network and sales,
Norm Thompson said the aircraft operated on the Auckland-Brisbane route
yesterday as part of a program to surprise and delight customers before it
is dedicated to the Auckland-San Francisco service on August 7.
“We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the
customers on the two flights operated across the Tasman. It would be fair to
say that there were a lot of smiles on faces.
“The new seats, lie-flat beds, in-flight entertainment
system, food and beverage service were really appreciated, and it’s clear
that we have a product that will help our long-haul business grow over the
coming years.”
Thompson said Air New Zealand has sold almost 8000
Pacific Premium Economy sectors.
“The level of sales clearly illustrates that we have
successfully identified an area of high demand for long-haul travelers. To
have sold the equivalent of approximately 340 Pacific Premium Economy cabins
on a Boeing 747 before customers have even tried the product is an
outstanding result.”
Tour company repackages the east to support growth
Suchada Tupchai
Sathorn Srirak, general manager of Bangkok Rim Co., Ltd.
presented a new tourism program for eastern Thailand on July 9th at the
Pattaya Garden Hotel.
New tourism programs attracted
customers and travel agencies.
Bangkok Rim has been operational in eastern sector
tourism since 2003. Sathorn said the number of tourists is increasing, but
tourism locations are limited and aren’t expanding as well as they should
be. Packaging of the attractions was necessary to support the expansion,
hence the introduction of the company’s new eastern tour program.
Bangkok Rim, formerly known as Ploy Petch Travel &
Tour, provided services for 1-day tours for over four years before changing
their name. Amongst the new services are cultural tours, eco-tours, and
natural tours using Khao Yai and other tourist locations in the east.
King’s accession anniversary to bolster tourism
Jeremy Colson, Bangkok
THAILAND’S loss of revenue as a result of last year’s
tsunami will be far more than was estimated in January, the Tourism
Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor told reporters yesterday.
Ms Juthamas Siriwan said Thailand is likely to lose 50
billion baht (US$1.19 billion) in tourism earnings, some 30 percent more
than had been predicted in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
Juthamas said: “Initially we thought we were going to
lose 33 billion baht for the year, but now we think it’s more likely to be
about 50 billion baht.” She added that the figures did not include the
cost of rebuilding which will be just as much.
Juthamas was addressing the media at the conclusion of
the TAT’s annual week-long marketing meetings attended by the beleaguered
organization’s managers from offices around the world.
She said a decision was made to start a new campaign in
October to focus the attention of would-be holidaymakers on the series of
events commemorating the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s
accession to the throne in 2006.
“We hope this will bring to Thailand a lot of tourists
and also overseas Thais who we sometimes forget are significant in numbers.
Overseas Thais can provide plenty of potential tourism expenditure,” said
Ms Juthamas.
The campaign will be called “Thailand Invitation” or
“Thailand Grand Invitation”, the final wording to be decided over the
coming weeks. (TTG Asia)
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