- HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
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THAI Airways holds global sales meeting in Pattaya
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Suvarnabhumi Airport - a new era in Thailand’s aviation history
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A new face at the Mercure
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Thai Garden Resort looks to a bright future under Crown Hotel Investments’ umbrella
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Dragonair pulls out of Bangkok
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THAI Airways holds global sales meeting in Pattaya
Chatchawal Supachayanont,
General Manager of Dusit Resort, Pattaya, 4th from right, offers a toast to
Wallop Bhukkanasut, THAI Airways’ Executive Vice President for Commercial
Affairs, 5th from right, and other executives of THAI Airways for the
success of the group’s strategy meeting at the hotel.
THAI Airways International recently held its global
commercial sales meeting at the Dusit Resort, Pattaya to map out an action
plan and to set a corporate strategy for 2007.
At the three-day meeting held in the hotel’s Napalai Convention Hall, the
200 executives from more than 70 branches around the world made a commitment
to increase the national carrier’s revenue to 168 billion baht. THAI made
this announcement amid soaring fuel prices and the 15-20% projected increase
in its operating costs at Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Wallop Bhukkanasut, THAI Airways’ Executive Vice President for Commercial
Affairs, said that the higher operating costs at the new airport are
something the airline cannot control but reiterated that the revenue target
is achievable with increased efficiency implemented by its front-line
executives.
Mr. Wallop said ticket sales alone would not be sufficient to meet next
year’s target and that increased productivity is vital in THAI’s other
operating units - including cargo and mail operations, ground handling and
passenger services.
It was also announced during the meeting that THAI plans to revitalize its
‘Smooth as Silk’ brand image which has gained worldwide recognition and
proved to be a successful program in the past.
Suvarnabhumi Airport - a new era in Thailand’s aviation history
 By
Andrew J Wood,Skal International
Councillor - Thailand
The opening of the New International Airport - Suvarnabhumi (pronounced
Soo-varn-a-poom), in Bangkok’s Eastern district, marks a new era for air
travel in Thailand. Slated to be the newest airport in South East Asia, it
will officially open its doors at 01.00am, on 28th September 2006, following
20 years of planning and design.
This is all good news for visitors to Thailand for the 67th Skal World
Congress in Pattaya 15th - 20th October 2006. Indeed Skål will be one of the
first professional associations to pass through the gates of the new
International Airport.
The airport has been built to handle over 45 million passengers a year and
is located 31kms from downtown Bangkok and is already considered, to be one
of the world’s most advanced airports. Certainly it will be easier and more
comfortable than Don Muang, Bangkok’s old airport, which will cease to
operate for commercial traffic from midnight on the 27th September.
Further good news is that it will be more efficient. Both international and
domestic passengers will use the same building, meaning that passengers will
no longer have to transfer terminals. For all arriving passengers, Level 2
will be used whilst departures will operate from Level 4.
Parking and transfers have also been carefully planned. For instance, there
is a short-term car park opposite the main terminal building and a larger,
long-term car park for 10,000 vehicles located with the bus terminal and car
rental companies just 10 minutes away, and easily accessible via the
complimentary shuttle bus service. The taxi parking area, housing 400 taxis
and limousines, is also here, allowing for a smooth ‘just-in-time’ operation
of the taxi rank.
Suvarnabhumi Airport has also been designed with travelers’ safety and
comfort fully integrated into the ‘human design’, including outstanding
retail opportunities - leading to less stressful travel.
Be the first to experience this wonderful modern engineering marvel, the
sheer size and scale of the new airport building with its modern ‘sail’
design will amaze you.
See you in Pattaya!
The new airport terminal abounds with beautiful
sculptures of Thai mythological and folklore sculptures to enchant
passengers and visitors alike.
A new face at the Mercure
Erwann Mahé has been appointed
as the General Manager of the Mercure Hotel Pattaya. Erwann was with the
Novotel Panwa Phuket, before taking up his present position.
Thai Garden Resort looks to
a bright future under Crown Hotel Investments’ umbrella
Crown Hotel Investments Inc., a company headquartered in Florida, USA,
recently announced the purchase of the Thai Garden Resort in Pattaya. A
press release advised that effective from September 4, Crown Hotel
Investments would take over total ownership and control of the 181-unit
resort hotel located on North Pattaya Road, which also includes the popular
Moon River Pub & Restaurant.
 Gerrit
Niehaus, left, Chairman of the Board of Crown Hotel Investment Inc. shares a
photo-call with Thai Garden Resort General Manager Rene Pisters.
Mr. Gerrit Niehaus, the Chairman of the Board of Crown Hotel Investment
Inc., informed the media that he plans to invest heavily in the resort by
upgrading rooms and apartments as well as the public areas and back of the
house facilities.
He further announced that Mr. Rene Pisters will remain in his present
position of General Manager of the resort, a position he has held since
Sept. 2000, in order to optimize the performance of the facility and at the
same time he will also look after new hotel development projects in
Thailand.
Mr. Niehaus said: “We have full confidence in Rene and are very pleased to
have him looking after our property as his professionalism and long time
experience in Asia has definitely improved the image of the Thai Garden
Resort. His constant drive for guest satisfaction has improved the services
and facilities of the resort as well as the financial performance of the
property.”
Asked if the purchase of the hotel would result in a name change for the
property, Mr. Niehaus replied that this was not currently in the pipeline as
the name of the Thai Garden Resort is well established in both the corporate
and leisure markets and is a well-respected brand name.
With regard to future developments, Mr. Niehaus indicated that Crown Hotels
Investment is actively looking to expand its presence in Thailand and has
plans for new hotel and resort projects at prime beach side locations
throughout the kingdom.
Dragonair pulls out of Bangkok
Dragonair has announced it will stop its Hong Kong-Bangkok service on
September 27. The flight was launched in November 2003.
The airline’s CEO, Mr Kenny Tang, said: “Hong Kong-Bangkok is a very busy,
competitive route, and it has not been performing to expectations for some
time. That is why we have taken the decision to cancel the service.”
He said alternative arrangements would be made for customers booked on the
airline’s flights to Bangkok after September 27. “We will be ensuring
passengers get to their destination with the minimum of inconvenience.”
Chaophya Park Hotels and Resorts general manager, Mr Andrew Wood, said Hong
Kong was an important feeder market for several hotels in Bangkok. “While I
don’t think there will be any shortage of flights from Hong Kong to Bangkok,
I am disappointed. The airline has been one of the feeder carriers for
outbound markets from Hong Kong and China to Thailand.”
Industry players are concerned the airline’s decision might result in a
drastic drop in the Hong Kong market to Thailand.
Last year, Thailand received 274,402 visitors from Hong Kong tourists, a
43.90 per cent drop compared to 2004. During the first half of this year,
there were 146,122 Hong Kong visitors, down 3.5 per cent compared to the
same period last year. (TTG)
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