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Cebu Pacific adds Bangkok
Cebu Pacific will launch Manila-Bangkok flights four times a week, operating
a brand new Airbus from December 14.
Bangkok is its third international destination this year following the
resumption of Manila-Singapore services on August 23, and the launch of
Manila-Kuala Lumpur flights four times a week from November 30.
Cebu Pacific president and CEO, Mr Lance Gokongwei, said: “With the opening
of our service to Bangkok, we hope to further stimulate travel for both the
business and leisure sectors to the benefit of both countries.”
Cebu Pacific will also fly from Cebu to Singapore four times a week and from
Davao to Singapore (via Cebu) three times a week from October 23, in time
for the 12th ASEAN Summit which will be held in Cebu City from December 11
to 14. (TTG)
New face at the Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa
Lars Kerfin, the newly appointed Resident
Manager at the Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa
Somsak Tanruengsri, General Manager of the Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa,
recently announced the appointment of Mr. Lars Kerfin as the Resort’s new
Resident Manager. Mr. Kerfin began his career with the Marriott in 1995 as a
Management Trainee at the Renaissance Munich Hotel before moving to the
Hamburg Marriot as a Front Desk Supervisor in 1998. There he was promoted to
Front Desk Manager and then Front Office Manager. He arrived in Thailand to
join the Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa as Front Office Manager in 2002,
where he served for 2 years before being promoted to Rooms Division Manager.
In the course of his career, he has forged many strong relationships with
both guests and Marriott Associates. The Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa
wishes to extend its warmest welcome to Mr. Kerfin to join the hotel and
look forward to seeing great things happen during his tenure.
Dragonair gives Phuket reason to celebrate
Dragonair will relaunch its Hong Kong-Phuket service in December with direct
daily flights.
The airline’s CEO, Mr Kenny Tang, said: “We’re delighted to be relaunching
services to Phuket. Flights will operate on a daily basis with Airbus 320
aircraft, starting from December 15.
“Following our integration with Cathay Pacific, and its ability to deliver
overseas passengers to the Hong Kong hub, we now believe demand is at a
level that can sustain a daily service.”
Dragonair is the latest in a growing list of carriers to resume services to
the island following the tsunami pullout.
The trade welcomed Dragonair’s decision. Phuket-based C9 Hotelworks managing
director, Mr Bill Barnett, said: “Hong Kong is certainly a significant
market. More importantly, it will drive business further afield through the
Cathay Pacific network to places such as Japan and Korea.” (TTG)
Asian destinations voted among world’s ten best
In its poll for 2006, readers and website visitors of Travel and Leisure
Magazine, the world’s leading consumer travel magazine, have voted three
Asian cities in the top ten of the world’s best tourism destinations.
Thailand, with two cities, has taken top honors among Asian destinations,
followed by Australia, with one city.
Bangkok’s charms have made it the third favorite destination for tourists in
the world, while retaining its title as Asia’s best city for the fifth
consecutive year.
“The awards prove that Bangkok is now ready to become Asia’s tourism hub
with the opening of its new international airport,” Isara Sunthorwat from
the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration told the media in an interview. “In
addition, Bangkok can always boast of its beautiful scenery, unique culture
and great food.”
Chiang Mai with its soothing weather comes in as the world’s fifth favorite
city, and Asia’s second best city for tourists.
Indian cities Udaipur and Jaipur were also in the top ten, proving that the
Indian continent is emerging as a top travel destination, just as
communist-run cities Hanoi and Luang Prabang have now become two of Asia’s
top ten destinations.
Meanwhile, Beijing also made it into the Asian top ten as the number of
visitors to China continues to increase, either intent on looking for
business opportunities or unlocking the mysteries of the Middle Kingdom.
With its free-wheeling lifestyle and open society, Sydney in Australia is
the world’s fourth best tourist destination, down from its ranking as the
top tourist spot in 2005.
Perennial favorites, Italian cities Florence and Rome, still occupy the top
two positions as the world’s best cities for tourists, justifying the
country’s ranking among the world’s favorite destinations.
Also in the top ten list of the world’s best are Cape Town in South Africa,
Buenos Aires in Argentina, New York and San Francisco in the US. The poll
was conducted before the recent devastation of Beirut in Lebanon, and the
city still sits at number nine in the ratings. - (eTN Asia)
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