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Topping off Ocean Tower, Pattaya
Nijaporn Charanachitta, (center) Chairman and owner of Amari Hotels
and Resorts together with Mr. Kurt Rufli, (2nd left), Managing Director of
Amari Hotels and Resorts recently celebrated the ‘Topping Off’ ceremony of
the Ocean Tower, the brand-new 5-star luxury development at the Amari Orchid
Resort & Tower in Pattaya to be opened mid 2007. Others also in picture are
from left: Vipavadee Patponpibul, P49 Interior Design, Yuthachai
Charanachiita, Director of Amari Hotels and Resorts and Mr. Peter Harper,
Architect.
Thai Garden Resort Garden Resort becomes environment friendly
Technicians install solar collectors at the Thai
Garden Resort.
The Thai Garden Resort, an official three star rated hotel, located at the
North Pattaya Road in Pattaya is proud to announce that from this month
onwards the warm water supply for all 182 guest rooms, apartments and
kitchens will be solely produced through solar energy.
In corporation with Solar Solutions Co., Ltd. a leading manufacturer in
Solar Consumers goods here in Thailand, the Thai Garden Resort has installed
24 solar collectors which are sufficient to produce the hot water supply for
the entire hotel.
After a period of testing and simulation of the solar power the system is
now 100% complete and ready for use effective November 1st 2006.
The installation will reduce the use of gas for the gas-heated boiler by 90%
thus making enormous financial savings as well as reducing the consumption
of gas.
Rene Pisters, General Manager of the Thai Garden Resort said: “it makes
perfect sense to make use of solar energy for our property. Not only to
reduce the expenses of running the hotels operation, but also to contribute
in saving the environmental resources. With so much sunshine available in
Thailand totally free of charge, it was only a matter of calculation to come
to the conclusion that the entire system will benefit both us and the
environment.”
For more information about Solar Solutions Co. Ltd. systems contact Mr.
Franz Roeker on 043-449499 or contact Mr. Dieter Poziombka the Engineer
Consultant of the Thai Garden Resort on 038- 370614-8 ext. 6666, should you
be interested to see how the installation works.
Pattaya gears up for South Korea boon
Pattaya is bracing itself for a windfall following Korean Air’s decision to
fly direct to the destination. The airline has begun a thrice-weekly service
to U-Tapao International Airport as part of its South-east Asia expansion
plan.
U-Tapao is only a 30-minute drive from Pattaya. Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi
international airport is a one-and-a-half-hour drive from the town.
Royal Cliff Beach Resort general manager, Mr Alexander Haeusler, said: “This
is very important for the destination because South Korea has always been a
key feeder market for Pattaya. It’s more the perception that benefits us.
They’re talking about Pattaya even though the airport’s in U-Tapao. People
feel like they’re flying into Pattaya.”
According to Tourism Authority of Thailand statistics, 181,500 South Koreans
visited Pattaya in the first six months of this year, compared to 135,600 on
the year - a 33 per cent increase.
In terms of room nights for the first half of 2006, South Korea ranked
second behind China with 181,500 room nights. South Korea is Pattaya’s
fourth biggest global market behind Russia, China and the UK. - (TTG)
Samui tour operators protest sharp rise in airfares
Claiming over US$5 million in losses in just one month, tour operators in
the popular southern resort of Koh Samui (Samui Island) are urging Transport
Minister Admiral Thira Haocharoen to find ways to reduce airfares raised by
Bangkok Airways recently.
Threatening that Koh Samui residents and tour businesses will take drastic
action - closing the island’s airport - if their request is ignored, Seni
Puvasettavorn, president of the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association,
said tour operators and islanders have been hit hard by Bangkok Airways
recent increase of its airfare by 20 per cent.
The October 29 action caused the price for return tickets for economy class
flights from Bangkok to the island to rise to Bt10,170 and Mr. Seni says the
island has lost over US$5 million in just one month.
Because of the sharp increase in air ticket costs, tourists have switched to
other tourism destinations, Mr. Seni said.
Since the Bangkok Airways tariff increase, tourism in Koh Samui and the
neighboring islands of Koh Pa-Ngan and Koh Tao have already suffered total
losses of more than Bt200 million between them, he charged. - (TNA)
New EU carryon rules
The European Union (EU) has announced new security measures for contents of
carryon baggage on all flights to and from all airports in the EU, in
addition to Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.
The measures apply to all airlines and is applicable from November 6, 2006.
* All liquids, gels and pastes must be packed in 100ml containers or tubes
and carried in a transparent and sealed bag with a maximum capacity of one
litre. Baby food and medication accompanied by prescription and/or purchase
receipt are allowed in the cabin.
* Selected items must be presented separately for screening at airport
security checkpoints. These include large electrical appliances, transparent
bags with liquids, gel or paste, liquid baby food, medication accompanied by
prescription or medical certificate and coats.
* Duty-free purchases purchased in an airport shop or onboard a flight
within the EU must be placed in a sealed bag by the salesperson and receipt
kept as proof of purchase.
Rob McDonald, Regional Marketing Manager, South East Asia - British Airways
said: “The new EU-wide policy on carrying liquids through security in cabin
baggage is a very welcome move. It brings harmonisation for all air
passengers travelling from an airport in the EU, and makes travelling
through London much easier. The new policy will make it simpler for
customers to understand what they can and cannot take through security with
them, yet it is a sensible measure to protect air passengers in the current
climate of increased security. - (TTG)
Etihad Airways now flies non-stop to New York
Kirk Albrow, Etihad Airways Regional Manager for
Europe and Americas (right), joins Josephine Boulus (US Manager for Etihad
Airways) and Etihad’s flight attendants for their first look at New York
City, the morning after the company launched its non-stop service to John F.
Kennedy Airport in New York.
Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, is continuing to expand its
international network of destinations with the announcement that from 26
October 2006, Etihad will offer daily flights to Terminal 4 at New York’s
JFK airport.
New York is the second North American destination to be added to Etihad’s
continuously expanding global network of inter-continental flights, bringing
Asia and America closer together and adding convenience for Etihad guests
flying from Thailand to the United States with just a brief stop over in the
UAE
“The announcement of this new destination is a significant milestone for
Etihad Airways. By connecting Abu Dhabi and New York, we are once again
illustrating the ambitions we have at Etihad Airways to service the world’s
most strategically important cities and regions,” said HH Dr. Sheikh Ahmed
Bin Saif Al Nahyan, chairman of Etihad Airways.
“This expansion of daily flights to New York along with the recent
introduction of Boeing 777s for daily flights between Bangkok and Abu Dhabi
is very good news for the companies and people based in Thailand who
regularly travel to the US and will certainly encourage less frequent fliers
to do so too”, said Mr. Florian Preuss, Manager Thailand and Mae-Khong
Region.
Etihad Airways Flight EY 404 will depart Suvarnabhumi International Airport
every day at 08:15, stopping over in Abu Dhabi at 12:15, transferring to EY
503 for the flight on to New York, leaving Abu Dhabi at 14:15 and arriving
New York in 20:25.
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