HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

The King of Hearts photo exhibition opens at Amari Watergate, Bangkok

Etihad Airways achieves Forbes Top 20 after only three years in operation

Siam Bayshore revamps

Culture, sports and all that jazz

---

The King of Hearts photo exhibition opens at Amari Watergate, Bangkok

HRH Princess Soamsawali is welcomed by Pierre Andre Pelletier, General Manager of the hotel (2nd left), Nichaya Chaivisuth, Director of PR and Communications (far left) and Saisom Wongsasuluck (3rd left looking on).

Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali recently presided over the opening ceremony of a photographic exhibition entitled “The King of Hearts”, which is being organized and run by the Amari Watergate Hotel and nine independent photographers. The proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to the Friends in Need (of “PA’) Volunteers Foundation, Thai Red Cross. The exhibition is on display in the Grand Ballroom of the Amari Watergate until December 31.

Etihad Airways achieves Forbes Top 20 after only three years in operation

Etihad Airways, the UAE’s National Airline has gained a top 20 placing in the prestigious Forbes Arabia Arab Brands list.
Etihad gained 18th place on the list and it comes as the Abu Dhabi-based airline celebrated its third anniversary of flight operations on 5 November.
“As the world’s leading new airline, we are extremely proud to have received this acknowledgement of both our innovative approach to aviation as well as Etihad’s strong hospitality-focused philosophy,” said James Hogan, CEO of Etihad Airways.
“The Forbes list is recognised throughout the business world as the number one list for international companies to appear on. It is also very satisfying to gain this achievement after only three years in operation.”
Etihad is continuing to grow at a tremendous pace, having launched 35 Guest destinations in as many months and recently begun its daily service between Abu Dhabi and New York’s JFK Airport.
The airline currently flies 14 times per week from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi with two flights a day, providing onward connections to its fast growing global network of 36 destinations.

Siam Bayshore revamps

Siam City Hotels and Resorts has completed its refurbishment programme for the Ocean Wing of its Siam Bayshore Resort and Spa in Pattaya.

Siam Bayshore: fresh new face.
The Ocean Wing, one of the resort’s 12 low-rise buildings, now features a new-look lobby, two new F&B outlets - a 150-seat coffee shop and the Beach Club - a new swimming pool and barbecue areas. The new Lotus Spa of Siam has also opened in the vicinity of the garden pool with three couple treatment pavilions, plunge pool and terraces on stilts that jut over a lagoon.
All Ocean Wing rooms have also been fully refurbished with new bathroom installations. The unique selling point of the resort remains its distinct low-rise architecture set within 16.2 hectares of gardens and ponds. Vice-president, Ms Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, said due to the very competitive nature of the destination, the resort’s average room rate of around 3,000 baht would not increase substantially. She added the resort would submit its application for a five-star rating after the total completion of the refurbishment and the opening of a new 100-room Deluxe Wing in 2008. (TTG)

Culture, sports and all that jazz

Budget cuts means the NTO will put more emphasis on events guaranteed to bring in tourist dollars

Sirima Eamtako (TTG)
Thailand is strengthening its focus on a handful of major tourism events as a result of the cutback in the 2007 events marketing budget.

Loy Krathong: still draws tourists each November.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has been allocated a budget of 600 million baht - 200 million baht less than last year - to embark on its events marketing strategies.
The NTO has also been told to be extra selective in supporting events in Thailand, and events chosen must have a proven significant impact on tourism.
According to TAT acting governor and deputy governor for tourism products, Ms Pensuda Priaram, all events must also be staged with a priority focus to honour His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the occasion of his 80th birthday celebration next year.
Ms Pensuda said under the new budget, the first event to be staged was the Jazz Royale Festival from December 9 to 17 in four cities: Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket.
Key cultural festivals are Chinese New Year Celebration in February, Songkran Festival in April and Loy Krathong in November.
The TAT has also set aside 170 million baht to stage the Bangkok International Film Festival from January 27 to February 5 next year.
Other special festivities include sporting events such as international boat races.
Ms Pensuda said the plan was to carry on promoting the key cultural festivities and the jazz festival and turn them into world-class events.
This was following the conclusion of the royal celebration years, which started this year to mark his majesty’s accession to the throne in June, she added.
Tourism and sports minister, Dr Suvit Yodmani, said he was considering listing the jazz festival in the tourism calendar and encouraging the travel trade to push the event as one of the country’s attractions.
However, the trade said it wanted to see the TAT staging events during low seasons.
Association of Thai Travel Agents president, Mr. Apichart Sankary, said: “TAT should create events during the low season to push for international tourism growth.”
Mr. Apichart said Thailand should also focus only on events that created a big tourism impact and monitor those events to see if they really helped to boost tourism.
Ms Pensuda said most mega events such as music festivals were staged outdoors and needed to be staged in the high season when the weather was more pleasant. However, she admitted major cultural events could not draw international tourists’ attention to other parts of the country.
“This is because tourists tend to want to celebrate cultural events in key cities that have a long historical and cultural record of (celebrating) the events,” she said.
One of the sporting events sponsored by TAT, the Laguna Phuket Triathlon, has reported the number of participants had doubled over the last three years.
Laguna Phuket director of destination marketing, Ms Debbie Dionysius, said: “During the weekend of the Triathlon, Laguna hotels run at 100 per cent occupancy.”
Ms Dionysius said the Laguna Phuket Triathlon was scheduled in early-December because that was a quiet period for the Laguna hotels. It was also to take advantage of the great weather conditions and calm sea to ensure the safety of participants, she added.
Laguna Phuket hosted the first Phuket International Marathon in June to help generate low-season business for its resorts and Phuket in general, Ms Dionysius said.

News | Business | Features | Columns | Mail Bag | Sports | Auto Mania
Our Children | Travel | Our Community | Dining Out & Entertainment
Social Scene | Classifieds | Community Happenings | Books Music Movies
Clubs in Pattaya | Sports Round-Up

E-mail: [email protected]
Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
62/284-286 Thepprasit Road, (Between Soi 6 & 8) Moo 12, Pattaya City
T. Nongprue, A. Banglamung,
Chonburi 20150 Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596

Copyright © 2004 Pattaya Mail. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.