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Hotel association looks into new alcohol bill
Chatchawal Supachayanont
(seated, 4th from left) meets with the members of THA-EC.
The Thai Hotels Association-Eastern Chapter (THA-EC),
led by its president Chatchawal Supachayanont, recently held its members
meeting at Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa.
The hotel executives thrashed out significant issues that concern the
hospitality industry such as the Alcohol Control Act and the drop of
business in the past few months due to political uncertainty and the
security situation in the kingdom.
Hoteliers raised concern about the new alcohol control bill which once
enacted would provide comprehensive control of alcohol consumption, ban
advertisements for alcoholic drinks and prohibit the sale of alcoholic
drinks within 200 meters of schools and temples. THA-EC has made a joint
appeal with THA in Bangkok for the government to reassess the impact of
the bill on the tourism industry and related businesses.
To promote Pattaya as a destination, THA-EC also reported that it is
organizing a road show in Russia to increase tourist arrivals from the
Russian market. The committee also reported the success of the
association’s road show in ITB Berlin.
The hotel body also discussed the groundwork for the THA-EC Sports Fest
scheduled for September. More than 40 member hotels from the Eastern
Seaboard are expected to participate in sporting events such as
football, volleyball, a marathon, and a cheerleading competition.
Thai airport authority launches marketing campaign
Airports of Thailand (AOT) has launched a four-month long marketing activity at
Suvarnabhumi Airport to boost its image and increase the awareness of Thai
culture and tradition.
The campaign, which runs from this month to September, will cost AOT at least
seven million baht (US$212,900). The theme is Suvarnabhumi: The Beauty Given and
the Impression Received at five zones within Suvarnabhumi Airport.
AOT deputy general manager for business development, Mr. Narongchai
Tanadchangsaeng, said he hoped the campaign would raise the image of the airport
as well as create an impression among customers.
He said the campaign was also to celebrate the airport’s services to almost 27
million passengers since it opened in September last year. He expressed hopes
the airport would meet its projection of 46 million passengers, including six
million passengers using the reopened Don Muang Airport, in the first year of
operation.
Suvarnabhumi Airport is capable of handling 45 million passengers annually.
Meanwhile, citing the government’s recent budgetary restrictions, Mr. Narongchai
said construction of the 50-billion-baht satellite building, which would help
relieve the foreseen overcrowding of Suvarnabhumi Airport, was unlikely to
happen anytime soon. (TTG)
Take a trip along the scenic Mekong
Visitors in the air-conditioned yacht bound for Laos or Southern China can enjoy the sights along the way
Sirima Eamtako
(TTG, Asia)
Tourists wanting to cross from Thailand into Laos or southern China along the
Mekong River should check out the deluxe air-conditioned yachts operated by
Chiang Rai-based Maekhong Delta Travel Agency.
 The
deluxe Golden Peacock plies the route between Chiang Saen in Northern Thailand
and Xishuangbanna in Southern China.
The agency partners China’s Xishuangbanna-based Golden Peacock, which owns the
four vessels, and has been running tourist river cruises in China for more than
15 years.
The three high-speed, air-conditioned yachts - the Thienta One and Thienta Two,
each with 48 seats, are operated on the Chiang Saen-Xishuangbanna route, and the
58-seat Golden Triangle Eight is operated on the Chiang Khong-Luang Prabang
route.
The deluxe Golden Peacock alternatively plies from Chiang Saen to Xishuangbanna,
and can be chartered as an overnight cruise on the Mekong River. Onboard are
four double-bed rooms, 18 four-bed rooms, a tea room, a karaoke room, a large
dining and reception hall and a deck.
I found the four-hour journey on Thienta Two comfortable, efficient and safe. I
could see the scenic mountains and riverside views of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar
from the air-conditioned cabin or on the open-air deck.
I chose the deck so I could enjoy the fresh air under the sunny sky. Life
jackets were available under the seats in the cabin. Passengers on the deck were
required to keep their lifejackets on and members of the crew guarded the deck
to ensure passenger safety.
Snacks and drinks were limited to the cabin to avoid littering of the river but
getting on and off the boat at various attractions was easy. Thienta Two was
manned by a team of Chinese captains, crewmen and receptionists.
Maekhong Delta Travel Agency executive director, Ms Pakaimas Vierra, said: “We
market ourselves as an alternative river transportation, where visitors to
Chiang Rai can travel to Luang Prabang or Xishuangbanna, and return by air to
Bangkok or Vientiane, or vice-versa.”
The services would be available for about 10 months a year due to low water
levels during March and April. For more information check out the agency’s Web
site at www.maekhongtravel.com.
Seamless shopping
from hotel to duty-free
King Power Group is set to open the two billion baht (US$60 million)
four-star Novotel King Power Bangkok hotel in September.
According to the hotel, guests checking into its executive floors will have
access to the Duty Free Mall and will receive a special discount on
purchased duty free goods.
Located within the Downtown King Power Duty Free Mall, which is a stone’s
throw from the BTS Skytrain Victory Monument Station and near the
under-construction Airport Link downtown terminal, the hotel will boast a
trendy design equipped with modern technology, yet infused with a Thai
touch.
The hotel will feature 387 rooms, three restaurants, three bars, a Paris’
Vous Spa, a swimming pool and fitness centre. It will also have five meeting
rooms and a grand ballroom that can accommodate from 400 to 600 people
cocktail-style. (TTG)
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