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Thai PM sees regional aviation as lucrative business
The aviation business in Asia faces many challenges
but cooperation through a strong network and China and India’s economic
growth will be key drivers to promote the industry in the region, Prime
Minister Surayud Chulanont said at an aviation forum, June 28 in
Bangkok.
 Prime
Minister Surayud Chulanont said that the outlook for the region’s
aviation industry looks bright, despite facing some major challenges
such as high oil prices, security, and global warming.
Star Alliance in cooperation with Thai Airways International and Asia
News Network co-hosted “The Asia Forum 2007: The Future of Aviation”,
the biggest conference on the aviation business.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, addressing the audience on the topic
of “Thailand and Asia’s Economic Dynamism”, said that the aviation
sector is confronted by three major threats - high oil prices, the
security issue, and global warming (as air transportation is considered
unfriendly to the environment).
He said, however, that on the positive side the aviation business
benefits from the open skies policies among various countries and new
technology, which make aircraft more fuel-efficient.
Gen. Surayud stated that the expansion of the Indian and Chinese
economies will further boost growth of the aviation business.
“China’s air traffic is growing at 7.6 per cent annually and is expected
to be the largest commercial aviation market outside the United States
over the next 20 years,” he said. “The past three years have also seen
record growth in air traffic in India. Its civil aviation passengers
growth stands at 20 per cent - among the highest in the world,” he
added.
The low cost airlines introduced in Thailand four years ago also offer
more choice for passengers, of which the number has grown by 44 per
cent, Surayud said.
Meanwhile, Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO said that when Air China and
Shanghai Airlines become new members of Star Alliance this year, the
number of passengers is expected to increase by two to three per cent
annually.
The Star Alliance currently flies about 400 million passengers each
year.
Participants at the forum included tourism and aviation experts,
researchers, airport managers and owners of aviation industries from all
over the world. The event was also part of the celebration of the 10th
anniversary of the founding of Star Alliance, which started with five
members, including THAI, Thailand’s national carrier.
Star Alliance now comprises 17 carrier members in its network, flying to
some 855 destinations in 155 countries. (TNA)
Hard Rock Pattaya appoints new Hotel Operations ‘Band Leader’
Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya General Manager Andrew Khoo recently announced the
appointment of Elyes Ben Brahim as Director of Operations for Hard Rock Hotel
Pattaya.
 Mr.
Elyes Ben Brahim: the new Director of Operations for Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya.
A Tunisian by nationality, “Ben” brings with him over two decades of hotel and
restaurant operations expertise. He specializes in family-oriented themed
resorts operations and marketing, having spent the majority of his professional
career in various senior management positions at Club Med properties in Europe,
South America and Asia.
Ben is also expected to bolster Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya’s international appeal
being a native speaker of French, Arabic and Italian with fluency in the
English, Spanish and German languages.
Prior to his appointment, Ben served as General Manager of the Bounty Resorts
and Cruises in Bali, Indonesia. He holds diplomas in “Computer Science,
Programming and Analysis” as well as “English Literature and Language” from the
University of Tunis and The British Council respectively.
Journey to the Heart of Europe
Germany’s wine regions present their best side
Elfi Seitz
Roll on the glorious Deutsche-summer. The German-Thai Chamber of Commerce
(GTCC), LTU and Mercedes were joined by some of the very best hotels and
wineries in Germany, in generously sponsoring a group of journalists from
leading newspapers and magazines in Thailand on a journey through Germany.
It was all celebratory bubbles at Suvanabhummi as GTCC deputy chairman
Stefan Bürkle and LTU regional manager Markus Moschner spoke fond words of
farewell to the assembled, fine champagne an ideal lubricant for excited and
expectant ‘journos’.
 This
pretty Fraulein dressed in her traditional attire at the ‘Roter Ochsen’ made
us feel quite at home.
‘Business class’ really was the business. It’s been some time since I felt
so completely and ruthlessly pampered by the prettiest team of stewards and
stewardesses imaginable. They had even prepared a cake, which was served
just before landing to thank the journalists for making the trip. We should
have been thanking them!
The visionaries behind what was already ‘Wunderbar’, Dr Raimund Cerny and
his long-time spouse Linda Dierolf, veritably beamed as the group was
welcomed at the VIP lounge of the hugely impressive Munich airport. This
trip had been months in the planning and its faultless execution was typical
of Dr. Raymond’s and Linda’s attention to detail. Enter a very spacious
Mercedes van to whisk us off across the brilliantly green Bavarian
countryside towards Heilbronn. Partly on federal highways, sometimes on the
bulging “Autobahn”, what an adventure we had, the thrill of the new driving
adrenalin through our souls. For most, it was their first trip to Germany, a
chance then, for the “insiders” to inform their virgin colleagues about the
country’s rich and varied history and the many tremendous Teutonic tourist
attractions.
 A
traditional German farmer’s home, just like in the fairy tales.
The “Wald & Schlosshotel” in Friedrichsruhe/Zweiflingen was a marvelous
house in which to gently move down a gear or two and adopt a generally
semi-recumbent posture. But two nights was never going to be enough – I was
overcome by a sense of never wanting to move more than ten yards in any
direction – so utterly splendid was the level of hospitality. Field trips
filled our days and easy conversations melted time into memory.
One wonderfully summer’s day, we headed for Schwäbisch Hall and the “Würth”
art museum and took in a dreamy vista over a city bathing in the sun’s
warmth. They certainly know how to look after their museums. The open land
museum in Wackershofen provided a cultural insight into the extraordinary
variety of regional lifestyles that have evolved over the centuries.
Abundant imbibement of a very dark and mellow kind followed, encouraged down
with freshly slaughtered pork, sauerkraut and Bavarian fayre from the land
of fantasy. The museum-owned restaurant “Zum Roten Ochsen” is one I intend
to return to at my earliest convenience. I hardly noticed how quickly we
were being swept around the countryside. The small but exquisitely presented
car museum within the courtyard of the mighty “Langenburg” castle, showed
Germany at its very best; a sumptuous fusion of efficiency with aesthetics.
Ah, but how brief our sojourn at the “Automuseum”. What would a trip like
this be, without the pre-requisite wine-tasting? An academic interest of
course, was our prime motivation, as we gathered at the national research
institute for fruit and wine growing in Weinsberg. Here, Thailand’s very own
Prayut Piangbunta has fermented valuable viniculture experience into a
profitable wine-growing estate, producing bottled nectar. Rolf Hauser was
our wine guru as he guided as sensitively through selected wines, cellars
and the innovative and ultimately satisfying vintner’s process.
 Out
tour leader, Dr Raimund Cerny, left, and Rolf Hauser say ‘prost’ to the
success of our adventure.
The Grantschen winery and wine cellars proved another welcome attraction.
This palatial pile belongs to the family of Baden-Württemberg’s local and
much loved Statesman, Richard Drautz. German hospitality at its very best
ensued; Mr. and Mrs. Drautz charmed us as we dined beneath a dome dazzling
in its brilliance. The atmosphere was celestial. Government Secretary Drautz
described how pleased he was to welcome so many guests from Thailand to the
country at the heart of Europe. “Germany and its wine regions in particular,
are always worth a visit”, he said. I had to agree. “We offer the highest
quality service, genuine kindness and may I say, some excellent use of the
English language.” I couldn’t disagree. “This enables us to make the stay a
most pleasant one for our guests.” Here, here. Afternoons and evening were
packed with press conferences but another wine region managed to sneak into
our itinerary. But, free of additives, German wines seem to be
hangover-free; all things in moderation, of course.
 Government
secretary Richard Drautz, Dr Cerny and cellar master Fritz Herold from the
Grantschen winery.
Appropriately located on ‘Daimler Street’, Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach was
for me personally, one of the highlights. So whilst getting your vintage
Mercedes fixed up in Thailand might not be quite like munching into a Black
Forest Gateaux, a waltz through the factory here left me frankly,
gob-smacked. Director Gerd-Udo Hauser gave us the VIP treatment and I’m
happy to report that I wasn’t the only female who found the Mercedes
experience on the seductive side of the street. Subsequently, we visited the
Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart. It was simply amazing to see how
Germany’s number one car has developed over time.
A farewell dinner at the Wald & Schlosshotel Friedrichsruhe lovingly created
by chef and author Lothar Eiermann, was a fitting way to finish the first
leg of the trip. Exhausted, we fell in our dreams easily, in the knowledge
that tomorrow would introduce more of this glorious country to our senses.
More wine, I thought, more sights, I mused, more fun, most definitely.
To be continued - with more stories about Germany’s most inviting
cultural sites and – of course – the wineries and vineyards.
(L to R) Peerawat “Pop” Jariyasombat from
“Bangkok Post”, Weerayut “Neung” Chokchaimadon from “The Nation”, Jeerawan
“Toom” Duangnam from “Lifestyle & Travel”, GTCC deputy chairman Stefan
Bürkle, Rungnapa Leechaianan from LTU, Sid Sehgal from “Lookeast”, Jarubhani
“Pam” Palarit from LTU, Don Ross from “TTR weekly” and LTU regional manager
Markus Moschner who came to wish us Bon Voyage.
Gerd-Udo Hauser (2nd left) kept us spellbound
with his explanation of the history of the legendary Mercedes Benz.
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