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Skål invites members
to special meeting
Skål International Thailand is holding a very special
luncheon meeting for all its members on Tuesday, February 12 at the
China Room II, 4th floor of the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, Bangkok.
The meeting will witness the handover of the Presidential chain from the
past President, Mr. Brian Sinclair Thomson to the new incoming President
Mr. Andrew Wood.
There will also be a keynote speech from Khun Natwut Amornvivat, the new
President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) in his
first major address to the industry.
The welcome drink will start at 12.00 noon and lunch from 12.30 p.m.,
followed by the address by the guest speaker.
To all those wishing to attend, please check in at the registration desk
in front of the China Room II at 12.00 noon. Complimentary lunch
vouchers will be ready for members who have paid the 2008 annual dues.
If you do not have the voucher, the cost for lunch will be Baht 600 per
person.
Associations act
to diffuse threats
The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and Thai Hotels Association
(THA) have predicted another difficult year for the Thai tourism industry.
They hope the new government will come up with a clear policy to keep the
industry afloat.
The cabinet was expected to name its appointed tourism and sports minister
this week.
ATTA and THA plan to meet with this minister and seek his or her support in
tourism policy and marketing.
THA president, Mr. Chanin Donavanik, said the global economic slowdown,
rising oil prices and the constant negative press coverage on Suvarnabhumi
Airport are factors threatening growth in the Thai tourism industry.
He added Thai hotels will face more competition when about 30,000 new rooms
in higher category hotels come online nationwide by 2010. About 12,000 new
rooms are slated to open this year.
In view of these challenges, Mr. Chanin and ATTA president, Mr. Apichart
Sankary, urged member hotels, inbound agents and tour operators to step up
their marketing efforts. “The hotel industry will have to work harder this
year, but I hope we will able to wade through all the problems,” Mr. Chanin
said.
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