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SKÅL World President visits Bangkok
(left-right): Andrew Wood, Brian
Sinclair-Thompson President, Skål Intl Thailand, Brinley Waddell, SI
Bangkok, Phil Sims, Joy Sims, Anne Lamb and Emme Van der Walt, SI South
Africa and Malai Sakolviphak, SI Thailand.
Skål International President Phil Sims and his wife recently visited
Bangkok and were hosted to a welcome party by Skål International Bangkok
President Andrew Wood at the Chaophya Park Hotel.
Demonstrations must end, Thai tourist trade warns
The Thai tourism trade says tourists’ confidence will be shaken if the
anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok were to continue and turn violent.
However, they said at the moment there was no immediate impact on the country’s
tourism industry. Thai Hotels Association president, Prakit Chinamourpong, said:
“Member hotels have reported no cancellations.”
He added prolonged demonstrations would affect travellers’ confidence,
especially when the country would be hosting Thailand Travel Mart (TTM) from
June 5 to 8, followed by two large conventions - the 91st Lions Clubs
International from June 23 to 27 and ITU Telecom Asia from September 2 to 5.
Chaophya Park Hotel and Resorts general manager, Andrew Wood, said the
demonstrations would create challenges for conference organisers, particularly
those from sensitive markets such as the US and Japan.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said TTM expected 487 buyers from 62
countries.
Meanwhile, TAT governor, Phornsiri Manoharn, said the NTO planned to spend 150
million baht (US$4.6 million) on promotions to entice more Thais to travel
domestically. She said rising fuel and commodity prices might cause Thais to
travel less and result in TAT missing its domestic tourism target of 74 million
trips. (TTG)
Centara ups Spa Cenvaree ante
Centara Hotels and Resorts has invested more than 100 million baht to build
and upgrade new and existing spa outlets in all its 11 hotel and resort
properties in Thailand.
By end-2008, all 11 Spa Cenvaree outlets will boast fresh new looks.
Meanwhile, the Spa Cenvaree at the Centara Grand at CentralWorld hotel,
opening on June 1, will be positioned as the group’s flagship spa outlet,
featuring an ultra-contemporary Thai interior.
Centara CEO, Gerd Steeb, said the group was looking at expanding its spa
management expertise and had been in talks with property owners in the
Middle East to manage spas there.
The group has just signed a contract to manage a new spa at the Furama
Resort Danang, Vietnam. The facility, to be branded by Spa Cenvaree, is at
design stage and is expected to open by end-2008.
The group has also confirmed it would open two new resorts in Phuket,
bringing the total number of its properties on the beach resort island to
five. Scheduled to open in 2010, the new resorts are the 262-key Centara
Grand Phuket on Karon Beach and the 170-key Centara Grand Laguna on Bang Tao
Beach, next to Laguna Phuket integrated resort. (TTG)
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