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Pierre Andre Pelletier earns
Best General Manager 2009 award
(L to R) UICH member Somkiat Laiklang,
Pierre Andre Pelletier,
Christian Sussman, and UICH member Prapute Khonthon at the certificate
presentation ceremony.
Christian Sussman, area director of “Les Clefs d’OR” Asia for Union
International des Concierges d’Hotels (UICH) recently presented a
certificate to Pierre Andre Pelletier, general manager of the Amari
Watergate Hotel in recognition of Pierre Andre having been voted the
“Best General Manager 2009”.
Committees and members of UICH from 37 countries voted for the award.
The presentation took place in the Banglumpoo room at the Amari
Watergate Hotel.
Bangkok Airways wins Skytrax Best Regional Airline Asia award for 2009
Bangkok Airways has won the “Best Regional Airline” award for the sixth
consecutive time, dating back to 2004. The results for this year were
announced through the World Airline Awards poll conducted by Skytrax (www.worldairlineawards.com).
 Keerati
Chantree (center), from Bangkok Airways’ Frankfurt Office, receives
Bangkok Airways’ award from Edward Plaisted (left), Skytrax CEO and
Chris Harrison (right) from Skytrax at the Aircraft Interior Expo in
Hamburg, Germany.
Keerati Chantree, from Bangkok Airways’ Frankfurt Office, recently
represented the company as he received the award at the Aircraft
Interior Expo in Hamburg, Germany.
Meanwhile, M.L. Nandhika Varavarn, the airline’s vice president for
corporate communications, spoke on behalf of the company saying, “It’s
definitely another year of excitement for all of us at Bangkok Airways
for winning, once again, the Best Regional Airline Asia Award 2009 from
Skytrax. This year’s achievement naturally makes us Asia’s one and only
winner of the Best Regional Airline title six years in a row since 2004
- unfolding the years of dedication to excel in a complete airline
service under the Asia’s Boutique Airline brand.”
Taking a tour of the flight deck aboard USS John C. Stennis
Sue K
Named after Senator John C. Stennis, this super aircraft carrier docked
at Laem Chabang Port for three days for their port visit during its western
Pacific Ocean deployment.
 Sue
K (right) interviews Cynthia Brown (left), assistant information officer at the
US Embassy in Bangkok, for PMTV.
On the 9th of April the U.S. Embassy of Thailand kindly organized a flight deck
tour for the local press.
Captain Todd W. Malloy, Chief of Staff, Carrier Strike Group Three gave a warm
welcome speech to the group, expressing appreciation to the people of Thailand
to allow them to visit this beautiful port. He said the sailors were very much
looking forward to the opportunity to explore this magnificent region.
The strike group supports maritime security in the region and promotes regional
partnerships through joint operations and community service projects during port
visits with host nations.
 Captain
Todd W. Malloy, Chief of Staff, Carrier Strike Group Three gives a warm welcome
speech to the group.
The United States Maritime Strategy focuses on joint and international
partnerships across a range of operations through forward presence, deterrence,
freedom of the world’s sea lanes, maritime security and humanitarian
assistance/disaster response.
JCSCSG includes Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, comprising Helicopter Maritime Strike
Squadron (HSM) 71, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8, Strike Fighter
Squadron (VFA) 147, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, Strike Fighter Squadron
(VFA) 146, Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 323, Electronic Warfare
Squadron (VAQ) 138, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112 and Fleet
Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30. JCSCSG also includes ships from Destroyer
Squadron (DESRON) 21, including the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Kidd (DDG
100) and USS Preble (DDG 88) and the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG
54).
After the briefing, the delegation was escorted up on the aircraft elevator to
the flight deck for a short tour.
 Ensign
Leslie Hubbell, deputy public affairs officer, briefs the press entourage before
their tour.
A conversation with Elliot Fabrizio, petty officer 2nd class, revealed that
there were about 5000 crew members onboard and about 3 quarters of them were
having their shore leave. Asked what he would do on shore, he said, enjoy the
beach, relax, and finally have a good sleep in a big comfortable bed. Elliot
said he would also try to learn a little bit about the culture and language of
the Thai people.
Sue of PMTV immediately gave him his first Thai phrase: “Sawadee Khrup”, which
he repeated perfectly.
You can find more information about USS John C. Stennis at: http://www.cvn74.
navy.mil/about.html
Elliot Fabrizio, petty officer 2nd class,
speaks his first Thai words, “Sawadee khrup”.
Bangkok Bank has their ATMs set up and ready
for the sailors going on shore leave.
I wouldn’t want to see this coming at me in anger.
Fighter jets lined up in an impressive display of
might.
USS John C. Stennis mores at Laem Chabang port.
Acting chiefs heading TAT, TCEB
Sirima Eamtako,TTG Asia
Thailand’s two important marketing arms, Tourism Authority of Thailand
(TAT) and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), are now operating
under acting chiefs.
Tourism and sports minister, Chumpol Silpa-archa, endorsed the appointment of
TAT deputy governor for administration, Ms Pensuda Priaram, acting governor on
March 30, according to the agency’s international PR division.
When contacted, Pensuda told TTG Daily News this time round the acting task was
more daunting as the country faces tough challenges from global factors. “But
internally, I am not worried, as all deputy governors have agreed to work hand
in hand to drive the country’s tourism industry and TAT forward.”
However, Pensuda is no stranger to the TAT’s acting top post, having been
appointed acting governor once after former TAT governor, Juthamas Siriwan,
ended her four-year term in October 2006.
She took on the acting post until Phornsiri Manoharn was appointed in January
2007. Ms Phornsiri ended her tenure on March 29.
Meanwhile, TCEB exhibitions director, Supawan Teerarat, has assumed the role of
TCEB acting president. She replaces immediate past president, Natwut Amornvivat,
who resigned.
Both agencies are in the hunting process for new governor and president.
According to sources, the selection process may take up to six months.
Utapao joins TAT road show
Patcharapol Panrak
Utapao International Airport will join the Tourism Authority of Thailand
(TAT) tourism promotional road show traveling to the Arabian Travel Mart 2009 in
the United Arab Emirates, Mumbai and New Delhi in May.
 Niti
Kongkrut explains the layout of the upcoming Arabian Travel Mart 2009.
Rear Admiral Surapong Aisanont, deputy director of the airport, was assigned by
Rear Admiral Sophon Boonchom, director of the airport and commander of the Navy
Aviation Center in Rayong, to travel to promote the nearest airport to Pattaya
and to boost awareness of the facilities of this international gateway.
On April 2 Niti Kongkrut, director of TAT Region 3 (Pattaya), invited
entrepreneurs of the eastern region tourism industry to meet at the Pattaya
office of TAT to prepare for the road show happening on May 4 to 13.
He said that the trip to ATM 09 was sponsored by the management organization of
Chonburi.
TAT will train Thai tourism representatives on sales strategies and the cultural
differences of Indians and Thais to avoid possible conflict.
“We must not stay still at the travel mart as competition is high and we must
use proactive strategies to grab the attention of people at the event,” Niti
said.
Rear-Admiral Surapong said that it was the first time that there has been
approval from the Navy for this type of venture with TAT to promote Utapao as a
safe and convenient route for tourists.
Thailand to start grand
sale promotions in May
Watchiranont Thongtep, TTG Asia
Promotions for the Amazing Thailand Grand Sales 2009 are expected to
kick off in May to draw tourists for the campaign period from June 1 to August
31.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is spending a total of 60 million baht
on the promotions, having staged some preliminary road shows in Berlin, Moscow
and Kuala Lumpur in March.
Deputy governor for tourism products, Auggaphol Brickshawana, said the campaign
would be officially launched on TAT’s website on May 1, followed by a regional
grand opening on June 7 to coincide with the country’s two key travel trade and
consumer shows - Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2009 and Thailand Tourism Festival.
Auggaphol said more than 2,000 related-tourism establishments including hotels,
shopping centers, golf courses, airlines, travel agents, jewelry shops, spas,
hospitals and restaurants nationwide had agreed to offer up to 50 discounts to
tourists during the three-month promotional period.
He added TAT hoped the sales would increase tourist shopping expenditure by five
percent, especially from key source markets of Japan, China, South Korea,
Malaysia, UAE and Russia.
In 2007, tourist’s daily shopping expenditure was at 1,071.78 baht per person,
and average length of stay was 9.19 days. Last year’s figures were not available
at press time.
FETTA to red shirts:
‘Spare a thought for country’s image’
Sirima Eamtako,TTG Asia
The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) has called on
protestors to stop destroying Thailand’s international image.
The statement came after red-shirt protestors have been staging a mass rally in
Bangkok to oust the government, as well as out of concerns that any
international media coverage of the protests would further hurt the already
beleaguered Thai tourism industry.
Speaking at a press conference last week chaired by tourism and sports minister,
Chumpol Silpa-archa, the presidents of eight tourism-related associations under
FETTA’s umbrella harmoniously asked protestors to exercise their rights within
the democratic system.
Association of Thai Travel Agents president, Apichart Sankary, said the Thai
travel trade understood protestors had the right to express their democratic
opinions, but the protests should be carried out in a calm and peaceful manner.
Thai Hotels Association president, Prakit Chinamourphong, said he hoped the
situation would not turn violent, and asked the government to exercise restraint
toward protestors.
“Any violence occurring now may also hurt a number of large meetings and
conventions, the majority of which are slated to be held around the end of this
year,” he said.
According to FETTA, the immediate impact of last week’s mass demonstration would
be on Asian markets such as China and Japan, which are very sensitive to safety
and security issues. European tour operators, who are now preparing to finalize
their brochures in May, might also not push Thailand.
THAI offers ASEAN fare promotion
Thai Airways International (THAI) is launching an ASEAN Fare promotion, with
ticket prices starting from 13,310 baht to boost tourism in ASEAN countries.
THAI, together with Garuda Indonesia, Philippine Airlines, Lao Airlines, Vietnam
Airlines and Myanmar Airways International, have introduced special economy air
fares for travel on domestic and international sectors with the ASEAN nations.
The promotion is valid from today until November 30. (TTG Asia)
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