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Austrian ambassador bids farewell to Pattaya
Elfi Seitz
Wrapping up more than four years in Thailand, Austrian
Ambassador Arno Riedel and his family spent a last weekend relaxing and
socializing in Pattaya before returning home for a new assignment.
 Ambassador
Arno Riedel chats with Mongkol Thammakittikhun, Banglamung district
chief.
Riedel and his wife Loretta hosted fellow Austrians and local
dignitaries at a cocktail party at the Siam Bayshore Hotel and Spa.
Amongst the guests was Austrian Consul Rudolf Hofer, former director of
the German Chamber of Commerce, Paul Strunk and his wife, Banglamung
District Chief Officer Mongkol Thamakittikhun, Pattaya Mail Managing
Director Peter Malhotra, Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya Center Chairperson
Nittaya Patimasongkroh and Plauderstunden President Monika Podleska and
her husband. Famed Austrian artist Rudolf Scepka was also present with
his wife and daughter.
 Ambassador
Arno Riedel is interviewed for the last time in Pattaya.
The ambassador entertained guests with stories of his time in the
Kingdom, noting they were “a bit exciting” as he’d been here during the
2004 tsunami, the 2006 coup and four different governments. He said
he’ll depart with a laugh and a tear, as he enjoys Thai people, but is
looking forward to new challenges.
Riedel said he’ll remain at the Foreign Ministry in Vienna for three or
four years then hopefully take another overseas post.
Riedel thanked everyone in Pattaya who supported him during his stay in
Thailand and expressed his hope to come back soon for a vacation.
At the end of the party, I had the honor to present His Excellency with
flowers in the name of all Austrians in Pattaya and wished him and his
family all the best for the future. Scepka also gave flowers to the
ambassador as well in the name of all Austrian artists.
The ambassador and his family went back to Bangkok the following day
where they spent some more days in Thailand before leaving the country
for good on Aug. 3.
Loretta and Ambassador Arno Riedel say
goodbye to their friends in Pattaya.
(L to R) Holger Groninger, resident manager
of the Siam Bayshore Resort & Spa, with Ambassador Arno Riedel and
Honorable Consul Rudolf Hofer.
Friends, family and well-wishes gather for a
commemorative photo.
Amari Hotels and Resorts appoints executive vice president & chief operations officer
Peter Henley, president & CEO of Amari Hotels and Resorts, has announced
the appointment of Thorsten Ries as executive vice president & chief
operating officer for Amari Hotels and Resorts.
 Thorsten
Ries has been appointed executive vice president & chief operating
officer for
Amari Hotels and Resorts.
Ries, a German national, brings to the role over 20 years extensive
experience in many aspects of the hospitality industry. He has held
several key international positions, such as general manager, area
manager and VP for Ritz-Carlton Eastern Europe, Four Seasons and
Marriott hotels, in Europe, America and the Middle East.
Ries was quoted as saying, “I am very excited to explore Asia and its
possibilities for the first time, and support the future growth of Amari
Hotels and Resorts.”
He will play a significant role in transforming Amari Hotels and Resorts
into the future.
Air Berlin promotes Business Class service in Thailand
Rungnapa Leechaianan
Germany’s second largest airline has expanded its Business Class service
in Thailand. Business Class Hot Deals at the special price of 50,700 THB to
Germany (Berlin, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Nuremberg,
Stuttgart, plus Vienna and Zurich) and 55,510 THB to Europe (e.g. Paris, London,
Rome, Milan, Barcelona, Nice, Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki) are now
available until 31 October 2009 (round-trip fare excl. taxes and fuel
surcharge).
 Business
Class passengers flying with Air Berlin from/to Bangkok can enjoy a luxury
limousine service free of charge until 30 April 2010.
Business Class passengers flying with Air Berlin from/to Bangkok can also enjoy
free of charge limousine service until 30 April 2010. This complimentary service
is now offered from Bangkok, Pattaya, Cha-Am, Hua Hin, Rayong and Ban Paeh to
Suvarnabhumi Airport, and vice versa.
For further information please contact your travel agent or the Bangkok Office
of Air Berlin at 02-267-1202 to 4 or [email protected]
Air Berlin is Germany’s second largest airline. Last year the company, which
employs more than 8,200 people, carried a total of 28.6 million passengers
worldwide. In 2008 alone Air Berlin received more than 10 awards for service and
quality. With an average age of just 4.6 years, Air Berlin has one of the newest
fleets in Europe. The airline’s modern aircraft are extremely fuel-efficient and
so provide a lasting contribution to the reduction of aviation emissions.
Dusit Thani Pattaya participates in TCEB:
ConnectionsPlus - Thailand Moving Forward 2009
Some 50 top corporate meeting planners (buyers) gathered in Pattaya from July
18-20 as part of ConnectionsPlus 2009 Mega Fam trip/Expo Meeting with Thai
suppliers organized by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).
 One
of the five winners of complimentary accommodations in the five-star resort’s
Dusit Grand room celebrates with Weerasak Boontia (center) and Vanjie Lauzon of
Dusit Thani Pattaya.
The event was aimed at providing participating hotels in Bangkok, Krabi and
Pattaya the opportunity to showcase their products and services including their
MICE facilities for future corporate events.
The other 50 were accommodated in southern Krabi Island while the group that
visited Pattaya comprised of event planners from China, Japan, India, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Singapore.
Dusit Thani Pattaya hosted a total of 28 MICE organizers and gave away five
complimentary accommodations in the five-star hotel’s Grand Rooms during a lucky
draw over breakfast at The Bay Italian Restaurant overlooking the Gulf of Siam.
MICE event planners are welcomed to Dusit Thani
Pattaya by Pramot Sothana (2nd left), hotel front office manager and Dorothy Kam
(far right), director of sales and marketing.
Etihad briefs travel agents
on new promotions, upgrades
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Etihad Airways is preparing for the upcoming high season by letting Thai
travel agents know the U.A.E. carrier is adding more flights and services for
Bangkok-bound customers.
 Chaiyavut
Chomsakorn, Etihad marketing manager for Thailand and the Mekong Region.
At its annual Pattaya agent briefing July 18, Etihad area manager for Thailand
and the Mekong Region Florian Preuss and marketing manager Chaiyavut Chomsakorn
briefed more than 50 agents on second-half 2009 promotions and upgrades to its
Abu Dhabi base.
Etihad this year upgraded seating in its first-class cabin and opened a new
lounge at Abu Dhabi International Airport for first and business class
customers. The lounge features a spa, 5-star menu, smoking and children’s rooms
and high-tech conference center.
Etihad also introduced a limousine service for business and economy-class
customers as well as a new frequent-flier program. First-class upgrades include
an exclusive check-in area, in flight a la carte menu and entertainment systems
with 600 hours of movies and music.
Chaiyavut highlighted the airline’s “Got to Go Now” promotion, which offers
special prices for routes to London, Frankfurt, Munich, Manchester, Dublin,
Brussels, Paris, Geneva, and Casablanca. Economy class fares start at 16,500
baht and business class at 61,150 baht. Fares must be booked before Aug. 15.
Etihad also is offering sweeteners for travel agents, including shopping
vouchers for sales of business and first-class tickets.
No relief for Thai hotels
Sirima Eamtako, TTG Asia
Thai hotels continue to suffer low occupancies amid declining arrivals
in the face of the global economic downturn and the A/H1N1 pandemic.
Thai Hotels Association (THA) has reported Bangkok hotel occupancies in June for
properties with more than 250 rooms stood at 47.18 percent, down from 66.51
percent in June last year, while properties with less than 250 rooms averaged
47.18 percent, falling by 21 percent.
Also in the same month, Chiang Mai hotels achieved 28.9 percent occupancy, down
from 36.3 percent. In Pattaya, hotels averaged 34.83 percent, down from 50.26
percent, but four- and five-star properties only ran at 30 percent.
In the south, Phuket hotels ran at 30 percent, down from about 50 percent last
year; Krabi at 18 percent, down from 20 percent; and Phang-nga (Khao Lak)
averaged 12 percent, down from 14 percent.
Meanwhile, between January and May this year, arrivals to Thailand plunged by 16
percent to 5,655,800. Visitor numbers to Suvarnabhumi Airport between January
and June fell 21 percent to 4,434,516 arrivals.
However, amid the sharp decline in the first five months of this year, foreign
arrivals from South Asia increased by four percent to 353,411 and from the
Middle East by seven percent to 92,443.
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