TRAVEL & TOURISM
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Dusit Thani Pattaya receives the Golden Smoke-Free Hotel Award

Win or lose, TAT Pattaya Internet “explorers” call contest a success

Fast-growing Etihad named “World’s Leading Airline”


Dusit Thani Pattaya receives the Golden Smoke-Free Hotel Award

Dusit Thani Pattaya was among the hotels nationwide that received honor and recognition for its participation in the Project: Green Leaf Health Promotion, Smoke-Free Hotel Program at ceremonies held at the Government Public Relations Department Hall on Soi Aree in Bangkok.

Dusit Thani Pattaya general manager Chatchawal Supachayanont celebrates the hotel’s latest achievement as Outstanding Smoke-Free Hotel. Seen in this photo are (left-right): Asst. Dr. Jirapol Sinthunavat (far left), Supachayanont, Mesa Konta and Prawes Akanimart.
The event was held on Wednesday, December 2 with one of Thailand’s most respected environmentalists, Dr. Suwit Yodmanee handing out the awards and certificates to various hotels as he encouraged other establishments to introduce the Smoke-Free Program throughout the country in the hope that Thailand will be the leading ASEAN member that continues to work towards the objective.
Other leading environmental academics present were Professor Prakit Vathisathokit, Administration Secretary of the Foundation for non-smoking campaign and Asst. Dr. Jirapol Sinthunava, lecturer at the Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University and Vice-President of the Green Leaf Foundation. They gave a special lecture on the topic, “Smoke-Free Hotels Towards Health Promotion, New Challenges for Green Tourism” that focused on the services of an environmentally-friendly hotel promoting better health for both its staff and its guests while supporting a sustainable tourism business that fights global warming.

Prawes Akanimart (left), president of the hotel’s Green Leaf Committee accepts the award from Dr. Suwit Yodmanee.
More than 170 hotels are now participating in the Green Leaf programs. The hotel’s move towards the promotion of better health by reducing smoking in its rooms and facilities is the response to the current trend in tourism that highlights better health care for all. A total of 32 hotels received the golden certificate award including Dusit Thani Pattaya, a five-star resort that allocates more than 75% of its total room inventory for its non-smoking guests.
On hand to accept the award was the hotel’s Green Leaf Committee president Prawes Akanimart who shared the feat with hotel general manager Chatchawal Supachayanont.
Dusit Thani Pattaya is a 5-star resort hotel that has continually enjoyed the 5 leaves awarded by the Green Leaf Foundation since 2003. The Green Leaf Certificate of 5 leaves is the highest level awarded to a hotel signifying its excellence in environmental management.
Since then, Dusit Thani Pattaya has received numerous awards and recognitions for its contribution to the tourism industry including its outstanding management in allocating more than 75 percent of its total room inventory for its non-smoking guests; its support to the government’s drug-free society and no-tobacco campaigns and other social and health awareness programs and activities.
In 2008, the Tourism Authority of Thailand presented the hotel the Award of Outstanding Performance in a resort, a recognition attributed to the hotel’s continued adherence to its consistent and strict in-house programs and policies towards the conservation of the environment.


Win or lose, TAT Pattaya Internet “explorers” call contest a success

Bob James
They may never be named the “Ultimate Thailand Explorers,” but Ben Reed and Brian Sommer say touring Pattaya for six days and sharing their experiences with the world via Internet “social media” was as good as winning the Tourism Authority of Thailand contest.

Ben (left) and Brian (right) have truly enjoyed promoting Pattaya as a tourist destination using Internet “social media”.

“We feel like it has already been a success,” said the 28-year-old Reed, who with his 29-year-old American partner was chosen by TAT to represent Pattaya as one of five teams vying to best promote Thailand’s tourist destinations online. Although there’s still three weeks of voting left, the pair has resigned themselves to the fact they’ve been unable to outdraw teams representing Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Koh Tao.
“It’s a shame because we’ve been promoting our little hearts out,” Reed said. But even if they don’t win the title and $10,000 prize, “it’s been a wonderful experience.”
TAT certainly kept the pair busy during their Dec. 10-16 visit. Of the area’s 30 tourist attractions, they visited 19, including the Sanctuary of Truth, Underwater World, Pattaya Floating Market, Tiffany Show, Flight of the Gibbon, Pattaya Balloon Festival 2009, Koh Larn, Alangkarn Theater and others.
They start early and get back after 9 p.m., then work in their hotel room editing and posting videos to YouTube, writing blog entries for the TAT website and “tweet” updates and replies to fans and followers on Twitter and Facebook.
“The real surprise is the reaction we’ve gotten one we actually arrived in Thailand,” Reed said. “Before we got here our blog entries were getting one, maybe two comments each. Now they’re getting nine or ten a day.”
Their fan base also has grown. Two weeks ago, they had 270 Twitter “followers” and 170 Facebook “fans.” By Day 4 of their trip, that was up to 551 and 270, respectively.
Despite that, Sommer said, Pattaya still remains less popular than Bangkok, Phuket and other places where teams have generated far more fans, followers and votes. He reckons that’s due to Pattaya’s lower name recognition among foreigners than Bangkok and Phuket, as well as an image that leaves people unaware there’s so much more to do in Pattaya than bar hop.
“One of the reasons we chose to represent Pattaya was because we didn’t know much about it,” Reed said. “But what we discovered was there’s a huge diversity of attractions and experiences here.”
The TAT’s itinerary for the couple kept them away from Pattaya’s nightlife and bar districts - although a possible stroll down Walking Street was in the cards before trip’s end - but the two figured the attractions they saw were “what most tourists would want to see.”
“Change will happen in Pattaya and if we can be a catalyst toward making the city more appealing to families and regular tourists, then we’re glad we could be a part of that,” he said.
In a week packed with 12-plus hours a day of sightseeing, there were many highlights. But for Sommer, the visit had two standout events during his first four days: the Flight of Gibbon zip-line jungle tour and the Alangkarn Theater.
“The Gibbon people were really organized, very safe and really did the little things right, such as having water waiting when we zipped into a tree house during the hot part of the day,” said the Florida physical therapist. “And I’m a big fan of theater, so that was great, too.”
For Reed, a corporate trainer and frequent business traveler, the slower pace of Koh Larn was his favorite part of the trip so far.
“It really offers the full package. You get to experience all the authentic culture of the colorful boats and people traveling to get there and then you have the beautiful water and beach. But on the island you also have the bustle of activity, such as the jet skis, which I’d never ridden.”
While they may not soon return to Pattaya, the two certainly plan to come back to see other places in Thailand.
“The people have been so friendly and helpful even when we were on our own and they didn’t know we were part of the TAT contest,” Reed said. “Whether we were lost and trying to find our way or just needed to ask a question, everyone went out of their way to help. It’s little things like that that make all the difference.”
 


Fast-growing Etihad named “World’s Leading Airline”

Elfi Seitz
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, capped five years of rapid expansion by being named the “World’s Leading Airline” at this year’s World Travel Awards.

Chaiyavut “Billy” Chomsakorn is interviewed by Elfi Seitz for Pattaya Mail on TV.

Etihad Thailand Sales and Marketing Manager Chaiyavut “Billy” Chomsakorn said the honor given yearly by more than 180,000 travel industry professionals from more than 175 countries shows the airline’s aggressive launch strategy has paid off.
The carrier, which serves Bangkok daily, ordered another 100 new aircraft March and had purchase options on an additional 105 planes worth about $43 billion. Following its award last month Etihad announced it would invest another $750 million in its workforce, fleet, in-flight service and planning and resource operations.
Chaiyavut noted that Etihad was only founded in July 2004 by the Emir of Abu Dhabi, Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan with starting capital of $136 million. The carrier’s first flight was Nov. 5 that year. It transported about 6 million people last year.
One big reason for Etihad’s popularity is its new fleet. The average age of its planes is only 3.6 years. It currently owns 46 planes but plans to increase that to 469 by 2020.
From Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) Etihad serves 57 international destinations, mostly in the Middle East plus Thailand, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, the United States and United Kingdom.
Other destinations can be reached with one of Etihad’s 13 code-sharing partners.