TRAVEL & TOURISM
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HRH Princess Ubolratana visits Bangkok Airways’ booth at ITB 2009

U-Tapao-Pattaya International Airport celebrates 21st anniversary

Sheraton Pattaya Resort to go dark in observance of Earth Hour 2010


HRH Princess Ubolratana visits Bangkok Airways’ booth at ITB 2009

HRH Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Phannavadi visits Bangkok Airways’ booth at the fairground of the ITB March 2010 in Berlin and was greeted by Capt. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth (2nd right), president of Bangkok Airways; Peter Wiesner (far right), senior vice president - network management; M.L. Nandhika Varavarn (2nd left) vice president - corporate communications and Prote Setsuwan (far left), vice president - marketing.


U-Tapao-Pattaya International Airport celebrates 21st anniversary

A revered monk sprinkles holy water around U-Tapao-Pattaya International Airport on the occasion of its 21st anniversary.

Patcharapol Panrak
Officials from U-Tapao-Pattaya International Airport marked 21 years of operation as a joint military-civilian facility with merit-making and an employee reception in the main terminal.

Airport Director Rear Adm. Soracha Sornpratum and Deputy Director Rear Adm. Surapong Aiyasanon led the religious ceremony with airport chief executive Adm. Supakorn Buranadilok and former director Vice Adm. Theerawat Ssrithaporn congratulating Royal Thai Navy staff and airport employees for working hard and welcoming tourists to Chonburi.

U-Tapao was constructed in 1966 to accommodate American military operations in Vietnam and was the Southeast Asian base for B-52F bombers. It became a combined Royal Thai Navy and civilian airport in 1989. After yellow-shirted People’s Alliance for Democracy protestors closed both international airports in Bangkok, U-Tapao was pressed into service as the emergency exodus point for thousands of stranded tourists.

After that operation made it painfully clear U-Tapao was not equipped to handle large numbers of people during emergencies, the Cabinet approved a 976 million baht budget to double the size the main terminal and upgrade facilities across the board. Work is scheduled to be completed in 2012.

 


Sheraton Pattaya Resort to go dark in observance of Earth Hour 2010

Sheraton Pattaya Resort is leaving guests in the dark next week. But it’s all for a good cause.

The resort will turn off its lights in observance of Earth Hour, a worldwide event organized by the World Wildlife Fund to send a powerful global message about environmental awareness and caring for the planet. Nearly one billion people turned out for Earth Hour 2009 - involving 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents.

To underscore parent Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc.’s dedication to environmental sustainability, Sheraton Pattaya Resort will also share other energy-saving measures during Earth Hour, March 27 at 8:30 p.m., including turning off exterior signage, dimming interior lighting and using candle light in restaurants and bars. In addition, the resort will use its in-room voicemail messaging and television feeds to spread the word about Earth Hour observances among guests and get them involved.

Indeed, Earth Hour is drawing strong support from Starwood hotels around the globe. Last year, the unlit hotels offered striking visual imagery that provided an apt symbol of Earth Hour.

“We are so proud to be part of this wonderful global campaign,” said Michael Delargy, general manager of Sheraton Pattaya Resort. “Our action plan includes using candle light in our restaurants and bar and switching off our computers for an hour. As for our guests, we’ll keep them fully informed and also give them opportunities to get involved where they wish.”

Hundreds of Starwood hotels around the world will also coordinate Earth Hour awareness events, including community walk-a-thons, public candlelight “unplugged” concerts, and receptions for guests featuring signature green cocktails.