Dignitaries present for opening ceremony of “International Food & Hospitality Show 2001”

HE Pradech Phyakvichien, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and distinguished guests at the joint opening ceremony of the International Food & Hospitality Show 2001, Thailand’s 3rd Hospitality Industry Congress “Treasure of Thailand: The Place to Eat and Meet” and the 7th Culinary Gathering of Cooks and Chefs organized by Bangkok Exhibition Services Ltd, Thai Hotels Association and Thai Chefs Association respectively. Other guests included (from left to right) Chanin Donavanik, president of Thai Hotels Association, Sawakit Preeprem, president of Thai Chefs Association, Pradech Phyakvichien, Suradech Yasawasdi, senator and chairman of the Standing Committee on Tourism in the Senate, Prakit Chinamourphong, secretary general of the Thai Hotels Association, and Patrapee Chinachoti, chairman of Bangkok Exhibition Services Ltd.

Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) announced the appointment of Mrs. Boonchu Boondirek, as the new director of sales, marketing & sales division.

Mrs. Boonchu Boondirek

Mrs. Boondirek has extensive experience in sales & marketing, having previously been sales manager (catering department) at Hyatt Central Plaza from 1985-1987 and sales manager at the Central Plaza Hotel from 1988 to 1991. Since then, Mrs. Boondirek has held a number of positions within sales & marketing at various hotels such as the Hilton International Hotel and the Swissotel Bangkok Hotel. Prior to her appointment as director of sales at BITEC, Mrs. Boondirek was sates director of Amari Boulevard.

In welcoming her to BITEC, Mr. Prasarn Bhiraj Buri (Ph.D.), BITEC managing director said, “I am very pleased that Mrs. Boonchu Boondirek has decided to join with us. I believe that her over 20 years of extensive work experience in Sales will be greatly beneficial to the operation of BITEC.”

Powered by Rolls-Royce engines

The Royal Thai Navy has signed a Bt 1.6 billion deal to purchase two Super Lynx helicopters from British manufacturer Westland Helicopters. Thailand is the latest country to order the state-of-the-art helicopter, regarded as the best in its class.

“This marks a further step in the close relations between our two countries,” said British Ambassador Barney Smith, who attended the signing ceremony.

“It’s also a further development in the sophisticated structuring of Thailand’s military equipment purchases as 50 percent of the contract price is to be offset by purchases of Thai products by Westland Helicopters,” Smith said.

The British Royal Navy will be provide training on the Super Lynx, the latest version of the Lynx helicopter, and its engineering officers have already visited the Naval Air Division at Sattahip to assess what engineering and training assistance may be required.

The British Royal Navy is considering upgrading its own fleet of Lynx helicopters to the same specifications as that of the Royal Thai Navy’s Super Lynx.

Recently, in June, a Westland Super Lynx 300 Demonstrator, powered by two LHTEC CTS800-4N engines, completed a successful maiden flight at Westland’s Yeovil facility in the UK.

The Super Lynx 300 Demonstrator flew a standard initial test schedule, including forward flight to 55 knots and single engine hovers. The engine is a serious advance in helicopter propulsion.

Steve Miller, regional executive - Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos said, “This initial flight in the Super Lynx was a testament to the power and improved performance of the T800 engine. These engines will deliver greater reliability and lower cost of ownership to operators on both sides of the Atlantic.

LHTEC is a 50:50 joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Honeywell Engines & Systems.