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Unlimited Budget... A
new initiative to promote car rental from the Thai travel industry
Budget Car and Truck Rental has launched an Unlimited Budget
program for its travel trade partners to further promote Budget car rentals in
Thailand.
At a recent press briefing, senior executives from Budget,
UOBR & Concepts Alliance officially set in motion the Unlimited Budget-UOBR
Card.
The Unlimited Budget program originated in the USA in 1999,
aimed at travel agents.
 Senior
executives from Budget, UOBR & ConceptsAlliance officially set in motion
the Unlimited Budget-UOBR Card.
Allan Davidson, general manager of Budget Car and Truck
Rental, said the success of the Unlimited Budget program in USA was tremendous.
It increased bookings by 59 percent over the rewards program it replaced. “We
expect similar results in Thailand as well,” he said.
Davidson said the Unlimited Budget program in Thailand would
directly target Budget’s travel agents and provide them with incentives to
promote the company’s car rentals. The program is being run in conjunction
with travel agencies, who still receive their normal commissions, to help their
staff to proactively promote car rental.
Thanachai of UOBR said, “We are very excited that our
debit card product is now utilized by a corporate loyalty program like
Unlimited Budget. This is a positive sign to show that card products, like the
Visa Electron card, have gained awareness and acceptance among cardholders, and
at the same time, it is very flexible and can be simply adopted by businesses
to promote loyalty with their customers.”
“With the outstanding coverage of Visa Electron in
Thailand, we believe the Unlimited Budget - UOBR card will give travel agents
higher satisfaction levels, better reward experience and value,” Thanachai
added.
Wazinee Punyanitya, ConceptsAlliance general manager said,
“We see the Unlimited Budget - UOBR card bringing true benefits to Budget and
its travel agents simply because the travel agents will have freedom to choose
what their rewards should be. With the Unlimited Budget - UOBR card, the days
of countless catalogs and time-consuming accumulation of points to redeem an
item (you might not really want) are probably numbered.”
Further, the Unlimited Budget - UOBR card actually makes the
management of reward programs a lot more cost effective, Wazinee added.
Somboon Krobteerawong, Visa Electron country manager
Thailand said, “We are especially delighted to be working with Budget, UOBR
and ConceptsAlliance. The opportunity is all the more auspicious because this
is the first time that a business-to-business loyalty program has been linked
to the VISA Electron.”
Not always a Pub Night
for BCCT committee
The committee of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand
(Eastern Chapter) met at the Amari Orchid Resort last week. The meeting was
chaired by eastern region chairman Graham Macdonald, under the watchful eye
of BCCT executive director Greg Watkins.
 The
BCCT Eastern Seaboard chapter had their, “most constructive meeting
ever” last week at the Amari.
Matters up for discussion included welcoming new members
to the committee and the importance of attracting new members from the
various Eastern Seaboard based companies. Graham stressed the importance of
this membership drive as it wasn’t only beneficial to the chamber but more
so for the companies and their employees, as it gives them a great
opportunity to network thereby creating business prospects among the
members. But most important it would bring together members of the community
in friendship and solidarity.
The meeting ended on a very high note with plans being
made to hold a BCCT Eastern Seaboard Christmas party for the whole family.
At the end of the meeting Graham exclaimed, “I can safely say that it was
the most constructive meeting we have ever had.”
Those wishing to know more about the BCCT may contact
Graham Macdonald through his e-mail: [email protected] or Greg Watkins
email: [email protected]
TNT Express launches
industry’s first global PDA services
Global express carrier TNT Express became the first
carrier to provide customers with a worldwide mobile delivery service
designed specifically for use on a PDA (personal digital assistant). The
launch of TNT PDA services enables customers to request a pick-up, track
packages, check the price of a delivery, and receive news about TNT
Express on their PDA direct from the TNT PDA internet site, www.tnt.com
TNT PDA services include ‘Track my package’ and
‘Check the price’, allowing customers to track consignments and check
delivery costs quickly and easily. Also, the ‘Pick-up request’ feature
enables customers to order packages to be collected and delivered, all
without access to a PC or needing to speak to customer service.
TNT Express developed services exclusively for PDA’s
to provide customers with a fast and reliable alternative for ordering
deliveries and tracking consignments to suit increasingly mobile business
practices.
Igal Nagar, e-commerce product development manager at
TNT Express said, “A vast number of TNT Express customers will already
regularly use internet and email services on their PDA, often just to
access information whilst out of the office. TNT PDA Services utilises
this valuable business tool to give customers a fast and reliable
consignment service, as well as an easy and economical way to track
packages, check the price of a delivery, and catch up on the latest TNT
news.
“Indeed, because internet access is faster than
making a phone call to customer service, checking the price, ordering a
pick-up, and tracking consignments in this way can actually save customers
money that might otherwise be spent on phone calls to customer service.
“We anticipate PDA Services to prove a big success
with our customers. Together with SMS and WAP tracking and email services,
PDA Services offer TNT Express customers a convenient portfolio of
solutions for those on the move. TNT Express is committed to developing
the best technological solutions to ensure we communicate in the most
effective and efficient way possible with all of our customers.”
German businessmen to “wait and
see”
German Thai Chamber of Commerce visits Pattaya
When the German Thai Chamber of Commerce held their
network, or ‘Stammtisch’ evening on the Eastern Seaboard earlier this
month, the group moved from its ‘traditional’ meeting place at the Red
Baron to the lively Henry J Bean’s.
 (L
to R - back row) Hans-Dieter Westphal, Wilfried Trautwein (CFO Siemens),
Dieter Brandenburg (ABB), Volker Fischer, Stefan Buerkle (Chamber), Eberhard
Podleska (Liebherr), and Michael Vogt. (L to R front row) Chakrin Thamavit (Chakrin
Office); Dr. Strunk, and Axel Foellmer.
The general feeling about the economic climate of many of
the members attending this month’s Stammtisch appeared very much to be
‘wait and see’ what the Taksin government will do, pending the new
foreign investment laws.
With German businesses still actively investing in
Thailand, including Bayer’s several multi-billion baht facilities, long
time resident of Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard, Hans-Dieter Westphal,
managing director of Rieckermann Thai Engineering, sees Pattaya as the heart
of the Eastern Seaboard. He notes that it is logistically sound and within
close proximity to all the major industrial estates. For Rieckermann,
“There has been an improvement in the business on the Eastern Seaboard and
the decision to invest after the economic crisis was a good one. Businesses
is currently good, and Rieckermann is working on many projects,”
Hans-Dieter said.
“Pattaya has a good future in industry, with many
companies investing in and around the region and using Pattaya as a base for
their expatriate employees,” he added.
Updated every Friday
Copyright 2001 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel. 66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax: 66-38 427 596
Updated by
Chinnaporn Sungwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.
E-Mail: [email protected]
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