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Emirates commits
to Suvarnabhumi
Emirates Airline’s representatives together with the
guests of honor commemorate the opening of Emirates’ new premium
passengers’ lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok.
Emirates has further strengthened its commitment to use Bangkok as a hub for
East Asia and Australasia with a just-opened lounge for premium passengers
at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The 27-million-baht (US$ 824,615) facility covers an
area of 541sqm and can seat more than 100 passengers holding the
airline’s first and business class tickets and Skywards’ gold members.
It boasts a wide array of amenities: for the business
traveller there is free internet access, laptop connections, telephones,
faxes, printers and a selection of international newspapers and
magazines. Passengers can also enjoy an extensive menu of complimentary
hot and cold gourmet dishes, with a choice of formal or informal seating
in the dining area accompanied by a full bar service, including
champagne.
The airline’s area manager for Thailand and
Indochina, Mr. Jeyhun Efendi, said the extensive investment on the
lounge was a symbol of the airline’s commitment to Thailand and its
passengers, and was just one of the many projects the airline planned to
launch this year. “Bangkok is a hub for Emirates...more than 80 per cent
of our passengers are incoming business comprising tourists and
corporate travellers from worldwide destinations”, he said.
From Bangkok, the airline operates 19-weekly flights
to its home-based Dubai, 10 weekly flights to Hong Kong and a daily
flight to Auckland via Sydney, using Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 777-300
aircrafts. (TTG)
Asian Trails makes
Nordic conquest
Asian Trails has landed its first Kuoni
account since being gobbled up by the European giant last year, with the
Bangkok-based operator inking the contract for the massive Scandinavian market
last week.
On November 1, Asian Trails takes over an account - which
includes Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos - that will bring in at least 35,000
passengers a year to Thailand alone.
In December, Kuoni will begin its first charter service from
Scandinavia to Vietnam, with a fortnightly flight from Stockholm to Ho Chi Minh
City.
Bangkok-based Asian Trails managing director, Mr. Roger
Haumueller, said: “The Kuoni Scandinavian account is the biggest in terms of the
number of clients, with most going to beach destinations.”
He said Asian Trails was set to land another major Kuoni
account and was confident of eventually securing more quality accounts for the
region.
East West Siam now handles Kuoni’s Thailand account, while
Asia Link is Kuoni’s ground handler for Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.
Mr. Haumueller said Asian Trails had not lost any major
accounts in Thailand since the Kuoni sale, but was about to lose a plump account
that encompasses Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. (TTG)
Five major bodies quit
Tourism Council of Thailand
In a move that has shocked the Thai tourism
industry, five major tourism associations have pulled out of the Tourism Council
of Thailand (TCT) with immediate effect, leaving the council with only 55
travel-related association members.
The five associations united under the Federation of Thai
Tourism Associations (FETTA) are Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), The
Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association, Thai Travel Agents Association,
Thai Hotels Association and Association of Domestic Travel.
Speaking on behalf of FETTA, ATTA’s president, Mr. Apichart
Sankary, said: “We have put up with (TCT) for already five years, but until now
we have not seen them successfully tackling issues effecting the Thai trade.
It’s now time for (FETTA) to tackle the problems ourselves.”
Meanwhile, TCT’s board held a meeting early last week and
concluded a letter would be sent to ask the five associations to reconsider.
TCT president, Mr. Kongkrit Hiranyakit, said the council
worked in accordance with the 2001 Tourism Council of Thailand Act, and opened
for members to express opinions and offer suggestions on tackling issues
confronting the industry.
He said: “But so far, the council has yet to see any
suggestions even as two of (FETTA representatives) sit on the vice-president
post and one on the committee. Our works are accepted on a national level by the
government, but they need to come in and hear us tell them of our achievements
and progress on our plans.” (TTG)
Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa receives prestigious awards
At the annual “Marriott International General
Manager’s Conference” held in San Francisco recently, the General Managers of
Marriott Resorts & Spas Thailand were the proud recipients of a number of highly
prized accolades.
Heading the list was Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa, named as
“2006 Hotel of The Year” for its second straight year under the International
category. This award recognizes a hotel that has demonstrated excellence in all
categories including: Overall Guest Satisfaction, Financial Excellence,
Associates Satisfaction, and the Most Improved Market Share. The resort also
received another 4 awards including the 2006 “Customer Excellence Elite
Recognition; Customer Excellence Overall; Customer Excellence Problem Resolution
and Spirit to Serve Our Communities”.
Nok Air expands
Thai low-cost carrier Nok Air has announced it will co-brand
flights with local Thai carrier SGA Airlines from March 25 onwards.
The alliance will allow passengers of both airlines to reserve tickets via
Nok Air’s reservations system, and fly on SGA’s flights to four local
destinations not served by Nok Air.
SGA operates daily Chiang Mai-Pai, Chiang Mai-Phrae and
Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai flights and three flights a day between Bangkok and
Hua Hin route using two 12-seat Cessna 208B Grand Caravan propeller planes.
Nok Air plans to add Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani and
Surat Thani to its domestic network this year. It will also start a daily
flight from Bangkok to Bangalore from the middle of this year, and plans to
add Macau, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi on its international network. (TTG)
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