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Britain takes over Manhattan
Dr Iain Corness
Perhaps not quite as dramatic as the headline, but the British Chamber
of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) did take over Manhattans Steakhouse for its
monthly networking meeting last weekend.
 (L
to R) Robert Watson from Location Location Location Property
Consultants, Ampawan Kuhasak, sales manager of Mantra Restaurant & Bar
and Joe Grunwell, managing director of Comcon Services (Thailand) Co.,
Ltd.
It was an opportunity for the Bangkok members of the BCCT to experience
the quiet opulence of Pattaya’s most up-market steakhouse, and to also
introduce the new British Ambassador, Quinton Quayle, to the Pattaya
membership.
The venue sponsors, Manhattans Steakhouse, were pleased with the turnout
which filled the restaurant’s cocktail bar and spilled over into the
restaurant itself. Owner Steve Manning and GM Tom Vicario were seen
mingling with the BCCT members and guests.
The event sponsor was Ticon, suppliers of factories and warehousing
logistics and Business Development manager Ian Hamilton spoke frankly
with the Pattaya Mail TV in an exclusive interview. Ticon has been a
major player in the factory/warehousing stakes since 1990 and survived
the 1997 economic crash by offering short lease factory rentals, which
were very much appreciated by many businesses which were just a trifle
reluctant to make a full commitment in those troubled times. Ian
Hamilton saw a similarity between then and now, not in the degree of
economic impact, but in the hesitancy that many business ventures were
showing. However, he (and Ticon) were quite sure that following the
democratic elections, there would be much more business confidence, and
it would be ‘business as usual’ in the Kingdom.
 Stu
Sutton, managing director of Thailand Property and Jomtien Property
hoists a copy of Dr Iain’s new book.
The new British Ambassador, Quinton Quayle (no relation to the American
VP, saying “I can spell,” with a disarming grin) spoke to the BCCT but
expressed his sadness and regret at having to begin his official duties
with going to Phuket to assist British holidaymakers and residents
following the Phuket airport tragedy.
He also gave much praise for the local embassy representatives in
Pattaya, with Barry Kenyon, the Pattaya honorary consul, being very well
known to all holders of British passports on the Eastern Seaboard.
The chairman of the BCCT, Rodney Bain, was seen enjoying himself, as
were all of his members, Eileen and Norman Denning (Yorkies) in
particular, with many staying on afterwards to have a meal in Manhattans
Steakhouse, or just enjoy a few drinks in the cocktail lounge and listen
to the smooth voice of Pattaya’s favorite jazz singer Monika Rottmann.
The next BCCT event will be on October 19, and the details will be in
the Pattaya Mail that week.
(L to R) Mark Butters,
director of BCCT, Rodney Bain, chairman of BCCT, and Greg Watkins,
executive director of BCCT.
(L to R) Hari Saraff,
Marcus Burtenshaw, director head of Agency Department of Knight Frank
Chartered (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Susan Joyce, Bsc, CEng, MICE, FCIWEM
Faculty of Liberal Arts of Asian University, Mark Butters, director of
BCCT and Marcus Hurry, director of BCCT.
(L to R) Ian Hamilton,
general manager Business Development of Ticon Industrial Connection
Public Company Limited and Dr. Iain Corness.
(L to R) Pratheep
Malhotra, managing director of Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd. and
Robert Brooks, president-Thailand Navy League of the United States.
(L to R) Nawaporn
Fuengfoo, legal director of Oz Thai Sports Co., Ltd., Okko Sprey, sales
manager of Thai Chemical and Metal Recycling Co., Ltd. and Thatsanee
On-on, assistant sales manager of Mantra Restaurant & Bar.
(L to R) Darren Yang,
oversea marketing manager of Ticon Industrial Connection Public Company
Limited, Varathip Nithiboonyaphan, marketing executive of Ticon
Industrial Connection Public Company Limited, Veerapat Vannangkura,
marketing manager of K2N Corporation Company Limited, Hataikan
Duttadintorn, marketing executive of Ticon Industrial Connection Public
Company Limited and Thanit Srianantanon, marketing executive of Ticon
Industrial Connection Public Company Limited.
(L to R) Renita Bromley,
committee member / treasurer of Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes,
Quinton Quayle, British Ambassador to Thailand and Kesinee Silprasith,
executive business development of GoIndustry (Thailand) Ltd.
(L to R) Steve Buckley,
director of trade and investment for the British Embassy in Bangkok,
Paul Wilkinson, general manager, Eastern Seaboard of Four Winds
International Moving Limited, Quinton Quayle, British Ambassador to
Thailand, Kevin D. Fisher, Far East Region of Cranes and Equipment Ltd.,
Graham Macdonald, vice chairman of BCCT and Jack Levy, Insurance
Consultant of MBMG Insurance.
Rotary Club donates water filtration system
to Juksamed School
Narisa Nitikarn
Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard has presented a water filtration system to
Juksamed School in Sattahip District, one of two schools in the area that
were found when a survey was undertaken to have unclean drinking water for
pupils and teachers.
 Steve
Ryser, president of the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard presents drinking
flasks to the Juksamed School teachers.
The sum of 80,000 baht was raised by the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard, the
provision of clean drinking water supplies being one of the key policies of
Rotary International.
Rotary Club of Plutaluang had cooperated in the survey of schools to see
which were in need of clean water supplies and found there were two in the
Sattahip area, namely Juksamed School and Ban Kaobaisri School.
Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard, led by its president, Steve Ryser supported
the 80,000 baht budget to install a water filtration system at Juksamed
School. In addition to the filtration system, 350 flasks were donated to the
students.
The official ceremony to install the system was held at the school on
September 19, a warm welcome being given to the visitors by school director
Mrs Raenoo Buasrichan and her staff. Steve Ryser led the Eastern Seaboard
Rotary delegation, while Plutaluang Rotary Club was represented by its
president Sumon Jaikid.
Ban Kaobaisri School on May 29 had been presented with three water
filtration systems valued at 130,000 baht, the donation being funded by
Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club, Plutaluang Rotary Club, PC Classic, and the
Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
The Rotary Club Eastern
Seaboard, with help from other Rotary Clubs in the area, has installed a
Water Filtration System at Juksamed School.
Members of the Rotary Club of
the Eastern Seaboard and the Rotary Club of Plutaluang gather for a group
photo during the presentation.
President Steve Ryser, Ferenc
Fricsay of the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard and Usa Charoenying President of
the Rotary Club of Plutaluang present water flasks to the Juksamed School
students.
Elvis sighted in Green Bottle
Elvis Thailand, Charuk
Wiriyakhit, sang many of his classic hits including Heartbreak Hotel and
Blue Suede Shoes.
Elvis’s music fans were
favorably impressed by the entertainment.
Sopin Thappajug (center),
managing director of the Diana Hotel Group and the Green Bottle Pub’s
management and staff gather outside for a photo to record this memorable
occasion.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Elvis Presley has been appearing in Pattaya to celebrate the 30th
anniversary of his death, putting on a series of special performances at the
Green Bottle Pub in the Diana Inn on Second Road.
During the Pub’s monthly Cowboy Night party, Elvis showed up and received a
warm welcome from managing director of the Diana Hotel Group Sopin Thappajug
along with the group’s general manager Khomsan Seesam. During the monthly
party, the staff and customers dress in cowboy and cowgirl outfits, making
for a fun-filled night.
Elvis, whose real name is Charuk Wiriyakhit, sang many of his classic hits
including Heartbreak Hotel and Blue Suede Shoes.
Skål and REBA show Pattaya growing up
Skål International of Pattaya and East
Thailand President Deborah Bundityanond tells the meeting that real
estate is one of her interests, having spent 25 years as a real
estate project feasibility researcher. |
Clayton Wade, MD of Premier Homes, tells
Skål, “The speculation boom may be over, but people still want to
live here.” |
Paul Davies, MD of KCR Homefinders says,
“Buy now!” |
Mark Welch, the company director of One
Stop Real Estate: “The new property boom is on the horizon.” |
John Seymour, the director of Northern
Thai Real Estate says, “I also believe that the property market in
Thailand will boom again; however, competition for the foreign
investor’s money from neighboring countries is fierce.” |
Paisan Bundityanond addresses the
meeting. |
Dr Iain Corness
The revitalized Skål International of Pattaya and East Thailand, under the
presidency of the dynamic Deborah Bundityanond, was instrumental in
demonstrating just how much Pattaya has grown up in the past few years. By
inviting four members from the recently formed Real Estate Brokers
Association (REBA) to address the Skål International meeting, the members
were able to see at first hand just how much Pattaya has come along since
the year 2000.
 Barry
Kenyon, honorary counsel to the British Embassy, presents his ideas.
President Deborah admitted that the real estate business was one of her
interests, having spent 25 years as a real estate project feasibility
researcher, and being married to local tourism and hospitality heavyweight
Paisan Bundityanond, the man who founded REBA in Bangkok.
The REBA address commenced with a discourse by Clayton Wade, MD of Premier
Homes, whose initial slides of Jomtien in 2000 and Jomtien in 2006 were
visual proof of the development that had taken place. Green areas had been
replaced by terracotta tiles! He also highlighted the fact that prices had
climbed from 30,000 baht per square meter to around 100,000 baht per square
meter. And all that in six years. He finished his address saying, “The
speculation boom may be over, but people still want to live here.”
 Once
again, Skål members were treated to a delicious buffet.
The following speaker was Paul Davies, MD of KCR Homefinders, who
demonstrated that despite a slowing down in speculative investment, there
was an increase in high end development. “Home Mart and Home Pro are
growing, not closing down,” he said. “The big guys are moving in, and people
are prepared to pay.” His final words were “Buy now!”
Mark Welch, the company director of One Stop Real Estate was next and had
some interesting statistics at his disposal, showing that every week there
were 2,000 UK citizens leaving the British Isles and not returning, and
there were currently 51,000 British permanent residents in Thailand. He
showed the different options for the foreigner wishing to invest in houses,
and discussed leasehold as a way around the Thai restrictions. His final
words were, “The new property boom is on the horizon.”
The final speaker from REBA was the eloquent John Seymour, the director of
Northern Thai Real Estate who discussed the condominium market. He showed
the very dramatic decline in new condo units available for sale between 2006
and 2007, dropping for 1350 to 231. However, that fall was mirrored in
Phuket, Hua Hin and Samui, so this was no local aberration, but a reflection
on the political upheavals of the past 12 months.
He was also very frank in his appraisal of the Thailand market vis-à-vis the
neighboring countries, with the inducements being offered by Malaysia,
Vietnam and Cambodia being contrasted against the Foreign Business Act and
the 49 percent ceiling ownership by foreigners in condominium blocks. He
mentioned the fact that the rumor is that the ceiling could be raised to 100
percent and the Foreign Business Act be dropped by a new Thai government,
but did say, “investors need more than rumors, they need to see concrete
evidence that their money will be safe.”
He finished his address saying, “I also believe that the property market in
Thailand will boom again; however, competition for the foreign investor’s
money from neighboring countries is fierce.”
There were numerous questions from the floor, as could be expected with such
a topic that affects us all, but the professionalism shown by the REBA
representatives was very reassuring. Pattaya is indeed growing up.
The next Skål International meeting will be on October 22, and the guest
speaker will be Dr Suwit, the minister for tourism and sports in Thailand.
This should be another very interesting evening as well.
Members of the Real Estate
Brokers Association, (L to R) Clayton Wade, MD of Premier Homes, Mark Welch,
the company director of One Stop Real Estate, Paul Davies, MD of KCR
Homefinders, and John Seymour, the director of Northern Thai Real Estate
prepare to address the Skål International meeting.
Volunteer Tourist Police have a ball
and add to their emergency fund
Nittaya Patimasongkroh (second
from right) receives birthday flowers and gifts, while YWCA President
Dujduan Ruangwettiwong, Elfi Seitz, Dieter Precourt and Eddy O’Bryant look
on.
The Rotary Club Eastern
Seaboard was strongly represented at the party.
Elfi Seitz
Tourist Police Volunteers held a fund-raiser at Pattaya School No 8 on
September 11, with a Chinese banquet that featured a bottle of whisky on
each table, a greatly appreciated donation from city hall.
It was, as everyone agreed, well worth the admission fee of 300 baht, and a
large number of guests, Thais and foreigners turned up to help swell the
coffers of the volunteers and to show their support for the volunteer
project.
Entertainment was taken care of by Tourist Police officers and the
volunteers themselves, who put on acts of great talent and hilarity that had
the entire hall-full of people applauding.
Amongst those delivering speeches were Lt Col Suwan Unanan, Pattaya Tourist
Police inspector, Col Sutin Suppuang, superintendent of Pattaya Police
Station, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Itthipol Khunplome, chief advisor
to the mayor, Sophon Cable boss Chanyuth Hengtrakul, and Tourism Volunteer
Police board member Nittaya Patimasongkroh.
The evening raised more than 60,000 baht, which will go into a fund for
emergencies such as medical treatment for volunteers who suffer injury on
duty, or for special occasions like funerals or the distribution of
certificates for special merit.
Nittaya made a donation of 10,000 baht, Premruedee Jittiwutthikarn of King’s
Seafood donated 30 luncheon vouchers per month for a whole year, Taweechai
Store presented 10,000 baht, Walking Street Committee 5,000 baht, Amrik
Singh Kalra 5,000 baht, World Gems advisor Chachai 5,000 baht and Pol Col
Sutin 3,000 baht. Niran and Pol Lt Col Suwan each presented 2,000 baht, and
Elfi Seitz’s meditation group gave 1,500 baht.
Pol Capt Chirawat Sukontasaph
receives flowers from Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and his advisor
Itthipol Khunplome.
Great atmosphere reigns at the
VIP’s table.
Free cataract operations for all under Rotary project
Pracha Taerat, (2nd left)
Governor of Chonburi chaired the press conference along with Viboon
Ruckthongsuk (left) President of the Rotary Club of Sriracha, (2nd left),
Dr. Somchai Pattana-anek Director of Samitivej Sriracha Hospital and
Dr.Tippawan Taerat President of the Chonburi Red Cross Association to
announce that free eye operations to remove cataracts will be offered to
those who need them in honor of HM the King’s 80th birthday anniversary.
(l-r) Worawuth Boonphen,
Secretary of the Banphaeo Hospital Foundation, Mukda Pattana-anek, President
of Lions Club Bangsaen-Chonburi, , Rotary Club Presidents, Siriboon
Wongpatana, (Bangplee), Preecha Peethong (Pattaya), Surin Rattanawicha (Laem
Chabang), Tossapol Rujiranant (Chonburi), Horst Schulz (Panat Nikom) and
Warin Thaiteerasatean (Ban Bung).
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Free eye operations to remove cataracts will be offered later this year in a
cooperation between the Rotary Clubs of Sriracha and Bangplee, Samitivej
Hospital in Sriracha, and the Chonburi Red Cross in conjunction with the
Banpaew Hospital Foundation.
Other Clubs cooperating in the project are, the Rotary Clubs of Ban Bung,
Panat Nikom, Chonburi, Laem Chabang, Pattaya and the Lions Club of Bang
Saen.
Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat announced the project, which is to be held
in honor of His Majesty the King’s 80th birthday, at a meeting held at the
Chumba restaurant in Sriracha on September 11.
Wibun Rakthongsuk, president of the Sriracha Rotary Club said the Banpaew
Hospital Foundation in Samut Sakhon was receiving support funds from the
Tadphaendin Company, which would be used to buy medical equipment and an
ambulance for Banpaew Hospital. The hospital had therefore asked the Health
Insurance Bureau for cooperation in organizing the operations.
Data shows that within Chonburi there are approximately 5,000 people
suffering from cataracts, mostly the elderly.
Wibun said the operations for those who have cataracts would be free of
charge and that Thai people from outside Chonburi province would also be
eligible for the operation.
Selection and scheduling of those for treatment would be carried out on the
following basis. On October 13, examinations will be carried out for Muang
Chonburi and Panthong at the Muang Chonburi Public Building; October 14 is
for those at Panatnikom and Koh Chan, the examinations taking place at
Panatnikom Public Building; October 20 is for Ban Bung at the Ban Bung
Public Building; October 21 is for Nongyai and Borthong at Nongyai Public
Building; October 27 is for Sriracha and Koh Sichang at Samitivej Hospital
in Sriracha; and October 28 to October 31 is for Banglamung and Sattahip at
the Banglamung Public Building.
The first of the operations and treatments will commence before November 15
at Samitivej Hospital in Sriracha with the surgical team from Banpaew
Hospital. This project will come to an end when the last patient has been
operated on and goes back home.
Cataract patients can also apply for treatment under the project at the
Padaeng PTT Gasoline Station (Chanpen Gas) at tel 038 321613-5; Samitivet
Hospital Sriracha at tel 038 320300, the Chonburi Red Cross at tel 038
271970, the AIA office in Ban Bung at tel 068 5688303, Chanpen Gas at tel
081 9961345, the MB Group in Pattaya at tel 081 9399660, Panatnikom Rotary
Club at tel 038 36342, Laem Chabang Rotary Club at tel 081 2878843, Chonburi
Rotary Club at tel 089 1113165, and Hearing Center D-Med at tel 081 4854000.
Diana Group sports day raises funds for scholarships
Faster, you will be the
winner.
As an additional way of
raising funds, a collection was held of secondhand clothes and accessories
that were sold off.
Applying makeup whilst
blindfolded - the winner is the one ending up
the least attractive.
Teams test their strength
during the tug-o-war.
Teammates cheer each other on
during the Diana Sports Day event.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Diana Group held its annual sports day on September 18 at the Diana
Garden Resort, with the proceeds going towards charity organizations.
Managing Director Sopin Thappajug opened the event, saying it was the 17th
sports day for the group and had become a valuable and enjoyable occasion
for team building amongst the staff.
Funds raised, she said, would go towards providing scholarships for needy
students and for other charitable projects.
About 150 employees took part, with the teams divided into two colors, green
and blue. Games included a tug-of-war, relay race and an obstacle race. In
the evening a party was held to celebrate the wins and losses of the day.
As an additional way of raising funds, a collection was held of secondhand
clothes and accessories that were sold off. Anything left unsold at the end
of the day was earmarked for later distribution to the needy.
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