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Pattaya travel agencies tour around Air Berlin facilities
The last LTU tagged jet in the fleet before
changing the logo to Air Berlin.
Sue K
Recently Air Berlin Bangkok organized an on site tour at the
airport for travel agencies in Pattaya.
About 15 local travel agents joined the trip which began very early
morning (not a terribly preferred time for Pattaya folks to start
functioning), but all were expectedly punctual.
A shuttle bus picked up the group on North Pattaya Road after which most
dozed off again for the next hour until they woke up at the destination,
Suvarnabhumi airport.
On hand to assist them were the Air Berlin personnel Supparang Pichairat
- sales manager North and Central Thailand, Piyamas Chitmaklam - sales
manager South and Central Thailand, Rungnapa Leechaianan - head of
marketing and sales Thailand, and Monsicha Klaithongkam - sales manager
Thailand.
 The
author, Sue of PMTV, inspects the plane.
At the airport the group was warmly welcomed by Stefan Magiera - Air
Berlin’s general manager for Thailand.
The purpose of the trip was to improve awareness of the travel agency
staff on the several procedures, rules and regulations, as well as
restrictions passengers may face at the airport in Bangkok. Most
importantly was the brief tour on the aircraft to check out the
facilities on board, especially their new Business Class look.
The tour enabled the agents to experience first hand what goes on at the
airport and on the aircraft; so that when they are faced with questions
from their clients they will be able to answer with more confidence.
 Vicky
from Massic Travel gives the plane a thumbs up.
Boodsabann Chanthawong, the head of Airport Operations Thailand Bangkok
operations, the designated guide, explained the general steps passengers
go through at the airport.
The group was taken for a tour around the ticketing, check-in,
immigration, and duty free areas, given information on general distance
and time to the gates that passengers will have to take into
consideration, the departure lounge and finally onto the aircraft, just
a few minutes before the actual boarding time.
They were especially lucky to visit the aircraft that just came in which
was the last of the fleet that still had the LTU logo.
The group was encouraged to observe the change in business class. It now
has more space, more leg room and new upholstery in a classic deep blue
color.
Also to be noted for Business Class travelers is that now you can ask
for a limousine transfer service to and from the airport, free of
charge.
After the tour, the group was welcomed at Bangkok Air Catering for a
sumptuous lunch, served very similarly as on board. The only thing
missing was champagne and wine, but all were on duty, so it’s
understandable.
Air Berlin offers daily non stop flights to and from Germany. Visit
their website for more information at airberlin.com
Checking out the check-in counter at Air
Berlin.
Boodsabann explains airport procedures to
the Pattaya travel agents.
One Travel agent tests to see how
comfortable Business Class seats are. Obviously, she approves.
Dusit Thani Pattaya appoints
a new director for MICE
Dusit Thani Pattaya has recently appointed Kei Uchiumi as the new
director for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE).
 Kei
Uchiumi, Dusit Thani Pattaya’s newly-appointed director for MICE.
Uchiumi’s experience in the hospitality business started with Dusit
Thani Bangkok, the flagship hotel of Dusit International, where his
two-year stint (2006-2008) as a sales manager for the Japanese market
led to his promotion as senior sales manager in December last year. Not
long after, Dusit Thani Pattaya took him on to handle the MICE market
both in Thailand and overseas.
His experience in the tourism industry goes back to travel agencies and
hotels in France (where he spent a year pursuing part of his education),
Japan and Thailand. His strengths lie in marketing research, sales
planning and analysis with concrete strategies and ability to build
strong relationship with the MICE segment.
Willing to accept challenges in the face of the current slowdown in
travel and hospitality business, Uchiumi will also ensure the five-star
resort’s MICE stronghold in Pattaya and the whole Eastern Seaboard is
securely maintained.
Thailand targets Malaysian consumers in tourism push
S Puvaneswary,
TTG Asia
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will reach out to Malaysian consumers
over the next two months by participating in three major events in an effort to
match 2008 arrivals this year.
Last year, Malaysian visitors to Thailand totaled 1.82 million, an 18 percent
increase over arrivals in 2007. TAT director for Malaysia and Brunei, Wiwatchai
Boonyapak, said TAT hopes to maintain last year’s arrival targets.
The first stop will be the Penang chapter of the Malaysian Association of Tour &
Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair from July 3 to 5 at Penang International Sports
Arena.
From July 17 to 19, TAT will take part in the Malaysia International Travel Mart
(MITM) in Johor Baru, organized by the Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association,
Johor chapter.
The last stop will see TAT jointly organize a consumer event at Mid Valley Kuala
Lumpur from August 14 to 16, one of the largest shopping malls in the city. This
three-day event will provide a taste of Thailand with handicraft demonstrations,
free Thai massages, and a food and cultural festival. This event is organized
jointly with the Office of Labor Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy and the Department
of Export Promotion.
Local tour operators will sell tour packages to Thailand at all three events.
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