Rungthip Suksrikarn (centre) VP of Sunbeam Hotel enjoys a laugh with friends
as Chatchawal Supachayanont (left) GM Dusit Thani Pattaya enjoys a drink
with Prayuth Thamdhum, GM Montien Hotel Pattaya.
Pattaya Mail reporters
The GM Gang’s monthly dinner was held at the Sunset
Lounge of the Pullman Pattaya Aisawan on August 26.
Once again general managers and executives of Pattaya
hotels gathered together at a colleague’s establishment, eagerly
anticipating what the host would come up with to make for a thrilling
evening of fine dining accompanied by exquisite wines and most important of
all warm friendship.
On this occasion Clinton Lovell, the brand new GM of the
resort, did his utmost to welcome his guests and make it an extra special
occasion.
A toast to friendship. (l-r)
Michael Ganster (GM Dusit d2baraquda Pattaya), Alex Chakrabarti, (GM Mercure
Hotel Pattaya), Thomas Koh (RM Garden Cliff Resort & Spa) and Michael
Procher (GM Amari Nova Suites).
On arrival guests received a personal passport replete
with photograph and visas. When we queried him wondering if that entitled us
to travel to Japan, Clinton put our mind at ease by saying, “No, not
exactly, but this passport is a very special one. This is your personal
passport to happiness at the various fun outlets in the resort.”
Clinton spared no costs in impressing his guests right
from the start, serving oyster and caviar during the cocktail reception
which was complemented by the Louis Roederer Brut Premier. This
really put us in the right frame of mind and had our taste buds tingling.
As host of the GM Gang, Clinton got an opportunity to
speak about his establishment. He said, “It’s a pleasure to be in the GM
gang. This is not a small hotel and there so many things going on here.
Being pivotal in the network of GMs is important and it’s a pleasure to host
the dinner.
The new generation hoteliers
get together, (l-r) Nijjaporn Marprasert (GM Siam Bayview Hotel), Yuwathida
Jeerapat (MD Hotel J & JP Villa), Somkhit Tonsaiphet (GM The Zign Hotel),
Sanpech Supabowornsthian (GM Long Beach Garden Hotel & Spa).
“As for other activities in our hotel, we have a happy
hour every Friday and Saturday, from 4 until 9 p.m. and which we call the
Pullman Chic Happy Hour. We organize a lot of fun activities and sexy
entertainment such as wet t-shirt contests. A must see for all those who are
still young at heart.
“We also have very popular buffets on Fridays and
Saturdays, with a lot of our regulars coming to that. The big one is of
course our monthly parties which we call the G session, which means
Glamorous girls and Gulping beers.”
Asked what is so unique about the Pullman, Clinton’s eyes
lit up and he exclaimed, “Pullman is different to the other hotels because
we have a different attitude. We believe in having fun, fun and more fun.”
Peter Malhotra (MD Pattaya
Mail) and Craig Ryan (GM Holiday Inn Pattaya) seem to be amused by the
on-goings.
The gang leader Chatchawal Supachayanont, GM of the Dusit
Thani Pattaya expressed his feelings through PMTV saying, “Six or seven
years ago we started having the GM Gang dinners. I have lived and worked in
Pattaya for 20 years, and have seen many changes in the hotel industry,
especially the turnover of general managers. I thought that it was necessary
to keep the old and young GMs together in a group so that we can become
friends with each other and assist each other when needed, not only for the
good of our own establishments but also for the hospitality business as a
whole.
“I am so proud that we can gather all our friends
together month after month. Each and every one of our gang members loves
this informal fraternity because it is like having an extended family and a
home away from home.”
Asked about the current situation in Thailand now that
elections were held and Thailand has a new government, Chatchawal said,
“Thais and foreigners feel very relaxed now that Thailand has a new
government. They have much more confidence in the political situation. I am
confident that Thailand will be peaceful and there won’t be any more
demonstrations. This message of peace and unity is being heard around the
world and we can say with confidence that we are back to the good old days.
“Foreigners come to Thailand because they love the
country, our culture, our people who are always smiling, and the delicious
Thai food. Thailand is a dream destination for people around the world.”
Yuwathida Jeerapat and Thomas
Koh snuggle up to Harald Feurstein
(GM Hilton Pattaya).
As the guests took their respective seats at the dining
table Clinton announced, “Tonight we are serving a 6 course dinner and each
course has a matching wine. As I am the new kid on the block and hail from
New Zealand, our menu tonight will have a Kiwi flair exquisitely prepared by
our executive chefs.”
And a ‘middle earth’ culinary adventure it was. Still on
the same wine, we started with the seared scallop wrapped with ham and
mango dip. This was followed by the foie gras with lobster berry jam and
the parsley veloute with smoked salmon, served with the French Domaine
Veceron Sancerre Blanc 2010.
Clinton Lovell (left) (GM
Pullman Pattaya Aisawan) presents Tony Malhotra (Asst. MD Pattaya Mail) with
his very own Sunset Lounge passport.
There was no respite for the connoisseurs of fine dining
as we imbibed on the spicy and energetic Louis Michel Chablis 2009
while taking pleasure in the slow cooked snow fish with squid ink and
seaweed sauce.
After a short pause with the mango sherbet flavoured
with kiwi, we were drawn into the depths of culinary pleasure as the
Pina colada lamb with summer tian and red sauce was served for us to
feast on. This was accompanied by Clinton’s favourite choice of the finest
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2008 from the well known ‘Martinborough’ livery
in New Zealand.
The banquet ended with the Chilean Echeverria
Sauvignon Blanc late harvest as guests marveled and enjoyed the
exquisitely crafted chocolate mousse trilogy.
To cap off one of the most memorable GM Gang dinners,
guests mingled on the Sunset Lounge terrace, savouring a Havana and sipping
cognacs, while gazing across the moonlit waters of Pattaya bay, thinking to
themselves, “What a wonderful life!”
