Thomas
Koh (RM Garden Cliff Resort), Alex Chakrabarti (GM Mercure Hotel) and
Somkhit Tonsaiphet (GM Zign Hotel) enjoy a pre dinner cocktail.
Phasakorn Channgam
Following on the most successful Pattaya hotels ‘GM Gang’
fellowship dinner held in December last year at the Holiday Inn, managers
and executives of hotels in Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard once again
flocked together at the beck and call of veteran hotelier and the ‘informal’
master of the group Chatchawal Supachayanont, GM of the Dusit Thani Pattaya,
for the first ‘GM Gang’ dinner of the year.
The event was held on February 24, hosted by Harald
Feurstein, the ‘new blood’ GM of the Hilton Pattaya.
Word must have gotten out of the success of December’s
gathering, as the number of GMs more than doubled this time, bringing
together 22 of Pattaya’s top hoteliers.
The Hilton, a new addition to Pattaya’s hotel scene,
towering above the Central Pattaya Festival, overlooking the splendid
Pattaya Bay, must have heightened the curiosity amongst the hoteliers so
much that they wanted to see for themselves what all the buzz was about.
And impressed were they. Harald put on a show that
literally took everyone’s breath away.
Cocktails were held at the drift lounge on the
16th floor overlooking the scenic Pattaya Beach. Old friends met again and
new comers were warmly welcomed into the fold.
It was good to see Alex Chakrabarti back in town, taking
over the helm as GM of the Mercure Hotel Pattaya from Nicolas LeRat, and
Aloysius Michael, who recently joined Dusit Thani Pattaya as resident
manager.
Chatchawal, in his inimitable style of warmth and
cordiality, said a few words of welcome and out of the blue announced that
one amongst the group had just celebrated his birthday, and that it would be
remiss of the ‘gang’ if they did not also give their birthday wishes to this
person.
The birthday boy was none other than Pratheep ‘Peter’
Malhotra, MD of the Pattaya Mail who, for the past three and half
decades, has been a resident of Pattaya. Throughout the years Peter has
worked very closely with the hotel and hospitality industry and has
accompanied the Pattaya promotion group of hoteliers, including City Hall
and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), on their various promotional
trips domestically and abroad.
This special bondage prompted Chatchawal to declare Peter
an honorary member of the gang.
Harald was quick off the mark and marched in with an
extravagant birthday cake and a huge gift basket of goodies. To top it off
Peter was cajoled by two sexy Latin dancers to show off his Indo-Latino
moves.
Chatchawal Supachayanont said this gathering of hotel
managers and administrators creates a new dimension of mutual economic
strength in the hotel and service businesses. He believes that similar
gatherings are not commonly seen in other major tourist destinations, such
as Phuket or Chiang Mai.
In an interview with Pattaya Mail, Chatchawal
said, “The GM Gang has been meeting regularly in friendship for over 6
years. Every month a different hotel or venue offers to host the networking
party.
“Hoteliers meet to discuss the hospitality business in
general and work together to help improve marketing strategies for not only
their own establishments, but for Pattaya as a whole.
“We have seen some good times and some bad times, but I
believe that now the political situation in the country has stabilized. The
second half of last year and this year Pattaya is seeing a boom in business.
“Pattaya can now claim once again to be the most
attractive destination compared to all the others in Thailand. Travel to and
from Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi International Airport is convenient and safe.
“Unlike other destinations that can offer only a limited
variety of attractions, either for pleasure or business, Pattaya is the
number one choice for pleasure, entertainment, commerce and more especially
the growing Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions (MICE) market.
“These meetings create a strong friendship amongst the
vital personalities in the business, ensuring that as a team we will
maintain Pattaya as the top destination comparable to the best in the
world.”
Michael
Procher (GM of Nova Suites, Nova Platinum & Nova Gold) meets with Aloysius
Michael (RM Dusit Thani Pattaya).
Poodis
Poramapojn (Director of finance, Hilton Pattaya), Andre Brulhart (GM Centara
Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya) and Philippe Delaloye (GM Pullman Pattaya
Aisawan) pose for a photograph.
Peter
Malhotra (Pattaya Mail), Aloysius Michael (RM Dusit Thani Pattaya), Peta
Ruiter (Director Business Development Hilton Pattaya) and Rene Pisters (GM
Thai Garden Resort) get acquainted.
Old
friends meet (L to R) Nijjaporn Marprasert (GM Siam Bayview Hotel),
Natthasith Wijitwikrom (Assistant MD Mountain Beach Hotel), Rungthip
Suksrikarn (VP Sunbeam Hotels), Michael Ganster (GM Dusit D2 Baraquda
Pattaya) and Sanpech Supabowornsthian (GM of Long Beach Garden Hotel & Spa).
Peter
seems moved as Chatchawal Supachayanont, GM Dusit Thani Pattaya and friends
wish him a happy birthday.
Harald
Feurstein, GM of the Hilton Pattaya presents a gift to Peter as Chatchawal
happily looks on.
Happy
faces during dinner (seated L to R) Somkhit Tonsaiphet (GM Zign Hotel),
Rungthip Suksrikarn (VP Sunbeam Hotels), Chatchawal Supachayanont (GM Dusit
Thani Pattaya), Sanpech Supabowornsthian (GM of Long Beach Garden Hotel &
Spa), Bundarik Kusolvitya (MD The City Hotel Sriracha), Alisa Phanthusak
(Asst. MD Woodlands Resort), Natthasith Wijitwikrom (Assistant MD Mountain
Beach Hotel), and Nijjaporn Marprasert (GM Siam Bayview Hotel). (Standing L
to R) Michael Ganster (GM Dusit D2 Baraquda Pattaya), Andre Brulhart (GM
Centara Mirage Resort), Rene Pisters (GM Thai Garden Resort), Harald
Feurstein (GM Hilton Pattaya), Michael Procher (GM of Nova Suites, Nova
Platinum & Nova Gold), Philippe Delaloye (GM Pullman Pattaya Aisawan) and
Prayuth Thamdhum (GM Montien Hotel Pattaya).
