The stunning new Centara Grand Phratamnak Pattaya was the venue for the monthly meeting for Skål International Pattaya & East Thailand, held on Thursday the 21st of November.
Pratamnak Hill has become a very popular spot, situated in between Pattaya & Jomtien, as it offers easy accessibility to all the major attractions yet is set in a tranquil area. The Centara Grand Phratamnak Pattaya, situated near the beach at the bottom of Soi 5, is the new flagship hotel for the Centara Hotels & Resorts in Pattaya and this property is owned by the Tulip Group.
Jason Samuel, (2nd left) Int’l Councillor of Skål Int’l India, was welcomed by Skål Int’l Pattaya and East Thailand board members, Neil Maniquiz, (left), director, Tony Malhotra (2nd left), President, Papakan Saguansap, (2nd right) secretary and Peter Malhotra, (right) executive advisor.
GM Dominique Rongé welcomed the over fifty guests who are the Skålleagues and friends of Skål Pattaya and for the Skål event and many were given a tour of this impressive property including the stunning bedrooms and Ruffino Restaurant and the rooftop bar.
No expense has been spared on this hotel from its impressive lobby with 2 huge aquariums, grand piano with the aquatic theme running through the entire building, perfect setting for any exclusive events. The Skål dinner was held at the Oceana Restaurant situated on the ground floor.
(L to R) Tony Malhotra, President of Skål Int’l Pattaya and East Thailand, Cory Bik, Urai Patenya, Eastern Star Resort, Janya Rattanaliam, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Ferenc Fricsay, Alissara Khamprachom, D Varee Jomtien Beach Hotel, Benchamat Phudthiradvittaya and Vassachol Khrueasan, Holiday Inn Pattaya.
President Tony Malhotra started the evening with the Skål toast and then the guests were given an opportunity to introduce themselves and who they represent.
There were many new faces at this event including Pan and Big, two members of Young Skål Thailand from Bangkok, and Jason Samuel who is an international councilor for Skål in India. President Tony and Jason exchanged the Skål flags of their perspective clubs.
(L to R) Ploy Pisters, Danilo Becker, Thai Garden Resort, Neil Maniquiz, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Tony Malhotra, Pattaya Mail, Rene Pisters, GM of Thai Garden Resort and Tomo Kuriyama, GM of Sheraton Pattaya.
Other executives attending for the first time included Alex Chakrabarti, GM of Mercure Pattaya Hotel and Tomo Kuriyama, GM of Sheraton Pattaya Resort.
The MC then introduced the guest speaker for the evening, Scott Michael Smith, who is an International Skål councilor and director for Young Skål Thailand.
Scott is a full-time lecturer and PhD candidate at Assumption University. Scott has been researching Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the accommodation sector and is currently working on his dissertation, focusing on the successful communication of CSR in SE Asia. He has had over 20 years of practical experience as an owner and manager in the service sector and more than a decade’s worth of teaching and consulting experience in Thailand.
(L to R) Ploy Pisters, Nattakarn Sinprasom, Varongpat Nanthivatcharin, Cape Dara Resort, Ingo G. Raeuber, Group GM of Pinnacle Hotels, Resorts & Spas and Ireelda Jirachokchayanant, Holiday Inn Pattaya.
In his time he has worked closely with many of the leading tourism suppliers in Thailand to develop service training programs and promote strategies that make business sense and common sense. He has published numerous articles regarding the communication of CSR and the Spirit of Hospitality and is a popular contributor at international conferences and seminars. He pointed out that Skål International is an organization of tourism professionals representing 18,000 members in over 500 local clubs in over 100 countries.
(L to R) Supparatch Piyawatcharapun, PR and Marketing Manager of Centara Grand Phratamnak Resort Pattaya, Urai Patenya, Eastern Star Resort, Sunny from Sunny Online, Jitmanee Siravithayavanich, The Way Hotel and Benchamat Phudthiradvittaya, Holiday Inn Pattaya.
As a Director for Young Skål Thailand Scott has had fist hand experience in seeing the vast potential for mentoring and working with younger members. He urged the guests to look at their own work force and to see if there are any shining stars of the future, people with drive and passion or indeed those with ideas that need some support to make their dreams real.
(L to R) Dominique Rongé, GM of Centara Grand Pratamnak Resort Pattaya, chats with Massic Travel’s MD Marlowe Malhotra and Vicky Malhotra, Hotel & Tour.
The guests then enjoyed the sumptuous buffet at the Oceana Restaurant with the theme for the evening being delicious Thai food. The beer and red & white wine kept flowing, all for the cost of 850 baht. Scott then presented Skål International Thailand President Andrew Wood with the prestigious certificate of merit awarded at the recent 2013 Skål International World Congress.
(L to R) Kanmaee Saengchan, Amari Orchid Pattaya, Chananchida Wongsa-ard, Sales & PR Manager, Wassana Pokthang, EAM of Centara Grand Pratamnak Resort Pattaya and Sattawat Charoenlarp, Assta Manager, Sales of Amari Orchid Pattaya.
Donations were collected from guests with the total of approximately 11,110 baht to assist the relief effort for the recent typhoon that has devastated the Philippines. Skål Pattaya & East Thailand decided to top that , making a total of 50,000 baht.
Dominique Rongé told the guests that as an additional benefit for the evening he invited all attended to join him for another hour of free flow drinks on the rooftop bar.
(L to R) Allan Riddell, Director of the South African Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Wood, President of Skål International Thailand, and Pichai Visutriratana, Director of Worldwide Destinations Asia.
This rounded off another very successful event for Skål Pattaya & East Thailand. The next event will be a party on the beach at the Pinnacle Grand Jomtien Resort & Spa on the 19th of December. This will be an informal event and marks the year end for Skål in Pattaya. Guests are invited to wear shorts and beach attire. The cost is 500 baht for adults and 250 baht for children. All Skål Pattaya members will receive complimentary entrance that will include a buffet dinner and free flow drinks.
More information about this upcoming event can be found online at www.facebook.com/skalpattaya
(L to R) Pullman Pattaya Hotel G’s EAM Dimitri Chernyshev and Caroline Shen, Director of Sales-Corporate & MICE with Tomo Kuriyama, GM of Sheraton Pattaya and Brendan Daly, GM of Amari Orchid Pattaya.
(L to R) Thanisorn Sethasuphang, Heng Asia Home Product, Panpiti Chalermvisetpol, Riora Creation, Scott Smith, Int’l Councillor of Skål Int’l Thailand and Pichai Visutriratana, Worldwide Destinations Asia.
(L to R) Russell Jay Darrell from MIX 88.5 FM, Brendan Daly, GM of Amari Orchid Pattaya and Supparatch Piyawatcharapun, Centara Grand Pratamnak Resort Pattaya.
(L to R) Pichai Visutriratana, Worldwide Destinations Asia, Panpiti Chalermvisetpol, Riora Creation Co., Ltd., Jim Lumsden and Gordon May.
Tony Malhotra, President of Skål Int’l Pattaya and East Thailand welcomed Patricia and Graham Goodman.
(L to R) Ingo G. Raeuber, Group GM of Pinnacle Hotels, Resorts & Spas, Urai Patenya, Sales Manager of Eastern Star Resort, Alissara Khamprachom, Sales Manager of D Varee Jomtien Beach Hotel and Janya Rattanaliam, Deputy Head of the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya International Marketing Department.
(L to R) Scott Smith, International Councillor of Skål International Thailand, Hans Banzinger, Director of Swiss Paradise Resort Pattaya, Esther Kaufmann, MD of My Office Travel Co., Ltd. and Andrew Wood, President of Skål International Thailand.
(L to R) Angie Turton, Marketing Manager of Real Estate Thailand Magazine Russian Edition, Steve Turton, Dive Instructor of Dive In Pattaya and Papakan Saguansap, Spa Manager at the Tea Tree Spa, Holiday Inn.
(L to R) Peter Malhotra, MD of Pattaya Mail Media Group, Supparatch Piyawatcharapun, PR and Marketing Manager of Centara Grand Pratamnak Resort Pattaya, Chris George and Alex Chakrabarti, GM of Mercure Pattaya Hotel.
Holiday Inn Pattaya’s team (L to R) Thanagon Poungbubpchart, Ananbodhin Wachoom, Benchamat Phudthiradvittaya, Phuvaxith Athinonthboonyarux, Sipat Vongsakul, and Vassachol Khrueasan.
(L to R) Supparatch Piyawatcharapun, PR and Marketing Manager of Centara Grand Phratamnak Resort Pattaya, Brendan Daly, GM of Amari Orchid Pattaya, Dominique Rongé, GM and Wassana Pokthang, Executive Assistance Manager of Centara Grand Pratamnak Resort Pattaya.
