The May networking event, organized by the Australian Chamber of Commerce Thailand (AustCham) was held at the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort in Naklua. The Zulu bar saw one very long line-up of the Broken Hills red wine, with the Centara service girls in lacy fripperies dispensing beers. The Aussies never run out of beer and wine, being part of the charter from the great sunburned land down-under.
The principal sponsor was Capital TV with Raine Grady and Les Nyerges (and their two children) on hand to enjoy the event. In an exclusive interview with Pattaya Mail TV, Raine was very up-beat, describing the advance into the provincial centers by Capital TV as a new and exciting, and successful development of their long established media group.
Sponsors and organizers, (l-r) William (Bill) Dewell, F&B EAM of Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, Raine Grady CEO of Capital TV, Sam Mizzi AustCham director and John Anderson, AusCham president.
The Centara Grand took the opportunity to introduce the senior management group to the AustCham members and friends, as there had been many new faces this year. General Manager Andre Brulhart and F&B EAM William (Bill) Dewell mixing with the Aussies and enthusiastically promoting their products. When asked what he does in his spare time, GM Andre said he has spying trips to other hotels!
Andre Brulhart general manager of Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya.
Of course, there were spies from the other side there as well, with Peta from the Hilton, along with Sales Manager Waen Benjabut making mental notes, if not written ones.
The AustCham ESB representative Paul Wilkinson was there, with his boss Kevin Fisher from the dynamic CEA projects group. In the group was Thomas Raldorf, the CEA race driver, so that was one business that understands the value of commercial networking.
The very affable president of AustCham John Anderson (Meinhardt Thailand), now without his tin legs and able to get around normally, fulfilled his function by greeting everyone, ably assisted by the immediate past president Andrew Durieux.
The catering by the Centara Grand was quite novel. Bread sticks, or rather very long loaves were sliced with grilled BBQ wild boar filling.
I think the boar had every good reason to be a little ‘wild’, as ending up between two slices of bread was probably not in its concept of a fun evening, even if it was for the AustCham members.
John Anderson, AusCham president, tells Pattaya Mail TV a little about the chamber’s functions.
Many of the usual faces were evident, with Peter Mewes, the senior legal advisor for HBS in Phnom Penh and the world’s oldest soccer player, seen chatting with Cees Cuijpers (Town and Country) who for once did not have his lovely lady on his arm. A networking evening would not be the same without the happy faces of Mark Bowling (Colliers) and Garry Irvin (Resource Link Recruitment).
Another successful evening. The date and venue for the next one will be published in the Pattaya Mail.
Kevin Fisher (CEA) and Garry Irvin (Resource Link Recruitment) talk racing.
Peter Mewes (HBS Law), Paul Wilkinson (CEA) and William Brown, former AMCA Rider.
David Bell, AustCham director and Mark Donnal (Meinhardt).
Mark Carroll, AustCham executive director and Stuart McKenzie, sales and engineering professional.
Hilton Pattaya’s Elwin Kemming, director of sales, and Peta Ruiter, director of business development, share thoughts with Centara’s senior vice president of sales & marketing Chris Bailey and Pattaya Mail’s asst managing director Tony Malhotra.
Thawatchai Moonbunjong and Yaowadee Fangseeda represent dusitD2 baraquda Pattaya.
A great selection of food is put on by Centara Grand for this special occasion.
Hilton Pattaya’s Ratsiri Eamdee, sales executive – events, and Varaporn Lamai, sales manager – corporate, are discussing sales techniques with Unchulee Meesri, asst sales manager of Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa and Thitima Kongsomrith asst sales manager of Amari Orchid Pattaya.
