The Zign Hotel captured top honors at the annual Pattaya Bartender Competition, placing in six hospitality contests and showing the most flair mixing drinks.
Renamed the Pattaya Bartender Issan Classic this year to reflect its northeastern theme, the competition at the Dusit Thani Hotel is sponsored each year by the Pattaya and Chonburi governments, Thai Hotels Association Eastern Region and Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote visits to the city and the quality of the area’s resorts.
Wittaya Kunplome (center, left) prepares to bang the gong to launch the event.
The day-long competition among 30 hotels and resorts began with table-setting and cake-decorating contests with the showy cocktail-mixing show entertaining guests during dinner. There also was a “Miss Bartender” dance show with women in traditional Issan costumes and concert from northeastern bands and two comedians from Ponglangsaorn.
The day was a big one for The Zign hotel which, although it didn’t place first in any of the daytime contests, managed to place second or third in all. Then, after dark, its drink master won the Flair Bartender Competition, giving the North Pattaya resort the most points among the 30 competing hotels.
Five young ladies perform a traditional Isaan dance.
The Dusit Thani placed second overall, winning first place in fruit carving, dining table decoration, and the female bartender contest. It also placed second in the Flair Bartender contest and third in flower decoration and ice carving. The Long Beach Garden Hotel and Spa took third overall, placing first in both cake decorating and flower decoration, and second in dining table decoration.
The Amari Orchid won first place in ice carving and fourth in Flair Bartender, while the Woodlands Hotel & Resort took second place in fruit carving and third in cake decorating. The Cape Dara Resort’s only win was third in the female bartender contest. The City Hotel captured third in the Flair Bartender match.
It takes great concentration to carve fruit into masterpieces.
Contestants compete in the Miss Bartender and Flair Bartender contest.
A Miss Bartender contestant mixes up a drink with the hopes of impressing the judges.
A sample cocktail made by one of the participants, “Isaan Modern”.
A contestant competes for the “Miss Bartender” title.
A bartender shows off his skills to impress the judges.
Two comedians, Lulu & Lala from Ponglangsaorn amuse the audience.
Dancers and ghosts perform a traditional Thai – Isaan dance for the opening of the Pattaya Bartender Isaan Classic 2014.
Miss Bartender juggles bottles, showing her mad skills.
Prizes were presented to the hotels that won most categories of the competition: 1st The Zign Hotel, 2nd Dusit Thani (the host), 3rd Long Beach Garden and 4th Amari Orchid.
