Skål Pattaya & East Thailand held their monthly meeting at the Moon River Pub at the Thai Garden Resort on Thursday the 15th of August. The club’s president, Tony Malhotra, opened the proceedings by welcoming the guests and making the traditional Skål toast.
The president of Skål International in Thailand Andrew Wood was also able to join the proceedings. He gave a warm welcoming speech outlining the work that Skål does here in Thailand and abroad. He also spoke about the changing face of tourism and how businesses must learn to adapt to the changing demands and demographics of the tourists, whether they be Thai nationals or from overseas.
Ploy Pisters (left), GM Rene Pisters (2nd left) and EAM-Operation Sanich Benjaman (right) welcome Marlowe Malhotra (center), MD of Massic Travel and Philippe Delaloye to Thai Garden Resort.
Skål embraces many aspects of tourism related businesses and the guest speaker for this event was the MD of Sentinel Enterprises (Dive in Pattaya) Angie Turton, who gave an informative talk under the heading: Diving with Sharks and Rays.
Angie Turton talks about her venture, Diving with Sharks and Rays.
The company is run by Angie and her husband Steve, who have lived in Thailand for the last 10 years. They started in the restaurant business but soon found that they both had a passion to learn to dive. They did their PADI courses and after selling up their restaurant decided to create a business that would offer something new for tourists.
They came up with an idea for tourists to be able to dive with sharks and rays at the popular local attraction: Underwater World.
Children as young as eight years old can get the opportunity to dive with the creatures of the deep and to feed the turtles. The sessions last for between an hour and an hour and a half and are popular with all nationalities. This has recently been voted the number one attraction for tourists in Pattaya.
Angie spoke to the audience about some of the misconceptions regarding sharks and that not all were the type portrayed in movies. After the presentation there was a brief Q&A session where people asked about the costs; Angie was able to say that the price of the dive was 3000 baht per person and that a special rate of 1800 was applicable for Thai nationals. More information regarding this exciting experience and other services that the company offers can be found online at www.diveinpattaya.com.
Skål member Dr Iain took his children to Underwater World at the weekend after the meeting and reported that his children thoroughly enjoyed the experience. His eight year old son cannot wait to dive with the sharks again.
(L to R) Andrew J. Wood, President of Skål International Thailand, Pichai Visutriratana, director of Worldwide Destinations Asia, Wassana Pokthang, EAM Centara Grand Pratamnak, Patricia Cawpos Salaberri, Senior Aquarist Centara Grand Pratamnak, Jarunee Srikaew, Executive Secretary Centara Grand Pratamnak, Dominique Rongé, GM of Centara Grand Pratamnak and Tony Malhotra President of Skål International Pattaya and East Thailand.
The next meeting for Skål Pattaya & East Thailand will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel on Thursday the 26th of September. Full details will be in the next editions of the Pattaya Mail and online at their Facebook page www.facebook.com/skalpattaya.
(L to R) Ingo G. Raeuber, Group GM of Pinnacle Hotels, Resorts & Spas, Yuwadee Prohkhuntod, Sales Manager of Holiday Inn Pattaya, Nattareutai Thanapoomikul, Asst Front Office Manager Holiday Inn Pattaya, Papakan Saguansap, Spa Manager of Holiday Inn Pattaya and Tony Malhotra, President of Skål International Pattaya and East Thailand.
(L to R) Kanmaee Saengchan, sales manager at Amari Orchid Pattaya, Tony Malhotra, Dueanpen Thongsombat, Asst. Director of Sales Amari Orchid Pattaya, Ingo G. Raeuber and Sattawat Charoenlarp, Asst Manager, Sales Amari Orchid Pattaya.
(L to R) Peter Malhotra, MD of Pattaya Mail Media Group, Pichai Visutriratana, director of Worldwide Destinations Asia, Dr. Iain Corness, Pattaya Mail Media Group, Andrew J. Wood, President of Skål Thailand and Philippe Delaloye (seated).
