Hotel & Tours Group

The first Mekong River summit will take place between April 2 to 5 in Hua Hin, Thailand, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) has announced.

The summit, which is the first of its kind, will gather regional political leaders and a range of experts in the field of integrated water resources management. It will serve to strengthen regional cooperation between the member countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam and dialogue partners China and Myanmar as well as civil society at large.

This event marks the 15th anniversary of the MRC and will serve to reaffirm at the highest level the political commitment of member countries to the mission of the MRC.

A range of challenges and opportunities facing the Mekong Basin today will be discussed, especially the long-term effects of climate change and the role of River Basin Organisations in poverty alleviation.

A two-day international conference will precede the summit, which has as its theme, Transboundary Water Resources Management in a Changing World.

vietnamnews

Randall Marketing has announced an expanded partnership with A Hotels & Resorts International, Thailand. Randall Marketing already represents the 4 ½ Star, Alpina Phuket Nalina Resort & Spa, Kata Beach, Phuket, and will now include Four Seasons Place, Pattaya and Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa, Phuket into its portfolio.

Gino Mifsud - Chief Operating and Marketing Officer of A Hotels & Resort International and General Manager of the Alpina Phuket Nalina Resort & Spa said "We are a young but ambitious company with plans for expansion throughout Thailand and we feel that the personality of our company matches that of Randall Marketing who has an enviable reputation in Australia and New Zealand. Both of these properties are new to our portfolio and along with the Alpina we feel they are ideal for Australians who want a more boutique experience in Thailand."

Four Seasons Place, Pattaya is a 4 star boutique hotel with only 70 suites, in the heart of a quiet residential area on Pattaya 3rd Road, only a short distance from the beaches, dining and entertainment areas of Pattaya. It is also only 1 hour by road from Bangkok Airport. The architecture is rich with a Renaissance theme and sophisticated interior design throughout the rooms and facilities.

Located on the beautiful island of Phuket is the spectacular Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa, providing a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course right on the edge of the Andaman Sea, full golf course facilities as well as 72 Thai inspired guest rooms and suites, a large tropical pool and spa and excellent dining facilities. The resort is only 10 minutes drive from Phuket International Airport. There is also a free return shuttle bus which runs daily between the resort and the Central Festival, Phuket Town and the centre of Patong.

A Hotels and Resorts International is a Thailand based company specializing in hospitality management services, technical consultancy and support services, and hospitality property investments and developments.

etravelblackboard

Wants to counter claims that it's causing drought

China has invited countries from the lower Mekong subregion to visit its Jinghong dam in a bid to counter claims that its poor water management is causing drought in downstream countries.

Kasemsun Chinnavaso, director-general of the Water Resources Department, said China had invited representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand early this year to visit the Jinghong dam, one of four dams it operates along the Mekong River, but the trip was postponed due to cold weather.

The new visit is expected to take place this month. ...

read full article

Six Senses Resorts & Spas has promoted Peter Nilsson to the position of Managing Director Gulf of Thailand. This is a new role within the Six Senses organization and Peter's property portfolio includes Soneva Gili by Six Senses, Six Senses Hideaway & Evason Hua Hin and Six Senses Hideaway Samui.

Peter joined Six Senses in early 2004 as Resort Manager for Evason Hua Hin. He moved to the Maldives to take up the role of General Manager for Soneva Gili by Six Senses and then to the Hub based position of General Manager, running the pre-opening team for Six Senses latest project Soneva Kiri.

Peter’s expertise was such that he was then lured away from Six Senses to work for Anantara Resorts and Spas, taking the role of Group General Manager for the launch of the group’s flagship property, the Anantara in Phuket. He returned to Six Senses in August 2009.

Peter has over 23 years of hospitality experience having worked his way through the industry ranks in a variety of countries including Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Maldives, East Timor, England, Norway, Russia, his native Sweden and the borderless lands aboard cruise ships. As a result, Peter is fluent in several languages.

Peter Nilsson, Managing Director Gulf of Thailand is based in Hua Hin.

asiatraveltips

The navy-operated U-tapao Airport in Chon Buri is poised to become a major transit point for tourists under a B995 million plan that calls for expansion of the facility that achieved prominence during the Vietnam War, after which it would be renamed U-tapao-Pattaya International Airport.

Pattaya Mayor Itthipol Khunpluem revealed that under the plan spread over three years, U-tapao will get a new terminal and its passenger handling capacity triple from the current 400 to 1,200/hour, as would the number of aircraft bay from four to 12, taxiways improved, a separate cargo terminal built, connecting roads expanded and new ones built to facilitate the flow of traffic between U-tapao, Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports.

U-Tapao is about 190 kilometres east of Bangkok but only 23 kilometres from Pattaya city (see Pattaya map). The expansion, noted the mayor, should go down well with tourists, specially those arriving by charter flights and that in turn should help bolster the local economy.

Last year about 170 charter flights landed at U-tapao and this year their number is expected to go up to 200, most of them arriving from Russia, eastern Europe and South Korea.

In the meantime, the mayor plans to ask more airlines to connect Pattaya with other tourist destinations in Thailand. Currently, only Bangkok Airways links Pattaya with Phuket and Samui.

bangkokpost

On March 17, 2010, an international roundtrip air route will be launched from Hangzhou to Bangkok in Thailand.

This route will be operated by Hainan Airlines from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. After the launch of the route, Hangzhou citizens will be able to go to Thailand without having to transfer in Shanghai or Shenzhen.

The Hangzhou to Bangkok route will have two flights each week operated using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Flight HU7959 will leave Hangzhou at 22:30 on Wednesdays and Sundays and get to Bangkok at 01:50 the following day. The return flight HU7960 will leave Bangkok at 02:50 on Mondays and Thursday and arrive at Hangzhou at 07:50.

chinahospitalitynews

InterContinental Shanghai Puxi has announced the appointment of Arno Nicolussi-Moretto as general manager.

He has more than 22 years of international hotel management experience and a long career with IHG, as well as senior management roles with Banyan Tree Resorts, Swissotel, the Ritz Taipei, and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. His career history also includes various senior food and beverage management positions in Hilton in Germany and Austria. Prior to his appointment in Shanghai, Nicolussi-Moretto was the general manager of InterContinental & Olympic City in Qingdao.

The State Railway of Thailand is delaying the opening of its Airport Rail Link after it found the developer Siemens would be unable to finish the railway on time.

SRT governor Yutthana Thapcharoen yesterday said his agency had planned to start commercial services between inner Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi airport next month, but Siemens was not ready to hand over the system.

The opening would be put off for at least a few more months.

Mr Yutthana said Siemens had not installed all 70 surveillance cameras required along the railway. Radio communications do not cover the link's tunnel at the airport and the power supply for the railway was not yet stable. The installation of the cameras should be finished next week, and Siemens would then turn its attention to the radio communications and put in place a back-up power supply.

"The power supply is a big problem," Mr Yuthana said. "It must pass tests. Trains will stop if the service starts and encounters a blackout."

He said there were also other smaller problems. He had ordered staff to report any problems so he could alert the SRT board, which would then find ways to solve them.

Mr Yuthana said it would take three more months to test the 28km, 26 billion baht system after Siemens handed it over to the SRT. The agency will seek compensation from the German company for the delays, Mr Yutthana said.

bangkokpost

Thailand-based Centara Hotels and Resorts recently signed a deal to acquire Astudo Hotels and Resorts. The acquisition comes into effect on 1 April 2010. Financial terms have not been disclosed.

Astudo currently operates 7 resorts in Thailand with a further 5 hotels to open in Thailand and the Philippines. Astudo's two most active brands are X2 and Away resorts. The resorts will be rebranded as follows:

X2 Kui Buri, Centara Boutique Collection
X2 Samui, Centara Boutique Collection
Away Koh Kood, Centara Boutique Collection
Away Pranburi, Centara Boutique Collection
Away Chiang Mai, Centara Boutique Collection
The Bayburi Vacation Villas Hua Hin, Centara Boutique Collection
The Bayburi Vacation Villas Samui, Centara Boutique Collection
X2 Koh Kood, Centara Boutique Collection
X2 Rayong, Centara Boutique Collection
Centara Hotel Manila
The Bayburi Vacation Villas Phuket, Centara Boutique Collection
The Bayburi Vacation Villas Samui Hills, Centara Boutique Collection

Commenting on the takeover, Mr. Gerd Steeb, President of Centara Hotels & Resorts said, “We have been looking for an opportunity to expand our Boutique Collection brand and many of the Astudo properties fit perfectly here. In addition the majority of resorts are in locations where Centara operates larger 4 and 5-star properties so excellent synergies will deliver significant cost benefits to the combined operation.”

The year 2010 marks the 27th anniversary of Centara Hotels & Resorts. The company currently operates a chain of 24 hotels and resorts throughout Thailand, with the properties being either self-owned or managed under contract. A further 9 are at present under development. The group is also expanding overseas.

asiatraveltips

With the completion of its 2-billion-baht expansion, Chiang Mai International Airport now has an infrastructure that can support its aspiration to become a truly regional aviation hub.

The airport can now handle 8 million passengers a year, up from 3 million previously. The enlarged passenger terminal features a new section for international passengers and an upgraded domestic wing.

The new terminal takes a hint of inspiration from the style of the ancient Kingdom of Lanna, in what is now northern Thailand. The building covers 31,301 square metres and is designed to handle 2 million international passengers and 6 million domestic travellers.

The expansion began in 2004 and comprised 14 individual projects, which were carried out in phases until the recent completion of construction. ....

read full article

Educational centres, banks, religious places, sports complexes and hospitals will be turned into no-smoking zones in the next four months.

Smoke-free zones

:Smoking is prohibited in health-care units, veterinary clinics, educational centres, religious centres, both inside and outside sports centres. Open-air smoking areas can be set up. Lawbreakers will be fined Bt2,000.

:Smoking is prohibited in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. A smoking zone inside the building can be set up. Lawbreakers will be fined Bt2,000.

: Smoking is prohibited inside educational institutes, offices, state agencies or petrol stations. Specific smoking areas can be set up outside. Lawbreakers will be fined Bt2,000.

Source: Public Health Ministry.

Laguna Phuket has unveiled plans for a new venue capable of hosting a wide variety of meetings and incentive programmes, conferences, gala dinners and other events in a spectacular tropical waterside setting.

Latitude, a 1,000 square metre marquee-style structure, will be an all-weather, fully air-conditioned stand-alone facility capable of accommodating up to 1,000 guests theatre style, 800 for cocktails, and 600 for a banquet. Its modular design will enable versatile configuration to suit varying needs of large or small meetings and incentive groups.

The entire facility will occupy 1,500 square metres of concrete surface to allow for further expansion and breakout capability. An additional 450 square metre pre-function area will also be available.

Latitude will be situated at the heart of Laguna Phuket, opposite Canal Shopping Village and within minutes of all the Laguna Phuket hotels and villas. Scheduled for completion in mid-2010, Latitude will stand amid lush vegetation overlooking a west-facing lagoon adjacent to Bang Tao beach, famed for its vivid tropical sunsets.

“Latitude will provide a significant enhancement to Laguna Phuket’s established MICE capabilities, as well as providing a high-quality facility for hosting new and exciting events such as exhibitions and concerts,” said Michael Ayling, Managing Director of Laguna Resorts & Hotels Plc. “The possibilities to stage unique MICE events at Latitude will be endless – from memorable delegate arrivals using the network of waterways from our hotels, to incorporating spectacular Phuket sunsets as backdrops to a presentation.”

A resort-style 18-hole golf course, five luxury spas and boutique shopping are other attractions for MICE delegates at Laguna Phuket. The resort’s own onsite corporate training centre, Quest Adventure, is also available to stage team building and incentive events either at Latitude, off-site at a local tropical location, or at its own recently-upgraded facility. Catering at Latitude can be provided by any of Laguna Phuket’s hotels.

Latitude’s versatility will include lined side walls that can be opened or removed for an open air ambience, or closed and sealed with blackout capability for daytime conferences. It will have a centre height of 7.5 metres; side height of 4 metres; and 10 bays each measuring 20 metres wide x 5 metres long enabling the side length of the marquee to be adjustable in 5 metre increments up to 50 metres.

Other features include flexible entrance/exit positions, removable carpeted flooring, undercover exterior walkways, built-in power supply, wireless internet access and permanent toilet facilities.

asiatraveltips

Malaysia Airlines will launch two new weekly non-stop flights from the South African city of Johannesburg to Kuala Lumpur from March 30, bringing the total number to four weekly schedules.

The two additional flights will be on Tuesday and Friday in addition to existing flights operating on Monday and Thursday.

The new flights will depart Johannesburg at 1.40pm, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 6.10am (local time) the next day.

Flights from Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday will leave at 1.20am and arrive in Johannesburg the same day at 6am.

The two new weekly direct service between the two cities will use a Boeing 777-200 aircraft with 245 economy and 35 business class seats, providing a total weekly capacity of 560 seats in each direction.

Ho Chi Minh City - also known as Saigon - is the largest city in Vietnam and is sits on the banks of the Saigon River. Tan Son Nhat Airport serves the city, and is only around 15 minutes from central HCMC by cab. Hotels near Tan Son Naht Airport usually cater to business guests, but leisure travelers will find them equally as suitable for sightseeing.

There's a lot to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City. Owing to former French occupation, the city was once referred to as the Pearl of the East and architectural remnants of its colonial past remain. Most notably, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Saigon Opera House, both located in District 1 - the city center. A lot of HCMC's tourist attractions are historical, and many of them focus on the Vietnam War - known as the American War to locals. Reunification Palace, commonly known as Independence Palace, is a restored five-floor building largely unchanged from when the North Vietnamese army crashed through the gates and took control of the city.

Nearby, at the Museum of Vietnamese History, a large collection of Vietnamese artifacts and antiques are on display and the botanical gardens serve as a great way to escape the noise of the peak hour traffic. A novel way to find respite from Vietnam's heat is at Dam Sen Water Park, located right in the city center.

Kelvin Zhou has been appointed director of sales and marketing at Kempinski Hotel Suzhou.

Zhou, a Chinese national, has been in the hotel industry for many years and has extensive experience in sales and marketing and revenue management. He has previously worked at various Starwood properties, including Westin and Sheraton. Prior to his new appointment with Kempinski Hotel Suzhou he worked at the Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai.

chinahospitalitynews