Hotelier: Stay away this weekend
March 11, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
A leading hotelier and former president of Bangkok’s Skal Club, Andrew Wood, describes cancellations and outlines a disturbing escalation that suggests Thailand’s tourism is about to face its biggest challenge.
He issued a situation assessment and update to Skal Club members in Thailand, earlier this afternoon.
He suggests that if visitors are not travelling on essential business to Bangkok they should not travel to the city this weekend.
In his observations he outlines a scenario of serious unrest and the possibility of an escalation involving mortar attacks as part of a plan to destroy government buildings. None of the information has been independently verified and there are reports that government officials are providing misleading information possibly to justify a heavy-handed crackdown.
His email to hundreds of travel industry executives comes as many of the industry are attending ITB in the hope they can drum up business for the country’s travel business that has suffered significant revenue losses since the airport closures in 2008.
Mr Wood states:
• “Update on this weekend, things are deteriorating.
• ALL functions in my hotel this weekend have cancelled including three major weddings and international conferences and an airline function showing the F1 Race live to top agents.
• The Royal Navy is stopping pro-red gun and ammunition supply boats coming into Bangkok from Ayutthaya via the Chao Phraya River. A number of major roads will be closed inside Bangkok tomorrow including Wireless Road. There are also helicopters visible over the city.
• The British Embassy security staff in their security briefing this morning to the Bangkok Chamber of Commerce Thailand that the red shirts’ only objective is to bring down the government by Sunday.
• There is a high probability of violent outbursts including mortar and grenade attacks on government buildings.
• The demonstration is expected to spill over from Friday to Monday.
• All schools in Bangkok are either on holiday or plan to be closed until the middle of next week.
• The UK Embassy believes there are enough contingency plans on hand to ensure the airports remain open.
• Be prepared for major disruption in your journeys to and from work as roads are closed down.
• Be prepared for further cancellations from group and tour operators.
• Many airlines have already relocated their airline staff and air crews to the airport hotels.
• Airlines are opening check in desks four hours prior to take off, expecting many passengers to be delayed with road closures.
• Roads linking major red assembly sites and roads leading to government house and embassies are closed from tomorrow.
• I think it is fair to say that if you do not need to come to Bangkok it would be best to avoid it this weekend.”
“I think it is fair to say that if you do not need to come to Bangkok it would be best to avoid it this weekend.”
The “facts” are not disputed, it is the role of the messenger that is at issue. This is a private citizen, a guest in a foreign country who has chosen the role of advisor. How the owners of the Chao Praya Park Hotel allow an employee to behave like this is surprising.
It is the final bullet that destroys the claim to be sharing facts. Not only does it insult the reader’s intelligence but it compromises the entire missive.
If this benighted place were in any way democratic, the “guest in a foreign country” as you offensively term him – and all of us – would have every right to express his opinion, which he flags quite clearly as separate to the rest of his points.
I am not from the AW fan club (I wouldn’t know him if I ran over him) but I would trust his opinion much more than any local “official”.
Mind you, maybe TTR should have been reporting these facts instead of AW having to do the reporters’ job for them?
We worry so much about the situation in Thailand and it appears that the only one we seem to get an unbiased opinion is from Andrew. Yes I know he is out spoken but at least he believes in what he is saying.
As a person not living in Thailand and having interests in its tourism, I really appreciate the 14 points based on facts. I really hope that this case will in no way discourage Andrew doing this kind of stuff that is really great stuff for people like myself. Again Andrew I appreciate it!!!
I have known Andrew Wood for many years and he has always been sincere and factual and tried to encourage tourism to Thailand so I am surprised to see the adverse criticism from John..
The facts may be distasteful but we need them – Thanks Andrew
A lot of people say a lot of things a lot of times. The real winner is one which would stir most debates. It is certainly working.
So far these comments are a classic case of ‘shooting the messenger’. The points made are facts and if you find them surprising or distasteful, it’s time you woke up to reality.
Meanwhile:
1. the British embassy (in particular though not alone) should SHUT UP and mind its own business
and
2. the mass, headless-chicken closure of businesses and schools is a disgraceful capitulation and over-reaction to all this nonsense and only occasioned by Thais, not by farang. But it exacerbates the perception of a problem and allows the disruptive idiots a kind of ‘victory’.
Read BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8563538.stm) or ABC (http://abc.com.au/news/stories/2010/03/13/2844910.htm?section=justin) and then see if YOU would choose to travel here (now or any time soon)…………
Sad to see this personal opinion to be published, it has the same ” value ” as those quotes in the Bangkok Post from a ” street-vendor ” or a ” office-clerk “…….
” Leading ” means teamwork, not airing individual opinions.
We see enough of that at the moment ……
I trust Skal will dissociate themselves from this statement soonest.
Sadly yours
Bert van Walbeek
This individual has consistently used his Skal connections for personal egrandisement, but knowing his personal circumstances one can understand. He will learn from this to keep his opportunistic views to himself. As for “leading”, he only does this with his chin and does an egregious disservice to the thousands of hoteliers who have made Thailand the destination that it still is, in spite of foolish mockeries like this.
Thanks John for your usual outpourings. Clearly u are not a fan but I am not concerned with that frankly. My original assessment in bulletpoint format to my friends and Skalleagues was not in the form of a sensational story the way that it was written. My communication consisted of 14 bulletpoints only. Those that received them will confirm that this a fact. They are all accurate and were received from speaking directly to the source. For example there are daily cxl of bookings and banquets. That is a fact. No HK groups are travelling to Thailand that is a fact. Wireless road and 5 others were closed the day after this piece was written.That is a fact. TG yday issued a press statement that domestic travellers should allow 3 hours and intl passengers 4 hours to check in at Suvarnabhumi airport, due to possible traffic delays caused by road closures.That isa fact. Schools are closed that is a fact. And as you can see traffic is quite light as many people are avoiding Bkk. that is a fact. The red shirt leaders have now confirmed that the disruption will last into next week if the government does not fall. That is a fact.
In my bulletpoints you notice I mention, quote “Be prepared for major disruption in your journeys to and from work as roads are closed down.”
The information I was sharing was for their personal information as they live here and travel to work. Many also live outside of Bangkok.
Everything is peaceful and calm in Bangkok and I am hoping it will remain that way.
Please dont shoot the messenger.
Kind Regards
Andrew Wood
God save Thailand. We cannot guess or forecast what will happen especially in Bangkok over the next few days or more. It is very difficult to save the meat or save the cow. We have to use IT to tell the truth to our clients and suppliers for they will learn and see the real situation going on in our country. Twisting the truth is twisting the trust.Oh what a hard time for Thai tourism and the 50th anniversary of TAT !
This was completely out of line, that the manager of a backstreet hotel should take it upon himself to play authority on what is going on. I hope his work permit is in good order, because he might be flying home any day soon for breaching protocol. This is the job of officials, not some inn keeper who is seeing his business evaporate.