Dusit college opens new programme

BANGKOK, 26 April 2012: Dusit Thani College will open its new international Bachelor Programme in Resort and Hotel Development with partner, Ecole Hoteliere Lausanne, from Switzerland. The new programme will kick of this August and is designed to attract more oversea students to study in Thailand.

The cooperation between the two colleges was announced earlier this year. The educational programme will have its first intake for its English courses this August for both Thai and international students.

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STR reports gains

BANGKOK, 25 April 2012: STR Global released data of hotel performance in the Asia/Pacific region for March that showed positive results in three key performance metrics possibly heralding recovery in Japanese outbound travel market.

According to a summary of STR global data released earlier this week, March occupancy in the region improved by 4.4% to 69.4%. The average daily rate (ADR) increased by 4.8% to US$145.64 and the revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased by 9.4% to US$101.01 when compared to same month last year.

Tokyo reported the largest occupancy increase, up 47.6% to 84.7% followed by Shanghai in China (+11.5% to 64%) and Hanoi, Vietnam (+11 to 76.9%).

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Binh Dinh adds resorts

BINH DINH, 23 April 2012: Five new projects are  devloping in Binh Dinh province of Vietnam as part of the province’s tourism development plan.

Binh Dinh Culture, Sports and Tourism deputy director, Nguyen Thanh Son said, late last week, that the province has a high potential to develop tourism due to its beaches and water sports and this is attracting investment.

Five big tourism projects are underway. All  are located along the Quy Nhon Sea  coastline (Cau River and Nhon Ly peninsula) and Cat Tien Town.

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Hotels eye Japanese long-stay

CHAING MAI, 19 April 2012: Chiang Mai’s hoteliers are joining the Chamber of Commerce to pressure the government to extend the non-immigrant visa from one year to three years for Japanese visitors to boost the long-stay market.

Thai Hotels Association Upper Northern Chapter president, Punat Thanalaopanit, told TTR Weekly that the association was backing the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce in its efforts to improve long-stay.

The main push is to convince the Ministry of Interior that the non-immigrant visa should extend for three years for Japanese travellers, who are mainly retirees over the age of 50.

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TAT directors meet at the Cliff

PATTAYA, 19 April 2012: Royal Cliff Hotels Group hosted Tourism Authority of Thailand’s directors and representatives from Europe for their annual regional meeting 2012 in the lead up to the TAT’s marketing activity plan meeting due later in the year.

Royal Cliff Hotel Group managing director, Panga Vathanakul, welcomed delegates while the hotel’s executive director, Vitanart Vathanakul, made a presentation to the director’s on the Royal Cliff’s “brand enhancement project and repositioning initiative”.

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ONYX names com chief

BANGKOK, 11 April 2012: ONYX Hospitality Group announced earlier this week the appointment of Harris Kurdthip as director of marketing communications.

Mr Kurdthip was promoted from the previous position of director of public relations Thailand to his new role of director of marketing communications for the entire group.

He will be responsible for driving marketing and PR activities for ONYX, its brands and properties, including overall management of two key corporate teams under marketing at ONYX Headquarters in Bangkok comprising group marketing services and Thailand’s communications teams.

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Lehman muscles GHM

SINGAPORE, 4 April 2012: Armed guards and local off-duty sheriff officers in uniform forced Singapore-based management company, General Hotel Management executives off the Setai South Beach in Miami.

The luxury property located on Miami’s prime oceanfront is part of a wider condo and hotel complex. The GHM managed resort was selling rooms for around US$725 a night.

According to GHM, its management was evicted 0230 Saturday, 31 March by owner representatives of the Setai South Beach who informed GHM they were taking over the property.

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Hat Yai bomb blast closes hotel

HAT YAI, 2 April 2012: Thailand’s experienced its first major car bomb targeting a hotel that killed at least three people and injured 23 foreigners causing serious structural damage to the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel.

Police now say the bomb blast at the 33-storey, 405-room hotel, a popular spot for visiting Malaysian tourists, was linked to a separate bomb incident in Yala province that occurred on the same day. The two attacks killed 13 people and injured over 400 people.

The bombed hotel is a separate property located on a different down-town road to the old Lee Gardens Hotel, but has the same ownership.

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Chang Island: Seasonal specials begin

BANGKOK, 2 April 2012: Dewa Koh Chang sells its so-called “Bliss Package”, until 31 October that includes accommodation, meals and leisure activities.

The option is ideal for travellers who prefer to pay a single price that cover most of the holiday requirements including a sightseeing options.

The three-day/two-night package costs Bt11,000 and should boost travel to the island during the low-season.

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Kwoks face graft charge

Hong Kong, 30 March 2012 (AFP) – Hong Kong’s anti-graft body on Thursday arrested two of Asia’s richest property developers, Thomas and Raymond Kwok, for alleged corruption as part of an ongoing bribery probe.

The Kwok brothers have substantial stakes in properties around Asia, including Hong Kong’s Four Seasons Hotel, International Finance Centre and recently developed International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong’s tallest building.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said two senior executives and a former senior government official had been detained in connection with alleged bribery offences.

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