| "Many hotels have already extended their | | | | night. (We are still cheaper on average occupancy |
| promotions introduced some months after the | | | | levels) |
| closing of the two airports in Bangkok late last | | | | The deal includes daily breakfast for two, a |
| year," Thai Hotel Association president Prakit | | | | 20-per-cent discount on food, 30-per-cent off of |
| Chinamourphong said yesterday. | | | | spa treatments and 20-per-cent less for airport |
| Occupancy is heading down to 30 per cent this | | | | transfers. This offer also comes with various |
| month (Thailand Holiday Homes is not!)- half of the | | | | stimulating recreational activities. |
| 60-per-cent rate seen last April, he said. | | | | The Ambassador Hotel Bangkok is offering three |
| Instead of hotels private self catering villas in | | | | nights of accommodation for the cost of two until |
| Pattaya enjoying a customers all around the | | | | October, while the Zeavola Resort on Krabi's Koh |
| world, with a perfect location, no surcharge, no | | | | Phi Phi is offering a complimentary choice of a |
| hotel restrictions and private swimming pools. | | | | 60-minute massage for one or two persons per |
| Niramon Makornpruttipong, regional manager for | | | | stay until June.(Big deal!) |
| administration and member-support services at | | | | The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) |
| Best Western International, said the hotel chain | | | | yesterday announced a new campaign called "12 |
| was offering 20-40-per-cent discounts at all of its | | | | months, 7 Stars, 9 Suns" to boost domestic |
| properties in the Kingdom for the rest of the | | | | tourism all year round. |
| year. | | | | TAT chairman Weerasak Kowsurat said the |
| Like other players, Best Western is also throwing | | | | TAT's board was reviewing if it would change the |
| in more amenities. | | | | advertising agency for foreign markets from |
| Erawan Group president and CEO Kasama | | | | McCann, as well as the marketing theme. He said |
| Punyagupta said the impact of the recent riots | | | | some foreign tour operators had stopped selling |
| was like that of the airport blockades last year. | | | | packages to Thailand. (That could be good news?) |
| "Hotels have been running 50-60-per-cent full, | | | | To allay possible concerns over the recent |
| which is 10-15 percentage points off last year's | | | | swine-flu scare in Mexico, 21 TAT offices |
| level," he said. "Over the next four weeks, this | | | | worldwide have issued a statement on Thailand's |
| most recent political unrest will no doubt put | | | | precautionary measures, using this opportunity to |
| pressure on hotels' occupancy rates in a similar | | | | buff up the Kingdom's tourism image. |
| pattern as to what happened after the airport | | | | Today, Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa will |
| closures." | | | | present a tourism rescue package that includes |
| The recently opened Le Meridien Chiang Mai is | | | | insurance coverage for foreign tourists and |
| reportedly cutting room rates more than 50 per | | | | preventive measures against the flu. |
| cent in order to draw tourists. | | | | Following the Songkran riots, 29 countries and |
| The Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa | | | | territories issued travel alerts for Thailand. Only |
| Resort is selling a holiday package to locals and | | | | three - France, Italy and Hong Kong - have |
| expat residents for Bt2,199 net per room per | | | | downgraded their warnings. |