2007-12-12

PB AIR LAUNCHES NEW BANGKOK-MAE HONG SON SERVICE

To meet peak season demand for travel to Mae Hong Son during Thailand’s cool season, PB Air will be launching a new Bangkok-Mae Hong Son service that will be offered every Tuesday and Saturday from 1 December 2007 to 1 March 2008 only.
Mae Hong Son, a remote picturesque town surrounded by mountainous terrain and scenic natural landscape, is ranked among Thailand's most popular holiday destinations for cool season travel for both Thai as well as foreign visitors.
This new Bangkok-Mae Hong Son service is a PB Air-Thai Airways International (THAI) code-sharing route and will be served by a 50-seater ERJ 145 aircraft.
Flights will depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok at 12.40 and arrive at Mae Hong Son Airport at 14.10. The return flight to Bangkok departs Mae Hong Son at 14.45 and arrives at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 16.15.
The fare for a one-way ticket is 3,100 baht* and 5,800 baht* for a return trip ticket. (*the fare includes airport tax and other charges and fees)
Contact information: PB Air Tel: +66 (0) 2261 0222Fax: +66 (0) 2261 0227E-mail: sales@pbair.com Web site: www.pbair.com

The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2008

ATF 2008
The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2008(ATF 2008), the annual travel industry summit of the 10 member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is to be held in Bangkok between 18-26 January, 2008.
The ASEAN Tourism' Forum (ATF) is one of the most significant annual tourism promotional events in Asia, and is hosted on a rotational basis among the ASEAN member countries. Thailand is honored to be playing host for the 2008 ATF exchange, which is the show's fifth time in Thailand since its establishment.
The fair is made up of numerous high-level events, including a meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers, a meeting of the ASEAN NTOs, as well as airline meetings, press briefings, a tourism conference, and the popular Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) trade fair.
Bearing the theme, "Synergy of ASEAN towards Dynamic Unity in Diversity," the annual gathering of high-level ASEAN tourism public and private sector officials, airlines, and hundreds of buyers of ASEAN tourism products is designed to showcase the best of ASEAN tourism products and services.
Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, TAT Governor said, “Thailand is proud to once again welcome all delegates to ATF 2008. We last hosted the ATF in 2000, the first one of the 21st century.
“By 2008, we expect that many of the growth-drivers, such as low-cost airlines, open skies, improved road and rail networks, will be in place”.
“Clearly the issues of the future will be managing the growth to come. This is going to be our biggest challenge and we expect the ATF 2008 to provide the industry with an appropriate forum to openly discuss these issues in pursuit of constructive, positive, and long-term solutions.”
Mrs Phornsiri said TAT is working with Thai Airways International, the ASEAN airlines, travel trade associations, and other public and private sector organizations to ensure the success of this event.
She said the delegates will also get to see many of the changes taking place in Thailand, such as the new niche market products called “Amazing Wonders of Thailand,” as well as the new Royal Initiative Discovery products highlighting the long-term value of His Majesty the King’s sufficiency economy concepts.
The official programme will begin on 18 January, 2008, with the meetings of the ASEAN Tourism Task Forces at Sofitel Central Hotel. The meetings of the ASEAN National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) will held on 19-20 January.
A half-day meeting of the NTOs of ASEAN, China, Japan and Korea (ASEAN+3) will be held on 20 January at the Sofitel Central Hotel. The ASEAN Tourism Ministers, Airlines, Hoteliers and Travel Agents will hold their respective meetings on 21 January, 2008.
The buyer-and-seller trade show, called TRAVEX, will be held between 22-25 January at the Challenger 2, Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre, the world’s largest column-free exhibition hall, Asia’s largest indoor exhibition centre and Thailand’s largest ballroom. About 400 sellers, 450 buyers, and 150 media are expected to attend.
Several complimentary pre- and post-tours are being organised by TAT together with Thai Airways and the private sector to take buyers and the media to various ASEAN destinations in line with the theme "Synergy of ASEAN Towards Dynamic Unity in Diversity."
Mrs Phornsiri said, “ASEAN member countries are making continuous improvements in our tourism products such as new destinations and facilities. These tours will help introduce these exciting developments.”
For more details and on-line registration, please check out www.atf2008thailand.com

PATA CEO Challenge 2008

What is the PATA CEO Challenge 2008?
It is the first opportunity for the entire travel and tourism industry in Asia Pacific to agree to a unified plan of action to confront climate change.
PATA's CEO Welcomes You
Peter de Jong
On behalf of PATA it is my pleasure to welcome you to this dedicated website of the PATA CEO Challenge 2008: Confronting Climate Change.
This website will be a key forum for communication for all the stakeholders involved in the CEO Challenge, and we look forward to a strong degree of interactivity between now and the event on April 29-30, 2008.
The PATA CEO Challenge will be the first time that leaders of all industry sectors in Asia Pacific, private and public, will come together under one roof to agree to a unified action to confront climate change.
We have made significant strides towards making the PATA CEO Challenge an unprecedented event for the travel and tourism industry.
We are thrilled to have secured the participation of 2007 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Dr RK Pachauri as a keynote speaker at the historic event.
Dr Pachauri is Chairman of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was named to share the prize with former US Vice President Al Gore.
In addition we are negotiating with a number of other leading international figures to become part of the programme.
Destination strategist Anna Pollock and global futurist Rohit Talwar are on board as strategic advisers and facilitators for the Challenge.
We believe the inaugural PATA CEO Challenge: Confronting Climate Change will define the way in which our industry conducts itself in the future with regard to this overarching issue.
By joining the Challenge in April, your invaluable contribution to the outcomes will ensure it is an event of great substance.
And you can start right now by leaving your thoughts and ideas in response to our news and blogs.
We welcome your interest and your feedback!

Peter de Jong
President and CEO
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
Email: ceochallenge(at)PATA.org.

From:www.ceochallenge.pata.org

Thai company is named Asia’s Leading Spa Consultancy

Horwath Spa Consulting has been awarded ‘Asia’s Leading Spa Consultancy’ at the World Travel Awards 2007. The awards based in the UK have been called the travel industry’s equivalent to the Oscars by the Wall Street Journal and are the most comprehensive recognition programme in the global travel industry. Sponsors of the 14th World Travel Awards, include BBC World and Amadeus, with voting done on-line by over 165,000 travel professionals in 200 countries worldwide.
Receiving the award were Naphalai Areesorn, Managing Director, and Directors Andrew Jacka and Rina Segal at a gala dinner in the plush Leela Palace Hotel, Bangalore. Horwath Spa Consulting has developed and managed spas for clients in Thailand, Italy, Turkey, Dubai and on board cruise ships. Naphalai and Andrew are active in the spa industry, with Andrew being the current President of the Thai Spa Association. This award for the Thai-based company is also seen as recognition for the leading role that Thailand plays in the global spa industry