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Nok Air flies Club F. Super Models to Phuket
TQ PR Bangkok
Nok Air, the Thai low fare airline, is joining with the
much talked about Club F. to fly the Club F. models and their crew, led by
“Luk-Ked” Metinee Kingpayome, to Phuket as they prepare Club F. Body
Paint 2005.
With the opening of its new route to Phuket and the
launching of the latest ground service innovation, “beach check-in
service”, Nok Air will provide comfort and convenience for Club F. models
and crew to Phuket.
 Joined
by super models: Lina Christensen, “Bow” Benjasiri Wattana,
“Luk-Mee” Rasamee Thongsiripraisri, and photographed by “Yai” Amart
Nimitpark, the Club F. Body Paint 2005 album is expected to be released by
mid December 2004.
Nok Air travelers have the option to make reservations
for their desired flights on the Nok Air website (www. nokair.co.th), which
provides them with the opportunity to choose their own seating, or they can
call the Nok Air call center (1318). Payments can be made online or via the
call center with a credit card, or at any 7-Eleven throughout Thailand
featuring Counter Service Plus, or at Siam Commercial Bank ATMs (for SCB
account holders), or at any Nok Air airport counter.
Nok Air has 3 daily flights to Phuket, as well as daily flights to Chiang
Mai, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, and Phitsanulok, operating Boeing 737-400s, each
with a capacity of 149.
THAI introduces special menu to celebrate H.M. the King’s Birthday
To celebrate His Majesty the King’s birthday on December
5, Thai Airways International (THAI) is offering a special in-flight menu
for first class passengers. Rainbow Trout fillets from the Doi Intanon Royal
Project Foundation will be served on all international flights departing
Bangkok International Airport December 1-23.
 Kanok
Abhiradee, THAI’s president, said that as part of the celebration of H.M.
the King’s birthday, also Thailand’s National Father’s Day, the
airline will serve Rainbow Trout fillet prepared in Isaan (Thai
Northeastern) style with Thai Jasmine rice for the main course.
Business and Economy Class passengers will be served with
Royal Projects’ mixed salad with River of Kings salad dressing or Royal
Orchid salad dressing, as the first course, followed by tab tim fish fillet
prepared in Isaan style and Thai jasmine rice for the main course.
In addition, THAI will serve ma-toom mousse cake topped
with Doi Tung macadamia nuts for all passengers.
The special in-flight menu will help introduce Thai
ingredients, and particularly those from the Royal Projects, to people
worldwide.
For more information, passengers may contact THAI’s
24-hour reservation office at tel. 0-2628-200.
Domestic tourism figures shoot above target
Domestic tourism figures for the first half of the year
exceeded the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s target, beating gloomy
projections about the state of the tourism industry following the avian flu
scare and violence in Thailand’s southern border region.
Statistics suggest that over 43 million visits were made
by domestic tourists over the first half of the year, up 5.32 percent from
the same period in 2003. But revenue from domestic tourism over this period
stood at over 138 billion baht, with average spending at 1,682 per day, a
drop of 8.9 percent from the previous year.
The TAT attributes the healthy figures to its heavy
tourism offensive, with a number of activities since the beginning of the
year designed to encourage domestic tourism. Other positive factors include
the birth of low-cost airlines and interesting new tourism products such as
spas.
TAT programs to encourage domestic tourism include
activities to promote day trips from Bangkok and to encourage people to
travel on weekdays. Even the country’s southern region, badly shaken by
violence, recorded steady domestic tourism growth over the first half of the
year. (TNA)
THAI AirAsia strengthens its
presence in Singapore
Additional flights to Phuket and Bangkok
On November 5, Thai AirAsia opened its first non-stop link
between Phuket and Singapore. With this new daily connection, Thai AirAsia
consolidates its presence in Singapore with four daily flights.
To celebrate the new route, Thai AirAsia launched a
promotion in September with 3,000 seats priced at S$0.29 (B. 7.20) for one
way travel between Singapore and Phuket. This promotion was the cheapest
fare never offered from Singapore by a low fare airline.
The standard Thai AirAsia cheapest current fare starts
from 900 baht, or S$49.99.
All quoted fares exclude airport taxes and fees.
Flights leave Phuket daily at 9:30 a.m., arriving in
Singapore at 12:10 p.m. local time. The return trip leaves Singapore at
12:45 p.m. and arrives back in Phuket at 1:35 p.m. local time. Flying time
is a little over an hour and a half.
Thai AirAsia also launched a third daily mid-day flight
from Bangkok to Singapore, bringing the number of weekly services to a total
of 21 flights in each direction.
Flights leave Bangkok daily at 7:10 a.m., 11:45 p.m. and
7:10 p.m., arriving in Singapore at 10:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.
respectively. Return flights leave Singapore at 11 a.m., 3:35 p.m. and 10:50
p.m., arriving back in Bangkok at 12:15 p.m., 4:55 p.m. and 12:15 a.m.
respectively. Flying time is around 2 and a quarter hours each way.
Imperial group appoints group general manager
Vorapong Muchaotai, formerly general manger
of the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel Chiang Mai, was recently appointed group
general manager Chiang Mai with responsibility for the Imperial Mae Ping
Hotel, the Imperial Chiang Mai Spa and Sport Club and Eurasia Hotel, Chiang
Mai.
Oriental holistic hideaway to open next month
Pata
The Oriental Bangkok has announced that the Mandarin
Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai will open on December 1. The hotel is 10
minutes from the Chiang Mai International Airport and five minutes from the
city center.
The hotel features 74 colonial suites, 66 private villas,
with some having plunge pools overlooking rice fields, and four themed
suites including a penthouse spa suite.
Rooms feature authentic museum quality artifacts. A
holistic center offers a Mandalay style 3,100 square meter spa including 35
treatment rooms, a health club, and tennis and squash courts.
Other facilities include a choice of stylish restaurants,
a Thai cooking school, and a Thai shopping village.
Conference and meeting facilities consist of the Royal
Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 600 people and a junior ballroom for
up to 200 people. There are two break-out rooms and a conference room for up
to 80 people. A variety of educational, cultural and children’s activities
are available. For further information check the website
www.mandarinoriental.com
Star Alliance kicks of Circle Asia fare
Pata
Star Alliance has launched the Circle Asia fare,
providing more choices and value for those traveling through North Asia,
Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific.
The fare, which became available for sale and travel on
November 1, can be used for a circular trip covering all three geographic
regions. The journey may commence at any destination served by a Star
Alliance member carrier in these three regions, but the origin and final
destination must be in the same country.
The fare is available at two mileage levels, 15,000 or
18,000 miles, and is offered for travel in first, business or economy class.
The itinerary may cover up to 18 sectors and must include at least two
stopovers, but only one stopover per city is permitted. Tickets issued on
this fare are valid for a maximum of six months and require a minimum stay
of three days.
The Circle Asia fare allows mileage accrual on any of the
member carrier’s frequent flyer programs. In addition, Star Alliance
member carriers offer a round the world fare and air passes for Asia,
Brazil, Europe, Japan, North America and the South Pacific. The Star
Alliance network also offers a special discount product for convention
organizers and delegates called Conventions Plus. For further information
visit www.staralliance.com or email: mediarelations @ staralliance.com
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