Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific Launches ‘You Choose’ Promotion for Meeting Planners

Promotion Puts Meeting Planners in Control and Invites Them to Choose Their Own Rewards

And Earn Bonus Starpoints for Every 25 Room Nights Booked

Starwood Hotels & Resorts today announced the launch of ‘You Choose’ Promotion where meeting planners get to choose 3 rewards out of 10 based on their meeting needs when they book meetings in any of the participating 150 Starwood’s hotels and resorts across Asia Pacific between now and end of February 2010 for stays until end of July 2010. Plus, meeting planners will receive an extra bonus when they book their meetings before 31 December 2009. Meeting planners can find more details on this promotion as well as a list of destinations and hotels at www.starwoodmeetings.com/youchoose.

“This is a great opportunity for meeting planners to enjoy savings and earn some extra rewards. Following the success we enjoyed when we launched SPG You Choose promotion in 2008, a similar offer for Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) – Starwood’s award-winning loyalty program, we developed a similar promotion for our meeting planners. Many of them are our SPG members too and they have also feedback to us about their preferences.” Said Alison Taylor, Vice President Sales for Starwood Asia Pacific. “‘You Choose’ promotion helps to stretch the meeting dollars, and at the same time reward them for their continued support to Starwood Hotels and Resorts,” added Taylor.
The rewards* include:
1. Double complimentary rooms allocation
2. Double complimentary room upgrade allocation
3. Complimentary suite upgrades
4. Free internet access in guest rooms
5. Free internet access in meeting rooms
6. A 10% saving on the meeting package
7. Free welcome reception
8. Menu upgrades
9. Double Starwood Preferred Planner points
10. A complimentary room prize voucher

Meeting planners get to choose an additional reward for bookings before 31 December 2009.

In addition, for every 25 room nights booked, meeting planners enjoy 2500 Starpoints® at time of booking. In the event that the meeting group size is reduced not less than 3 weeks prior to the arrival date, meeting planners can reduce the room block up to 25% without penalty.

‘You Choose’ promotion is available in many popular travel and meetings destinations including China, Japan, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Participating brands include aloft, Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Four Points by Sheraton, W and Le Méridien.

* Terms and conditions apply. Please visit www.starwoodmeetings.com/youchoose for the full terms and conditions.

www.starwoodmeetings.com is one of the most robust meetings-related websites in the industry.

Featuring a variety of attractive offers, rewards and recognition, and comprehensive search

options, it is an easy-to-use, one-stop resource for organising events of any scale. An industry-first MICE widget, which sits on the desktop of event organisers, provides organisers with the most relevant information on promotions, meetings packages and updates within the shortest time.

dusitD2 baraquda pattaya: Asia’s only Finalist at FX Awards 2009

Pattaya, Thailand – The dusitD2 baraquda pattaya was recognised as one of the Best Hotel Designs worldwide at the FX International Interior Design Awards 2009 ceremony organised by FX Design Magazine of the United Kingdom and held on 24 November 2009 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.


FX Magazine selected dusitD2 baraquda pattaya as a finalist in the hotel category, the judging panel of industry experts declaring the resort hotel to be “creative, functional and welcoming, especially for its size”. The other 2009 finalists included W Hotel downtown, Atlanta; The W, New York; Andels’s Lodz; Andel’s Berlin; and Boundary, London, which was the winner. Finalists were selected based on aesthetic appeal, practicality and functionality of design.

“We are honoured to have been selected as a finalist for the FX International Interior Design Awards 2009,” said Mr. Paolo Randone, General Manager of dusitD2 baraquda pattaya. “We strive to be as distinctive as we can and we appreciate that our efforts are recognised.”

The prestigious FX International Interior Design Awards is organized by FX Magazine, the leading UK commercial interiors publication. The FX International Interior Design Awards have been celebrating excellence in design for the last ten years, with previous winners including some of the biggest names in international design.

Just a 90-minute drive from Bangkok and located within Pattaya’s entertainment and shopping district, the 72-room hotel is at the doorstep of Pattaya’s exciting caf้ scene and a short ferry ride to the white sand beaches of Koh Larn (Coral Island).

Celebrate an enchanting festive season with friends and family at Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers

Celebrate an enchanting festive season with friends and family at Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers. Join in a world of fun as you create new memories through the evening’s delicious food and superb entertainment.

Christmas’ Eve

This Christmas Eve, choose from four fantastic dining options. Immerse your family and friends in etc…on the river’s vast array of special Christmas Eve buffet featuring the traditional dishes for those with firm favorites as well as an extensive selection of innovative and intriguing dishes from around the world. Alternatively, relax at Sambal’s bar with your favorite drink as you feast on a selection of our fresh assorted premium seafood, meat and vegetable, grilled Balinese style. For those looking for a more intimate dining experience, share the moment with your loved one at Bangkok’s first Italian restaurant, Giorgio’s as the scrumptious Italian set menu and the sweet hums of the carols set the mood. For those seeking authentic Thai cuisine with a beautiful surrounding, dine at the legendary Thara Thong where a set menu especially conceived for Christmas Eve will be sure not to disappoint.

Santa Claus and Santa Rina will visit each venue to delight the children and those still young at heart, whilst they sing along to their favorite Christmas song with the Christmas Carols.
Dine at:

etc…on the river Christmas Eve International buffet dinner for THB 2,900++ per person.
Sambal with an Western Set Menu for dinner at THB 2,900++ per person.
Giorgio’s with an Italian Set Menu for dinner at THB 2,900++ per person.
Thara Thong for a taste of authentic Thai food for THB 2,000++ per person.
Christmas’ Day

Enjoy a relaxing brunch on Christmas day with your loved ones as you share a magical moment with them. The spectacular Christmas brunch will feature a variety of seasonal specialties such as roasted butterball turkey with bread, meat and chestnut stuffing and cranberry sauce, potatoes, Christmas pudding and much more. Sing, laugh and cheer as Santa Clause, Santa Rina, seasonal music, a trio band, magic show and dog shows add to the festive fun!

Christmas brunch is at THB 2,500++ per person and will include a free flow of sparkling wine, house wine, blended juices and soft drinks. The event will take place from 11:30hrs until 15:00hrs.
New Year’s Eve

This New Year’s Eve, choose from four outstanding dining and entertainment options at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers. Welcome the year 2010 in style at our elegant New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner on the Riverside Terrace. The beautiful setting beside the Chao Phraya River makes it one of the best locations in the city to celebrate. With a floating stage on the river, two live bands, dancing shows, DJ, and a spectacular fireworks display, it will be a night to remember! A la carte dining is also available on the upper deck of etc…on the river. Gala Dinner THB 7,300 ++ person includes a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne and a party set. Giorgio’s will present an authentic Italian set dinner whilst your family and friends watch on-screen entertainment on the terrace for THB 6,900++ per person or in the restaurant for THB 4,000 ++ per person including a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne and party set. Thara Thong will serve an exquisite set dinner full of delicious Thai cu isine created especially for the New Year’s Eve by our talented chefs. Dine on the terrace THB 6,900++ per person with on-screen entertainment or in the restaurant with live Thai classical music and shows for THB 4,000++ per person including a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne and a party set.

The Lobby Lounge is the place to be for the countdown to the year 2010. Join our fun party and groove to the sounds of the Smile Trio Band until the early hours. Cover charge of Baht 1,000 ++ per person from 22:00 onwards, including one complimentary drink, a party set and pass-around canap้s until midnight.
New Year’s Day - January 1st, 2010

Begin the New Year with the ones you love at etc…on the river. An exceptional buffet brunch featuring a wide selection of both international and local cuisines will be complimented by free flow sparkling wine, house wine, blended juice and soft drinks, all for Baht 1,800 ++.
Dress code for all venues is smart casual. Children from 5-12 years half price.
Prices are subject to 10% service charge and applicable government tax.

THE ART OF STAYING at VIE Hotel Bangkok

MGallery, a selection of exceptional hotels. The MGallery collection presents hotels that are remarkable in their personality. On this site our hotels are categorized according to four themes: Vision, Design, History and Location.

The Designed Life

VIE Hotel Bangkok is an experience in the designed life. Perfectly positioned in the heart of the dynamic Bangkok landscape, VIE reflects the archetypal life of this modern city, complete with its energy, character and charisma. Offering truly unique accommodation in the midst of this metropolis, VIE delivers individual style and personality. Cutting-edge architecture and interior design comprising panoramic views, rich textures and bold colours, are complemented by bespoke service and superior business facilities, providing the quintessential Bangkok experience

Defining a new style of travel and leisureThrough J+H Boiffils’ world-class architectural vision, VIE captures the 21st century spirit of the city and defines a new style of travel and leisure. Natural and exotic materials, evocative lighting, vivid colours and unique artworks combine to create an eclectic and distinctive style within an alluringly exclusive atmosphere. Impeccable creative detail flows effortlessly throughout the hotel’s public areas, rooms and suites – all of which boast seamless design, vast windows and arresting city views, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in this sumptuous setting.
The richness of detail

Sip on a welcome drink in your spacious room while pausing to absorb the character of Bangkok encapsulated in the expansive view. Take in the heady aromas of exotic flowers and enjoy prestigious Etienne Aigner products in the vast bathroom. Indulge in one of the many exclusive VIE culinary experiences. Enjoy the VIE Grand Breakfast in the guest rooms or in the restaurant, experience the tradition of Oleang – Thai Coffee making – while savouring the VIE “High Tea”, or indulge the taste buds to VIE Thai Tapas. It is the richness of detail that truly makes the difference.
VIE City Business Experience

A cultural break or a nature escape: discover and explore the hidden treasures of your holiday destination.
The package rates are 4,200++ for single and 4,600++ for double occupancy.
Our offer includes:
- Accommodation at Deluxe Suite room.
- Grand Breakfast at VIE Wine & Grill.

- 20 min. massage and special discounts provided for other spa menus available at VIE SPA

- The pleasures of exploring with a day pass Sky Train ticket or an excursion or an activity depending on your destination.

Best way to book hotels

       What's the best way to book a hotel? That's becoming trickier as hotels try everything they can to drum up business in one of their most challenging years.Average daily hotel rates in the United States are expected to drop 9.7 per cent for the year, to US$96.43, according to Smith Travel Research, which tracks the industry. That would be the steepest year-over-year decrease since Smith began tracking hotel data in 1987. To fill rooms, hotels are offering special sales on their own web sites, turning to third-party sites like Expedia.com to sell excess inventory and even quietly acquiescing to travellers who call up or walk in and haggle.
       "It would not be unusual for travellers to find rates as much as 40 per cent below last year if they're a little bit resourceful and flexible," said Bjorn Hanson, a hospitality professor at New York University."Each hotel is trying to manage its inventory and occupancy and rate uniquely," he said, which creates more opportunities for travellers.
       To see how low hotels will go, I recently tested out four booking methods across a range of properties in New York City - one of the most expensive hotel markets in the United States - by comparing prices for a Thursday night in October on the hotel's own website,Expedia.com and the reservation phone line. For good measure, I also hoofed it to the hotel itself and haggled with the front desk. In each instance I did not reveal my affiliation with The New York Times and presented myself as just another traveller.Of the five hotels I compared, only one - the venerable Four Seasons New York - stuck to the same rate. It was a whopping US$855 a night for a "moderate room" on the hotel's website,US$855 on Expedia.com and US$855 when I called. What happened when I showed up in person?"Eight-hundred-fifty-five dollars," a front-desk clerk assured me in a thick Central European accent."That would be our cheapest, ma'am." he added, when I demurred over the price. A female clerk nodded in agreement, hardly looking up from her computer to glance at the dishevelled traveller who dared to ask for a discount. Harrumph."Alright," I said in the most exasperated tone I could muster, then quickly pivoted on my heels
       for a deliberate exit.
       The Ritz-Carlton New York, Cen'Most hotels offer
       tral Park was more accommodating,a best-rate at least on the phone. Initially, the reservation agent quoted US$795 for guarantee that a king - the same rate found on Expedia and its own web site. But promises guests
       when I said,"I was hoping for somean additional 25
       dropped the rate US$100, showing thing lower," she immediately per cent discount that even luxury hotels are willing to cut a deal if you ask. But that's if a lower rate is against Ritz-Carlton policy, I later found within 24
       for comment."The policy of the learned when I called the company hours of booking'Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is for rate integrity across all channels of distribution whether made online,toll-free reservations or through travel professionals," Vivian Deuschl,a spokeswoman, said."The hotel erred in quoting a rate lower than US$795."
       But was it a mistake? About a week later, the reservation line once again extended the US$100 discount when I asked if there was anything cheaper than the initial US$795 quoted. So it can pay to pick up the phone.
       A phone call to the Westin New York at Times Square also paid off. First the reservation agent quoted a rate of US$479 a night,about US$10 higher than the hotel's web site (Expedia was sold out).But the reservation agent offered to search for corporate or other discounts. My AAA membership brought the rate down to US$455.08 - something that did not occur to me while I was searching on the hotel's site. I also went in person to the hotel, but by the time I arrived at 7pm, it was completely sold out.
       In one case, a web search yielded the best price. Expedia offered the cheapest rate at the Courtyard New York Manhattan/Times Square South at US$322 a night, US$57 less than the price for the same room type on the hotel's own web site, the reservations line or at the front desk.
       Expedia said it doesn't try to outdo its suppliers."We don't view ourselves as competing with the hotel itself," said Tim MacDonald,general manager of Expedia.com. But he acknowledged that it happens sometimes, as when a hotel offers Expedia a low rate and shuts down the sale on its own web site.
       John Wolf, a spokesman for Marriott, which owns the Courtyard,said the hotel reloads its rates on Thursdays, so there may have been a lag in the case of my discount."What happened to you was a fluke," he said.
       Like most major hotel chains, Marriott offers a best-rate guarantee that promises guests an additional 25 per cent discount if a lower rate is found within 24 hours of booking. But that policy applies only to its own booking channels, not third-party web sites. That might explain why the Courtyard's gray-haired desk clerk frowned and shook his head when I slapped the Expedia printout on the counter and asked if the hotel could match it.
       But who, you might ask, really books a hotel by walking in the same day with suitcase in hand. More people than you might think.On a typical weeknight, the Courtyard gets 15 to 20 walk-ins for its 244 rooms. Still, even if you booked well in advance, it's worth inquiring about the cheapest rate that evening before you check in.
       It was pouring rain by the time I arrived at the upscale 60 Thompson Hotel in SoHo. Maybe my drenched state worked in my favour because even though the lowest rate listed on the hotel's web site had been US$499 for a room with a king-size bed, the front desk knocked off another US$20 when I asked for a walk-up rate.(Still,it would have been cheaper had I booked by phone earlier in the day. A reservation agent was able to find a queen for US$459, but by the time I stopped by the hotel that evening, the queen had already been taken.)
       It turns out that 60 Thompson has a more liberal pricing policy than some of the large chain hotels in the test. While the boutique hotel group also strives for rate parity across booking systems,Stephen Brandman, co-owner of Thompson Hotels, said that rates greatly depend on availability and seasonality and change several times a day."We have an average occupancy of over 90 per cent year round," he said,"and this can only be achieved by lowering prices when demand requires and raising prices when demand permits."
       The lesson? No matter what kind of hotel you're booking, it pays to shop around. To get a baseline, first compare rates online at the hotel's web site and at sites like Expedia. Then pick up the phone and ask for a deal. The reservation agent may discover a lower rate you couldn't find online on your own.
       Also, consider signing up for an organisation like AAA. A membership costs about US$58 including a one-time enrollment fee and tends to pay for itself with discounts of 5 to 15 per cent off the best available rate at many hotel chains. And for due diligence, ask the front desk for its best rate before you check in. There's nothing to lose by asking, and you may end up with a lower rate or a better room.

A fatal moment of passion

       Activist Nicholas Snow personalises issue of HIVin Thailand with his own account of the virus
       Nicholas Snow, actor-journalist-activist and founder of ActionEqualsLife.com, will happily discuss any aspect about himself with anyone willing to listen, especially the normally taboo fact that he is HIV-positive. Instead of hiding hiscondition,Snow embraces it, taking the HIV-awareness cause to a whole new level in Thailand and beyond.
       At a press conference held at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) in October last year, Snow announced that he was indeed HIVpositive. A limited awareness of the virus has existed in Thailand since its first appearance in 1984, however, it has never been personalised in such a way."The reason I decided to tell my story is because there is a great invisibility of people in Thailand with HIV, and basically no one [or very few] people putting their name and face and story out there to help educate, inform and enlighten."
       To promote awareness of HIV, Snow openly talks about the scenario that resulted in him contracting the virus. It occurred in August,2007, during two dates with men whom he had met on the internet. Both men had announced themselves as being HIV-negative; Snow has talked of his "false sense of security about remaining HIV negative" in the past, a sentiment in which he now embodies the dangers of.
       Last Thursday night at the Bangkok Opera HIV Awareness event held at the Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok on Sukhumvit Soi 18, Snow once again thrust himself into the spotlight to further the public's understanding of the virus, which now affects over one million (reported cases) in the Kingdom alone.
       During the event, Snow spoke of his health openly and honestly before performing the musical number,Beautiful In My Eyes , for the evening's guests."I think it's important to put a face to the [problem of HIV],...to personalise it," said Vanina Sucharitkul, a performer of the evening and niece of Somtow Sucharitkul, the host of the event.
       The awareness project is a three-year plan that aims to further the understanding of HIV by uniting child performers both with and without the virus on stage in performances so they will form friendships and show the world that HIV-infected children can exist in the mainstream arena without any stigma or handicap.
       Despite his HIV-positive status, Snow considers himself to be at the height of his career. As the awareness event was being held, the film Suay Samurai was premiering in cinemas across Bangkok. Snow appears in the film as a CIA agent, making him the first openly gay actor to appear in a Thai movie. He also appears in the film,Last Tango In Bangkok , playing the lead role, and is featured in numerous YouTube submissions, ranging from the emotionally moving to the very entertaining.
       "People say I do this to become famous," he told 'Outlook'."But I was already famous before this happened."
       He is now in the process of writing a book,Life Positive: A Journey from the Centre of My Heart , which he says will be completed and ready to be published as his life story unfolds further.
       Snow has written and recorded a dance single, for global release later this year, titled The Power to be Strong . The song aims to promote HIV testing and safer sex.
       In a mission statement made in the extensive selfpromotional material available on the man, he states:"So here's what I am doing. I am working so that millions of people who are coming to know my face and name as a result of my entertainment career to know that I am a person living with HIV. I want to be able to - on a consistent basis - share my own mistakes and to encourage people to share key messages they need to hear [like the importance of HIV testing and safer sex]."
       On his website, ActionEqualsLife.com, he talks of "expressing the truth of our lives and transforming the planet".
       So I've heard ...
       Off on his annual sales trip to London for the World Travel Mart is Victor Sukseree, the general manager of Dusit Thani Hotel Hua Hin. Selling the hotel during the economic low must be a cinch to him compared to the stress of hosting the Asean Summit a few weeks ago.
       The security alone was a major headache,understandably though, after the mishaps of the earlier summit in Pattaya.
       The first incident, which underlined this security measure for Victor, was the arrival of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's cortege. Victor was waiting to welcome the prime minister at the conference hall, but when the cortege arrived, no one got out of the car. It was a decoy,and the cortege finally dispensed its precious cargo at the nearby Benjarong Thai Restaurant, causing Victor to sprint 500m down to catch up and make his official welcome.
       And if anyone says the prime minister doesn't care for foie gras, don't you believe them. Having been forewarned of the prime minister's supposed "culinary dislikes", the hotel skipped this dish for him at the working luncheon. But noting that everyone else was being served foie gras, the prime minister inquired why he was being missed out. Waiters hurriedly brought over a portion, which he consumed with relish.

Charanachitta family eyes hotel development

       The Charanachitta family, a major shareholder in Italthai Industrial and The Oriental Hotel (Thailand), is expanding into the real estate business and plans to become a leading hospitality developer within the next nine years.
       Seven projects to be developed next year include three serviced apartments - The Oriental Residences on Wireless Road, Amari Residences in Soi Soonvijai and Amari Residences Hua Hin. Others are a three-star hotel on Koh Samui and another three-star hotel and two mixeduse projects in Phuket.
       Amari Estate Co, established early this year with 400 million baht in registered capital, will handle all the projects and will open sales next week for its first property, Amari Residences Hua Hin.
       The company plans to spend 4.4 billion baht to build the first two projects in Bangkok and its residences in Hua Hin,said CEO Yuthachai Charanachitta.
       The budget for the Phuket and Samui projects is yet to be finalised.
       The mixed-use Amari Residences in Hua Hin will be a flagship and business model for other projects, he said. But Phuket is the company's main target because of the high potential of the island's tourism industry.
       "We want to grow our real estate business firmly," he said.
       "The [Charanachitta] family has many land plots in various destinations. Moreover, our construction cost is lower than other developers because we can have support from Italian-Thai Development,the country's biggest contractor, and its subsidiaries."
       Mr Yuthachai is a grandson of ITD's founder, Chaiyuth Karnasuta. He recalls that his father, Adisorn, told him that the population would continue to increase but land would not, so the family should enhance the value of its land.
       Most future projects will be mixed-use like the Hua Hin property because profits from condominium sales will help finance the hotel business, said Mr Yuthachai.
       The company is targeting the threeand four-star segment because the investment per room is lower than for five-star hotels, he said.
       The investment cost for a four-star hotel is estimated at about 6 million baht per room, with room rates of 2,000 to 3,000 baht per night. The investment for a five-star hotel is about 10 million baht per room, with rates of 4,000 to 5,000 baht per night, he said.
       Amari Co, the Charanachitta family's core hotel firm, plans to set up a new hotel management company to supervise its hotels in both local and international markets in the second quarter of 2010.The new company will manage the hotels for Amari Estate as well.
       "We are working on this plan. We will offer three hotel brands: five-, four, and three-star hotels.
       "We expect to sign management contracts for at least three or four hotels in the first year of operation," said Mr Yuthachai.
       Amari Co also plans to take over hotel management companies in neighbouring countries next year to pave the way for the Amari brand to go overseas, he said.

Work starts on Trump's Scottish golf resort

       Work on a new golf resort in Scotland being built by US tycoon Donald Trump started on Wednesday, despite fierce opposition from local people.
       The 1-billion pound (Bt55-billion) coastal resort in Balmedie, near Aberbeen in northeast Scotland, will feature two golf courses, a hotel and around 1,000 holiday homes.
       But several local people are still refusing to sell their homes to make way for the site amid a high-profile campaign backed by Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton, who lives in the region.
       Trump's son Donald Trump Junior, who was at Balmedia as the work started, said he hoped golfers would be able to tee off between 18 months' and two years' time.
       Earlier, he described the protestors as "teenage people", accusing them of "little childish stunts".
       "We are trying to deliver a golf course that can really be looked at as the greatest golf course anywhere in the world," he told BBC radio on Wednesday.
       "The vast majority of the people of the northeast want this project to go forward and have been incredible supporters of us."
       But opponents say the local council is giving Trump favaourable treatment because of his wealth and fame, boosted in recent years by his role as host US reality television show "The Apprentice".
       The "Tripping Up Trump" group is threatening legal action against the plans, which they say will also be bad for the local environment.
       Officials insist they have acted within the rules.
       Initial work on the site, which got the green light from councillors on Tuesday, will involve planting marram grass in a bid kto stabilise a large area of sand, erecting fencing on dunes and carryifng out preparatory earthworks.
       The golf development is backed by Scotland's devolved government, run by the pro-independence Scottish National Party.
       Scotland's tourism and economic development agencies also support it, saying it will attract high-spending visitors from aroung the world.

Reaching a golden age

       It seems both Surichai Wun'gaeo and the folks who came to shower him with a blessing last Friday were caught by the same surprise: Has the man already crossed that golden threshold into the post-retirement years?
       Judging from the ever-youthful, ever-dynamic personality of Surichai, however, the Chulalongkorn sociologist will probably remain as extremely busy as he has been over the last few decades.
       After all, none of his friends and associates would ever want him to slow down,anyway. One of the few socially engaged academics in this country, Surichai has been involved in a wide range of public campaigns, both educational as well as political, to raise awareness about the alarming levels of social inequality and risks induced by globalisation.Thanks to his ardent, often behind-the-scene support,several crucial issues have been raised in the public arena, particularly through seminars held at Thailand's oldest university, and certain efforts subsequently embarked in the bids to alleviate those problems.
       Thus the joke by Saree Ongsomwang, manager of the Foundation for Consumers Thailand, that there were "probably about [representatives of] three hundred nongovernment organisations" who attended Surichai's retirement party, may not be entirely unfounded. The event held at Chula's Thewanaruemitr Hall saw a truly eclectic group of well-wishers - from slum residents to jet-set scholars, former National Human Rights Commissioners, a senator, activists NEWS working on consumer, environmental and international trade issues, to human rights advocate Angkhana Neelapaichit, Kanchanaburi's iron lady Phinant Chotirossrenee, and Prachuap Khiri Khan citizen activist Jintana Kaew-khao.
       In her article in a book published as a tribute to Surichai,titled Jark Rak Ya Su Lokapiwat (From Grassroots to Globalisation), Angkhana noted her deep appreciation for "the medium-built man with a crop of dishevelled hair"who has been providing her with constant moral and tangible support since her husband lawyer Somchai Neelapaichit went missing more than five years ago.
       But Angkhana was not alone. Phinant of Kanchanaburi said Surichai was a key helper in her attempts to publicise the issue of illegal dumping of toxic chemicals at an army base in her hometown following a big fire that burned down the warehouses at slum Khlong Toey in 1991. Later, a working group was set up to push for national safety precautionary measures back when the issue was still given little attention by relevant state authorities.
       The public mind demonstrated by this Lamphun-born man extends to the personal level as well. During the dinner talk last week, Jintana recalled how she went around with her peers from Prachuap Khiri Khan to explain to the public why a decade ago, they had to stage a road blockade on Phetkasem Highway as part of their protest against coalfired power plant projects. Surichai dug into his own pocket and offered 2,000 baht to the villagers to cover part of their transport fees to Bangkok. Jintana said she even thought to herself back then how "this uncle was so kind and generous to us".
       One remarkable trait concurred by Surichai's friends and associates is how the man does not seem to have a big chip on his shoulder. One of his assistants wrote he once offered her an apology, an unusual move by someone as senior as him. A few students at Chulalongkorn expressed invariably their gratitude for Surichai's efforts to expose them to reallife experiences in rural Thailand. In particular, his openmind approach that nurtures each student to develop his or her world views without any interference or dominance by any particular school of thought.
       The man's non-partisanship has won him both friends and critics in several corners. An article by the FTA Watch Group, a coalition of NGOs working on repercussions of free trade, mentioned that Surichai had to brave a storm of criticism against his decision to accept a seat at the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) set up after the October 19,2006 coup d'etat, following his belief that at least he should try to represent the marginalised people in Parliament during the interim military-appointed regime.(Surichai eventually tendered an early resignation having witnessed how the NLA rushed to approve a number of laws that he said would jeopardise the country down the road.)
       Despite an early downpour on Friday, the party kept growing as the evening dragged on. Guests showed up with a variety of delicacies that turned the pot luck dinner into a genuine feast. The mood of the event was set by a mix of serious discussions on social injustice and playful jibes at the centre of the party, Surichai. But the retired director of the Social Research Institute apparently took in every teasing word with a big boyish smile.
       Even his wife and colleague, Chantana Banpasirichote,chipped in her share of comical anecdotes. She said her husband has been so unbelievably busy that he has never stepped into the back part of the house they have lived in for years. Considering that after his retirement, Surichai will move on to take charge of a new centre on peace study and conflict resolution, also at Chulalongkorn, among the other numerous hats he's still wearing, what she'd now like to offer to him would, she said, be a key to a condominium nearer to the city. That would certainly enable the active man to dig his nose ever deeper into public affairs. And who would dare say that Surichai has reached his retirement years?
       -Vasana Chinvarakorn
       Shop till you drop
       Lending its name nicely to this column is the NewsMakers group who are preparing their 4th Clutter Sale, to take place this coming Saturday at the Four Seasons, Bangkok.
       It all started when this particular group of friends, all of
       whom are in the related business of making Makers news, got together at one of their regular chatty lunches and decided they all shopped too much and had nice things lying around the house not really being used.
       They had all bought nice clothes or bags which had been used once, maybe twice, and are collecting dust in the corner of the closet somewhere. That's where the idea of the Clutter Sale came about. The first Clutter Sale, held at the Four Seasons, Bangkok, proved to be a huge success, and a nice sum of money was raised for the National Cancer Institute as part of the Cancer Care Run held annually by the hotel. Preparations are now in full swing for the event this weekend, with tables being finalised and vendors furiously turning their houses upside down to put together the things they plan to put up for sale.
       Among the vendors are Kai Boutique, Melanie Giles Clapp, MR Maluli Vorawan, Agalico (ML Poomchai Chumbala), Nithinan Arungvongse na Ayudhaya, Chalermnit (Dr Parichart Jumsai), Alisara Sirichoomsang, Shane Suvikapakornkul, Krisadawan Hongladarom, International Women's Club, Arlene Rafiq, Chatchanit Mahaguna, ML Nandhika Vorawan, Tipaporn Ajanant, Vee Mar, Delia Kang,Franza Chakrabandhu and Rudi Crosley.
       The goods sold are primarily second-hand items but in almost new condition. Past events have seen, among others,items such as brand-name goods, vintage clothes, fashion accessories, jewellery, sports equipment, and even cars,change hands. The event has become a much-awaited fun occasion for both vendors and shoppers alike. For this year's event, a Diplomats' Table has been set aside for items donated by the diplomatic community, a Brand Name table for luxury items, and a lucky draw will be held for a chance to win attractive prizes, with tickets priced at 40 baht each.
       Be sure to go early to pick a cue card for the Fortune Telling booth as well! This year's beneficiary will be the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer, as part of the hotel's Cancer Care Run once again.
       For those interested in selling items there are a few tables available. Otherwise, just be there to shop till you drop!

Vienna Mozart Trio gala concert

       The Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok will host a gala concert,"Haydn Anniversary 2009", to be performed by the Vienna Mozart Trio, on October 21 at the Grand Ballroom of the hotel. The event will feature a 90-minute recital by the internationally acclaimed Auner family, namely Irina (piano), Daniel (violin) and Diethard (Cello). Their repertoire includes works by Haydn, Brahms, Schirk and Schumann. The Vienna Mozart Trio is known around the world and has performed on many prestigious stages from Asia to Europe. The Haydn Anniversary 2009 Concert is sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank in association with the Rotary Club of Bangkok and the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok.Proceeds will go to community-related projects under the patronage of the Rotary Club of Bangkok.
       Tickets for 'Haydn Anniversary 2009' are 2,000 baht each. For reservations, contact the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok on 02-254-1234 ext 4324/5, from 9am to 5pm on weekdays,9am to noon on Saturdays.

GROUP PLANS MORE HOTELS IN BANGKOK AND PHUKET

       Ritz-Carlton plan to manage at least three more luxury hotels in Thailand - one in Phuket by 2013 and two in Bangkok by 2015.
       "We are negotiating with developers to open more hotels in Thailand," Mark DeCocinis, regional vice president for Asia-Pacific, said yesterday.
       The market here has potential to grow, particularly at the high end, he said.
       The Phuket property will be under the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Hotel brand.
       In Bangkok, one Ritz-Carlton Hotel will be located on the Chao Phya River and the other in the city centre.
       The group will soon open its first residence in a prime Bangkok area, the Sathorn-Chong Nonsee intersection.
       "The group expects that tourism will rebound next year. The opening of new hotels here will help us to tap that growth," he said.
       The group plans to increase its hotels in Asia from 35 per cent of the total at present to 45 per cent in the future.
       The group will open its first hotel in Thailand, the Phulay Bay-A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, on December 22.
       The Singha Beer and beverage producer, the Bhirombakdi family, owns and developed the property at a cost of Bt3 billion.
       Estelita Sebeto, hotel general manager, said Ritz-Carlton is world famous for its luxury hotels, resorts and residences. The Reserve is the first brand to serve international high-end travellers.
       The opening rates range from Bt19,550-Bt68,000, subject to 18.7-per-cent service charge and tax.
       The published prices will be Bt100,000-Bt300,000 per night.
       Ritz-Carlton operates 73 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean.
       More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe with future openings including the Dubai International Financial Centre in the United Arab Emirates, Dove Mountain in Tucson, Arizona, and Lake Tahoe in California.

       "The group plans to increase its hotel in Asia from 35 per cent of the total at present to 45 per cent in future. It will open its first hotel in Thailand, the Phulay Bay-A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, on December 22.

UNEARTHING A GEN IN AYUTTHAYA

       My several trips to Thailand's old capital over the years have always been disappionting. Nothing could be more magical than the atmosphere of the grand ruined palaces and wats, but the mundane suroundings of my hotel a always shatters the spell. And adding to their lack of character is the fact that most hotels are located a good distance from Ayutthaya's heritage sites.
       Thankfully, on my last expedition I made a discovery to change all that. There's a new kid on the block than offers modern comforts a stone's throw from the richest history in Siam.
       Just across the road from the 290-hectare Ayutthaya Historical Park is I-Dia on the River, a boutique hotel with a perfect view of Wat Putthaisawan on the south bank of the Chao Phraya. The temple is said to have been where the founder of Ayutthaya, King Ramathibodi I, made plans for his opulents new capital.
       The hotel's tasteful mix of the old and the new reflects the strength of the Kingdom today-modern and worldly but still in touch with its historical roots.
       The first thing I noticed on arrival is the classical touch that craftsmen have lent to the hotel's hallways and rooms. I aske dthe owners where they found the wood-carvings on the front desk, the ornate hangers and mirror in my room and the chandeliers in the cafe'. Bangkok's Chatuchak weekend market came the surprising reply, though they stayed quiet on how simple flea-market finds could be polished up to something so special.
       Every element of the hotel is designed to reflect its historic surroundings."I-uKia" for example is Ayutthaya's old spelling, while the rooms are each named after a famous ruler of the kingdon. A snippet about my room's "ruler"is written on the red key chain: "Bayinnaung(Known in Portuguese as Braginoco) was the king of the Taungoo Dynasty in Burma. He was revered in the country and is best known for unifying the kingdom an dexpanding his empire to incorporate the neighbouring Shan State, Siam and Laos."
       The well leading to the hotel's tall gate uses the same type of bricks as Ayutthaya's archaeological treasures, giving the illusion that it's an extension on the ruined sites. At the entrance, a set of Benjarong jars displayed in a glass case not only shows the owners'personal passion for collecting antiques but reflects Siam'
s amcient trading history, especially with China. Each of I-uDia's eight guestrooms has an additional set of jars that were unearthed during archaeological digs in Ayutthaya.
       The cafe houses coffee-table books ranging in subject from travel to Thai history. The owners'own book on Benjarong jars in Thailand will be joining them on the shelves soon.
       I-uDia occasionally hosts inhouse cultural programmes to acquaint guests with Buddhist meditation techniques, Siamese history, antiques, yoga or traditional Thai music. During my stay, I listened to Dr Edward van Roy, an expert on the lod kingdom, give interesting insights on the city's grand palace and its rulers.

AMARI TO SPREAD WINGS INTERNATIONALLY

       Bangkok based hotel-management firm the Amari Group plans to operate an additional 40 hotels and residences in Thailand and abroad over the next decade.
       The move is a bid to enter the international arena.
       The group on Monday revealed a 10-year, US$44.1-million (Bt1.47 billion) expansion plan starting from this year.
       "We now have 11 properties in Thailand - Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Chang, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Krabi - and plan to operate 40 more here and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific by 2018," said president and CEO Peter Henley, who joined Amari last October.
       Henley said driving the group's growth outside of Thailand was his top priority.
       "This is a good time to grow abroad, after four successful decades in Thailand. The group will focus on hotel management rather than investment," he said.
       A real-estate lawyer by training and having previously worked at Morgan Stanley, Raffles, Pacific Star and Holiday Inn Worldwide, Henley said the Amari Group was negotiating with hotel operators in India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia to manage hotels and residences.
       Domestically, the group plans to manage its first residence next year, the Amari Residences Bangkok. It will also to manage the Amari Hua Hin, a hotel and residence scheduled to open in late 2011. These properties are being developed by the Ital-Thai Group, which owns Amari.
       Meanwhile, the Amari Group today will unveil its new international logo, with "Colours & Rhythms" replacing "Hotels & Resorts".
       Amari will renovate its Amari Watergate Bangkok and Amari Coral Beach Phuket hotels next year. These will be the first properties in the group to encapsulate the new brand. At the same time, Amari will roll out new services and products reflecting the brand's spirit throughout its entire portfolio of hotels and resorts.
       The group will spend Bt60 million of the 10-year budget to reintroduce itself locally and communicate with international markets.
       Henley said the group was considering creating new brands to compete with budget hotels, which were proliferating in Thailand and throughout the region.
       He said while the group understood today's hospitality industry was competitive, it believed long-term development was the way to take the company forward.
       "The hotel industry is expected to have fully recovery by 2011, but the next few years will see many changes for us at both the brand and the property levels, and we must continue to set new standards in modern Asian hospitality," he said.

Dusit spruces up for Asean

       Dusit International has spent 200 million baht to renovate facilities at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin to welcome heads of state and delegates attending the 15th Asean Summit.
       The focus was on the dining rooms and the Dusit Club and Lounge, which will welcome heads of state from 16 countries attending the Asean Summit from Oct 23-25.
       The Dusit Thani Hua Hin is the official host hotel for the event. It will welcome officials from the 10 Asean countries and counterparts from China, Japan,Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India.
       "We are honoured that our hotel was selected once again by the Thai government to host this prestigious event. We have been preparing for several months to ensure a successful event," said general manager Victor Sukseree.
       Tourism in Hua Hin should be helped during the event, as most hotels are expected to be 100% occupied from Oct 21-25. The Dusit Thani Hua Hin expects to generate at least 7-10 million baht from the event.
       "However, the average occupancy rate will return to around 60-70% after the event ends. It is a short-term benefit but we believe this event will help promote our country's tourism in the long term,"said Mr Victor.
       The company hopes foreign tourists will return when the economic and political situations stabilise.
       He said the hotel had received advance bookings of around 60% this month and expects international tourists will decline.The hotel will focus more on the local market, particularly the business meeting segment.

PASTA PARADIES AT THE CENTARA

       With its "Lost World" theme, the new Centara Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya is a family destination painstakingly decorated with a novel jungle setting and a water-adventure park.
       No need for Robinson Crusoe's ship-wreck- survivor skills, though: The hotel provides everythin you need.
       Its Italian restaurant, Acqua, is a standout example. Still a bit shy of diners after just a month in business, Acqua is certain to become busy thanks to its wonderful ambience and great food.
       Maroon upholstered chairs and white-linen tablecloths, bone china and gleaming silverware provide an elegant counterpoint to the resort's theme decor of natural wood, rocks and bamboo poles.
       The "aqua" of the name comes out in wooden partitions shaped like coral and suspended mobiles that resemble swimming fish. The ceiling lamps are roughly coiled in the bark of mulberry trees and resemble sea urchins.
       The 12-seat outdoor terrace is a great spot to gaze on the sea and the sunset. Another dozen people can gather around separate, private dining tables inside.
       The 120-seat Acqua serves "classic modern Italian" dishes created by chef Stefano Belardi, a kitchen veteran since age 15 who's cooked in Greece, Switzerland and Ukraine as well as his homeland.
       Belardi says he pays strict attention to his native Italian culinary culture but is happy to compromise a little to meet Thai tastes, such as boosting the spiciness quotient.
       "The most vital part of Italian cuisine is using lots of fresh vegetables, from parsley and eggplant to tomato and thyme," he enthuses. "This ensures the best natural taste, and the chef's job is to keep everything is as natural as possible".
       For a light and delightful starter, the chef recommends his yellowfin tuna, imported from Singapore and marinated in lemon juice, peper and salt. It comes with a red-onion salad, cherry tomato and coriander and costs Bt550.
       From the restaurant's own pizza oven comes such treats as pizza with speck and rucola salad for Bt650, but Belardi insists that pizza isn't a main course, merely a complement to it.
       Next he has spinach tagliatelle with cherry tomato, basil and extra virgin olive oil for Bt290. It sounds simple, but it's tasty beyond expectations.
       Then there's the Bt1,200 18-month-grain-fed Australian beef fillet - 220 grams of prime succulence served with wild mushrooms, polenta crutons and sauteed crunchy spinach.

MILLION BAHT DINNER COMES WITH BIG SERVING OF GENEROSITY

       One might think, why on earth would someone fork out a million baht for dinner in these economically volatile times? But Chalerm and Daranee Yoovidhya of Red Bull did just that. However, it wasn't a display of wealth but rather a reflection of their social consciousness - their million baht went to charity.
       Bangkok's costliest dinner took place recently at the couple's residence, where a parade of stylish guests streamed through the doors.
       The occasion was prompted by Daranee's winning bid for a special dinner at her home during the recent Bangkok Chefs Charity Gala Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental. For the gala dinner, graced by the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, sixteen of Thailand's top executive chefs from hotels in Bangkok and Phuket got together to create an eight-course banquet for a full house of the city's affluent gourmets. The proceeds went to the Princess's Sai Jai Thai Foundation and underprivileged children at three remote schools in Chiang Mai. That's where Daranee's money ended up.
       One of the highlights that night was a series of silent auctions to raise even more money during the course of the evening. The highest bidder in each got to choose their favourite chef to cook for one night at their own home.
       The grand finale of the evning was an auction won by a bid of one million baht by the Yoovidhya family of the world-famous Red Bull empire. It resulted in four executive chefs to their choice orchestrating a special gourmet dinner for Chalerm's birthday.
       The handpicked gastronomic dream team comprised Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok's own celebrity executive chef Norbert Kostner, Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok's Nicolas Schneller, Banyan Tree Bangkok's Degan Suprijadi and Plaza Athenee Bangkok's Martin Faist.
       The million-baht menu for 14 distinguished guests consisted of canapes, appetisers, main courses, desserts and petits fours, all prepared from scratch in the kitchen of the Yoovidhya mansion.
       "Each one of us has chosen the best ingredients we could find," disclosed Kostner. "I brought with me cepes and chanterelle mushrooms I picked myself on a recent visit to alpine forests in Italy to use in one of the main dishes."
       The evening's host, Chalerm, said: "The motivation for this dinner is to support charity. The meal itself is a bonus. Tonight, everyone - the chefs, their assistants, my guests and my family - are all part of a charitable enterprise."
       After being fortunate enough to be able to travel and enjoy the food at Michelin-starred restaurants overseas, Chalerm and Daranee were delighted to witnes firsthand how Thailand's culinary scene had advanced to a world-class standard - whether in the quality of ingredients, skill of chefs, or food presentation.
       In appreciation of their impeccable skills in creating a superb meal and their selfless contribution of time and energy for chairty, each of the four executive chefs went home with a bottle of Dom Perignon, compliments of the generous host and hostess.

HIGHLAND RESORT DEVELOPER LOOKS FOR PARTNER

       Property developer Khaokor Highland City is seeking a strategic partner to purchase a big portion of its vacant land in Phetchabun province for the joint development of a new luxury-resort project.
       Deputy managing director Yongyoot Fupongsiripant yesterday said the company was developing the second phase of its high-end resort project called Khaokor Highland Resort II.
       The project covers 1,500 rai. Of that, only 300 rai will be developed by the company itself, with the rest offered for sale to an investor interested in co-developing the Khaokor Highland project.
       The company purchased the land this year from other property developers in Phetchabun that planned to develop land banks on the highland plateau but faced financial problems such that they were unable to proceed with their projects.
       Yongyoot declined to reveal the value of the 1,500 rai that Khaokor Highland City purchased this year. The company is currently assessing the value of Khaokor Highland Resort II.
       The 1,500-rai plot is the largest land bank waiting for resort development in Phetchabun, he said.
       "Khaokor is a tourist destination for both Thais and foreigners. We believe it to be a worthwhile investment at this time, one that will enjoy a good response once the economy recovers," Yongyoot said.
       Of the 300 rai to be developed by Khaokor Highland City itself, a high-end resort of about 50 units and other facilities such as a clubhouse, restaurant and swimming pool will be built on 100 rai. Construction will begin early next year. The remaining 200 rai is being sold to people wanting to build their own resort houses in Phetchabun. About 60 per cent of this land has already been sold.
       One resort house, requiring 1 rai of land, costs about Bt20 million, including the cost of land and construction, he said.
       Khaokor Highland City has operated the Khaokor Highland Resort for a decade. The project is divided into eight phases. In the first phase, the company constructed 30 resort houses.

RAJPRASONG A BIG DRAW FOR LUXURY HOTEL CHAINS

       International luxury hotel chains are flocking to Bangkok's Rajprasong shopping mecca to capture high-end tourists and business travellers.
       An industry insider said yesterday that at least five hotels in the four-and five-star categories were planned for the area, mostly by foreign chain.
       Centara Hotels and Resorts, Thailand's largest operator, would soon break ground on an upscale shopping complex and hotel at the Phloenchit-Wireless intersection, the source said.
       The company is negotiationg with Raffles internatiomal, singapore's super luxury chain, to manage the hotel to be built onland the company bought from the British Embassy. That bid had brought land prices to their highest level at that time.
       There is also a report that Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi of Beer Chang fame, who owns the Plaza Athenee Hotel, is in talks with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Group to manage his new hotel, which is being constructed on the opposite corner to Centara's project. Ritz-Carlton is scheduled to launch its first residential project in Bangkok off North Sathorn Road, which will become the city's tallest tower. Ritz-Carlton is also set to introduce a luxury hotel in Krabi by the end this year.
       Kempinski Hotel of Germany is slated to manage a hotel at Siam Paragon, shich is being developed by Siam Piwat Co.
       A Novotel branch will appear at Rajprasong next year. Another hotel is being designed for a site opposite CentralWorld.
       Ronnachit Mahatanapruet, senior vice president for finance and administration at Central Plaza Hotel, said the group is planning to build more luxury as well as budget hotels both in Thiland and overseas.
       The hotel business in Bangkok would face tougher competition, as many new players will roll out to tap the high-flying market.
       Landmark Group recently said it would develop a hotel, the Bangkok Lancaster, on Phetchburi Road near the Airport Express's mid-Bangkok terminal.

Centara aims to run 65 hotels

       Centara Hotels & Resorts has set a target to manage at least 65 hotels in both local and international markets over the next five years.
       The hotel management service will not only help expand its network and promote the Centara brand quickly. It will also helps other hoteliers who have been adversely affected by the global economic crisis and local political instability,according to Suthikiati Chirathivat, chairman of the executive board of the listed Central Plaza Hotel Plc (Centel).
       "I dream of being a leader in Thailand's hotel business the same way my father and brothers do in the retail and department-store business. I see demand in this business. More than 20-30 hoteliers have asked us to manage their hotels because they have confidence in our performance and 30 years of experience,"he said.
       The company expects the hotel management business to generate revenue of at least 60 million baht this year and 100 million baht next year. At present,Centara have secured eight management agreements and hopes to run at least six hotels in 2010. Currently, it owns nine hotels and another four through joint ventures.
       Among the key international markets for its hotel management business are the Middle East, India, China, Asia Pacific,and South East Asia.
       Mr Suthikiati stressed that the core value of the hotel business is practicality,safety standards, ease of maintenance,and environmental friendliness.
       Ronnachit Mahatanapruet, Centel's senior vice-president for finance and administration, said the company expects the proportion of its hotel management business and hotel business in its profit will change to 40:60 over the next five years from 20:80 now.
       Next year, the company will introduce a new budget hotel brand which will become another flagship brand to help it achieve the target.
       Mr Ronnachit said the company has cash flow of 1.5 billion to 2 billion baht.Besides, it plans to open new theme hotels on some plots in its landbank.
       "We hope to open the theme hotels in many locations such as Hua Hin and Phuket. However, the projects will be launched after the first theme project,the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, becomes successful," said Mr Suthikiati.
       Centel invested 4.4 billion baht to develop the 555-room Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, aiming to target the Mice market. It expected to break even in 2011.
       "We are expecting strong sales from our international markets next year. Then there is the Mice market. A lot is said about the importance of this segment to the Thai economy - demand for this kind of meeting experience is strong.Indeed, in October almost all of our available meeting space over the weekends is already full," said Mr Suthikiati.
       Also in the pipeline is another theme hotel project, the Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, a 5-star Sino-Portuguesestyle resort to be located on Karon Beach.

CENTARA TARGETS 120 HOTELS OVER NEXT DECADE

       Centara Group has set its sights on running 120 hotels and resorts around the globe in 10 years, spanning the full range from budget to luxury categories.
       "The group aims to have hotels in 15-20 countries including Japan, India, China, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines," Kevin Wallace, president of Centara International Management, said yesterday.
       Centara Hotels and Resorts will back all expansion and overall operations both locally and overseas, while Centara International Management, the new hotel management subsidiary, will focus on searching for new management contracts.
       Centara has already opened its first joint venture hotel in India and also manages a hotel in the Maldives. It is negotiating with other investors for more deals in other countries.
       Expansion will be mainly in hotel management rather than the building of hotels.
       About 10 per cent of the new properties will be in the luxury class, 50 per cent will be four stars, 20 per cent three stars, 10 per cent two stars and 10 per cent boutique resorts.
       Centara expects to create at least two more brands this year, one for three stars and the other for two stars.
       "In Europe, we would like to have a flagship hotel in London to represent our portfolio in the region, however, we will concentrate on the Far East," Wallace said.
       Centara currently operates more than 20 hotels and resorts in Thailand and elsewhere under three brands - Centara Grand for luxury properties, Centara Villas and Resort for four stars and Bhundhari for boutique hotels.
       Gerd Steeb, president of Centara Hotels and Resorts, said the group plans to operate 77 new hotels in Thailand and overseas within five years, of which 65 would be managed by the group and the rest would be built by the group.
       Suthikiati Chirathivat, group executive chairman, said hotel management is easier than hotel development and also a win-win scenario for Thailand, the property owner and Centara.
       The owner can gain access Centara's wide distribution and customer base, global sales force and professional management team.
       "Overseas, we have already started in the Maldives and Indian markets and will go further," he said.
       The plan would take the group's revenue from the food and hotel business to Bt14 billion by 2014, from Bt8.2 billion last year.
       Centara demolished its popular hotel in North Pattaya, the Central Wong Amat, and replaced it with the Bt4.2 billion Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort, under the theme of Lost World Indiana Jones.
       The hotel features 555 guestrooms and a huge convention hall that can accommodate up to 1,200 meeting participants.
       The face-lift is the pilot project for natural theme development, which is now planned for the next hotels in Hua Hin, Koh Muk Island, Chiang Mai as well as abroad.
       The group expects the new property would attract both local and international families as well as business travellers to the beach resort of Pattaya.

GOBBLING DOWN SAMUI

       Beyond sand and surf and new hotels across the lowlands and atop the hills, Koh Samui is also a good place for a tummy-challenging tour of the culinary world.
       Thanks to Citibank, I had a chance to try the food journey throughout the island, from local dishes and fusion to Mediterranean, Italian, creatively designed refreshments and sweet treats.
       Throughout the three-day trek through seven eateries, you require the ability to sample at least eight dishes per venue.
       Is it totally fun? Yes-with the help of digestive pills.
       Ideally, you'll able to spend time at each place, enjoying a lazy pace and the stunning sea views and welldesigned sea views and well designed decor while savourig good food.
       It's recommended to start with the local dishes at Krua Chao Baan on Bang Naam Jued Beach. In business for nearly 20 years, the seaside, openair restaurant is presented simply with atap-thatched shelters, but the delicious food is second to none and the prices are reasonable.
       The menu is extensive. Among the mouth-watering dishes are kaeng som pla kapong(sour soup with white snapper) , the Krua Chao Baan puffy omelette stuffed with minced shrimp, crab, squied and mushroom and wai phad sapparod(stir-fried octopus with pineapple).
       But those prove to be just warmups for the rest of the tour. For more seafood and Thai cuisine in a fine-dining experience with Thai classical music, there's Samui Seafood at the Muang Samui Spa Resort.
       Done up in Thai-style decor with wood predominant, its Thai dishes are prepared under the supervision of Amintra Sukarawan, the founder of the Royal Thai Culinary Centre.
       She's inherited the exquisite royal Thai cuisine and food carvings from her grandmother, ML Puang Tinakorn.
       Its thod mun koong (deep-fried shrimp patties) are formed in ring shape and skewered with lemongrass, to go well with mango and sesame dip.
       The most stunning dish, however, is gai satay(chicked satay with peanut sauce), where the sticks of checkens are served in a small, elephant-shaped terracotta stove filled with charcoal. If you want to take the terracotta elephant home, it's Bt1,200.
       After the heavy meals, take a break with afternoon tea and eleverly designed canapes at the design hotel Library on Chaweng Beach.
       At the cube-shaped inn with its spacious green lawn is the minimalist restaurant The Page, where you can sit in the air-conditioned area, in the open air or on a terrace overlooking the sea and an unusual swimming pool of red mosaic.
       I can recommed the smoked salmon with cantaloupe, tuna ricotta cheese, prawn cake ball, toasted bread with N'duja and the fruit skewer.
       Six Senses Hideaway Samui has been praised for its breathtaking views of the gulf and outlying islands. It's best to try refreshments while enjoying the sunset at Dining on the Rocks, located at the tip of the headland with a 270-degree view.
       Among the creations are hamachi sushi, lamb somtam, smoked salmon with pickled cucumber and hot lime ice cream.
       If you yearn for Italian cuisine in a romantic seaside setting, Olivio at the Baan Haad Ngam Resort is where most people go.
       Italian chef Luigi Fadda warmly welcomed us with a mixed starter of antipasto. Among the signature dishes are fettuccine seafood, salmon steak, baked snowfish with rosemary and garlic asd ink risotto with prawn and seafood.
       You should save room for dessert, because his tiramisu in a cup of coffee is terrific.
       Another option for a fantastic dinner is the Pier, right at the pier at Fisherman's Village. The two-storey, loft-style eatery was designed by noted architect Duangrit Bunnag and serves both Thai and European dished with nice presentations.
       After running the Mangrove restaurant next to Samui airport for seven years, French chef Yannick Tirbois and his wife Ilse Dumont joined with the Thai businessman who owns the Karmakamet Aromatic Hotel. They took over the Pier, adding more European dishes in the menu.
       The mixed seafood starter is a must, with laab gai(spicy chicked salad) , pad thai(stir-fried Thai noodles), deep fried herbed pork ribs and crispy softshell crab with curry powder.
       When night falls, up your beat at the Red Snapper Bar & Grill at the Chaweng Regent Beach Resort, which boasts live Latin music.
       The menu here focuses on Mediterranean cuisine, and of course, red snapper in an herbed crust is the signature dish.
       For starters, opt for grilled chichked on bamboo marinated in Moroccan spices or tuna carpaccio with balsamic and olive oil dressing. The roast duck breast with red wine sauce is also terrific.
       BE VERY, VERY HUNGRY
       Krua Chao Baan at Hua Thanon near Wat Sila-ngu is open daily from 10am to 10pm. Call(077)418 589 or (089) 009 5560.
       Samui Seafood Restaurant at the Muang Samui Spa Resort is open daily from 11am to midnight. Call(077)429 700 or visit www.MuangSamui.com.
       The Page at the Library Hotel is open daily from 6:30am to 11pm. Call(077) 422 767-8 or visit www.TheLibrary.name.
       Dining on the Rocks at the Six Senses Hideaway Samui is open daily from 6.30pm to 10.30pm. Call(077) 245 678 or visit www.SixSenses.com.
       Olivio at the Baan Haad Ngam Resort is open daily from 11am to 10.30pm. Call(077) 231 500-8 visit www.BaanHaadNgam.com.
       The Pier at Fisherman's Village is open daily from 11am to midnight. Call(077) 430 680.
       The Red Snapper Bar&Grill at the Chaweng Regent Beach Resort is is open daily from 5pm to 1am. Call(077) 422 008 or visit www.ChawengRegent.com

Dubai World restructures

       The government conglomerate Dubai World shifted hotel and property assets, as well as executives, from developer Nakheel to its Istithmar World unit on Thursday, as part of its restructuring process.
       The conglomerate said the assets were mainly in international markets and would place Nakheel Hotels, which has properties in Asia, Europe and the United States, under Istithmar.
       Analysts said the changes - including a new chief investment officer following the departure of Istithmar's two co-chief investment officers last week - sent a comforting signal to foreign investors,worried about Istithmar's prospects.
       "The fact they have appointed a new teammeans that this vehicle is continuing," said Mohammed Yasin, chief executive of Shuaa Securities.
       "They will have new objectives to try to arrange refinancing for investments,to refinance the leverage and maybe try to recoup as much as can be from some of those investments that were done."
       There had been speculation that Istithmar, the investment arm of the Dubai government and owner of US luxury retailer Barneys New York, may be facing difficulties.
       It hired an advisory firm in August to help it mull options to shore up Barneys'financial position and a media report last week said Istithmar is freezing investments as part of a restructuring that may result in the sale of the fund or its assets.
       Dubai World said in its statement on Thursday that the changes were "part of an ongoing organisational operational restructuring process within the group."
       The media report also said its chief executive's job was under review. In a statement last week, Istithmar said chief executive David Jackson's job was safe,but did not comment on the rest of the report.
       "There was a widening opinion that Istithmar World was potentially being wound down, but this contradicts that opinion," said Fahd Iqbal, vice-president of research at EFG-Hermes.
       Dubai World named Andy Watson as chief investment officer of Istithmar World and Binod Narasimhan as chief financial officer, from developer Nakheel and Nakheel Hotels, respectively.
       It also appointed Sandesh Pandhare,who already worked at Istithmar, as managing director, private equity at the investment arm.
       Hamza Mustafa was appointed managing director, real estate. He was formerly general manager of Nakheel's The World project, a series of man-made islands shaped like a map of the world.
       Dubai World, which also owns port operator DP World, also said Joe Sita,chief executive of Nakheel Hotels, had left the company.
       Istithmar is one of the flagship companies of state-owned Dubai World,which has been hit hard by the global financial crisis. Its real estate unit Nakheel, famous for developing man-made islands shaped like palms, is being closely watched for its ability to refinance $3.52 billion of Islamic bonds, maturing in December.
       Dubai World has $59 billion of liabilities, a large proportion of the Gulf emirate's total debt.
       "They keep on giving these ad hoc restructuring announcements ... this is all good, but how does it actually repay their debt?" said Abdul Kadir Hussain,chief executive at Mashreq Capital.
       Hussain said the move could be a precursor to selling some of the hotel assets but there was little clarity on plans.
       "If this transfer of assets is part of an overall strategy then great, as long as the end result is a less leveraged, less risky company."
       Nakheel Hotels, which include the Mandarin Oriental and W hotels in New York and Corinthia Metropole in London,bought luxury liner Queen Elizabeth 2 in 2007 with plans to convert it into a luxury hotel, off one of its palm islands.
       In July, the company said it was mulling moving the ship from the emirate to another location in the region or Africa.

PLAZA ATHENEE COMPLETES BT400M FACE-LIFT

       Plaza Athenee Bangkok, a Royal Meridien hotel, has completed construction and renovation of facilities and meeting rooms worth Bt400 million. The changes are aimed at retrieving meetings and conferences from overseas and local markets.
       The hotel has added 11 function rooms, including a huge meeting space, Crystal Hall, which can accommodate up to 1,500 persons. The hotel is now able to offer 28 meeting rooms and conference halls.
       Georges Baurin, hotel general manager, expects that the new facilities will attract more meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) events from both local and overseas companies and other groups.
       Although hotels in Bangkok are facing difficulties in the MICE market this year due to the global economic crisis and internal political unrest, some indicators show Bangkok is getting closer to being "back on track".
       "In the past months, there has been widespread resistance to considering this destination, but things will recover soon," he said.
       To deal with the slowdown, the hotel is working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) to promote Thailand as a "best value" meeting destination.
       Over the last 12 months, representatives from the hotel have travelled to India, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Eastern Europe and the Middle East to introduce the hotel's new functions.
       Meanwhile, all sales and marketing units of the hotel's mother management company, Starwood, are assisting in promoting the hotel's new attractions.
       Hotel manager Patrick Schaub said the changes include training staff and bringing the number of chefs to 120 in order to cope with huge meetings. It will soon introduce a "wedding gallery" to capture wedding business.
       According to Baurin, the hotel expects to fill 25-30 per cent of room nights by next year.
       Revenue from MICE business is also expected to increase from 25 percent in 2008 to 29 percent this year and to rise to 35 percent by 2011.
       The hotel invited Preeda Tantemsub of the Thai racing car team to promote facilities, as MICE participants appreciate speed and will see that the hotel "runs faster" than rivals located nearby.
       The hotel has extended its current promotion "Free Meeting & Free Nights" to the end of March.

SWEET DREAMS DOWNTOWN

       For the majority of backpackers,the most important aspect of any hostel is the atmosphere.Just a year old ,Lub D Hostel in the cetre of Bangkok has plenty of atmosphere,and it offers a friendly welcome to those who venture down Decho Road in an attempt to find it.It's about a 10-minute walk from Chong Nonsri BTS Station and a bout the same distance if you're planning to visit the lively clubs on silom soi 4.
       The hostel may be housed in an old four-storey building but step inside and you'll find it's absolutely spotless. The design is simple and easy on the eye,with a steel staircase, bright paint and bare concrete and a theme that follows Bangkok streets. Rooms are named after such well known thoroughfares as Silom,Sukhumvit and Khao San, and there are maps of Bangkok pinned up at almost every corner.
       Check in takes place on the ground floor in a spacious lobby that serves as the communal lounge and offers many board games,free 24-hour Internet, a travel information desk, plus a cafe and bar.Once registered, you receive an electronic keycard to access the upper floors.
       The biggest dormitory room at Lub D has 10 beds; other dorms have eight and six beds. Each bed has a big,thick mattress and is equipped with its own reading light,electrical socket and a big locker on the side.Most dormitory rooms are quite bright with a big glass windoew that allows the sun to shine in and looks out over a Silom backstreet. Rates start at Bt 550 a night, which is not bad for the space,cleanliness and location.
       Interestingly,the hostel provides a "ladies-only"section for female travellers.This offers a little more space plus a large shared bathroom designed especially for the fairer sex and equipped with Thai spa amenities.
       Couple can opt for a private bunk bed room with shared bathroom.This room type, priced at Bt 1,400 a night,is known as the Railway twin room and comes with a study table,sccurity safe box,towels and blanket. The hostel also features a Lub D double room, which is furnished with a queen-size bed,LCD television and has a bathroom en-suite. It's yours for Bt 1,800 a night
       There's no swimming pool or spa, but travellers can chill at Viewpoint Theatre on the second floor, a sizeable room with lots of floor cushions and pillows.
       The hostel also has a laundry room where guests can do their own washing at anytime of the day.
       All the rooms are clean and air conditioned,the shared bathrooms are clean and the showers are hot.
       While not supercheap,Lub D is well suited to Thailand's backpacker scene.

       ATGLANCE
       High Point: If you're looking for brand new budget accommodation in central Bangkok, give Lub D a try. This is a mart, new generation hostel that should appeal to most types of budget travellers as much as to gap-year backpackers.
       Low Point: It's right in the heart of the commercial district and is a 10-minute walk from the nearest Skytrain. It's surrounded by old and not particularly attractive buildings and very few trees. Decho Road also tends to get gridlocked during peak hours.
       Find it:4 Decho Road ,Silom area,Bang Rak,Bangkok 10500
       Pay for it:Prices start from Bt550 a night per bed in a dormitory room and go up to Bt1,800 a night for a double room.Special Internet rates are always on offer.
       Browse it : www.LubD.com
       Book it: contactus@lubd.com.
       Book it: Call(02)634 7999 or e-mail:contactus@lubd.com.

GLOBAL TOURISM OPERATORS TO FLOCK TO CHINA FAIR

       Tourism operators from around the world are set to join the annual PATA Travel Mart in Hangzhou from September 22-25, with Thailand intending to win back Chinese visitors.
       Altogether 591 sellers from 38 countries and 305 buyers from 51 countries including Thailand have confirmed their attendance at the tourism mart to be organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
       Chairwoman Phornsiri Manoharn yesterday said China was ranked as the fifth-strongest source market globally by the World Tourism Organisation, as measured by tourism-related expenditures. That means there is no doubt operators will be in the right country at the right time this year.
       More than 4.2 million Chinese travelled to Southeast Asian countries last year. Singapore gained the most, with nearly 1 million visitors. However, the figure was down due to the global economic crisis and type-A (H1N1) influenza.
       CEO Greg Duffell said Chinese arrivals to the Kingdom during the first half dropped 38 per cent year on year, due to political issues.
       However, tourism here and in other countries would recover soon and operators hoped to reclaim customers from China and also other markets, he said.
       Some of the new participants this year include tourism ministers from Tonga and Vanuatu.
       Suparerk Thongsuk, deputy managing director of Fair House Villa and Spa Samui, said it would be first time for the hotel to join the event and that he expected to draw interest from China and other short-haul markets.
       Luzi Matzig, CEO of Bangkok-based Asia Trails, said it was an opportunity to discover a new and most interesting destination, which most operators do not know about yet, and also to network with existing clients and secure new ones.
       "I expect our company to meet with many first-time participants at the Pata Mart for further deals," he said.
       Alison Partridge, president of Canada's Proof Positive Solutions, said attendees were decision-makers from every corner of the world and that they were there to do business.
       Akbar Shareef, CEO of Pakistan's Rakaposhi Tours, said the company had prescheduled appointments that some of the other travel exhibitions do not have even though they are bigger in size and in number, so it was a chance for local sellers to exhibit in greater numbers.
       Bob Malcolm, managing director of Australia's Travel Masters, said he wanted new relationships with product providers to be established that would hopefully be mutually beneficial over time.

Hotelier ventures into villas for sale

       Astudo Hotel & Resort Group, a local developer and hotel management company, has allocated a 500-million-baht budget to develop residential units on its properties.
       The company last week launched sales of pool villas at its X2 Kui Buri resort, in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. Residential sales at X2 Samui on Koh Samui will start next month and at X2 Koh Kood, in Trat province, near the year-Unit price end, said Anthony McDonald,the CEO of Astudo.
       X2 Residences in Kui Buri will require an investment budget of 150 million baht with each villa priced at 3.5 million baht.
       "After the launch of pool villas, we got a warm welcome from our regular customers. Our property is very unique particularly in terms of design. Above all, the villas are not only summer houses but can generate money for owners as well because we also provide a management service with a guaranteed rental return of 5% to 7%," he said.
       Under the five-year management contract, an owner can stay in the villa for up to 60 days per year and rent it out for the rest of the time, for which Atsudo will charge a management fee.
       A 50:50 revenue share between Atsudo and the villa owner is another option which allows the owner the freedom of an unlimited stay.
       Mr McDonald said those who buy the villa as an investment can break even within seven to 10 years. Foreigners can buy a 30-year leasehold.
       At present, Astudo has four of its own
       properties and also manages another six.
       Mr McDonald B3.5m
       said the company is expanding into the both the Asia Pacific's hotel management and residential property markets.
       It expects to close deals in Cambodia and Bali this year and is also in talks with a developer in the Maldives, he said.
       The average year-to-date occupancy rate at the firm's 10 resorts was 50%while revenue rose by 20%, said Sorathep Rojpotjanaruch, the company's group vice-president for business development.
       The company plans to launch a new brand of budget hotel called The Case Hotels. The first properties, in Manila,the Philippines, and Bangkok, are scheduled to be launched next year.

Fico diversifies into hotel management

       Fico Group, a diversified conglomerate,is moving into the hotel management business with a goal of managing at least six hotels in the next five years.
       Fico bought a half-stake of Eugenia Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 31 and made the property its prototype boutique hotel before deciding to manage others. Fico then entered a 50:50 joint venture,Eugenia Fenix, with a Taiwanese designer, the hotel's co-owner, to offer hotel management services.
       The 12-room Eugenia Hotel, which presents a colonial touch and homey feeling, is scheduled to relaunch in the next fewmonths after adding a spa and bar. Average occupancy is 70% now.
       "It was love at first sight when I went to the hotel," said Sofi Sui, Fico's chief operating officer."It is not just a hotel but it has history and a warm atmosphere unlike other hotels. I believe that many people want to own a hotel like this but they do not know how to do it."
       Fico is in talks with local and international investors as well as an investment fund in Hong Kong about a similar hotel project in the future. Fico will be the investor and Eugenia Fenix will manage the hotel.
       "They are interested in our project and some of them are considering coinvesting with us. We expect to see another Eugenia Hotel in the Sukhumvit area in 2010," she said.
       The company wants its hotel brand to differ from others in terms of de' cor and food, something it feels small hotels need to take seriously.
       Eugenia Hotel is already listed in the Relais & Chateaux Fine Hostelries of the World and will be managed personally by Ms Sui, who is also the CEO of Eugenia Fenix.
       Fico is also investing 4.2 billion baht to develop four properties: the 380-room Novotel Fenix Ploenchit and the 176-room Muse Hotel, expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2010, the 301-room Holiday Inn Sukhumvit 22, due to open in early 2012, and a Marriott Hotel on Samui to open in two years.
       The company also allocated 450 million baht for two more projects. It will spend 200 million baht to renovate the 150-year-old governor's mansion in downtown Phuket into an entertainment club and 250 million baht for a facelift of the Novotel Fenix Silom.
       Ms Sui said Fico was confident in Thai tourism. Thailand offers value for money, more attractions than most countries, and cheaper hotel rates than Hong Kong and Singapore, she said.
       "I do think travellers will slowly come back this year but they should obviously pick up in the second half of 2010 when the global economy is expected to recover," she said.
       The group also owns the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit, Interchange Tower,and the Exchange Tower in the Asok area, and a premium serviced apartment in Lang Suan.

LE CORDON BLEU DUSIT CULINARY SCHOOL'S SECOND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS held at the Napalai Ballroom,Dusit Thani Bangkok

       LE CORDON BLEU DUSIT CULINARY SCHOOL'S SECOND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS held at the Napalai Ballroom,Dusit Thani Bangkok.
       Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School's 2nd Anniversary Celebrations was recently held under the auspicious presence of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The event was organized by Dr Parichart Jumsai Na Ayudhaya and hosted by Mr. Gary Cromie, Joint - Venture Director of Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School and Mr. Chanin Donavanik, CEO of Dusit International. The event was sponsored by Dato Dr A Nikhil Prasad (Jai) from PRExpress and was well attended by Local Celebrities, Members of the various Foreign Diplomatic Missions, Thai Business Leaders and Leading Socialites.

FLIPPING OUT ON PHUKET

       Not known as big air travellers, it seems strange that the turtles of Phuket should choose Mai Khao beach to lay their eggs. The sands are just a few flipper flaps from Phuket International Airport, but perhaps the turtles are drawn by the local JW Marriott, right on the beach. Since it opened in 2002, the resort has donated significant sums of money each year to conserve the endangered species.
       I washes up at Phuket's Marriott last month, when rainstorms were lashing the island several times a day. Mai Khao beach was peaceful and empty of tourists, but its three-metre high waves looked unswimmable. That judgement was obviously shared by the turtles, who has left the 17-kilometre strip of sand to the wind and rain.
       Despits the inclement weather, couples and families were out in force at the resort, enjoying the three swimming pools that sprawl across the large grounds. The Main Pool in the middle of the resort is a whopping 107 metres long and comes complete with children's pool, slide, Jacuzzi and waterfalls. The North Pool is also the size of a lake but more tranquil while the Blue Pool to the south is a little livelier with a bar in the middle. With lagoons like these on your doorstep, who needs the sea?
       Also on the grand scale is the resort's choice of guestrooms, 265 in all and 13 of them suites. I opted for one of the Deluxe rooms. Generous with space. they offer a minimum 47 square metres with a private balcony and sala-style lounge. Drawing back the curtain I got an eyeful of lush gardens and blue sea.
       Although the balcony is a little cramped compared with the room itself, I was well satisfied. The bed is roomy and I had no complaints about the bathroom, which has both bathtub and shower area.
       Back in the living room there's a DVD player, satellite TV, Internet access, mini bar, coffee/tea making facilities and safety deposit box. No need for an upgrade then, but if had felt like treating myself, the Royal Suite has a princely 340 square metres plus 300 metres of garden with an 18-metre pool and heated outdoor whirlpool.
       A stroll around the resort quickly convinces you that a map is a must. Aside from the sheer size of the place, it's hard to keep track of where all the restaurants are. Breakfast is served at the Marriott Cafe but the options get more complicated for lunch and dinner. If you can find them, there's Cucina for Italian dining, the Andaman Grill for seafood lovers, Ginja Taste Thai restaurant, the Kabuki sushi bar and the Siam Deli. The poolside bars also do snacks and light meals.
       After pampering their tastebuds, guests can sample the menu at the Mandara Spa. Its stunning architecture houses 16 treatment suites. Those who've piled on the pounds can take advantage of the health club and fitness centre nearby. Well equiped, it comes with a sauna and Jacuzzi to wind down from your workout. If you're feeling sporty you can ask the friendly staff for directions to the resort's tennis courts or to the golf course at the Blue canyon Country Club just up the road. Meanwhile, younger folk can get their kicks at the Children's Pavilion.
       Visitors who arrive towards the end of next month will find much calmer seas and plenty of opportunities for swimming, diving and other water sports. Perhaps the turtles will be back, too.
       With last year's opening of the nearby Anantara Phuket resort as well as the launch of Turtle Village, a small shopping and dining complex, Mai Khao beach feels a little less secluded than it once did. But only a little - those seeking the bright city lights still have a long journey to find them. Thai's fine with the guests who come back year after year to the Marriot on Mai Khao. Peace and seclusion is obviously their idea of a good time.