The News Review:

- Home > Business > Change of focus for Yamato Hotel
- New Awesome Foursome Culinary Team at JW Marriott Phuket Resort &…
- Banyan Tree’s H1 net profit jumps 55% to S$24m
- Phuket’s Charter Flights From Scandinavia
- Still the King around the world
- Dream designs for Ashok makeover
- Tests will show if more Balinese have deadly bird flu | HEALTH | NEWS…

Home > Business > Change of focus for Yamato Hotel
Nation Multimedia – Aug 14, 2007
Published on August 14 2007 Kazumi Maeda the hotel's founder and president said almost Bt10 million had been spent on the change so far including the change of name from Yamato House to Yamato Hotel a few years ago and the refurbishment of 40 rooms. The redecoration the 30 other rooms is expected to be completed early next year. Maeda said the hotel planned to spend another Bt10 million over the next five years to build a fitness centre and expand its massage rooms to meet the higher demand for both activities. Meanwhile it will upgrade its business rooms and install wireless systems to serve business travellers. The hotel also plans to build a conference room on the top floor of the 11-storey hotel in seven years at a cost of Bt5 million.

New Awesome Foursome Culinary Team at JW Marriott Phuket Resort &…
eTravelBlackboard – Asia Edition – Aug 14, 2007
He opened the sensational new Pool Grill Restaurant which won several awards during his tenure. Anut Koonmart Executive Sous Chef Young talented chef Anut started his culinary career in 1992 at the riental Hotel Bangkok. Since then he has been working with many leading hotels in Thailand and overseas including The Regent Hotel Bangkok Tinan Dynasty Hotel & Casino USA The Peninsula Hotel Bangkok Merchant Court Hotel Bangkok and Roxy Park Hotel Singapore. Prior to this appointment Anut was Executive Sous Chef at Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa. Chef Anut¡¯s specialty is Thai cuisine which is available at Ginja Taste the resort¡¯s Thai restaurant as well as other special themed events for guests and banqueting.

Banyan Tree’s H1 net profit jumps 55% to S$24m
Channel News Asia – Aug 14, 2007
First-half revenue rose 23 percent to S$188 million. The strong figures were due mostly to higher revenue contributions from its hotel operations in Laguna Phuket resorts and Banyan Tree Lijiang in China. But in the hotel residences segment revenue slid 64% because of lower sales of high-margin hotel residences. Banyan Tree says it remains optimistic about its future performance citing a strong pipeline of new projects opening over the next two years. It also expects steady contributions from its existing hotels to benefit its hotel investment and management segments. Going forward Banyan Tree is embarking on an ambitious expansion plan to increase the number of its hotels from 22 to some 60 by 2010. That represents a compound annual growth rate of about 53%… But in the hotel residences segment revenue slid 64% because of lower sales of high-margin hotel residences. Banyan Tree says it remains optimistic about its future performance citing a strong pipeline of new projects opening over the next two years. It also expects steady contributions from its existing hotels to benefit its hotel investment and management segments. Going forward Banyan Tree is embarking on an ambitious expansion plan to increase the number of its hotels from 22 to some 60 by 2010. That represents a compound annual growth rate of about 53%. Most of these new hotels will be located in emerging markets such as China the Americas and the Middle East. About 60% of them would be managed by Banyan Tree rather than owned by it.

Phuket’s Charter Flights From Scandinavia
ScandAsia.com – Aug 14, 2007
Maitree pointed out that the current occupancy rate is very good compared to the same period of the previous years. Asked whether the current Baht currency appreciation has had or will have an impact on the region’s tourism Mr. Maitree said they have not yet felt the impact as most hotels do not sell in dollars. ther than that he said the region’s main markets are European Australian or Asian and that the currency exchange does not deter visitors much. The fact was reinforced by the Tourism Minister Dr. Suvit Yodmanee who admitted that the Baht appreciation has only lightly affected Thai tourism in terms of spending mood but not significantly: Both public and private tourism businesses expect a promising high season this year beginning in November as they expect to see at least 90% occupancy and bookings with European travelers still the major market with Russian tourists being new and interesting markets for the Andaman destinations. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand region 4 ffice Suwalai Pinpradap around 1000 more rooms of accommodation will be added in Phuket mostly in 5 star hotels and foreign chains of hotels… com {ur news text and mini-videos can be freely copied but give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket or contact AndamanNews@yahoo. com} This year’s low season for Phuket is reported to be satisfying according to tourism businesses and local hoteliers. According to the Phuket Tourist Association President Maitree NareukhatPichai 60-70 % of tourists visiting Phuket during this period are staying in the Patong area with occupancy rates of approximately 80% while the occupancy rates for other tourist beaches like Kata and Karon is reported at 50- 60%. Even though most tourists cannot go swimming deep in the sea due to the monsoon waves and currents they enjoy watching or joining the surfers and even kite-surfers riding the waves and kids playing kites seen here along Karon beach last weekend when the wind and weather was favourable. Maitree pointed out that the current occupancy rate is very good compared to the same period of the previous years. Asked whether the current Baht currency appreciation has had or will have an impact on the region’s tourism Mr. Maitree said they have not yet felt the impact as most hotels do not sell in dollars.

Still the King around the world
iAfrica.com – Aug 14, 2007
Roxy Music’s Bryan Ferry will oblige with his renditions of Elvis numbers next month in Naples performing at a concert with Massimo Ranieri and other top Italian singers. Britain’s commemorations of The King’s death will include an afternoon party in the Midlands city of Derby featuring an all-Elvis disco and rock ‘n’ roll band along with a gathering of Elvis impersonators. In Bangkok the Asia Hotel has held an Elvis concert each year since 1997 featuring Thai impersonators. “Elvis is very important to me. I like his voice his songs and his performance. He is so perfect” said Jaruek Viriyakij the hotel’s entertainment manager wearing a glittering blue Elvis costume.

Dream designs for Ashok makeover
Calcutta Telegraph – Aug 14, 2007
13: Six international designers and architects are interested in refurbishing the state-run India Tourism Development Corporation’s Ashok Hotel in Delhi. Australia-based Group GSA Know Design from Paris Design 103 International from Thailand New Delhi’s Visions JCJ Architecture and Fab Interiors are among those who have made presentations for redesigning 182 rooms of the 550-room hotel. “After facing a series of bureaucratic hurdles for nearly 14 months six companies have given us corporate presentations for renovating the rooms. Work will begin in April next year” a senior ITDC official told The Telegraph. The hotel has already renovated 245 rooms and is in the process of refurbishing 60 more. “We are certain that work will be over before the start of season (before September) this year” he said… “After facing a series of bureaucratic hurdles for nearly 14 months six companies have given us corporate presentations for renovating the rooms. Work will begin in April next year” a senior ITDC official told The Telegraph. The hotel has already renovated 245 rooms and is in the process of refurbishing 60 more. “We are certain that work will be over before the start of season (before September) this year” he said. According to the official the lobby corridors and the landscaping area will be renovated next year before the beginning of the peak season. Besides the company is also planning a makeover of 75 rooms at Janpath 40 rooms at Samrat 73 rooms at Ashok Jaipur and 40 rooms at Ashok Guwahati before the peak season begins this year. Another 150 rooms of the total 213 of Hotel Janpath will be renovated next year.

Tests will show if more Balinese have deadly bird flu | HEALTH | NEWS…
TVNZ – Aug 14, 2007
“It is a disease of birds which is very hard for humans tocatch” Abbott told ABC Radio. “At the moment we have no reason to think that there is human tohuman transmission. Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) deputy chief RaySurya Wijaya said bird flu still appeared to be less of a worry totourists than terrorism. “For Australian tourists what they are most worried about issecurity” Wijaya said. “Significantly this (case of) bird flu hasn’t affected usyet. “If bird flu spreads to Ubud or other touristdestinations that’s the danger. “What we also worry about is that this news will be used byother countries like Malaysia Thailand… “Significantly this (case of) bird flu hasn’t affected usyet. “If bird flu spreads to Ubud or other touristdestinations that’s the danger. “What we also worry about is that this news will be used byother countries like Malaysia Thailand. to divert tourists totheir countries. There have been 83 confirmed human deaths from bird flu inIndonesia since the first human case two years ago… to divert tourists totheir countries. There have been 83 confirmed human deaths from bird flu inIndonesia since the first human case two years ago. Authorities continue to cull poultry around the village of DauhTakad Aya in Bali’s north west with hundreds of birds alreadyslain. “Everything within a one-kilometre radius has been sterilised”Jembrana local parliament head I Made Kembang Hartawan said. “I don’t know how many have been culled but it was many.

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