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Tag: pattaya

  • Ikea breaks ground for Bang Yai outlet

    Ikea breaks ground for Bang Yai outlet

    “We are creating the world’s best integration of a Ikea store into a shopping centre,” said Sebastian Hylving, expansion director for Ikano Private Ltd, holder of the Ikea franchise rights in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

    The branch will offer wide-open entrances at all levels of the CentralPlaza WestGate shopping centre and a direct link to the future mass-transit line.In a highly complex design, the showroom and a market hall are housed inside an expansive two-storey concourse that creates a bridge to the WestGate mall.

    The Ikea self-service warehouse will be on the ground floor.

    “This is not going to be the usual blue box,” said Lacia Sherlock, Ikea retail project leader for Ikano.

    “This will be the only Ikea store that offers customers an opportunity to enter and check out at every level. We will deliver a fantastic customer experience.”

    Mike King, the Ikea retail director for Ikano, is confident that many of the 1.6 million people who live in Bang Yai and the surrounding area – including a growing population of young families – will make the trip to the new store when it opens at the end of next year.

    “There may be a lot of competition in the home furnishing business here in Thailand, but no other retailer offers the whole family a great day out in the way Ikea does,” he said.

    The Bang Yai Ikea store is an integral part of the overall expansion plan for Ikano. In November, the company opened a second store in Kuala Lumpur and a pick-up and order point in Phuket.

    The Bang Yai project marks Ikano’s first collaboration with Central Pattana, developer of the shopping centre.

  • Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya Opens on December

    Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya Opens on December

    The Swiss hotel management company Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts will bring its unique international standards to Na Jomtien in Pattaya with the opening of Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya on 15 December 2015.

    Owned by Siam Motors Group, Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya is poised to usher in a new era of upscale hospitality experiences on the pristine Na Jomtien Beach with an elite beachfront accommodation, gourmet cuisine and superb destination experiences such as yachting and island exploration.

    Located next to Ocean Marina Yacht Club, a 75-minutes drive from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the 262-room resort is the first five-star beachfront property in Na Jomtien as it leads a trend that is fast turning Pattaya into a supreme family-focused destination.           

    “We are delighted to announce our opening in December, our fifth hotel in Thailand,” said Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Senior Vice President Asia, Andrew Langdon. “We have a long and successful track record in Thailand and are firmly committed to the destination in the long term.”

    Siam Motors Group President and Siam at Chonburi Co., Ltd Chairman, Dr. Phornthep Phornprapha said he is confident that the destination would be an attractive draw, especially with Mövenpick managing the hotel, as it is a brand that truly represents quality – a hallmark of Swiss hospitality – and one which would resonate well with guests.

    “Mövenpick is a high-quality international brand and in everything they do there is a natural sense of hospitality,” said Dr. Phornthep. “This is efficient, consistent and creative, and a perfect match with genuine Thai service. Add to this the culinary flair of Mövenpick and we are very well suited.”

    Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya offers spacious room accommodations, all with panoramic sunset views of the Gulf of Thailand.

    There are a total of three gourmet dining outlets and signature culinary services, such as the daily Chocolate Hour when complimentary Swiss chocolate is featured for guests to enjoy.

    To quickly establish the property as a must-use facility for local and international meetings and wedding planners, the function space at the resort will feature soaring seven-metre high ceilings and glorius sea views. Its banquet facilities could cater to 350 guests for a gala dinner or 450 guests in a theatre-style configuration.

    An attractive outdoor lagoon pool lies in the midst of tropical gardens, with total rejuvenation to be found at Wave Spa. Also, the Kids’ Club provides a full range of fun and educational activities indoors and outdoors. Meanwhile, the hotel also offers a water sports centre, fully equipped fitness centre, golf concierge, island cruises, deep sea fishing tours and regional excursions.

    Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya is 15 kilometres south of Pattaya city and 20 minutes from U-Tapao International Airport.

    Please visit the following link for a video preview of Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drmN22YlNIE&feature=youtu.be

  • Thai AirAsia to add 3 more U-Tapao routes in November

    Thai AirAsia to add 3 more U-Tapao routes in November

    Just two days after launching two new flights to China from U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya Airport, Thai AirAsia announced it would add three more routes to bring even more tourists to the Eastern Seaboard.

    Airport Director Vice Adm. Wisansap Chanwarin joined Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya office Director Suladda Sarutilavan at Central Festival Pattaya Beach Sept. 28 to announce that the no-frills carrier would launch daily flights out of the military-run airfield to Macau, Singapore and Udon Thani on Nov 27.

    (Back row, 2nd left to 2nd right) Vice Admiral Wisansap Chanwarin, Commander of the Naval Aviation and Director of U-Tapao Airport, Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Air Asia, Nadech Kugimiya, a well-known movie star as the presenter of Air Asia, Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, and TAT Pattaya Director Suladda Sarutilavan, kick off a festive announcement for AirAsia’s new routes.

    To celebrate the three new routes, AirAsia will feature promotional fares from U-Tapao to Singapore and Macau available for booking from today to 11 October 2015 for travel from the start of service on 27 November 2015 to 29 October 2016.  Bookings can be made through all channels, including; www.airasia.com, Counter Service, AirAsia Sales Offices and all branches of 7-11.  The U-Tapao-Udon Thani route will be available very soon.

    The announcement backs AirAsia’s claim that it plans to make U-Tapao its fifth full-fledge hub in Thailand, following Bangkok’s Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Krabi.

    The carrier inaugurated its first direct flights 3-4 times a week out of U-Tapao to Nanning and Nanchang in southern China on Sept. 25 and 26, respectively. They have received a good response on this route, with load factors of 70-75%.

    It also began regular flights from Kuala Lumpur to U-Tapao by its Malaysian parent AirAsia Bhd. in July.

    “Thai AirAsia aims to expand roots in cities with fast growth and economies, especially U-Tapao airport, which is close to major cities like Rayong, Chonburi and Pattaya,” said Thai AirAsia CEO Tassapon Bijleveld.

    “The reason we’re continuing to launch new routes from U-Tapao is we see its potential and the opportunity to draw travel and investment to the Eastern Seaboard, be it to the popular entertainment destination Pattaya or Rayong’s industrial center,” he said.

    Captain, crew and dignitaries welcome passengers aboard the first AirAsia flight U-Tapao to Nanning and Nanchang in southern China.

    Itthiphol said having a Thai AirAsia base only 45 minutes from Pattaya will benefit the city due to the convenience of the airport’s location.

    “We believe that this launch will benefit all involved and will expand more domestic and international flights in the future,” he said.

    AirAsia now also offers city and island transfer services using shuttle buses and ferry boats that take passengers from U-Tapao to major travel destinations that include Koh Samet, Pattaya City (Central Festival) and Rayong, with plans to offer transfers to Koh Lan very soon. Passengers can book the service at www.airasia.com by selecting their origin and desired final destination.

    By year-end, the airline will have stationed two Airbus A320s at U-Tapao.

    Wisansap said that while U-Tapao still is not a completely commercial airport, it still has untapped potential and capacity.

    “We aim to improve and build more terminals with the support of the navy to be able to reach our goals of 3 million passengers per year,’ he said. “The construction of the new terminals are estimated to be completed by February.”

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  • Air Asia starts Pattaya-Macau flights in November

    Air Asia starts Pattaya-Macau flights in November

    Air Asia says it will launch on November 27 a service connecting the Thai coastal resort of Pattaya direct with Macau.

    Air Asia’s website says the low-cost airline will make one return flight per day until October 29 next year.

    Air Asia already has four return services a day between Bangkok and Macau, and one return service a day between the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai and Macau.

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  • Massive Hooters Pattaya to open August

    Massive Hooters Pattaya to open August

    Hooters will open the largest international Hooters location in Pattaya, Thailand, in August.

    Hooters franchisee Destination Resorts, will open the 11,000 sqft, 564-seat Hooters Pattaya in the thriving tourism and nightlife destination as part of a 30 restaurant development agreement signed earlier this year to expand Hooters throughout Southeast Asia.

    Hooters Pattaya is slated to open in early August on Beach Rd, directly across from Pattaya Beach.

    The restaurant will feature two bars, 50 high-definition televisions and two outdoor patios where guests can relax and take in the scenic views. The “Wild West” themed restaurant will allow locals and tourists to experience great fun, delicious food, world-famous chicken wings and “Hooters Girl hospitality”.

    “With the popularity of the Pattaya Beach area and its multicultural mix of locals, tourists and expats, we saw it as the ideal setting for one of the world’s largest Hooters,” said Gary Murray, CEO, Destination Resorts.

    “We successfully introduced the Hooters dining concept to Thailand last year with Hooters Phuket, and look forward to expanding our footprint in the second most visited city in Thailand.”

    Recruitment for more than 75 local Hooters Girls from Pattaya and neighboring cities has already begun.

    “A hiring road tour is scheduled to pass through Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Korat, Pattaya and Udon Thani in search of fun, friendly and outgoing personalities to sport the iconic Orange Shorts and represent the global Hooters brand,” the companies said in a release.

    Headquartered in Bangkok, Destination Resorts is the company behind DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket at Surin Beach, DusitD2 Phuket Resort, Sri Racha International Golf at Sri Racha Hills, Hard Rock Café Phuket at Patong Beach, Novotel Phuket Karon Beach Resort & Spa, Novotel Hua Hin Cha Am Beach Resort & Spa, Swissotel Resort Phuket and Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok Sukhumvit 15.

  • Aeon plans 500 Thai stores

    Aeon plans 500 Thai stores

    Japanese retailer Aeon is planning to increase its supermarket network in Thailand to 500 outlets by 2020.

    But this year it has scaled back its expansion plans due to what it considers to be a subdued retail market.

    Aeon currently has 76 supermarkets in Thailand most trading under the MaxValu brand, shops which are larger than convenience stores but smaller than full scale supermarkets. Many trade 24 hours.

    The company had planned to open 30 new stores this year but now says it will open just 15 new ones. Next year will see 40 new stores, and then 100 each year through to 2020. About 80 per cent will be MaxValu stores, the rest full sized supermarkets.

    GM Keiji Ono told the Bangkok Post that Aeon would invest up to 400 million baht (US$12.3 million) on upgrading existing stores and opening new ones.

    “We will penetrate the market in provinces in the Northeast such as Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani in order to exploit the expected economic boom from the coming regional pact of the Asean Economic Community,” he said.

    New MaxValu stores will soon open in Laem Chabang and Pattaya.

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