Tourism Thailand shares a vision with the Skal Titans

Skal International Bangkok members were honored by special guest Governor for Tourism Authority of Thailand, Khun Suraphon Svetasreni with his brief on TATs planning and goals.

Picture: Collage photos of the event

September 14 luncheon was a SELL OUT.  If I was not so anxious to see TAT’s vision and hear 1st hand from the Governor I would have seriously considered the scalpers offer for my ticket.

I’m glad I resisted the Scalpers offer! The presentation was impressive, but none more than the Governor by his Hospitable character; at the close of the event his team had to wait another hour or so while Khun Suraphon gave  an individual goodbye to all that sort his audience.  I know because I was waiting to catch a photo and my impatience was overcome by respect as I observed his "Jai yen" fellowship, a genuine wiliness to chat with people. I did get the photo, several in fact, and more conversation with this gentleman than I bargained for. He has my vote as an Icon of Thai Hospitality.

About the Governor Tourism of Thailand

As veteran of the travel and tourism industry, Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni joined the organisation in 1977 contributing to the success of the kingdom’s notable global destination marketing campaigns, strategic and tactical marketing campaigns.

Picture: Suraphon Svetasreni

His appointment to Governor  earlier this year was a natural progression having conquered many  charters in his illustrious career, in undertaking all of these roles. Mr. Svetasreni has always endeavored to meet the needs and expectations of the Thailand tourism industry with dedication, Professionalism, and finesse.

Over 20 years of experience in marketing communications, advertising, and public relations, both in Thailand and overseas, have proved a tremendous asset in Mr. Svetasreni’s role in spearheading Thailand’s tourism achievements.

Image by vtveen via Flickr Thailand is now recovering from a turbulent year and Mr Svetasreni has good reasons to be optimist. Once again, Thailand is bouncing back from a gloomy time, and quicker than expected. Mr. Svetasreni indicated international arrivals to Thailand had a positive growth from January to July totaling 8.7 million travelers. All markets are recovering strongly except but a few.

Aussie Expats trying Thailand excel at Expo Bangkok

For more than a decade Bumrungrad International Hospital has been home for the “Living in Bangkok Expo for Expats”. In the early weeks of Sept the Hospital reception (it’s so big) and their pavilion is the champion of hospitality.

Reporter: Arwee

Our winner: Aust-NZ Womens Group with their Publication "Bangkok Guide"

Pic: Expat volunteer Julienne displays the "Bangkok Guide" to visitor Phill Smith.

"It's awesome, we bought it" (a follow up report in production)

Living in Bangkok is a one stop service for expatriates to learn about the community's local products and services. With annual attendance exceeding 3,000 it’s a major attraction for new settlers to see everything on display.

Discover resources and activities that can help you reinvent yourself, at Bangkok's famous annual event for expatriates.

There are activities and discussions promoting key areas in the life of a new resident.

These include target sectors such as discovering the many aspects of Thai culture and adventure, basic "survival" needs like banking, schools, etc., contributing to the community, and developing social networks.

The Directory of Services and resources is extensive and gaining so hand contact with so many competent and experienced expat service providers makes it a must do event.

Even frequent visitors to Thailand will gain from this excursion, discounted memberships and promotional incentives are offered during expo so everyone can win.

To see the Video News report and Photo Gallery click here to visit our Forum

We bought the latest edition of Bangkok Guide, published by "Aus-NZ" women's group. The book is some 400+ pages filled with high quality content, invaluable for expat and travellers. The publication includes 2 smaller books (a phone director and Map).  See our forum article for a Photo of the book and link to more about Bangkok Guide.



Links
Aussie Community Thailand try auswathai

หญิงไทยกับชายต่างชาติ (ฝรั่ง) Foreign Men meet Thai Women

วีดีโอ 2 เรื่องนี้ ฉันไม่ได้ให้ความสนใจเกี่ยวกับการค้าขายบริการ(มีทุกแห่งในโลก) แต่ฉันสนใจและรู้สึกชอบเกี่ยวกับการบอกเล่าเรื่องราวหรือประสบการณ์ชีวิต เมื่อในวันหนึ่งคุณต้องเจอและต้องเลือกหนทางชีวิตของตนเอง อีกทั้งความคิดเห็นเกี่ยวกับวีดีโอของแต่ละคน ทำให้ฉันเรียนรู้เข้าใจการใช้ชีวิตของคนไทยบางคนและชีวิตของคนต่างชาติบางคนที่มาท่องเที่ยวหรืออาศัยอยู่ในประเทศไทย

author: forum member K999

2 this videos. I did not focus on “buy” or business (No one place in the World). But I’m interested and feel like telling stories about life or experience. One day when you have to see and to choose way of life. Also comments on videos. Cause I can learn and understand the life of some Thai and some foreign tourists at Thailand or living in Thailand. OK. I hope Foreign and Thai are lucky..

Read more - see forum article with 2 videos - great viewing - click here

Small Business get free google adds with Google Coupons

It's horrific ..

Just how many businesses are failing to take advantage of the free marketing options in Google.

What's that, you say? Google offers a FREE coupon option?

Image via CrunchBase 

Google introduced the idea of Google Coupons more than a year ago and yet, so few businesses are using this feature to market their business. It's so easy and only a few minutes to upload an offer which might be catalyst driving someone to your business instead of the one down the street.

I'm surprised at how many people either didn't know this or had forgotten.

Google announced the service last year.I've put together a quick tutorial on setting up a Google Coupon offer for your business. Setting up a Google Coupon is pretty easy. In fact, you could do it while you drink your morning coffee.

example of a google coupon

First you'll need to head to the Google Local Business Center. You'll need a FREE google account, then you can update your FREE business listing and/or click on the tab that says "coupons" and head straight into setting up an offer.

Don't worry .. there is loads of "help" and if it's not easy just type in the help issue into google and someone will have created a YouTube video for you to follow

The other option is to contact someone in SME that offers the service and check the fee structure to your budget. Austhai web service offers such a service for Australian market visit www.web.austhai.biz/

All you need to do is figure out what you will offer in terms of an incentive to the consuming market
be it a discount or rebate or some added value benefit and the time frame ie., expire date of the offer and that's it

Skal Members Bangkok are a guiding light for Tourism

Gratitude of thanks from Thailand by the Prime Minister Khun Abhisit Vejjajiva to Skal International Thailand

about Skal International Thailand

Membership comprises group of leaders in the Tourism Industry in Thailand. Skal activities, increase awareness, benchmarking and collaborative networking for the collective benefit of all. The "Skalians" club was formed in 1956 to establish Skal Club of Bangkok.

The displays of friendship and amicable spirit by the founders and members of the club were so impressive it led to the formation of Skal Club of Pattaya and Skal club of Chiangmai.

 The clubs joined forces to establish the Skal National Committee and their synergy and magnetic energy brought forward the establish of other Skal clubs. 

What is Skal International?

Skal is a professional organisation of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship.

It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry.

Image via Wikipedia Its members, the industry's managers and executives, meet at local,  National, Regional and International levels to discuss and pursue topics of common interest.

The first club was founded in 1932 in Paris by travel managers, following an educational tour of Scandinavia.

 The idea of international goodwill and friendship grew and, in 1934,the "Association Internationale des Skal Clubs" was formed with Florimond Volckaert as its first President, who is considered the "Father of Skal".

Picture

Skal Int., Bangkok networking Luncheon July 2010

photos in our Photo Gallery (link below)

Skal International today has approximately 22,000 members in 480 Clubs throughout 89 nations. Most activities occur at local level, moving up through National Committees under the umbrella of Skal International headquartered at the General Secretariat in Torremolinos,Spain.

Whats in store for SME West Australia 2011

We asked the Guru analyst/broker from GMO Richard Marr

What’s in store for 2011?

In the SME business sales marketplace we anticipate:

1. Profits to recover some lost ground

2. Sellers who delayed their sale due to the GFC re-entering the selling arena

3. The big four banks and their two satellites to continue to be cautious in their suitability, serviceability and security analysis of business loanapplications


4. The fringe lenders to become more relevant in SME lending in 20115. The supply of small and micro businesses for sale to increase
6. The supply of medium businesses for sale to increase

7. Interest rates more likely to rise than fall – but the loan funding pool available for SME is likely to improve

8. The supply of buyers in various categories to be affected by the implied reduction in business migrants (as a consequence of policies announced during the election campaign)

9. The supply of buyers to also be affected by the unemployment rate in WA. If the rate trends down below 4% as predicted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry- sellers will have few buyers entering the market place due to retrenchments

10. The possible combination of increased supply and marginally reduced demand would indicate price earnings ratios or ROI percentages will not trend positively for sellers of small and micro businesses in 2011

11. The larger your business- the better the prospects for a pleasing sale outcome, whilst conversely the smaller and more marginal the business, the greater the degree of difficulty in obtaining buyer interest.

View GMO's informative newsletter, FREE online (below).  See a cross selection of Biz for sale in WA and at what price, get the inside tips from the experts... it's a great read (AND FREE)...
Special article includes "We examine larger business transactions and the price earning relationship in businesses valued between $3million and $60 million"

Open publication - - More auswathai

Matching the market knowledge in the specialised Corporate Insurance market we sought the opinion of Aaron Wilson - Senior Account Manager and Associate partner with Central Insurance Brokers.

pic left - Aaron Wilson - Associate Partner Central Insurance Brokers

The West Australian market is unique in mainly respects, land mass, population but lets talk the obvious! For the past 3 years, with exception of GFC and the Federal political wobbles W.A. has been an "on heat" and the evidence of mass re employment to the mining section,  providing they face minimal interference (polies) Perth will continue to catapult. 

Central Insurance brokerage was established in 1978 by our founding Director Phillip Smith, it's by his relentless pursuit for Industry excellence and stability of onboard long standing fellow Directors Simon Wardman and Noel Carter that Central continues to be in high demand. We place high expectation on our client service standards and the evidence of that success is inarguable from our trading trends.

The past trading period, when the market was in question we excelled, well above market trends and post June reports show we are at the highest gain to Budget and KPI's against benchmarks.

It's one thing to get to number one and it's a whole new ball game staying there. Now we, like many need to be objective and con-concurrent with the new age worker culture given the resource shortage.

The work place 3 G factor
The recent market assessment by International recruitment brokers TMS predicts tough times ahead - to see the in depth report include PPS slide show click here.

เพิร์ธ(ใจกลางเมือง) Perth City (CBD)

เพิร์ธ

ออสเตรเลียถนนสุดท้ายสำหรับนักท่องเที่ยวนับล้านและหลายร้อยครอบครัวเริ่มต้นชีวิตของพวกเขาในบทบาทใหม่ เพิร์ธเป็นเมืองที่ใหญ่ที่สุดในภูมิภาคของออสเตรเลียตะวันตกและสองฝั่งแม่น้ำสวอน มีชนชั้นในฐานะที่เป็นเมืองหลวงของรัฐหนึ่งในออสเตรเลียนี้ มีประชากรเกือบ 2,000,000คน.การเดินทางไปทำงานเกิดขึ้นทุกๆวันในหลายบล็อกสำนักงานอาคารสูงในเมือง ย่านธุรกิจการเงิน ซึ่งตั้งอยู่ในมหาสมุทรอินเดียด้วยหาดทรายสีขาวและอากาสอบอุ่นระยะยาวในหนึ่งปี โดยเฉพาะในเดือนกันยายนเป็นช่วงเริ่มฤดูใบไม้ผลิจึงทำให้พื้นที่ของออสเตรเลียราวกับสวรรค์สำหรับนักท่องเที่ยวทั้งหมด

Why I Love Thailand

by a Lucky Farang...

Well, apart from Beautiful Beaches, Tantalising Tastes, Warm Weather, Superb Shopping, Dynamic Discos, Sensational Smiles, Breathtaking Beauties , Kinship, kindness….

........ I love Thailand because.......

All Thai Golf courses have a kiosk every three (3) holes (a Beer) and other stuff.

The Caddies always smile and almost all "show" great faith in my golf swing, my singing and my humour!

I admire the authentic culture of Thai family and kinship and Thai Society "Thii Tum Thii Soorng" (explained in the link below)

I prefer hot weather and the thought of enjoying a beer, even when it's raining.

I don’t have to wear a helmet to ride a bike!

I can teach a child respect and be respected

The majority of Thai genuinely volunteer to

· Care!

· Smile more often than not!

· Frequently demonstrate acts of politeness

· Avoid aggression and/or intimidation

· Respect their Elders, Employers and most other people and things

· Encourage and support a philosophy (a way of life) that encourages the above

When I go to Thailand I change back to a Person...(refer video link below)
It doesn't last for long so I gotta go again, if I'm not able to go then I watch the brief video to remind me about a good thing!

Puns for those with a higher IQ

Do you understand English

Image via Wikipedia 

Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are in Seine.

A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.

Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.

Practice safe eating - always use condiments.

Shotgun wedding - A case of wife or death.

A man needs a mistress just to break the monogamy.

A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.

Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?

Condoms should be used on every conceivable occasion.

Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.

When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.

A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tired.

What's the definition of a will? (It's a dead give away.)

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism your count votes.

She was engaged to a boyfriend with a wooden leg but broke it off.

A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.

You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

Local Area Network in Australia - the LAN down under.

Every calendar's days are numbered.

A lot of money is tainted - Taint yours and taint mine.

A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

He had a photographic memory that was never developed.

A midget fortune-teller who escapes from prison is a small medium at large.

Once you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.

Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.  

Acupuncture is a jab well done.

The Best bar scene story from Thailand

Arguable the most consuming story I have every read. I don't know if it was love, lust, loser.

reporter: Johnd

The dramatic cover photograph, was taken in Anglewitch Bar in Nana Plaza and features one of the bar’s top showgirls.

Often described as the best book ever written about the Bangkok bar scene, Private Dancer has been a huge hit around the world, and has been downloaded in more than forty countries.


Good news – we configured FREE online viewing of the book. The same page includes other "best" novels donated by our faithful readers. The link is below. BE WARNED - it's an Amazing story

The author of the Book Stephen Leather, a frequent visitor to the Land of Smiles, is the author of seventeen thrillers that have been translated into more than a dozen languages, including The Tunnel Rats, set in Bangkok and Vietnam, and The Solitary Man, set in Thailand and Hong Kong. He has sold more than a million books worldwide.

Two of his novels, The Bombmaker and The Stretch, have been filmed for television in the UK and he has written for TV shows such as London’s Burning and the BBC’s Murder In Mind.

The novel is set in Thailand in 1996. Pete, a young travel writer, wanders into a Bangkok bar and meets the love of his life.Pete thinks that Joy is the girl of his dreams: young, stunningly pretty, and one of the top-earning go-go dancers in Nana Plaza.

What follows is a roller-coaster ride of sex, drugs, lies and murder, as Pete discovers that his very own private dancer is not all that she claims to be. And that far from being the girl of his dreams, Joy is his own personal nightmare.

Now lets Recognise yet again the achievements of Australia

Neil Hutchison (Aussie) has become a legend with his  collection of short stories about "T.I.T" (This is Thailand). The tales are fast-paced, humorous, well written and ALL TRUE.  The centre around is love for Beer, Bars and all those things...  I read "Fool in Paradise" and agree that "such is life". 

"Using the pen name 'A Fool in Paradise' is not an accident. The opinion of both myself and I suspect, many others, is that I am probably the biggest fool in a city literally teeming with them. I am at my most stupid when the subject of relationships comes up so be warned. I swear if I live a thousand years I will never understand women." The Author

The links to summary of his books are linked from the page "Private Dancer".

Links: 
Private Dancer online viewing of the book