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Skal president: Signs are good for Thailand
Thailand’s tourism is set for a bumper year. That’s the view of Andrew Wood, the newly elected national president of Skal in Thailand.
Skal is a global tourism industry organisation with almost 20,000 active members in 450 clubs across 85 countries worldwide.
Formerly general manager of the Chaophya Park hotel in Bangkok, Wood is confident that the tourism and aviation sectors in Thailand can bounce back from recent man-made and natural disasters.
“The signs are looking good, with encouraging numbers of business and leisure travellers opting for destinations in Thailand.
“Hotel rates in Thailand remain remarkably competitive but hoteliers need to maintain higher levels of occupancy throughout the year to regain, and then maintain, profitability.”
Andrew Wood, a former Skal International councillor, was speaking after the Skal International Thailand AGM at the Rembrandt hotel in Bangkok.
He was elected unopposed as president. Brian Sinclair-Thompson, who heads up the influential Board of Airline Representatives in Thailand, stepped down as president after serving two consecutive two-year terms.
Wood added, “Our own challenge in 2012 is to retain members and to attract more representatives from the travel and tourism fraternity to join our organisation.
“Our members work at the heart of the nation’s tourism industry. Together we continue to support Thailand’s efforts to restore faith and confidence in the leisure and MICE sectors.”
Andrew Wood also paid tribute to the work of Khun Malai Sakolviphak – considered by many as the ‘father’ of Skal Thailand. “Khun Malai, who recently passed away, left behind a powerful legacy and a following of dedicated and committed members”, he said.
Quote from Charles Kao, CEO & Publisher, TravelMole Media Group, “When I was vice chairman of Green Globe, I was thrilled how quickly Andrew picked up on reducing the hotels’ carbon footprint, while reducing cost. He was way ahead of his peers.
“Within two years, he had made major reduction to the Chaophya Park hotel’s water, solid and liquid waste, electricity and had his own vegetable garden around his golf driving range.
“Then Andrew helped SKAL International develop and launch a global sustainability programme with Green Globe.”
Ian Jarrett
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