A new convention centre has been opened in the city of Udon Thani. Named Montatip Hall, the meeting and function facility is owned by Udon Plaza, the operator of UD Town shopping mall. It took about two years for the construction and about 800 million baht investment.
The aim is to support the growing industry of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), according to company president & CEO Tanakorn Weerachatyanukul. He wanted to push Udon Thani as an alternative MICE venue in the northeastern region in addition to Khon Kaen. The facility can support up to 5,000 guests. The total space usage is 25,000m² including five function rooms, and indoor and outdoor parking lots which can accommodate 1,000 vehicles.
Montatip Hall is located not far from the City Pillar shrine and about 6km from Udon Thani airport.
Visit montatiphall.com
TAT pops up in BKK
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched TAT Mobile Car as pop-up information booths in Bangkok. The project is a pilot test which will last three months.
TAT modified minivans for the service and to catch the attention of passersby, each vehicle is decorated with bright and colourful graphics with a logo of TAT and the message of "TAT Contact Centre" at the front.
Tourists can obtain information from the stations including travel brochures and maps, and scan tourism information by using QR codes. Each station will have both English and Chinese speaking staff. The vans are parked at various popular tourist spots including Khao San Road and Tha Chang Pier from Wednesday to Sunday, from noon to 7pm.
AIRLINES UPDATE
- NokAir waives a fee for upgrading a seat to premium for elderly people aged at least 65, mothers-to-be and monks.
The fee is 300 baht and the service is available only over the counter when a passenger checks in. Seats are also limited. The promotion will last until Dec 31.
The airline also launched vouchers with prices start from 2,400 baht to 4,800 baht to promote its domestic flights.
Visit nokair.com.
- Thai Airways has painted Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery on Boeing 777-300 to commemorate the Royal Coronation Ceremony.
The Suphannahong Royal Barge has been the monarch's royal barge since the Ayutthaya era. The current royal barge is a reconstruction. The work began during the reign of King Rama V and was completed in the reign of King Rama VI. The prow was carved with the figurehead of a mythical swan, gold-gilded and decorated with mirrored glass. The body is black on the outside and red on the inside. It is 3.17m wide, 46.15m long and 0.94m deep.
THAI will operate the aircraft offering 34 seats in Royal Silk Class and 330 seats in Economy Class on round-trip flights between Bangkok and Seoul, Taipei, Beijing, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Sapporo.
Visit thaiairways.com.
HOTEL DEALS & UPDATE
- Holiday Inn Express Pattaya Central has opened. The property features 241 rooms including two rooms for travellers with a wheelchair, rooftop swimming pool, fitness centre, restaurant with an option of breakfast-to-go, a meeting room and free Wi-Fi.
The hotel offers special opening promotions with a night's stay starting at 1,200 baht++ when booking for at least two nights. The price includes breakfast for two.
Holiday Inn Express Pattaya Central is located on Soi Bua Khao and about 1.5km to Pattaya Beach. Holiday Inn Express has 23 hotels and 5,980 rooms open across Southeast Asia and South Korea.
Visit ihg.com.
- Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort has launched a concierge app which allows its guests to get access to hotel facilities and services via their smartphones. Guests can ask for assistance, in-room amenities, order food, book activities or ask for buggy transport.
The app also offers free local calls and Live Chat function with hotel staff.
Located on Loh Ba Gao Bay on Phi Phi Island, the beachfront property offers 201 rooms including 189 traditional Thai style bungalows and 12 private Hillside Pool Villas.
Visit phiphiislandvillage.com.
- Dusit International has signed a hotel management agreement with Hong Kong-based Tian Teck Property Company to operate dusitD2 Samyan Bangkok. The property will be the first dusitD2 branded hotel in Bangkok.
Scheduled to open in June 2023 on Si Phraya Road, the 23-storey hotel will feature 181 rooms, lobby bar, swimming pool with children's pool, fitness centre, restaurant and meeting room.
Dusit International operates 271 properties under six brands across 13 countries. The company plans to open 50 more hotels with at least 10 hotels per year in key destinations from 2019 onwards.
Visit dusit.com.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.
