Sawasdee and welcome to Thailand!

Sawasdee and welcome to Thailand!
Welcome to the Tourism Authority of Thailand e-newsletter,
your guide to what's new and happening in Thailand!
March 2014
IN THIS ISSUE:
* MARCH'S FEATURED HOT SPOT......AYUTTHAYA!
* TAT WINS TOP HSMAI GOLD AWARD WITH GIADA IN
PARADISE
* THAILAND'S ISLAND GEMS VOTED AMONG THE WORLD'S
BEST BY TRIPADVISOR TRAVELERS
* RECENT ACCOLADES REINFORCE THAILAND'S
REPUTATION AS PREMIER CULINARY TRAVEL
DESTINATION
* PEOPLE PROFILE: GENERAL MANAGER OF SIX SENSES
SAMUI, DAVID ASHWORTH
* TAT KICKS OFF "THAILAND EXTREME MAKEOVER"
CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE MEDICAL TOURISM
* LOOKING AHEAD: SONGKRAN
* CELEBRATE IN BANGKOK WITH THE SONGKRAN SPLASH
PACKAGE
* BOOK THAILAND NOW FEATURE PACKAGE: NORTHERN
TOURISM AUTHORITY
OF THAILAND
http://na.tourismthailand.org
www.tatnews.org
NEW YORK
61 Broadway Suite 2810
New York, NY 10006
Tel: (212) 432-0433
Fax: (212) 269-2588
E-mail: [email protected]
LOS ANGELES
Contact: Ben Fleming
611 North Larchmont
Boulevard 1st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Tel: (323) 461-9814
Fax: (323) 461-9834
E-mail:
[email protected]
CANADA
Contact: Kayla Shubert
1393 Royal York Road #15
HILLTRIBES & VILLAGES
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Toronto, Ontario M9A 4Y9
Tel: (416) 614-2625
Fax: (416) 614-8891
E-mail: [email protected]
Dear Friends,
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) thanks you for joining us
once again as we continue to share all of the latest news from our
beloved land of smiles.
In this month's edition we travel to Hot
Spot, Ayutthaya, the ancient UNESCO
World Heritage Site that serves as the host
of the 10th Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony
this month. We're pleased to share the
news that both Thailand's beauty and
cuisine have been honored by TripAdvisor
and AFAR Media, respectively. Some of
Bangkok's restaurants were also included
among S. Pellegrino's Asia's 50 Best
Restaurants, further showcasing the rich
culinary experiences that can be found
in Thailand. This month, we also look into
a new digital campaign that will highlight
Thailand as a premier medical tourism destination. We're excited to
look ahead as our Songkran Festival, the Thai New Year,
approaches and Thailand's streets will be filled with smiles - and
water - to symbolize the New Year blessing.
We look forward to continuing to share updates from our Amazing
Thailand throughout 2014. As always, we hope to see you all, in
person, in Thailand soon!
For more information about Thailand, please visit us
at na.tourismthailand.org.
Kop koon ka (thank you!)
Srimala Waraphaskul
Director
MARCH'S FEATURED HOT SPOT...AYUTTHAYA!
MEDIA CONTACT
Danielle Hendricks
Lou Hammond & Associates
Tel: (212) 891-0223
E-mail:
[email protected]
MEDIA RESOURCES
www.tatmediaspot.org
www.tatnews.org
Thailand Flash Sales!
www.bookthailandnow.com
Quic
k
Link
s
Formerly the capital of the Thai Empire,
Ayutthaya was once an arts, medicine and
technology mecca that attracted traders
and diplomats from across Europe and
Asia. Its gorgeous palaces and countless
temples showcase the cultural and
architectural journey of the historic city.
Ayutthaya is a popular day-trip destination
for visitors in Bangkok. As a UNESCO
World Heritage site, the city encompasses
the ruins of the ancient kingdom with
breathtaking sights travelers urge to
explore. History and religious buffs will require an overnight stay, allowing two full days of
sightseeing to experience the city's temples and many attractions, including the Chao Phraya
River, the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, the Historical Study Center and the
nearby Bang Sai Folk Arts and Craft Center.
How to get there
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Fly: Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi (BKK) airport is the closest option and a one-hour
drive/two-hour bus trip away.
By bus: From Bangkok, buses depart every 20 minutes from the Northern Bus Terminal.
Train: Departing from Bangkok's Hualamphong Train Station, the ride is approximately
two hours long.
Minibus: Offered from Bangkok and Kanchanaburi, minibuses are a faster option than
traditional buses.
Cruise Boat: Cruise boats run up and down the river from Bangkok. Typically a full-day
trip with booking needed. This is a more leisurely option.
Accommodation options
Accommodations are suited for business travelers and sightseers alike. Some to keep in mind
include Kantary Hotel Ayutthaya, Classic Kameo Hotel Ayutthaya, Woraburi Ayothaya
Convention Resort, or hidden gems like the Ayutthaya Garden River Home.
Events
This year, the 10th Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony takes place at Wat Mahathat in the Ayutthaya
Historical Park. The event aims to help people understand the meaning of the Wai Kru
ceremony and to showcase some of the sacred rituals of Thai boxing -- a martial art that has
kicked itself into the world's spotlight over the years and gained fans the world over. Songkran
Festival, the traditional Thai New Year, will also be celebrated in April at Ayutthaya Historical
Park. These are the only Songkran festivities in Thailand where tourists are able to interact with
elephants.
For more information on Ayutthaya, visit na.tourismthailand.org. For more information on the
10th Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony, visit www.tatnews.org/10th-world-wai-kru-ceremony.
TAT WINS TOP HSMAI GOLD AWARD WITH GIADA IN PARADISE
Supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
(TAT), "Giada in Paradise: Thailand"
showcases Thailand's culinary and cultural
offerings while Giada De Laurentiis, an Italian
celebrity chef, enjoyed a glamorous adventure
across Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai.
The episode, "Giada in Paradise: Thailand" won
the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association
International (HSMAI)'s Gold Award in the
public relations category, making it the third
year in a row that an entry from Thailand has
taken the top spot in this category.
The HSMAI's Adrian Awards Reception and Gala was held in February in New York. The
Awards recognize best practices in sales and marketing for the hospitality industry,
including award-winning approaches to advertising, public relations, and digital marketing.
HSMAI received more than 1,200 submissions globally for the 2013 Adrian Awards. From the
entries, HSMAI presented 46 Gold Adrian Awards in Advertising, 87 in Digital Marketing and
130 in Public Relations.
For the complete release and the latest Thailand news, visit www.tatnews.org.
THAILAND'S ISLAND GEMS VOTED AMONG THE WORLD'S BEST BY
TRIPADVISOR TRAVELERS
Some of Thailand's most pristine islands have
once again been celebrated by international
visitors who recently voted them among the
world's best. In the latest international poll for
TripAdvisor's 2014 Travelers' Choice Awards, Ko
Tao in the southern coastal region of Thailand
was named the 10th best island in the world.
Ko Tao was also voted the Number 1 island
destination in Asia, along with Ko Phangan (No.
3), Ko Lanta (No. 4), Phuket (No. 7) and Ko
Samui (No. 9).
For the complete release and the latest Thailand news, visit www.tatnews.org.
RECENT ACCOLADES REINFORCE THAILAND'S REPUTATION AS
PREMIER CULINARY TRAVEL DESTINATION
Thailand's reputation as a premier culinary
travel destination was reinforced by two recent
awards bestowed upon the country. AFAR
Media honored Bangkok with an Experiential
Travel Award, naming the Thai capital as the
world's Best International City for Street Food.
The 2014 awards are a new annual list that
celebrates hotels, destinations and outfitters
that truly exemplify the spirit of experiential
travel. The winners are featured in the
March/April issue of AFAR magazine, on
newsstands now.
Some of Thailand's top restaurants have also received worldwide recognition. Nahm restaurant
in Bangkok has secured the coveted number one spot as part of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants
Awards in Singapore. In addition to earning the title The S.Pellegrino Asia's Best Restaurant, it
was also named The S. Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Thailand.
For the complete release and the latest Thailand news, visit www.tatnews.org.
PEOPLE PROFILE: GENERAL MANAGER OF SIX SENSES SAMUI,
DAVID ASHWORTH
This month's people profile section features David Ashworth from Six Senses Samui. David
brings 31 years of international hospitality experience to the Six Senses Samui team. Joining in
2008, David previously served as general manager to another Koh Samui resort, a resident
manager in Bangkok, and regional director of food & beverage in Barbados. Bringing in over 14
awards and accolades for the property since his start, David has increased customer loyalty
and guest satisfaction.
Featured in the latest episode, the Six Senses Samui shows its culinary expertise by giving
viewers an insider look on how to make Tub-Tim Krob, a sweet and refreshing Thai dessert.
This week, our interview with David Ashworth will give viewers some local insights on where to
go and what to do in Koh Samui.
Thai-Licious Season 02: Interview at Dining on the Rock
For more information on Six Senses Samui, visit
www.sixsenses.com/resorts/samui/destination.
TAT KICKS OFF "THAILAND EXTREME MAKEOVER" CAMPAIGN TO
PROMOTE MEDICAL TOURISM
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has
kicked off its new digital marketing campaign,
"Thailand Extreme Makeover," to promote the
kingdom as a premier medical tourism
destination.
Tourists from all over the world are invited to
join a "reality-type" contest in which the
selected contestants undergo makeovers including various cosmetic surgery procedures.
There is a $5,000 cash prize up for grabs as well as a chance to win luxury trips to Thai tourist
destinations.
The "Thailand Extreme Makeover" digital marketing campaign gives contestants a chance to
completely change their appearance at the hands of skilled Thailand-based surgeons. Three
finalists will win a trip to Thailand where their journey will be documented and voted on by
campaign followers. The contestant with the highest number of votes will win the $5,000 cash
prize and a luxury trip around Thailand.
For the complete release and the latest Thailand news, visit www.tatnews.org.
LOOKING AHEAD: SONGKRAN
Songkran is the Thai traditional New Year
Day which is celebrated April 13 through
15 each year. It is one of the most
important festivals in Thailand. Songkran,
also called the "Water Festival," is believed
to flow and wash away bad omens.
Traditionally, the activities of
Songkran begin in the early morning when
Thai Buddhists go to the temple to make
merits by offering food to monks and
listening to the Dhamma speak. In the
afternoon, Thai Buddhists sprinkle scented water on Buddha images. During this time, younger
people ask blessings from their elders and pour scented water over their elder's hands. In
return, the elders wish them good health, happiness and prosperity.
With many celebrations throughout the country, Thais locals -- and visitors alike -- engage in
massive water fights where they splash each other with water to symbolize the gift of a New
Year blessing.
For more information on Songkran and other TAT-NA's Event Listings,
visit na.tourismthailand.org/See-and-Do/Events-and-Festivals.
CELEBRATE IN BANGKOK WITH THE SONGKRAN SPLASH PACKAGE
The St. Regis Bangkok is offering travelers the chance to gear up for the water festival of
Songkran and usher in the Thai New Year with a special celebration offer. With its prestigious
location, hotel guests can easily enjoy the Bangkok Grand Songkran Festival on Rattanakosin
Island, Bangkok. The hotel is centrally located to Bangkok's key commercial corridor, prime
shopping precinct and the BTS Skytrain
connection link to the station.
The Songkran Splash Package starts at $201
and includes:
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Daily breakfast for two
Complimentary high speed internet
access
Songkran welcome gift to help you beat
the wet!
BTS Skytrain one-day pass
24 hour St. Regis Butler service
The package is available from April 4 to April 17, 2014.
For more information, or to make a reservation, visit www.stregisbangkok.com/.
BOOK THAILAND NOW FEATURE PACKAGE: NORTHERN
HILLTRIBES & VILLAGES
This package allows travelers to head north to Thailand's hills from the luxury of Bangkok's
malls and gleaming high-rises to eat and seek adventure with the hilltribes along the way. The
tour also travels though historic Chiang Mai to experience its night market and delicious
cuisine.
The Northern Hilltribes & Villages
package starts at $699 per person and
includes:
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Overnight accommodations:
simple hotels (three nights),
basic hilltribe huts (two nights,
multi-share), sleeper trains (two
nights)
Hilltribe trek
Elephant ride and bamboo
rafting
Street food crawl
Five breakfasts, three lunches, two dinners
Local bus, songthaew, train, elephant, walking, river raft
Note, the tour will be accompanied by the Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, as well
as the trekking staff. This is a small group experience (maximum: 16, average: 10).
Visit Book Thailand Now for additional packages and reservations, http://bookthailandnow.com.
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