This is an update of my recent post about free hotel rooms in Pattaya. You may be asking which hotels are offering free rooms? Is this true or is it confirmed?
As I cited before, it's still a plan and there's still no confirmation about this promotion. It's one of the Tourism operators scheme to woo visitors with free rooms. Chatchawal Supachayanont, president of the Eastern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) said that Pattaya's hotels had about 20,000 rooms and that all operators would join the promotion.
With the upcoming so-called promotion , there's a lot of reaction out there like the following:
1. "Don't expect that the regular hotels will tell you next month that their rate is even 5 % lower than last month.Rather expect an increase in room rate as the tourist numbers go down.The usual thai business logic."
2. "I think this could prejudice those tourists who have booked and paid in advance. Surely these guests are those that the hotels wish to secure,the return market is the key to success."
3. "It would not be surprise me if the brilliant promotion is valid for Thai nationals only."
4. "Go online now and check the prices of your favorite hotels - print them off. Come back in a few weeks and check if there really has been a real reduction."
5. If they charge nothing, how will they pay staff (guests will have to pay tips and the hotel will charge the room staff to work at the hotel), electricity (maybe, they will introduce meters in the rooms), the "free" included breakfast will be charged for.Another technique would to say stay 5 nights pay for 3 or 4 - they can then say they are offering free rooms but still getting some money!"
This is an email I found on the THA website........
TW. 073/2008-2010 1 March 2009
To : General Manager / Managing Director
Subject : Invitation to participate in the project “Blue Smile Hotels”
The Government is very concerned about the economic situation and in its policy has assigned the Ministry of Commerce to play an active role in the recovery of the business during the economic recession and with this purpose has joined Thai Hotels Association to promote Thai products and Thai tourism under the project “Blue Smile Hotels”.
This project is organized with the aims to assist and promote activities of tourism industry and hotels business in Thailand as well as to assist the entrepreneurs to recover their business soonest. At the same time it will stimulate Thai people to pay more attention in the domestic travel. To proceed on this project we would like to request cooperation from participating hotels as follows :
● Serve seasonal Thai fruits to your guests in the hotel.
● Highlight your menu by using Thai products in the market for your food in the
hotel, such as buffet.
● Put up OTOP Corner in the hotel so that your guests can select the products by
themselves.
● Promote Thai beverages “Siam Sunray” (Singha drink) as Thai national drink.
Free demonstration on this issue will be arranged for participating hotels.
● Request five complimentary prize coupons for accommodation or food
effective from 1 April- 30 November 2009.
Publication of all the activities of participating hotels for sales promotion of this Project are
as follows :
1. In the “Hotel Mega Sale 2009” which will be held from 26-29 March 2009 from 10.00-20.30 hrs at the Discovery Shopping Center. This special hotel accommodation package including tourism spots in boutique style will be offered to different target groups.
2. Business negotiation in the Ministry of Commerce, and will invite government unit to discuss about their seminars on 1 April 2009.
3. Overseas marketing with the Ministry’s Export Department in various places with special rates
4. Sales promotion activities with the Ministry of Commerce at Muang Thong Thani from 3-10 April 2009
In order to keep this project consistently and accomplish success, THA would like to invite you to participate in this Blue Smile Hotels project. Please fill in your information on the Reply Form and return it to THA Office, Fax No. 02 281 4188. Your prompt attention is very much appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Prakit Chinamourphong
President
I hope that this update will enlighten everyone of us about the free hotel rooms' promotion. Let's google on May 1 if this promotion will be push through.
As I cited before, it's still a plan and there's still no confirmation about this promotion. It's one of the Tourism operators scheme to woo visitors with free rooms. Chatchawal Supachayanont, president of the Eastern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) said that Pattaya's hotels had about 20,000 rooms and that all operators would join the promotion.
With the upcoming so-called promotion , there's a lot of reaction out there like the following:
1. "Don't expect that the regular hotels will tell you next month that their rate is even 5 % lower than last month.Rather expect an increase in room rate as the tourist numbers go down.The usual thai business logic."
2. "I think this could prejudice those tourists who have booked and paid in advance. Surely these guests are those that the hotels wish to secure,the return market is the key to success."
3. "It would not be surprise me if the brilliant promotion is valid for Thai nationals only."
4. "Go online now and check the prices of your favorite hotels - print them off. Come back in a few weeks and check if there really has been a real reduction."
5. If they charge nothing, how will they pay staff (guests will have to pay tips and the hotel will charge the room staff to work at the hotel), electricity (maybe, they will introduce meters in the rooms), the "free" included breakfast will be charged for.Another technique would to say stay 5 nights pay for 3 or 4 - they can then say they are offering free rooms but still getting some money!"
This is an email I found on the THA website........
TW. 073/2008-2010 1 March 2009
To : General Manager / Managing Director
Subject : Invitation to participate in the project “Blue Smile Hotels”
The Government is very concerned about the economic situation and in its policy has assigned the Ministry of Commerce to play an active role in the recovery of the business during the economic recession and with this purpose has joined Thai Hotels Association to promote Thai products and Thai tourism under the project “Blue Smile Hotels”.
This project is organized with the aims to assist and promote activities of tourism industry and hotels business in Thailand as well as to assist the entrepreneurs to recover their business soonest. At the same time it will stimulate Thai people to pay more attention in the domestic travel. To proceed on this project we would like to request cooperation from participating hotels as follows :
● Serve seasonal Thai fruits to your guests in the hotel.
● Highlight your menu by using Thai products in the market for your food in the
hotel, such as buffet.
● Put up OTOP Corner in the hotel so that your guests can select the products by
themselves.
● Promote Thai beverages “Siam Sunray” (Singha drink) as Thai national drink.
Free demonstration on this issue will be arranged for participating hotels.
● Request five complimentary prize coupons for accommodation or food
effective from 1 April- 30 November 2009.
Publication of all the activities of participating hotels for sales promotion of this Project are
as follows :
1. In the “Hotel Mega Sale 2009” which will be held from 26-29 March 2009 from 10.00-20.30 hrs at the Discovery Shopping Center. This special hotel accommodation package including tourism spots in boutique style will be offered to different target groups.
2. Business negotiation in the Ministry of Commerce, and will invite government unit to discuss about their seminars on 1 April 2009.
3. Overseas marketing with the Ministry’s Export Department in various places with special rates
4. Sales promotion activities with the Ministry of Commerce at Muang Thong Thani from 3-10 April 2009
In order to keep this project consistently and accomplish success, THA would like to invite you to participate in this Blue Smile Hotels project. Please fill in your information on the Reply Form and return it to THA Office, Fax No. 02 281 4188. Your prompt attention is very much appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Prakit Chinamourphong
President
I hope that this update will enlighten everyone of us about the free hotel rooms' promotion. Let's google on May 1 if this promotion will be push through.
