New marketing director at Laguna Phuket

– A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: The Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket has announced the appointment of Ms Erica Robinson as Director of Marketing Communications. She will lead the marketing and communication strategies for the resort, which is based in the Laguna Phuket complex.

With ten years in the industry, Ms Robinson brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in marketing and public relations, the resort says. She has held a number of key management and leadership roles within Starwood’s leading Fiji and Sydney properties.

Kylie Brajak, Director of Sales & Marketing for the Sheraton Grande Laguna says, “Erica has excelled in her career over the past nine years, and this is a great opportunity for her to lead our Marketing Communications team to new heights.”

Phuket travel offer

TTRWeekly
Allresortthailand.com’s campaign ‘Fly Boutique, Stay Boutique’ provides special hotel deals for passengers who book flights to Phuket on line at bankokair.com. Travelers who pay for two nights get a third night free of charge.

The offer is also available on Bangkok Air flights to Chiang Mai, Samui, Krabi, Lampang, Sukhothai and Trat, the airline says.

Bookings for both flights and rooms are available until June 30, while the eligible travel period ends July 31. E-mail confirmation of tickets must be presented when making a hotel reservation to claim the privilege.

Participating hotels and fares can be found on the airline’s website.

Hostility and tension in Bangkok

The Guardian
Although Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said security forces would “not use force at this stage” toward the red shirts, Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has been warning protesters to leave immediately.

A government spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn, said late yesterday that the PM had rescinded his compromise offer to hold early elections on 14 November: “He said there will no longer be any more compromises or conditions…Their refusal to stop the protest meant that the conditions that were set are being cancelled.”

The protesters vowed to hold their ground, with one of their leaders, Weng Tojirakarn, saying: “The prime minister must not threaten us and must not disperse us. If he wants more deaths, so be it. I don’t.”

Greece crisis: implications for Thailand

The Nation
Some 80.8 billion baht’s worth of Thai exports could be affected in the worst-case scenario of the European crisis spreading to Portugal, Italy, Spain and Ireland, says Thailand’s Centre for International Trade and Studies.

If the crisis is limited to Greece, the impact will be only $210 million (6.7 billion baht). But if the crisis spreads to Portugal [only], it will be $613 million (20 billion baht).

Meanwhile, the BOT predicts only a limited effect on the Thai financial sector, because Thailand’s lending to Greece amounts to only 340 million baht.

Conversely, Montree Socatiyanurak of the National Institute of Development Administration said it was likely the Greek crisis could spark inflows to Asian markets.

This would strengthen the Asian currencies, including the Thai baht. Thailand’s export competitiveness would then be affected, as well as the economy, he said.

— Gazette Editors