File photo courtesy: Wikimedia

 

The Thai hospitality industry is raising alarms about the infiltration of foreign businesses leveraging local nominees, a practice perceived as damaging to Thailand’s esteemed tourism image. The Thai Hotels Association (THA) has sounded the alarm as concerns mount that these activities could trigger detrimental price wars, particularly amongst lower-tier hotels.

 

Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the THA, articulated that approximately 50% of Thai hotels are uneasy about these illegal enterprises, notably Chinese-run establishments, as revealed by the association's business sentiment index for October.

 

Higher-end hotels, though targeting distinct markets, foresee potential harm to Thailand's tourism image due to these activities, which may, in turn, depress market prices.

 

Chaiyapatranun has urged government agencies to intensify efforts against these unlawful operations, highlighting their potential to undermine the integrity of the entire tourism sector. Hotels rated three stars or lower feel the pinch more acutely as these unauthorised competitors directly threaten them by impacting pricing and reputation.

As November approaches, coinciding with peak tourist influx, occupancy rates appear buoyant yet uneven. October ended with a nationwide hotel occupancy of 57.6%, a noticeable increase from last year’s 54%.

 

However, higher-rated hotels reported a more robust performance at 60.2% occupancy, compared to 52.7% in the lower bracket.

 

Amidst rising visitor interest, top-tier establishments confront staff shortages, impacting service quality despite being able to host more guests. Hoteliers are calling for government training initiatives to attract crucial roles like cleaners and waiting staff, addressing labour deficits.

 

Furthermore, the industry appeals for stable foreign exchange rates to sustain operational stability. Prompt financial aid for those affected by recent floods is also essential to ensure swift recovery during the high season.

 

The collective efforts aim to safeguard Thailand’s tourism sector, preserving its reputable allure, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2024-11-13

 

 

 

 

While the back-handers continue...so will so called illegal businesses!

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

Hoteliers are calling for government training initiatives to attract crucial roles like cleaners and waiting staff, addressing labour deficits.

garf speak .... they want Cambodians, Burmese & perhaps a few Laotians. 

damaging to Thailand’s esteemed tourism image  🤣🤣🤣

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

damaging to Thailand’s esteemed tourism image  🤣🤣🤣

 

Yes.  At the top end, Thailand's hotels are amongst the best in the world.  Capella, Four Seasons, The Siam, The Sukhothai, Dusit Thani, Mandarin Oriental, Banyan Tree.  All exquisite.  And there are others.

Who do they think owns the larger hotel chains in the country like four seasons, grand Hyatt etc ? 

Do they think every hotel in Thailand is owned by thais ?? 

2 minutes ago, ronster said:

Who do they think owns the larger hotel chains in the country like four seasons, grand Hyatt etc ? 

Do they think every hotel in Thailand is owned by thais ?? 

 

In the great majority of cases, those hotels are owned by Thais and managed by the international chain under contract. 

Central Europeans brought the hotel management levels to Thailand and did VERY well. In the past, any decent 4*+ and 5* hotel was managed by a graduate of a hotel management school in (mostly German-speaking) Europe. 
As the levels dropped all over the planet, the few selected surviving premises remained keeping their extremely high standard, the rest went "normal". 

Today, after 40 years in the realm, I find it disappointing and frustrating; you can hear the quarrel of occupants next door, amenities are missing, basics are not working (flat batteries on TV remote controls and broken light bulbs). Check-in sloppy and absolutely disinterested focussing on Line, Facebook and whatever else phones offer today. Breakfasts are inedible with coffee in glass pots simmered for hours, fried eggs - cold - swimming in oil, ham swimming in brine and cheapest palm oil margarine replacing butter. All this a higher prices than ever before. 

Bottom line is, choose a boutique hotel off a platform (booking.com, Agoda.com etc.) - forget the brekky and have that separately in a restaurant. Travel with ear plugs and shades (the ones you also use on airplanes) and Bob's your uncle! 

I use 3-4 star hotels and find that the service I get is just as good as the 5 star.  The difference in a lot of cases is simply the name on the marquee. The buildings are newer shiner and have nicer amenities.  

I think the diferenceis that the 5 star is that they are international brands.  It is just like macDonalds and other international brands.

 

People know what they get in their home country and want to be quaranteed a great stay.

 

As to bookings 3 star hotels need to be advertising to Thai's and outlining nicer things.  A lot of people just want to kmow that they are going to get an enjoyable time.

 

Then again you have Thai hotels that renovate and because they do jack the prices (thin Montien in Silom) 

 

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

notably Chinese-run establishments,

 

I knew this as soon as I read the headline.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thai hospitality industry is raising alarms about the infiltration of foreign businesses leveraging local nominees, a practice perceived as damaging to Thailand’s esteemed tourism image

Thai nominees love the money too much, stop blaming foreigners.

If the high end hotels would increase their salaries for their employees , maybe they would get more staff. They certainly are making enough money and are apparently busy.  So they need to pay more and train them accordingly if they want to succeed. Up to them. 
As far as the lower end Foreign(Chinese) run hotels, it’s nothing new and as long as it lines the pockets of a few Thais they will never go away. The zero tours have never stopped, just hidden under some paperwork. 

9 hours ago, Dcheech said:

garf speak .... they want Cambodians, Burmese & perhaps a few Laotians. 

 

And if they did some capability / skills checking they would find many Cambodians, Burmese & Laotians who speak good to advanced English.

9 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thai Hotels Association (THA) has sounded the alarm as concerns mount that these activities could trigger detrimental price wars, particularly amongst lower-tier hotels.

 

Uh-oh!  Competition.  That isn't welcome in Thailand.

4 hours ago, Foxx said:

 

Yes.  At the top end, Thailand's hotels are amongst the best in the world.  Capella, Four Seasons, The Siam, The Sukhothai, Dusit Thani, Mandarin Oriental, Banyan Tree.  All exquisite.  And there are others.

Yes the beautiful Capella .one of the most expensive hotels in Bangkok 

 

Personally I have no idea why someone pays 30,000 baht a night to stay there 

10 hours ago, webfact said:

perceived as damaging to Thailand’s esteemed tourism image

 

41 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Yes the beautiful Capella .one of the most expensive hotels in Bangkok 

 

Personally I have no idea why someone pays 30,000 baht a night to stay there 

 

Because they can afford it? Because they enjoy luxury? I know I do.

However, I'm sure there are a lot of less affluent people who resent those who've worked hard all their lives and saved enough money to enjoy the good things in life.

 

4 hours ago, Foxx said:

 

Because they can afford it? Because they enjoy luxury? I know I do.

However, I'm sure there are a lot of less affluent people who resent those who've worked hard all their lives and saved enough money to enjoy the good things in life.

 

Define luxury ?

I don't see much difference in hotel rooms 

I would rather fly business class than  waste money in a 5 star luxury hotel when I'm only sleeping in it 

 

 

 

Who'd have known opening up to the world with these easy visas, allowing long term stay so easily would allow foreigners to come in and attempt to work with the 'thai front'. 

 

Who could have predicted that would happen?

 

I for one am really really really shocked. 

19 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Define luxury ?

I don't see much difference in hotel rooms 

I would rather fly business class than  waste money in a 5 star luxury hotel when I'm only sleeping in it 

 

 

 

 

   Whatever you would prefer to do, you will be flying cattle class on a budget airline and staying in the cheapest place in town 

32 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Whatever you would prefer to do, you will be flying cattle class on a budget airline and staying in the cheapest place in town 

Yes I am forced to fly cattle class and live in the dreaded Nirun condos 

16 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Define luxury ?

I don't see much difference in hotel rooms 

I would rather fly business class than  waste money in a 5 star luxury hotel when I'm only sleeping in it 

 

 

 

Off topic?

A penthouse at a hotel that has more square feet (or square meters) than your house?

The wife of a man I worked with went to Hawaii with a friend for vacation.   She found out her cousin managed a ( I guess) 5 star hotel.   He let her and her friend stay in the penthouse.   She told her husband it was a two story penthouse and was bigger than their house.   The best part was, she stayed free.