The current economic downturn has caused Town in Town Hotel, in Pattaya, to lay off hundreds of staff members. The hotel is planning to convert to serviced apartments in order to survive.

On 16 August 2007, at Town in Town hotel, located at 206, Moo 9, Central Pattaya, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi, Mr. Surapol Lertmetta chaired a meeting of the Hotel Management Committee and authorities from the Social Welfare and Labor Law office of Chonburi, which hundreds of hotel staff members attended. The hotel management explained that economic problems were making it necessary to lay off staff because of a serious loss a business and making it impossible to operate as a hotel any longer.

Mr. Surapol revealed that Town in Town is a three star hotel which has been operating for more than sixteen years. The sixteen story hotel contains 360 rooms and has a staff of 200 people. Because of the poor economy, business has declined, significantly during the past few months. The hotel has no choice but to lay off some staff in order to survive.

The hotel management wishes the staff to understand that the situation is critical. It is necessary for the hotel to convert to serviced apartments in order to survive.

In addition, Pattaya is saturated with an abundance of hotels. Town in Town hotel is right in the center of the city and it is very difficult to compete with other hotels that are closer to the beach, which is attractive to customers and tour operators. However, hotel management will be responsible for any compensation to staff that are laid off according to the Social Welfare and Labor Law.

Mrs. Anyuma Prasobphol, the former Town in Town Hotel Manager declared that all of the laid off staff did not expect anything from the hotel except a rational explanation which the hotel management has provided. Staff members are appreciative that the hotel will exercise their responsibility to provide for laid off staff members, as they need support for their daily living expenses.

Mr. Chokechai Gerd-Nai-Mongkol, from the Social Welfare and Labor office of Chonburi declared that all laid off staff will be provided for, as covered by the labor law. The hotel management might have to pay all staff in installments, as the hotel financial situation is precarious. Both sides will have to come to an agreement and the Social Welfare and Labor office will supervise all matters.

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000003659

Som nam nah. They've always catered to the Chinese market, no wonder they're going out of business.

1500bht and up, no wonder not making any dosh.

Thought Chinese tourists were on the up.

I would suggest poor management - failing to go out and get the business needed to survive.

If they are catering to the Chinese market, then chase the tour operators, offer better room rates, less penalties, more inclusive tours for the base rate. Anything to keep cash coming in. Turnover is the thing - cashflow is king.

360 rooms annd 1500 baht per night? That is a big amount of money. 200 staff - say average of 8,000 to 10,000 baht per month - so 8 nights of 50% occupancy covers the wages. Leaves laundry, food, replacement stock. 20% occupancy should see them through in the low season.

Who has run off with the year's takings?