Oriental Hotel Boss In Court

[george]

5-star hotels in court

Oriental boss faces lebua suit

BANGKOK: -- Oriental Hotel general manager Kurt Wachtveitl yesterday appeared in the Criminal Court to face a libel lawsuit involving the lebua Hotel.

"This should never have occurred," said Thai Hotels Association president Chanin Dhonavanik.

"What will the world think of Thailand when the world's best hotel is involved in a lawsuit like this? This is the first in Thai hotel history and will certainly damage our reputation."

In the lawsuit filed with Bangkok South Sathorn Criminal Court, the Attorney-General's Office charged Wachtveitl with defaming lebua.

lebua's owner, Challenge Hospitality, also sought compensation of Bt213 million in a separate civil lawsuit.

The plaintiff's witnesses will give their testimony on August 5, 6 and 8, while the defendant's witnesses will appear on August 13, 19 and 20.

Wachtveitl and his lawyer declined to comment to reporters.

In the lawsuit, the Attorney-General's Office referred to an e-mail signed by Wachtveitl dated November 30, 2006. In the e-mail, Oriental staff were told not to allow management of lebua and hotel developer the Challenge Group into the hotel. While citing that The Peninsula Hotel had lost 26 staff to lebua in two months, Wachtveitl said Oriental's renovated Chinese restaurant, China House, could be the next target.

"In order to reinforce our staff retention, do not accept any reservations (rooms or restaurants) under their names. Should you come across any management member in the hotel, please make sure they are escorted out of the premises immediately," he said.

He also urged staff facing a challenge when doing so to contact the Security Department.

A lebua representative, who asked not to be named, said the e-mail was sent to general managers of nine hotels.

Another lebua source said the e-mail accused lebua of using dishonest means to seduce and buy staff from other hotels. The e-mail also urged other hotels to join the protest.

"This is not true. Slightly before the e-mail was written, we even ran a recruitment advertisement," she said.

Asource at the Oriental said the hotel had every right to guard against headhunting.

"The e-mail was meant as an internal memo for the management," she said, insisting it was never sent to other hotels.

Chanin said the legal battle would attract attention, because it was a very unusual case. In the hospitality industry, hotel operators normally avoid fighting with each other, no matter if they face tough competition or other hotels try to lure their staff, he said.

"I've never known such a case before," he added.

--The Nation 2008-03-25

[plachon]

5-star hotels in court

Oriental boss faces lebua suit

BANGKOK: -- Oriental Hotel general manager Kurt Wachtveitl yesterday appeared in the Criminal Court to face a libel lawsuit involving the lebua Hotel.

"This should never have occurred," said Thai Hotels Association president Chanin Dhonavanik.

"What will the world think of Thailand when the world's best hotel is involved in a lawsuit like this? This is the first in Thai hotel history and will certainly damage our reputation."

In the lawsuit filed with Bangkok South Sathorn Criminal Court, the Attorney-General's Office charged Wachtveitl with defaming lebua.

lebua's owner, Challenge Hospitality, also sought compensation of Bt213 million in a separate civil lawsuit.

The plaintiff's witnesses will give their testimony on August 5, 6 and 8, while the defendant's witnesses will appear on August 13, 19 and 20.

Wachtveitl and his lawyer declined to comment to reporters.

In the lawsuit, the Attorney-General's Office referred to an e-mail signed by Wachtveitl dated November 30, 2006. In the e-mail, Oriental staff were told not to allow management of lebua and hotel developer the Challenge Group into the hotel. While citing that The Peninsula Hotel had lost 26 staff to lebua in two months, Wachtveitl said Oriental's renovated Chinese restaurant, China House, could be the next target.

"In order to reinforce our staff retention, do not accept any reservations (rooms or restaurants) under their names. Should you come across any management member in the hotel, please make sure they are escorted out of the premises immediately," he said.

He also urged staff facing a challenge when doing so to contact the Security Department.

A lebua representative, who asked not to be named, said the e-mail was sent to general managers of nine hotels.

Another lebua source said the e-mail accused lebua of using dishonest means to seduce and buy staff from other hotels. The e-mail also urged other hotels to join the protest.

"This is not true. Slightly before the e-mail was written, we even ran a recruitment advertisement," she said.

Asource at the Oriental said the hotel had every right to guard against headhunting.

"The e-mail was meant as an internal memo for the management," she said, insisting it was never sent to other hotels.

Chanin said the legal battle would attract attention, because it was a very unusual case. In the hospitality industry, hotel operators normally avoid fighting with each other, no matter if they face tough competition or other hotels try to lure their staff, he said.

"I've never known such a case before," he added.

--The Nation 2008-03-25

Yes, an interesting test case of where Thai courts stand on such matters. Interesting to compare the amount sought against that sought by Tescos in another current libel case. And interesting to note the high profile defendent and his long good standing in Thailand. Finally, one can't help but note the name of the plaintiff, as being rather descriptive of their nature!

I would hope the judge throws the case out, but that's just me.

By the way, is that "lebua" with a small or capital "L"?

[A_Traveller]

Now this is bizarre, but does point out something which many don't realise, and that is libel is a criminal matter, not civil, here. It also make discussions by the parties difficult since they can easily fall foul of the strong contempt rules. It may not be the case in this matter, but since it makes it virtually impossible for any member of the Oriental to comment {or enter into discussion} upon the 'old State Tower' place, it does give the plaintiff room to manoeuvre.

Regards

PS they've always styled it as all lower case characters.

[Martin]

"Chanin said the legal battle would attract attention, because it was a very unusual case. In the hospitality industry, hotel operators normally avoid fighting with each other, no matter if they face tough competition or other hotels try to lure their staff, he said.

That sounds as if he is saying that they 'normally' act professionally (in the Shavian sense of: "A profession is a conspiracy against a laity")!

From my experiences, long ago, as a hotel temporary employee during college vacations, and from a consequent interest in the industry resulting in many 'off the record' conversations with employees, there is still a lot of inner and intra skullduggery going on behind the facade of 'sweetness and light' presented to the guests.

Just over twenty years ago, my late wife and I were staying in a very large, well-known Moscow hotel and the room-maid happened to be fluent in English. She was a bit upset one day and my wife offered 'a shoulder to cry on'. Wow!! The Mafia were pussy cats compared to some of the people we heard about!

[steveromagnino]

Yes, an interesting test case of where Thai courts stand on such matters. Interesting to compare the amount sought against that sought by Tescos in another current libel case. And interesting to note the high profile defendent and his long good standing in Thailand. Finally, one can't help but note the name of the plaintiff, as being rather descriptive of their nature!

I would hope the judge throws the case out, but that's just me.

By the way, is that "lebua" with a small or capital "L"?

No comment on the merits of the case, but his reputation is not quite as 'long good standing' as some would like to make out; as alledgedly some people trying to book conference/ball room and then alledegdly subsequently getting booted for a better offer would no doubt be aware. And some being alledgedly members of the media no less.

Funny that Oriental would pick on the Thai hotel; they don't seem to mind the fact that virtually every 6 star hotel has staff sourced from them. It isn't exactly hard to head hunt staff.

Without knowing the contents referred to, hard to know whether the case has merits or not however.

[jackspratt]

Now this is bizarre, but does point out something which many don't realise, and that is libel is a criminal matter, not civil, here. It also make discussions by the parties difficult since they can easily fall foul of the strong contempt rules. It may not be the case in this matter, but since it makes it virtually impossible for any member of the Oriental to comment {or enter into discussion} upon the 'old State Tower' place, it does give the plaintiff room to manoeuvre.

Regards

PS they've always styled it as all lower case characters.

And bizarre in another sense - I believe that in western (adversarial and maybe other) justice systems, only a real person (not juristic person) can be libelled.

[Thai at Heart]

Now this is bizarre, but does point out something which many don't realise, and that is libel is a criminal matter, not civil, here. It also make discussions by the parties difficult since they can easily fall foul of the strong contempt rules. It may not be the case in this matter, but since it makes it virtually impossible for any member of the Oriental to comment {or enter into discussion} upon the 'old State Tower' place, it does give the plaintiff room to manoeuvre.

Regards

PS they've always styled it as all lower case characters.

And bizarre in another sense - I believe that in western (adversarial and maybe other) justice systems, only a real person (not juristic person) can be libelled.

Aah the Lebua group again in the headlines. These guys love publicity good and bad obviously.

No takers for their gazillion baht dinner in Surin yet?

[sunreader]

""This should never have occurred," said Thai Hotels Association president Chanin Dhonavanik.

"What will the world think of Thailand when the world's best hotel is involved in a lawsuit like this? This is the first in Thai hotel history and will certainly damage our reputation.""

I think he over values the worth of Thailands world reputation.

[Payboy]

I think he over values the worth of Thailands world reputation.

the world's best hotel

and also the oriental..

not

not

and not!

[MrOzark]

""This should never have occurred," said Thai Hotels Association president Chanin Dhonavanik.

"What will the world think of Thailand when the world's best hotel is involved in a lawsuit like this? This is the first in Thai hotel history and will certainly damage our reputation.""

I think he over values the worth of Thailands world reputation.

You mean as 'brothel to the world'?

That's just.. well, not sabai.