Thai Hotels: Advance Bookings Shorter

[george]

Hotels: advance bookings shorter

Hotel operators are facing management difficulties due to travellers' shorter notice for bookings as fears of Sars and terrorism return, industry representatives say.

The average for an advance booking at Central's hotel and resort chain is now only three weeks, down from its recent average of three months, Central Plaza Hotels Plc sales and marketing director Natapong Jantavetsiri said last week.

"Since the terrorist attacks on the US in 2001 and the Sars outbreak Sars, safety and security are key factors when tourists are deciding on travel destinations," he said.

But concerns about terrorism and Sars mainly effect the corporate customer base, as such groups need a high level of safety and security. They do not make a decision [on destinations] until they are fully confident [of their safety], Dusit Resort Pattaya Beach General Manager Chatchawal Supachayanont said.

"In the past, corporate customers would book at least one year in advance, but, now the average is six months," Chatchawal said.

Retail customers, especially foreign tourists, are still booking one year in advance because they usually plan a long time ahead to save money for their holidays, he said.

The return of Sars in Taiwan would not affect Thailand's tourist industry, Chatchawal said.

Thailand had not been a direct target for terrorist attacks and the government had been able to could control the Sars outbreak, he said.

Natapong said the Central chain expected to achieve a 70-per-cent occupancy rate this year, up from 60 per cent last year. In 2004, the rate is expected to reach 75 per cent, as a result of the government's tourism promotions and the launch of low-cost airlines. These factors will stimulate domestic travel, he said.

Central is building 10 hotel and resort projects, with about 2,000 rooms, one of which is in Bangkok, with further resorts in Hua Hin, Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Mae Sot and Hat Yai. One overseas project is in underway in Dili, East Timor.

Natapong said Central had forecast an increase in corporate customers due to better sentiment in the world economy, especially in Europe, where many firms have set larger budgets for oversees meetings next year. Half of Central's customers come from Europe, he said.

"Central believes the proportion of its corporate customers will rise from 30 per cent this year to 35 per cent next year," Natapong said.

Central Vice President Supatra Chirathivat, said the company's future project emphasis was on beach resorts because the firm had found customers made more repeat visits to beach resorts than city hotels.

Out of its 10 projects, seven are beach resorts. Two new projects are under construction - the five-star, 200-room Central Krabi Bay Resort, and the five-star Central Phuket Resort - scheduled to open by the end of next year, and by the middle of 2007 respectively.

The Central Wong Amat Beach Resort, Pattaya, is under renovation and expected to open by mid-2008, Supatra said. The five-star 500-room World Plaza, next to the old World Trade Centre in Bangkok is set to open in 2006.

Thanadit Staporncharnchai

--THE NATION 2003-12-23