DON MUEANG

Airport revival boon to hotels

Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The return of Thai AirAsia, the country's biggest low-cost carrier, to Don Mueang International Airport this past Monday is expected to be a shot in the arm for nearby businesses, especially three-star hotels, which could enjoy a windfall from foreign travellers connecting to flights at Bangkok's old airport.

Businesspeople agree that maximising the use of Terminal 1 at the airport will revive the area's economy, as visitors will need services from accommodation to food and beverages.

Thai AirAsia operates more than 160 flights per day, while Nok Air lays on 89 flights. Thai AirAsia expects to carry 8 million passengers annually.

An academic, who declined to be named and who runs the Phranakhon Grand View Hotel, part of Phranakhon Rajabhat University, welcomed the move. Three- and four-star hotels near the airport will be prime beneficiaries, he said. The 54-room hotel he manages received more calls for information before Monday.

Now, the hotel welcomes foreign guests, especially from Japan, who connect to low-cost flights from Don Mueang to northern cities such as Mae Sot and Tak and to other places nationwide.

Foreign guests, especially from the West, will increase in the future after the hotel launches a promotional campaign. It already has its name featured in publications at the airport.

Affordable room rates are an advantage in luring tourists. It charges Bt1,000 and also gives a discount of Bt200-Bt250 for guests who can provide old receipts showing they paid to stay there before. Its location is also strategic because it is only 20 minutes away from the airport.

Inside, its environment is green and tranquil. Also, a short stay of two or three hours to take a shower or nap will be an option for about Bt500, he added.

Suphot Prakitjanuruk, general manager of the Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok hotel, said the return of AirAsia to Don Mueang would bring more individual passengers to hotels. However, they will not help boost his occupancy rate much because the hotel has enjoyed a high rate of more than 90 per cent in the past few years.

The hotel outlook next year will be brighter if more airlines choose to switch to Don Mueang. Amari spent almost Bt100 million on renovating facilities, from restaurants to a bridge to the terminal to welcome the full functioning of Terminal 1. Its room charge is about Bt1,500 without advanced booking.

A hotel employee said that since AirAsia changed its operating base back to Don Mueang, her food and beverage team has been very busy preparing meals. Food stalls and taxis nearby have also become dynamic with the flood of shoppers, especially AirAsia crew.

A report said Rama Gardens Hotel was also seeing more business. It said the number of airline cabin crews staying at the hotel had obviously increased.

-- The Nation 2012-10-05

Hard to believe with the price of a room. I arrived a midnight flight first time in country and grabbed a room and was put into shock at the price for a few hours sleep.

Love Incheon, narita, and dubai with there rooms by the hour. Great way to take a break on those super long flights to lie down, shower...get over the sore bottom blues.

So happy they can return to their rip off ways!

pain in the neck if you live under the flight path though