george Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 And now, the Super Elite Card BANGKOK: Undaunted by the failure to sell its Elite Cards, Thailand Privilege Card plans to offer a Super Elite Card to the super rich. Microsoft founder Bill Gates will be among those invited to pay a membership fee that could be as high as US$100,000 (Bt3,9 million). Somchainuek Engtrakul, chairman of state-run Thailand Privilege Card, said the Super Elite Card would limit its membership to only 1,000 people worldwide. "The Super Elite cardholders will be treated as guests of the state. Membership will be exclusive and only by invitation from top Thai officials," he said. Somchainuek said the fee had not yet been set, but an informed source said it could be as high as $100,000. The government launched the Elite Card as part of a strategy to attract high-flying visitors to Thailand. It charges $25,000 for individual membership and $50,000 for corporate membership. Members have access to services at hotels, restaurants, hospitals, spas and golf courses. Although the government originally set an ambitious target of one million members, so far it has attracted just 400 to 500. Thailand Privilege Card is temporarily halting its effort to sell memberships "in order to improve services", Somchainuek said. --The Nation 2004-04-09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george Posted April 8, 2004 Author Share Posted April 8, 2004 Elite Card programme has new boss BANGKOK: -- A former executive of the entertainment company BEC World Plc has been appointed to run the government's Elite Card programme, which has fallen well short of expectations to date. Chotsiri Rodboonpa becomes the new managing director of Thailand Privilege Cards Co (TPC), the state-owned entity set up to market the $25,000 lifetime membership cards to affluent tourists and executives. TPC had set a target of selling one million cards over the next five years but has sold only 400 to date. Mr Chotsiri succeeds Paisith Kaenchan, who was TPC's acting managing director and will now return to his prior post at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel. Mr Chotsiri was chosen by a recruitment committee chaired by Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Juthamas Siriwan, said Somchainuk Engtrakul, the permanent secretary for Finance and chairman of TPC. He said Mr Chotsiri would formally start work on May 1, and expressed confidence that the company would have 60,000 members by April 2005. ``I'm the one who asked the management to delay the sales and promotion as our services, such as the available golf courses and the call centre network, are not ready,'' said Mr Somchainuk. Having enhanced its call centre and increased the number of participating service providers, the company was now ready to aggressively promote the services, he said. Mr Somchainuk said that country representatives in China, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan were appointed with commitments of sales targets at 30,000, 7,000, 7,000 and 10,000 members respectively within the next 12 months. At the same time, he said, TPC would join with credit card providers to include the Elite Card under a single card. --Bangkok Post 2004-04-09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_Pat_Pong Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 What ######s. Did they pay back the money to MK I punters ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ovenman Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 This isn't a late April Fools joke? Or are the people who actually shelled out hard-earned baht for these cards the April Fools? On some level this doesn't surprise me. It seems to be a uniquely Thai practice to actually raise prices when sales are soft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Conners Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 RJ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_Pat_Pong Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 This isn't a late April Fools joke? Or are the people who actually shelled out hard-earned baht for these cards the April Fools? On some level this doesn't surprise me. It seems to be a uniquely Thai practice to actually raise prices when sales are soft. Soft ? it would be called flaccid by your doctor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samran Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 geez I love the RTG....a laugh a minute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxxarte Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 400 to 500 cards sold... so that mean it's 400 to 500 Millions THB.. So what they do with this money? Does this customers have a true service benefit for their money investing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up2U Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 What ######s. Did they pay back the money to MK I punters ? From the way I read it, the Mk I card will still be marketed, to all who want to buy (and have the money to waste). The Mk II card will be by invitation only, to the various people around the world who have exploited their own country's resources for their personal gain and need (or will need, or would have needed were they still alive) a place of refuge (a la Idi Amin, Ferdinand Marcos, Sani Abacha, Josef Estrada, Shah of Iran, Saddam Hussein, various Myanmar generals, Hun Sen, and the list goes on ........) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nareena Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 the rich do like setting up expensive wall, don't they? well, there's only one world and when we get nuked, we get nuked, baby! better start using that bloody money more wisely now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..::LegalAlien::.. Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 I would be interested to know if the likes of Bill Gates actually gives a sh*t. Or, for that matter, plans on even visiting Thailand... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NedKelly Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 They should replace the TAT with a gang of Lopburi monkeys ! I am sure they will do as good a job !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Think for a moment if Thailand came up with a one million baht card that would give its holders a few good, useful privileges, rather than all sorts of flimflam. Let's say five-year renewable visas and working permits. Throw in the right to own a single rai of land. And imagine that the money would be earmarked for supporting the 370,000 orphans of AIDS, most of whom are not sick, but ARE a ticking social time bomb. I bet that they would have sold a few thousand cards in the first month. Given his philanthropic bent, even Bill Gates would have bought one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artisi Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Nothing new- just confirms that the lunatics are in control of the asylum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astral Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Did anyone ever pay for these cards, or were they all free hand outs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Conners Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 I would be interested to know if the likes of Bill Gates actually gives a sh*t. Or, for that matter, plans on even visiting Thailand... OT: I think Billy Goat already did (visit Thailand - not give a 5#!7) in order to try to do something about all the money he claim to lose on piracy (the fact is of course that 99% of the current pirates would use something else, i.e. Linux, rather than flex out 10,000 TB or more for Microslush software. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJDinsay Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Loopburi Monkeys would probably know better and see this as a complete waste of money and time. I see BKK make such an effort to become modernized - they want to be the next Paris or New York when it comes to fashion, they want to run smart cards and digitze info. for all Thais, meanwhile the local population isn't as technologically advanced as they think, now they want to charge ridiculous prices for . . . . . ., oh, I'm wasting my time. Vote for the Monkeys!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foggy Bottom Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 BEC World Ltd????? linked to BEC Terro linked to Shin Corp (Communications) ........... Nuff said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckygobyebye Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 My understanding is that half the 400-500 were given away and a lot were bought as favours. If the holders of the super-elite cards are to be treated as guests-of-state, surely super-rich people would be treated as guests-of-state anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertyuiop Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Did anyone ever pay for these cards, or were they all free hand outs? I am aware of at least of a couple of individuals who purchased the Elite Card. While I see it as having limited interest to most if the details (laws) concerning the right to own land are not ironed out, I could see it having a market to business types within aisa if not elsewhere, people who regularly visit Thailand and play golf. However even here the benefits such as ease in obtaining visas and dealing with immigration and the real savings to be enjoyed connected to golf would have to be expressed much more clearly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiangMaiThai Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Think for a moment if Thailand came up with a one million baht card that would give its holders a few good, useful privileges, rather than all sorts of flimflam.Let's say five-year renewable visas and working permits. Throw in the right to own a single rai of land. And imagine that the money would be earmarked for supporting the 370,000 orphans of AIDS, most of whom are not sick, but ARE a ticking social time bomb. I bet that they would have sold a few thousand cards in the first month. Given his philanthropic bent, even Bill Gates would have bought one Good point. One rai of land and house. 5 year visa. Give a significant portion to charity so people who don't care about Thailand (there are plenty) are still motivated to part with the money and gain an ego boosting tax write off. And then of course all the bullshit like discounted rounds of golf. Wake up TAT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadcert Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Who wants to buy a privilege that can be rescinded by any new government, 500 fools it would seem. Larry I agree totally with your point, the money raised would be significant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadcert Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 and who gives a t0ss about golf priviledges, plonkers game in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertyuiop Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 and who gives a t0ss about golf priviledges, plonkers game in my book. You might not and personally neither do I but many of the target market for said card might. If I were a Singaporean golf playing businessman and I am sure there are many the card would be of interest IF it provided me with hassle-free visas, expedited entry into the country, very cheap golf AND the ability to purchase a nice holiday home close to one of the many golf courses. Such guys are already heading to Malaysia and Indonesia in droves at weekends and holidays just to play a round and of course many already do come up to Thailand but with greater hassle The cost of the card would soon be recovered. It was announced recently that a golf course was to be created close to Bangkok solely for card holders and no doubt all the local politicos etc with access to a golf club If I were a similar businessman in the US or Europe would i be interested? No The card could work if the benefits of the card were clarified and the card marketed correctly. Last time i looked at the site I could find no detail of the benefits simply alist of those outlets offering benefits. For all i know the golf benefits are 1 free ball with every round and the hotel benefits are 1 free night for every 7 at rack rate and thus no bloody use Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somboon Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Just another case of TIT, however it must be said that anyone who did pay out for a card clearly has rocks in their heads and additionally doesn't know a lot about doing business here in the realm. The scheme was doomed for failure the moment it was proposed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ovenman Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 I would be interested to know if the likes of Bill Gates actually gives a sh*t. Or, for that matter, plans on even visiting Thailand... I'm sure Bill Gates will be in Thailand frequently once that new IT super-hub gets up and running on Phuket, especially seeing as how that facility will surpass Singapore for IT before long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padkapow Guy Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 It would be cheaper to go about business as usual in Thailand. (bribes and payouts) than to buy a card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valentinoxxx Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 What a load of ****... Toxin speaks The website describes Bangkok Airway(sic) as "Definitely Thailand's most useful airline" Goes on to say, "Thai Airways International has the largest network of any airline in Asia, and serves over 70 destinations world-wide in Europe, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and the United States." I wonder what criteria they use for "useful". More drivel, :The Thailand Elite service staff exists to make it possible for you to live out your dreams in Thailand. Travel arrangements, visits to hard-to-access areas, the use of facilities and buildings usually off-limits… if you can dream it, we will do our best to help you do it." It goes on to list; Jim Thompson House & Jim Thompson Shop, Pattaya etc They sound like 'hard to access areas'. The only thing that appear worth a **** is the visa free entry for five years. Though you can be sure that won't be as trouble free as they make it out to be. The "Property Investment Opportunity"??? What is that?? Can you own the land or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_Pat_Pong Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 geez I love the RTG....a laugh a minute. They'll try anything Samran Fearless Leader knows when he's on a good thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ovenman Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 The "Property Investment Opportunity"??? What is that?? Can you own the land or not? Probably not but I'm sure they'd be happy to take your money and hold the property for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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