talking shop DESTINATION DIALOGUE: THAI SMILE QUIZ NIGHT Thailand says it with smiles
Thailand is a long-established trade favourite and drew a great crowd when Selling Long Haul joined forces with TAT, Thai Airways and Travel 2 to launch its Thailand Travel Trade Guide 2012. Read what they learnt here...
“Thailand is amazing. It has
so much to offer. I just keep on
discovering more”
EVENT DETAILS WHO: SELLING LONG HAUL, TAT, THAI AIRWAYS & TRAVEL 2 WHAT: GUIDE LAUNCH & QUIZ WHERE: LONDON WHEN: JANUARY WHY: LEARN ABOUT THAILAND HOW: WITH A FUN QUIZ
O
ver 230 agents attended the first Thai Smile Quiz Night held at the Carbon Nightclub,
part of the Cumberland Hotel, in London. During an evening of mai tais, dim
sums and sweet chilli dips, agents heard updates and presentations from sponsors, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways and Travel 2, and gained useful insights into this value-packed destination through a fun quiz and the newly- launched Thailand Travel Guide 2012. There were great prizes up for grabs
and congratulations go to to Catherine Newton, Co-op Travel, who won the star prize of two Thai Airways flights and a stay at Mai Samui in Koh Samui; and to the 'Thai Hards' team which won the quiz with 100% correct answers in all five rounds about the country, covering general knowledge, geography, culture, Thai Airways and Travel 2. Travel Counsellor, Olivia Auletta Posca,
won herself a seven-night stay at the stylish Cape Panwa Hotel, in Phuket; and Antoinette Tompkins, from Dawling Travel,
62 February 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
won a seven-night stay at the luxury Sarojin Resort in Khao Lak. Zoe Herbert, another TC, won a Thai meal for two at @Siam in Frith Street, Soho. Kimuli Sylvester, of Reed & Mackay,
won a stay at the award-winning, five-star Layana Resort, in Koh Lanta.
Thailand in Context Thailand's tourism industry is constantly reinventing itself with new hotels and attractions opening to draw both first timers and repeat visitors. Demand is strong despite the recession, and the current emphasis is on its amazing value.
THE CHALLENGES • Thailand has a huge breadth of product for agents to get their head around. The challenge is to build your knowledge so you can match your client to the product that will best suit them.
• When budgets are tight, a long-haul holiday is harder to sell but stress the exceptional value of accommodation
and the fact that living costs are very affordable.
THE OPPORTUNITIES • Thailand's greatest opportunity is its diversity. It really does have something for everyone.
• Stress the value – once they are there clients will find food and activities are low cost and very affordable.
• The weddings and honeymoons market in Thailand is well-established and lucrative.
THE APPEAL • Great beaches. • Lots of adventure options at low-cost. • Families welcomed and well catered. • Thailand this year won The Travel Agents Choice Award for spas and wellness - recommend for pampering.
THE CLIENTS • Young couples love the buzz of Bangkok and the relaxed vibe of the
beaches. Suggest trekking too.
• recommend Thailand to older couples with
anniversaries or birthdays or
suggest cultural or cookery lessons during tours.
• Think Phuket and Pattaya for families where many hotels have kids' clubs.
• For active types, diving, golf and trekking are widely available.
EXPERT OPINION “Thailand really does have something for everyone and all budgets. From exotic culture to beautiful white sand beaches, delicious Thai food to traditional Thai massage, world class dive sites, golf courses and spas. Wherever your clients go they will be met with the famous Thai smile and the most gracious hospitality. Thailand truly offers all of this and much more, whilst remaining a great value-for- money destination.” Chris Lee, Trade Marketing Manager Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) •
Check This: For more fun photos from this great event:
www.sellinglonghaul/ galleries
CONGRATULATIONS!
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