China Travel Explosion Threatens Thailand’s Tourism Equilibrium: How Will Thailand Cope With Mass Tourism?

BANGKOK, THAILAND: The nation’s pre-eminent gathering of tourism and travel industry experts, Thailand Tourism Forum 2014 (TTF), will examine how ‘Lost in Thailand’ took on a whole new meaning for Brand Thailand in 2013, with Chinese tourists remaining the spotlight as a key driver for Thailand’s tourist arrivals while the country grapples with the dawn of mass tourism.

Jens Thraenhart, Founder, Digital Innovation Asia (DIA), will be a prominent speaker at the Thailand Tourism Forum 2014.

Taking place on Friday January 24th, 2014 at InterContinental Hotel Bangkok and hosted in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce, TTF will address other hot topics such as whether or not the Chinese tourist trends will continue, and what industry insiders can expect the next year to bring as Thailand remains a leading destination on both the regional and global tourism maps.

Bill Barnett, co-organizer of the forum and Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, said that the TTF aims to be the country’s report card on the state of the industry in Thailand by opening up discussion for key trends.

Is Thailand too focused on mass marketing tourism, can it focus on quality vs. quantity while continuing to keep pace on its own tourism infrastructure and leveraging the efficiencies presented with the advent of AEC 2015? These are just some of the points we want to tackle at this year’s event,” said Mr Barnett.

A forum of recognized leading hospitality leaders, the TTF offers an opportunity to look beyond the numbers at how tourism performance and investment impacts an entire country.

Supporting Bill Barnett’s opening address at the event will be the Founder of Digital Innovation Asia (DIA), Jens Thraenhart.

Registration Attendance is free. To sign up go to www.amchamthailand.com or contact email [email protected] or telephone 02-254-1041 ext. 212.

More information can be found at www.thailandtourismforum.com

EVENT SCHEDULE

3:00pm to 4:00pm Registration and Refreshments – Grand Ballroom, Level

4:00pm to 6:00pm Thailand Tourism Forum – 2014

OPENING REMARKS & THAILAND TOURISM SCOREBOARD – BILL BARNETT, Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks

LOST AND FOUND IN THAILAND – CHINA BOOT CAMP – JENS THRAENHART, Founder, Digital Innovation Asia (DIA)

Thailand Hotel Leaders Summit

Robert V. R.Hecker, Managing Director, Horwath HTL (Moderator)

Clarence Tan, COO, Asia Australasia, InterContinental Hotels Group

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotel Group

Yuthachai Charanachitta, Owner & Director, Onyx Hospitality Group

Robert Murray, Senior Vice President, AccorAsia Pacific

Hotel Market Recap 2013 – Major & Secondary Thai Destinations

JesperPalmqvist, Area Director – Asia Pacific, STR Global

‘Thailand Boutique’

David Keen, CEO, QUOGlobal (Moderator)

Bill Bensley, Principal, Bensley Design Studios JASON M. FRIEDMAN, GM, The Siam Hotel (Sukosol Hotels)

M.L. Nandhika Varavarn, VP Corp Communications, Bangkok Airways

Investment & Hotel Transaction Market Update

Mike Batchelor, MD – Investment Sales Asia,Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels

Arrival of REITs in 2014 – A New Source of Capital for Thailand’s Hotel Sector

Sorachon Boonsong, Partner, Baker & McKenzie

‘Fearless Forecast’ – 5 Predications for 2014

Charles Blocker, CEO, IC Partners

Wrap Up and Closing Remarks

6:00pm to 7:00pm Networking Cocktails – with compliments of InterContinental Hotels