Luxury hotels well prepared for impending floods

A team of engineers at the Mandarin Oriental earlier built water shelters outside the hotel, especially in front of the river as well as in front of its Thai restaurant located on the other side
 
The team has scrolled up the walls and shelters after PM Yingluck Shinawatra said in a televised speech on Tuesday night that the capital was at risk of inundation.
“The engineering team is keeping a close watch on the tides and the situation every minute,” said a hotel representative.
The hotel yesterday organised an intensive flood workshop and drill for more than 1,000 staffs on how to deal with a flood situation.
Rashana Pimolsindh, director of communications of Shangri-La Hotel, said the hotel’s emergency team had started taking precautionary measures several weeks ago. The hotel so far puts alert on any emergency as regularly basis.
The hotel has already set up thousands of sandbags to prevent water gushing into its premises. Several water pumps are also ready, as well as an evacuation plan have also been prepared. Full capacity of water and generating system are also planned.
She said hotel staff are standing by around the clock. The hotel has also prepared perishable and dry foods as well as medical supplies that could feed 2,500 people with three meals a day for 14 days.
Average occupancy rate at the hotel dropped to 30 per cent this week following cancellations due to the serious inundation in the country.
Francis Zimmerman, general manager of Anantara Bangkok Riverside, which has just rebranded from Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, said despite heavy seasonal rains in parts of the country, the hotel has not experienced any disruptions to business and continues to operate normally.
The hotel is holding all guests’ wellbeing and safety in the highest regard and will uphold the stringent safety standards that the company is known for.
“Should there be any change in water levels in and around the property, we will keep our guests fully informed at all times,” he said. “In addition, our hotel has taken precautions such as sandbags and submersible pumps onsite to help minimise the extent of flooding. We have identified safe zones on our property for our guests and associates. All necessary safety and security measures are in place and we also have a fleet of seven boats to assist our guests should the need arise,” said Zimmerman.
The hotel is monitoring the water levels every 30 minutes and particularly during the high tides.
Akapol Sorasuchart, president of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), said more than 100,000 business travellers had cancelled plans to visit Thailand for 14 business events in the first quarter next year due to the flooding.
The cancellations are expected to cost Bt3 billion.
He said domestic meetings and conference business would also drop by 50 per cent in the same forecast period.
TCEB has lowered its targets for next year, from 828,000 business travellers to 720,000 while revenue would also decrease from Bt70 billion to Bt57 billion, the same as last year.
TCEB has set up an assistance centre to communicate and update event organisers and organisations particular events being postponed such as Royal Flora Expo, BOI Fair and Lanna 750 years in Chiang Rai. TCEB also prepared some recovery measure to rebuild in sector after flood.
“TCEB will meet with the private sector on November17 to seek solutions to help affected businesses,” he said.
Minor International (MINT) yesterday reported that the company had already lost Bt16 million from cancellations of booked rooms, mostly at hotels in Bangkok, since October to date.
However, the company expects to maintain average occupancy rate at 60 per cent this year. The group currently is running 57 per cent average occupancy rate. 50 per cent of group’s properties are in Bangkok where will enter into high season in November.
Meanwhile, Nok Air said the airline would shift operations to Suvarnabhumi Airport today after halting its services at Don Mueang Airport since October25 due to closure of the airport due to the floods.
Nok Air will operate from Suvarnabhumi Airport until November 10. Flights will be operated to nine destinations –Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phuket and Hat Yai.
AirAsiaGo is in negotiations with various hotels in Bangkok to offer hotel rooms at lower rates. Those who are affected by the flood crisis will only pay for the room’s operational costs in participating hotels.
AirAsiaGo will assist in absorbing the cost of the site and credit card transaction fees. The promotion is only available in Thailand and can be booked from today till October 31, 2011. Travel period is limited to November 30.