Evergreen hotel group cuts room rates at its 4 hotels in Bangkok 

Managing director Wutthiphon Taworntawat said yesterday that tourism and hotel sentiment during the year-end season, even in the high season, would slightly improve from this month but would not be as good as last New Year.
Arrivals from the China market have plunged by up to 30 per cent since September because of the Thai government’s crackdown on zero-dollar tours along with intervening factors that now bother tourism as well as other businesses that rely on the festive season.
“The government has announced it will endorse some new measures to stimulate tourism, but I believe that the overall market will not be as good as it was during the year-end period last year,” Wutthiphon said.
The government’s measures initiated this week include offering a 10-year visa for foreigners aged 50 and up and a four-day break for New Year’s to spur the domestic market.
The group’s four hotels with a total of 320 rooms are in the Hua Chang/Siam, Nana, Thong Lor and Asoke areas.
“Our hotels are serving a few guests from China but we have lost some to other hotels because they offered even more attractive rates to steal our guests,” he said.
All properties are embarking on cost reductions such as turning down air-conditioners and dimming lights in public areas from midnight until morning. 
The hotels are also moving to focus on customer orientation to raise the customer satisfaction index plus offering free food plates.
“Moreover, our hotel general managers will have to oversee bookings and room rates on a daily basis to beat last-minute rates from e-commerce channels,” he said.
The group plans to open two more hotels in the Lat Phrao and Ari neighbourhoods of Bangkok in the final quarter of 2017. Both will offer 200 keys, offices and mixed-use spaces.
The group is negotiating with a few landlords to develop hotels.
Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said that as of yesterday, the number of international visitors had increased 10.3 per cent year on year to 28.7 million, generating revenue of Bt1.4 trillion, which was up 14 per cent from the same period last year.
The ministry is promoting a yacht show in Phuket next month to boost luxury travel as well |as royal projects as new attractions.