At A Glance

FamilyMart is allowing customers to pay for purchases with their Rabbit Card. Akarin Phureesitr, executive vice president, and Ruedee Euachongprasit, vice president of CentralFamilyMart Co Ltd came together with Wisit Mulsup, deputy managing director, and Phanaumpha Wongsrichai, business development director of Bangkok Smartcard System Co Ltd, for the launch of the new payment option.
The Rabbit Card can be used for payment at 60 branches of FamilyMart, furthering the goals of a cashless society adding convenience for customers, the partners said.
Customers can benefit from a promotion when the use the card to spend at least Bt80, receiving 25 The 1 Card points, until July 31.

Thailand back on global retail development index

Thailand has re-entered the Global Retail |Development Index (GRDI) released by management |consulting firm AT Kearney. The GRDI, in its 16th edition, ranks the top 30 developing countries for retail investment worldwide.
The index analyses 25 macroeconomic and retail-|specific variables. The study identifies not only identifies the markets that are most attractive, but those that offer future potential.
Thailand’s re-entry into the index has been driven by a boost from a record 33 million tourists in 2016.
The government is pushing hard for tourism growth, with related revenues expected to grow by 10 per cent |this year. The influx of foreign tourists, coupled with rising consumer incomes, is expected to provide a boost to the retail sector, which is forecast to grow 6 per cent a year to 2020.

Bangkok leads Asia-Pacific|in office rental returns

Bangkok remains the strongest performer on the |Knight Frank Asia-Pacific Prime Office Rental Index, recording both the highest quarter-on-quarter (3.1 per cent) and year-on-year (9.6 per cent) growth rates in Asia-Pacific. Rents have been on the rise for more than two years and are expected to persist due to strong absorption amid tight supply.
Marcus Burtenshaw, executive director and head of commercial agency at consultancy Knight Frank, says: “Despite a generally unremarkable macroeconomic climate, strong growth in Thailand’s service sector in Thailand is leading to what seems like unceasing demand for office space, pushing rents ever higher. Faced with the reality of higher rents, tenants are increasingly demanding more from their buildings.
“The requirements are not limited to good access to mass transit, grand lobbies and high ceilings. Tenants want more natural light, improved security systems, and quality food outlets that caters to the budgets of all of their employees. Looking ahead, supply side lag and a growing service sector means that this climate of rising rents is likely to continue for some time to come.”
For the first quarter of this year, the index sees the addition of Manila, bringing the total number of markets tracked to 20. 
For the quarter, the index grew 1 per cent quarter on quarter due to rising rents in 10 of the markets over the quarter, with rental declines experienced in five of the 20 markets tracked.

Nestle Waters Thailand |supports WWF project

Nestle Waters Thailand, the business unit that bottles and distributes Nestle Pure Life drinking water, has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the World Wide Fund for Nature to participate in the AWS International Water Stewardship Standard V.1.0 project.
 The partners say the project will enhance standards |for the sustainability of water management and |conservation in the communities around the Nestle Waters factory.
Nestle Waters says it is the first company in Thailand to form such a partnership to promote the importance of environmental sustainability.

Samitivej Children’s Hospital|adds to paediatric services

Samitivej Children’s Hospital has expanded its service offerings at its paediatric surgery centre.
The opening of the Newborn and Paediatric Surgery Centre has been claimed by the management as a big step forward in the development of the hospital.
The hospital says medical innovations have made it possible to check the health of a baby, even when it is still in the womb. However, once born, and until they are a teenager, a child may still contract diseases of varying severity, some requiring surgery. 
Surangkana Techapaitoon, MD, hospital director of Samitivej Children’s Hospital, said: “The treatment of children is a very delicate process. The preparation and expertise of the doctor is extremely important, as is the medical equipment used, which has to be size specific to the child patient.” 
The hospital says the Newborn and Paediatric Surgery Centre serves as a paediatric surgery hub for the Asia-Pacific region, performing operations on critically ill infants and children in crisis, with roughly 50 per cent of the centre’s patients flying in from abroad. 
“The centre is staffed by a team of over 20 peadiatric surgeons, with the experience and expertise necessary to operate on children of all ages, from newborn infants to premature babies, who can weigh as little as 500 grams,” the hospital said.

Megabangna discounts for Citi card holders

Sirinchat Sangsri, vice president of marketing of Megabangna shopping centre, and Supawan Leetrairong, vice president, credit cards and loans for Citibank, are co-hosting the Megabangna Mega Mid-Year Sale campaign until July 31.
To boost sales within the shopping centre, the campaign offers prizes worth more than Bt6 million and up to 70 per cent discounts from participating stores. With every Bt500 purchase per receipt, shoppers will not only receive Bt100 cash voucher, but also earn a chance to win Honda Brio or gold necklace worth a total of Bt500,000. Those shopping via Citi credit card will receive triple coupons and get a Bt100 Starbucks card when spend Bt1,000 at participating restaurants and get a Bt200 Starbucks card when spent Bt4,000 at participating stores.
Until June 25, with every Bt1,500 spent per receipt, Bt1,000 spent via Citibank per receipt, or application for Mega Smile Rewards, shoppers can play a game to win prizes worth Bt5 million.