At A Glance

Hilton has announced a further expansion of its portfolio in Thailand, following the signing of two management agreements with Majestic Grande Co Ltd for DoubleTree by Hilton in Bangkok Ploenchit and with Stone Bitters for Hilton Garden Inn in Phuket Bang Tao. The two properties are scheduled to open in 2018 and 2020 respectively.
Thailand welcomed a record number of over 35 million tourists in 2017, equivalent to more than half of the nation’s population, and this figure is set to rise by 6 per cent this year. With Waldorf Astoria Bangkok due to open later this year, these latest deals will further strengthen Hilton’s multi-brand presence in a country which is set to benefit from the continued growth of the tourism industry.
“We are deeply committed to expanding our presence in Thailand and introducing more brands from our portfolio,” said Guy Phillips, senior vice president, development, Asia and Australasia. “Our position as one of the world’s fastest growing hospitality companies has been achieved through great partnerships and we’re thrilled to be working alongside |Majestic Grande and Stone Bitters on these properties.”
“Hilton Garden Inn is a category- leading mid-market brand and we are confident it will be a great success in Thailand, while DoubleTree by Hilton is already proving to be a great success in a country which is well known for its warm hospitality,” said Sean Wooden, vice president, brand management, Asia Pacific.
The signing of DoubleTree by Hilton Bangkok Ploenchit and Hilton Garden Inn Phuket Bang Tao has doubled Hilton’s pipeline to four hotels across four brands including Waldorf Astoria and Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Tarin is new country head for Thailand 

Grab appoints Tarin Thaniyavarn as the new Country Head for Grab Thailand
Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading on-demand transportation and mobile payments platform, has appointed Tarin Thaniyavarn as the new country head of Grab Thailand, effective April 1. In his role, Tarin will oversee the business strategy and operations for Grab in the Thai market. Tarin succeeds Yee Wee Tang, who now assumes the position of country head of Grab Cambodia.
“I am delighted to welcome Tarin as the country head of Grab Thailand. With many years of high-level leadership and a strong e-commerce business acumen, Tarin will continue driving Grab Thailand’s growth and success and building strong teamwork and extensive partnership network, which will continue to strengthen our business in the long run,” said Russell Cohen, head of regional operations, Grab.
 Tarin said he is pleased and honoured to join Grab and carry on its mission to drive Southeast Asia forward and build a strong ecosystem of on-demand transportation and e-payment businesses in Thailand. 
“I look forward to leveraging Grab’s cutting-edge technology and our talents to help accelerate the country’s transportation and e-payment markets as we move towards Thailand 4.0.” he said.
Tarin joins Grab Thailand from Lazada group where he held the position of executive vice president for group strategy and government relations with a particular focus on Alibaba & Lazada collaboration on Thailand 4.0 initiatives. 

Firm reaffirms commitment to watershed forest rehab 

Aura is spearheading a campaign for sustainable society by re-affirming its commitment to conservation and rehabilitation of watershed forests nationwide. It teamed up with the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in growing trees in the country’s five regions- the first and only project in the country that has successfully turned “online-reforestation” into an actual growing of watershed forests. 
Aura hopes to intensify environmental and forest conservation awareness among the new generation and members of the public, teaming up with actress “Kaneungnij Jaksamittanon or Rotmay in giving back to society. 
Ekaphol Pongstabhon, Managing Director of Tipco F&B Co Ltd, producer and distributer of 100 per cent natural mineral water under the brand “Aura”, revealed that “Aura mineral water has organised various activities for more than 10 years as part of the company’s social contribution including financial donations, reforestation, building small dams and granting scholarships. In the latest development, Aura has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainably conserve and rehabilitate watershed forests under the project “Aura grows forests in five regions”.
Statistics and reports from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) show that Thailand’s forests account for only 32 per cent of its total area, dropping by almost half compared with 60 years ago. The main reasons contributing to forest reduction are forest destruction, increased population, and forest destruction to pave way for mono crops due to global capitalism trend and rising industrialisation including booming tourism. 
“It is our duty to conserve and rehabilitate watershed for Thailand to regain its natural resources,’’ Ekaphol said.

AP (Thailand), SCB join for the ultimate promotion

AP (Thailand) Plc, the leader in residential innovation for urbanites, led by Pamorn Prasertsan of chief business group/ single detached home & townhome, has joined forces with Siam Commercial Bank, led by Luckana Huttaka, senior vice president/mortgage product development & partnership division, for the ultimate promotion of the year. 
An interest-free mortgage is offered for two years to customers who book a home at the ‘Baan Klang Muang - Pleno Livevolution’ event during March 10-11, 2018 at any sales gallery for Baan Klang Muang and Pleno projects in more than 30 locations. 
Prices of townhomes at the projects range from Bt1.69 million to Bt9.29 million.