FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Akaryn picks Swiss executive to run new Bangkok hotel

Akaryn picks Swiss executive to run new Bangkok hotel

Akaryn Hotel Group, which has luxury hotels and resorts around the Kingdom, has announced the appointment of Swiss native Thomas Singenberger as hotel manager at akyra Sukhumvit Bangkok, which is set to open in the first quarter of 2018.

Singenberger brings more than a decade of executive level experience to his new role at the 50-room akyra Sukhumvit Bangkok, the company said.
He was trained at one of the most respected hotel management schools in the world, Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne in Switzerland, and more recently held senior positions at The Okura Prestige Bangkok and Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit.
Fluent in Swiss-German, German and English, Singenberger boasts a strong background in food and beverage and understands the sophisticated global appeal of Bangkok as a travel and lifestyle destination, the company said.

LOCAL BUZZ
honestbee claims success after Thai launch

Singapore-based online concierge and delivery service honestbee has announced “six months of great success” in Thailand since its local launch in March.
The company says it is gearing up for American Thanksgiving and Halloween celebrations. It has also announced a partnership with Thai supermarket chain Villa Market to deliver its products to customers’ homes.
“The one-stop shop continues to attract the trendsetters of Bangkok and extend to the outer reaches of the metropolitan area,” honestbee says. “One of the latest and most exciting merchant partnership which honestbee has in Thailand is with CP Fresh Mart shops, part of Thai conglomerate CP Group. “This began in September, with products being delivered to you directly from the supplier at cheaper than retail price.”
Other outlets that have partnered with honestbee in Thailand are restaurant and bakery S&P and the Australian chain Jones the Grocer.
Concierge shoppers, also known as “shopper bees”, select the best quality fresh produce and grocery items which are then delivered on the same day, within the next available hourly timeslot. In addition to grocery deliveries, honestbee launched a restaurant food delivery service in Bangkok in June. 

HEALTH FIRST
CPF backs push on
use of antimicrobials
With safe food in mind, Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has adopted a policy on the responsible use of antimicrobials in its livestock and aquaculture businesses.
Chief executive Adirek Sripratak said CPF had endorsed the “Global Vision on Antimicrobials Use in Animals” that is binding on all business units in Thailand and elsewhere in the world.
“Antibiotics use in animals has grasped global attention, as it concerns food safety and public health,” he said. “Realising the importance, CPF has adopted these responsible-use practices to do our part to minimise antimicrobial resistance risks. 
“Our quest to improve the food safety system never stops. We are striving to advance the ‘One Health’ approach to protect the health of our people, animals and the planet. The global antibiotics vision will take effect immediately for implementation globally within 2020.”
Antimicrobials will be used responsibly, taking into account all factors of proper animal care. It must also be in line with sustainable-development practices and consumer satisfaction, Adirek said. 
To use antimicrobials reasonably and responsibly, CPF is also placing emphasis on disease prevention practices that will minimise the need for antimicrobial use.

MALWARE UPDATE
Trend Micro, Europol 
unit look at ATM safety
Trend Micro Incorporated, which offers cybersecurity services, and Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) yesterday released a report on the state of ATM malware. “Cashing in on ATM Malware” details both physical and network-based malware attacks on ATMs, as well as highlights where the malware is created.
ATM malware has evolved from requiring physical access to infect the machines to now successfully attacking network-based access using the bank’s corporate network. The report dissects recent attacks using bank networks to both steal money and credit card data from ATM machines, regardless of network segmentation. These attacks not only risk personally identifiable information (PII) and large sums of money, but also put banks in violation of PCI compliance standards.
“Protecting against today’s cyber threats and meeting compliance standards require increased resources that are not always available for organisations, including those in the financial services industry,” said Max Cheng, chief information officer for Trend Micro. “Public-private partnerships strengthen the global, ongoing fight against cybercrime, and help fill the resource gap for organisations. This report furthers Trend Micro’s commitment to helping law enforcement and private businesses mitigate future attacks and protect individuals.”
Steven Wilson, head of EC3, said: “The joint industry – law enforcement report by Europol’s EC3 and Trend Micro shows that the malware being used has evolved significantly and the scope and scale of the attacks have grown proportionately. While industry and law enforcement cooperation has developed strongly, the crime continues to thrive due to the major financial rewards available to the organised crime groups involved. This report assesses the developing nature of the threat. I hope that it serves as a blueprint for future industry and law enforcement cooperation.”
In addition to the public report, a limited-release version is available to law enforcement authorities, financial institutions and the IT security industry. This private report provides greater detail for public and private organisations to harden ATM and network systems and prevent future attacks against financial institutions.

REPORT CARD
IVL’s rating outlook 
upgraded to ‘positive’
TRIS Rating has affirmed the company rating of Indorama Ventures (IVL) and the ratings of IVL’s senior unsecured debentures, at A+. 
TRIS Rating has also affirmed the rating of A- for IVL’s subordinated capital debentures. At the same time, TRIS Rating has revised the rating outlook of IVL to “positive” from “stable”. The “positive” outlook reflects the company's success strategy to shift its portfolio mix toward high value added (HVA) products. 
The ratings continued to reflect the company's leading position in the polyester value chain, competitiveness stemming from vertical integration, and geographic diversification in terms of production and customer bases, the agency said.
The ratings also take into consideration the management team’s capability and experience, as well as IVL’s access to key technologies. However, the ratings are constrained by the volatile nature of the petrochemical industry, it said.
 

nationthailand