At A Glance

Bangkok Bank (BBL) continues to enhance its digital banking services in line with the government policy of a cashless society, It recently launched QR Code payments for BTS pass purchases using Bualuang mBanking. Customers who buy via the QR code will receive cash back of Bt5 per trip (up to 10 cash back credits/person/month). The offer is available from today until March 31, 2019. This payment serves the needs of customers who want to make financial transactions conveniently and safely via digital channels.

Absolute Hotels sets up Quality Assurance Team 
Absolute Hotel Services, one of the fastest growing hotel management companies in Asia, has established a quality assurance team to ensure operational performance in alignment with company standards, maximise operational performance and initiate service processes and procedures which will exceed customer satisfaction expectations in all aspects.
 To empower the team, Martin Faist has been promoted to vice president, quality assurance. This promotion has deservedly come about for Faist after many years working with the AHS Group in his capacity of group director of food and beverages, during which he was noted for his professionalism through leadership and team consultancy coupled with outstanding creativity. 
Besides his passion for food and beverages, he is an enthusiastic, dedicated and positive mentor for all customer-concerned services.
 A German native, Faist brings almost three decades of experience in the dining and hospitality sector. He started his career working as a chef at the Michelin starred Alde Gott Neuweier Baden restaurant in his hometown. He then followed his passion for dining along the professional path, working at five-star hotels and restaurants worldwide in USA, Australia and Asia. 
Prior to joining AHS, he was director of food and beverages at Plaza Athenee Bangkok, a Royal Meridien Hotel. In 2015, Faist joined the AHS as group director of food and beverages and was promoted to vice president for quality assurance in 2019.
Along with Faist’s promotion, Chutima Kaewta Fortescue has been appointed director of quality assurance and Prateek Dharkar as quality assurance specialist.

Dtac, Telenor join Google for digital solution 
DTAC and Telenor Group is working closely with Google to make it easier for DTAC and Telenor’s subscribers to manage their mobile data usage and price plans. Through the new Mobile Data Plan functionality in Android, DTAC and Telenor subscribers can manage their mobile data plans and receive relevant alerts when the user experience may be impacted by for instance low data balance.
More and more time is spent using Internet on mobile devices. As customers reach the limit or expiration of their mobile data plans, connections are turned off, speeds are reduced, and it ultimately results in a poor experience. With Mobile Data Plan directly from Android, customers can manage their mobile plans, receive useful notifications such as when they need to update their data plan, and also see and purchase relevant offers tailored to their mobile usage, all directly from Android, without having to install an app.
Telenor Group companies DTAC in Thailand and Digi in Malaysia are the first telcos in the world to launch the feature.
“This will provide our customers who use Android devices with a better experience in managing their mobile data usage, more personalised offers, and the option to receive alerts enabling easy data purchases in the moment when needed.
 It will reduce data anxiety and increase transparency. It’s very exciting that Digi and DTAC are the first to launch this feature in their markets,” said Svein Henning Kirkeng, chief marketing officer, Telenor Group.
Currently in pilot stage, the feature will now gradually be rolled out to DTAC and Digi subscribers in Thailand and Malaysia who have Android OS 4.0 or newer. It will be extended to Telenor Group’s mobile operations in other countries in the future.