PHUKET has won a global award, and it has come just as the world's most important travel fair opens in Berlin today.
Phuket is Number 1 among the The World's Top 10 Most Mispronounced Places, according to travel website VirtualTourist.com
Best not to use that particular mispronunciation at the Immigration counter on the way in or out, though, for reasons that British visitor Simon Burrowes knows only too well.
Things could be worse - at least Phuket does have a subtler pronunciation, unlike Lahore, Pakistan. A cricketer who named his daughter after the city of Adelaide, where he made 100 runs, was told: ''Lucky for her you didn't make your score in Lahore.''
When it comes to the big ITB Berlin fair, awareness is what it's all about. If some people choose to pronounce ''Phuket'' the same was they pronounce ''telephone,'' so be it.
On VirtualTourist.com they say of Phuket: ''This is definitely not a good one to learn the hard way and to make it even more difficult, advice on the correct way to pronounce it can vary. To avoid scowls, general disdain, and possibly worse, go with ''Pu-get.''
At least it has an unforgettable ring.
The other nine placegetters are: Mooball, Australia; La Jolla, California; Oaxaka, Mexico; Hjo, Sweden; Wauchope, Australia; Cobh, Ireland; Coxsackie, US; Sequim, Washington; Ptuj, Slovenia.
As it happens, Phuket resorts are looking to set themselves apart at the ITB Berlin.
One of the world's largest travel trade shows and probably still the most important for this region, it runs until March 15, with the whole industry facing a challenging year ahead.
At least 18 resorts in Phuket will join others from Krabi and Phang Nga in representing the region. Bangkok Hospital Phuket is also sending delegates.
ITB Berlin has more than 11,000 exhibitors and attracts nearly 180,000 visitors to its annual show.
The travel show coincides with the launch of a renewed tourism push for Thailand, featuring Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva appearing in television commercials with the slogan ''Experience Thailand - Once in a Lifetime''.
Tourist visa fees are being waived for applications made from March 5 until June 4.
The Prime Minister is also set to meet tourism industry officials in Britain this week to help revive Thailand's travel industry, which has been besieged by the global economic downturn and political unrest that hit tourism when the two Bangkok airports were shut down for days by anti-government protesters in November.
Phuketwan spoke with some resort delegates about their plans for the travel show.
Most were reluctant to reveal specifics about their promotion and marketing plans, but all were going in with the plan to boost interest in both their individual properties as well as the Andaman region as a destination.
Best Western Premier Bangtao Beach Resort & Spa
Phuket
We're planning to talk with our existing customer groups and agents about how to improve things for the year ahead in hotel buying, booking rates, and will be presenting our promotional activities.
Wissut Kasayapanand, VP Sales and Marketing
Kata Thani Phuket Beach Resort
Phuket
We will be talking with 20 to 30 agents about our room rates for next year and promoting our new project of 71 pool villas in Kata Noi.
Nantida Atiset, Sales & Marketing Manager
Blue Marine Resort & Spa
Phuket
We have expanded from 77 to 260 rooms so we will be presenting our new rooms to agents. Previously, we did not focus on the overseas market but we are now trying to attract Europeans. We're not sure how it will go in this economy. As well, some are worried about the political situation and others about safety after the tsunami. We will also present our new promotions with price discounts and other benefits. This year, our business has been slower than usual because we were building phase two, and tourists, especially those from Scandinavia, did not stay here because of worries over safety and noise from construction.
Saowared Niyomadul, Business Development Manager
Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort
Phuket
We will be presenting the Outrigger brand, which is new to Thailand but has been operating in Hawaii. Agents may already know about Outrigger, but they may not know we are opening in Phuket, and that we opened in Bali last year and plan to open in other provinces in Thailand. We will promote our unique services like breakfast room delivery for no charge, butler service, etc. We are opening on April 2 with a grand opening in July.
Ananya Komolsai, Sales Manager
Naiyang Beach Resort
Phuket
We will present our 10+1 free night promotion and are looking to negotiate the best rates with our agents.
Nipa Tantipiriyakit, Executive Secretary
Royal Bangsak Beach Resort
Phang Nga
We will be meeting with agents to explain our promotions, and to promote the overall image of Thailand and Phang Nga. I hope tourists and agents will learn more about Phang Nga, and we will make a roadshow after the ITB to Austria and Switzerland because these two countries are our big target group.
Prasert Chanpolngam, General Manager
Mukdara Beach Villa and Spa Resort
Phang Nga
We already have established our agents, and we're not looking for new agents because we are already booking enough rooms. It's more about keeping in contact with existing agents and customers. We are promoting three hotels: Khaolak Palm Beach, Mukdara and Sudala Beach Resort, as well as bonus free nights. Most of our customers are German and Scandinavian. We will present Khao Lak as distinct from Phuket and other areas in Phang Nga. After ITB we will go to Australia in May.
Kriengsak Sawangpop, Resident Manager
Takolaburi Cultural and Spa Resort
Phang Nga
Our plan for this year is to show our culture spa concept, especially our Thai-style pool villa. We joined ITB two years ago promoting a modern style, but this year we will present Thai culture. We plan to offer room rates at a 20 percent discount from published rates to existing agents, and will meet with two or three new agents. We will talk about how to protect our business in the economic downturn. It's our third time to go to ITB and we notice after each ITB visit, our guest numbers go up.
Achara Wiwat, Sales Manager
Aonang Sunset
Krabi
We will present our room types and room rates and explain the renovation of the hotel planned for next year. Our resort is seven years old and we are working to upgrade and improve. We also have to promote the overall image of Krabi. We have appointments with about 10 agents.
Junjira Farmpiboon, Owner
Pakasai Resort
Krabi
First we will promote Krabi as a destination, then promote the hotel, and the image of nature tourism. New products to present include extra services/privileges offered to customers and club privileges, for example free internet and cocktails. We will have a presentation on the walking street in Krabi Town held every Friday with local products by students and locals on Maharat Road. Our promotions for this show are not about price discounts but more about adding services for free.
Umaporn Sriraksa, General Manager
Phuket is Number 1 among the The World's Top 10 Most Mispronounced Places, according to travel website VirtualTourist.com
Best not to use that particular mispronunciation at the Immigration counter on the way in or out, though, for reasons that British visitor Simon Burrowes knows only too well.
Things could be worse - at least Phuket does have a subtler pronunciation, unlike Lahore, Pakistan. A cricketer who named his daughter after the city of Adelaide, where he made 100 runs, was told: ''Lucky for her you didn't make your score in Lahore.''
When it comes to the big ITB Berlin fair, awareness is what it's all about. If some people choose to pronounce ''Phuket'' the same was they pronounce ''telephone,'' so be it.
On VirtualTourist.com they say of Phuket: ''This is definitely not a good one to learn the hard way and to make it even more difficult, advice on the correct way to pronounce it can vary. To avoid scowls, general disdain, and possibly worse, go with ''Pu-get.''
At least it has an unforgettable ring.
The other nine placegetters are: Mooball, Australia; La Jolla, California; Oaxaka, Mexico; Hjo, Sweden; Wauchope, Australia; Cobh, Ireland; Coxsackie, US; Sequim, Washington; Ptuj, Slovenia.
As it happens, Phuket resorts are looking to set themselves apart at the ITB Berlin.
One of the world's largest travel trade shows and probably still the most important for this region, it runs until March 15, with the whole industry facing a challenging year ahead.
At least 18 resorts in Phuket will join others from Krabi and Phang Nga in representing the region. Bangkok Hospital Phuket is also sending delegates.
ITB Berlin has more than 11,000 exhibitors and attracts nearly 180,000 visitors to its annual show.
The travel show coincides with the launch of a renewed tourism push for Thailand, featuring Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva appearing in television commercials with the slogan ''Experience Thailand - Once in a Lifetime''.
Tourist visa fees are being waived for applications made from March 5 until June 4.
The Prime Minister is also set to meet tourism industry officials in Britain this week to help revive Thailand's travel industry, which has been besieged by the global economic downturn and political unrest that hit tourism when the two Bangkok airports were shut down for days by anti-government protesters in November.
Phuketwan spoke with some resort delegates about their plans for the travel show.
Most were reluctant to reveal specifics about their promotion and marketing plans, but all were going in with the plan to boost interest in both their individual properties as well as the Andaman region as a destination.
Best Western Premier Bangtao Beach Resort & Spa
Phuket
We're planning to talk with our existing customer groups and agents about how to improve things for the year ahead in hotel buying, booking rates, and will be presenting our promotional activities.
Wissut Kasayapanand, VP Sales and Marketing
Kata Thani Phuket Beach Resort
Phuket
We will be talking with 20 to 30 agents about our room rates for next year and promoting our new project of 71 pool villas in Kata Noi.
Nantida Atiset, Sales & Marketing Manager
Blue Marine Resort & Spa
Phuket
We have expanded from 77 to 260 rooms so we will be presenting our new rooms to agents. Previously, we did not focus on the overseas market but we are now trying to attract Europeans. We're not sure how it will go in this economy. As well, some are worried about the political situation and others about safety after the tsunami. We will also present our new promotions with price discounts and other benefits. This year, our business has been slower than usual because we were building phase two, and tourists, especially those from Scandinavia, did not stay here because of worries over safety and noise from construction.
Saowared Niyomadul, Business Development Manager
Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort
Phuket
We will be presenting the Outrigger brand, which is new to Thailand but has been operating in Hawaii. Agents may already know about Outrigger, but they may not know we are opening in Phuket, and that we opened in Bali last year and plan to open in other provinces in Thailand. We will promote our unique services like breakfast room delivery for no charge, butler service, etc. We are opening on April 2 with a grand opening in July.
Ananya Komolsai, Sales Manager
Naiyang Beach Resort
Phuket
We will present our 10+1 free night promotion and are looking to negotiate the best rates with our agents.
Nipa Tantipiriyakit, Executive Secretary
Royal Bangsak Beach Resort
Phang Nga
We will be meeting with agents to explain our promotions, and to promote the overall image of Thailand and Phang Nga. I hope tourists and agents will learn more about Phang Nga, and we will make a roadshow after the ITB to Austria and Switzerland because these two countries are our big target group.
Prasert Chanpolngam, General Manager
Mukdara Beach Villa and Spa Resort
Phang Nga
We already have established our agents, and we're not looking for new agents because we are already booking enough rooms. It's more about keeping in contact with existing agents and customers. We are promoting three hotels: Khaolak Palm Beach, Mukdara and Sudala Beach Resort, as well as bonus free nights. Most of our customers are German and Scandinavian. We will present Khao Lak as distinct from Phuket and other areas in Phang Nga. After ITB we will go to Australia in May.
Kriengsak Sawangpop, Resident Manager
Takolaburi Cultural and Spa Resort
Phang Nga
Our plan for this year is to show our culture spa concept, especially our Thai-style pool villa. We joined ITB two years ago promoting a modern style, but this year we will present Thai culture. We plan to offer room rates at a 20 percent discount from published rates to existing agents, and will meet with two or three new agents. We will talk about how to protect our business in the economic downturn. It's our third time to go to ITB and we notice after each ITB visit, our guest numbers go up.
Achara Wiwat, Sales Manager
Aonang Sunset
Krabi
We will present our room types and room rates and explain the renovation of the hotel planned for next year. Our resort is seven years old and we are working to upgrade and improve. We also have to promote the overall image of Krabi. We have appointments with about 10 agents.
Junjira Farmpiboon, Owner
Pakasai Resort
Krabi
First we will promote Krabi as a destination, then promote the hotel, and the image of nature tourism. New products to present include extra services/privileges offered to customers and club privileges, for example free internet and cocktails. We will have a presentation on the walking street in Krabi Town held every Friday with local products by students and locals on Maharat Road. Our promotions for this show are not about price discounts but more about adding services for free.
Umaporn Sriraksa, General Manager
