GREEN season, goodbye. Low season? We never wanted you, so why did you keep coming? Wet season? Why would we?
A gathering of about 200 resort, tourism, technology and media people opted last night at the Chedi in Surin for a cool change.
From now on, it's Summer until November on Phuket. Who knows? Perhaps Summer will even extend beyond then, too.
Unless, that is, there are people who think of November-March on Phuket as Winter.
The gathering brought together some key people from the island's tourism industry and beyond to hear the rationale for a different approach to marketing the Phuket brand.
Organisers introduced the summerinphuket.com web site and a range of action items, primarily aimed at resorts, to drive a different approach.
These included changing all website references to Summer Season; standardising seasonal language for websites; putting a logo and a link to summerinphuket.com on web sites; add an rss feed of Phuket weather; sending an email to database subscribers saying 'Low season cancelled'; encouraging other businesses and hotels to change their marketing and inform others; rally government support ''at whatever level you can;'' educate your front desk and concierge about this ''new events tool.''
The convivial sunset gathering gave people a change to meet and mingle and for once, talk about the weather without feeling silly.
Among those spotted by Phuketwan:
Plenty of Chedi hosts, Gulu Lalvani from Royal Phuket Marina, John Kidd of Hilton Phuket Arcadia, John Magee of the Phuket Gazette, Peter Gibbons of the Millennium Resort, Patong, Grant Saunders of Simpson Marine, Femke Beekers of Hospitality Management Solutions, Bart Duykers of IndoChine in Kalim, Shannon Creado and Thomas G. Christiansen of JW Marriott, Debbie Dionysius of Laguna Phuket, Blandine Cressard of Novotel Beach Resort Panwa, Almario Villanueva Mungcal of Le Meridien Phuket, Sue Ultmann of Baan Rim Pa, Lutz Mueller, of Courtyard Kamala, Simon J. Hand, Siriluck Banturng of Asian Oasis, W. Shane Roney of Elite Asia,Fredy Munger of bitsiren, Alessandro Frau of Acqua Restaurant in Kalim, Raine Grady of Capital TV and Nadja Savitskaja of TV Phuket.
And a whole lot of others.
''See you next Summer,'' someone said.
Phuket's 'Endless Summer' Summit: April 30
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Phuket's 'Endless Summer' Summit: April 30
World Dive Assembly, on Phuket May 2-9
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World Dive Assembly, on Phuket May 2-9
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Phuket Halal on the Beach: April 30-May 3
A gathering of about 200 resort, tourism, technology and media people opted last night at the Chedi in Surin for a cool change.
From now on, it's Summer until November on Phuket. Who knows? Perhaps Summer will even extend beyond then, too.
Unless, that is, there are people who think of November-March on Phuket as Winter.
The gathering brought together some key people from the island's tourism industry and beyond to hear the rationale for a different approach to marketing the Phuket brand.
Organisers introduced the summerinphuket.com web site and a range of action items, primarily aimed at resorts, to drive a different approach.
These included changing all website references to Summer Season; standardising seasonal language for websites; putting a logo and a link to summerinphuket.com on web sites; add an rss feed of Phuket weather; sending an email to database subscribers saying 'Low season cancelled'; encouraging other businesses and hotels to change their marketing and inform others; rally government support ''at whatever level you can;'' educate your front desk and concierge about this ''new events tool.''
The convivial sunset gathering gave people a change to meet and mingle and for once, talk about the weather without feeling silly.
Among those spotted by Phuketwan:
Plenty of Chedi hosts, Gulu Lalvani from Royal Phuket Marina, John Kidd of Hilton Phuket Arcadia, John Magee of the Phuket Gazette, Peter Gibbons of the Millennium Resort, Patong, Grant Saunders of Simpson Marine, Femke Beekers of Hospitality Management Solutions, Bart Duykers of IndoChine in Kalim, Shannon Creado and Thomas G. Christiansen of JW Marriott, Debbie Dionysius of Laguna Phuket, Blandine Cressard of Novotel Beach Resort Panwa, Almario Villanueva Mungcal of Le Meridien Phuket, Sue Ultmann of Baan Rim Pa, Lutz Mueller, of Courtyard Kamala, Simon J. Hand, Siriluck Banturng of Asian Oasis, W. Shane Roney of Elite Asia,Fredy Munger of bitsiren, Alessandro Frau of Acqua Restaurant in Kalim, Raine Grady of Capital TV and Nadja Savitskaja of TV Phuket.
And a whole lot of others.
''See you next Summer,'' someone said.
Phuket's 'Endless Summer' Summit: April 30
Latest Postponed once because of a street blockade, a vital meeting of resort managers and tourism industry decision makers is set to proceed this week.
Phuket's 'Endless Summer' Summit: April 30
World Dive Assembly, on Phuket May 2-9
Latest A boost for tourism is coming with the World Dive Assembly on Phuket attracting hundred of visitors to a working week that should be fun, too.
World Dive Assembly, on Phuket May 2-9
Stalwart Aussies, Brits Prop Up Phuket Numbers
Latest Nation by nation statistics for Q3 last year show the dramatic decline inflicted by political uncertainty and the Phuket airport closure. Tourism is still paying a hefty price.
Stalwart Aussies, Brits Prop Up Phuket Numbers
Phuket Halal on the Beach: April 30-May 3
Latest The subtle influence of Phuket's Muslim community will become more evident, along with contributions from Indonesia and Malaysia, during a four-day science, trade and food fair
Phuket Halal on the Beach: April 30-May 3
