Thai Pata Chapter hits out at airline’s sales strategy
A row has broken out between Thailand Pata Chapter and the holiday division of the country’s national airline.
The Chapter has criticised Thai Airways’ Royal Orchid Holidays division for asking its hotel partners to give away promotional deals, like cash vouchers and room upgrades, to help the country’s economic recovery.
Royal Orchid’s move has been heavily criticised by Bangkok hotels, led by the Dusit Thani Group.
Thailand Pata Chapter chairman Bert van Walbeek accused Royal Orchid Holidays of inventing a “self-defeating tourism recovery strategy for Thailand – price reductions of 50%”.
He said if rates were dropped, it might take up to four years to get back to 09/10 average room rates.
By Travelmole Asia
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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