Travel & Tourism

Mission.

The Travel & Tourism Committee (TTC) promotes the Travel and Tourism markets of Thailand and the U.S. by facilitating communication and developing business between Thailand’s private and public sector, and within the AMCHAM community of businesses.  The TTC discusses travel trends and issues within and affecting the airline, hotel, tour companies, convention, exhibition, business travel, medical tourism, and ground transportation industries.

Our goal is to enhance Thailand’s overall tourist and travel experience by helping it to maintain a competitive advantage relative to neighboring alternative destinations in S.E. Asia. The committee has members from approximately 110 AMCHAM companies and targets to meet on the first Thursday each month at 5 pm in the AMCHAM offices and or at member hotel locations depending upon the topic, speaker and availability.  Additionally, the TTC looks to support outbound travel from Thailand and the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS) to the U.S. and to promote the USA as a tourist destination.  The TTC cooperates with the US Commercial Services officers within the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, to enhance and support the “Brand USA” and B2G ventures which are on-going.

2019 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

January           Thailand Tourism Forum 2019 – ‘MANAGING TOURISM– Ensuring Great Experiences and Sustainable Outcomes’ @ InterContinental Hotel Bangkok – record 950 delegates. Co-organized with C9 Hotelworks and sponsorship from Horwath, QUO, JLL, STR and Delivering Asia Communications.

April                Drafted and executed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on MICE Industry Development in Thailand with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and AMCHAM and the Foreign Chamber Alliance, (hereinafter referred to as FCA). Goals include (i) realizing the importance of developing closer cooperation on the MICE industry between TCEB and the FDA; (ii) seeking to lay the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in the MICE   industry between the parties; and (iii) recognizing the importance of advocating for ease of doing business in Thailand in order to create long-term competitiveness and sustainability for MICE industry and other related business in general.   TCEB and FCA internal and meetings are quarterly.

June                Numerous workshops and supportive role to Healthcare Committee for helping Thailand to be more competitive for both Medical Hub (as per EEC initiatives and priorities) and medical tourism.

Support of and attendance at “ASEAN Tourism 2019: Advancing Partnership for Sustainability Conference at invitation of the Thai Chamber of Commerce @ Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel.

September    AMCHAM Partnered Event with STR Global Singapore: “Hotel and Hotel Residences Market Outlook for Greater Pattaya” Deep Dive into Pattaya’s Performance in Comparison to Similar Coastline Destinations in Southeast Asia – Fenady Uriarte, SEA Business Development Manager, STR, EEC Opportunities and Profitability update for Pattaya hotels and similar markets in Southeast, Nikhom Jensiriratanakorn, Director, Horwath Thailand, Thailand’s Hotel Residences Panel Discussion,  Bill Barnett, Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks, Serena Lim – Vice-President, Development, South East Asia and Korea, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Papon Kanungvanichakul – Senior Associate, Baker McKenzie Thailand and Brennan Campbell – Chief Executive Officer, FazWaz Property Group. Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism 2019 (PHIST 2019) – Co-sponsored with Phuket Hotels Association @ Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, Phuket – 1,000 delegates at inaugural event. Innovative event rallying the hotel industry and its stakeholders to discuss environmental sustainability and community benefits.

October         Discussions and meetings for framing up job placement program with special needs workers from ‘Steps with Theera’ to serve as consistent and reliable source of service workers in F&B outlets and businesses among AMCHAM members for 2020.

Others:

• Coordinating and supportive role with STR for training in Thailand for Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) workshops in Bangkok and Phuket.