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.

2018 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

22 January: Thailand Tourism Forum 2018 – ‘MEGACITY BANGKOK – A Tourism and Hotel Futurescape’ @ InterContinental Hotel Bangkok – record 650 delegates. Co-organized with C9 Hotelworks and sponsorship from Horwath, QUO, JLL, STR and Delivering Asia Communications.

March – June: Extensive planning meetings, discussions and frameworks laid for proposed ‘Hotel Green Excellence Awards’ for a large branded chain hotel and a SME hotel envisioned to be undertaken in tandem with annual AMCHAM CSR Excellence Recognition Awards in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy, Bangkok.

24 September: PHIST Forum 2018 (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism) – Co-sponsored with Phuket Hotel Association @ JW Marriot Resort & Spa Phuket – 550 delegates at inaugural event. Innovative event rallying the hotel industry and its stakeholders to discuss environmental sustainability and community benefits.

17 October: ‘Online Vacation Rentals in Thailand’ Bree Creaser, Vice President Operations Midscale & Economy, AccorHotels, Rob Green, Homeaway, Director of Sales – Emerging Markets, Pullawat Pitigraisorn, Analyst, Siam Commercial Bank PCL and moderated by Franklin Fuentes, Area Manager, Expedia Group.

21 November: H.E. Khun Weerasak Kowsurat, Minister for Tourism and Sports – Co-organized by AMCHAM, BCCT, AustCham, BeLuThai, EABC, FTCC, NTCC, and NZTCC @ Banyan Tree Bangkok. Tourism in Thailand and the collapse of the Chinese market, and growing questions on the safety and security of tourists and the challenges arrivals face at immigration.

Other 2018 Accomplishments:

1. Groundwork laid and in ready position to inaugurate Hotel Green Excellence Awards in 2019 or when advisable by/timely for the Chamber.
2. Expanded membership / relationship role with new Phuket Hotels Association which now has 65+ member hotels in Greater Phuket with co-sponsorship of PHIST Forum 2018.
3. Reached out to and connected with all Phuket based AMCHAM members in tandem with PHIST Forum 2018.