PKF Thailand officially launched PKF Eastern Seaboard 

On Friday 6th July, independent member firm PKF Thailand officially launched “PKF Eastern Seaboard” becoming the only global accounting firm with an active branch in the Eastern Seaboard. The launch was attended by guest speaker Khun Suwatana Kmolwatananisa - Deputy Governor responsible for Strategy and Development of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, local business executives and press, and also John Sim - Global CEO of PKF International. 

PKF’s Eastern Seaboard branch is staffed by experts living locally that have a strong understanding of the unique and specific requirements of businesses and individuals who are based in this exciting and dynamic region of Thailand. These experts have access to PKF’s extensive global network of over 400 offices operating in 150 countries across five regions. Providing global expertise, delivered locally.

In her presentation at the launch on the "Current Status and Opportunities in the EEC" Khun Suwatana commented on the significant opportunity in the region especially since the 2018 Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Act was published in the Royal Gazette in May. She highlighted the main changes in the various laws and demonstrated how this would help grow the 10 targeted industries across the 3 main provinces of the EEC.

Andrew McBean, CEO of PKF Thailand added “The area covered by the Eastern Economic Corridor is about 13,000 square kilometers – about the size of Montenegro in Europe or Connecticut in the US. The GDP per capita in Chonburi is already nearly the same as Bangkok Metropolis, supported by existing investments in manufacturing in the province. This will further increase substantially with investments of $45bn across ten targeted industrial and commercial sectors in the 3 provinces of the EEC. We are very excited about the significant opportunities in the Eastern Seaboard and the Eastern Economic Corridor. Businesses that invest here will expect global quality and for it to be delivered locally. We are investing in local skills that will deliver services with global standards to businesses in the region".

The launch celebrations were held at the InterContinental Pattaya Resort. PKF’s Eastern Seaboard Branch can be found in South Pattaya Road in Pattaya, Chonburi. 

For more information visit www.pkfthailand.asia.

The agreement to establish “AMATA University” 

On 6th August 2018 at Rajavallop Building, Ministry of Education, Dr. Teerakiat Jareonsettasin, Minister of Education and Mr. Vikrom Kromadit, Chief Executive Officer of AMATA Corporation PCL and AMATA University’s license holder, have signed the agreement to establish “AMATA University” at AMATA City Chonburi, the 1st license under the new initiative of Thai Ministry of Education to improve education in the EEC area of Thailand.

Under the agreement, AMATA University will initiate the collaboration with National Taiwan University to open Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.) program focusing on intelligence manufacturing system which is expected to contribute greatly on the development of EEC area where most of the biggest industrial players are located. This initiative is the strategic move, leading by Thai Government together with private sector and international education partners, which will be one of the key development models to achieve the goal of Thailand 4.0 

Dr. Teerakiat has pointed out the importance of private sector involvement in developing human resource in EEC area and re state the important of these special educational regulations under Section 44 of the Interim Constitution of Thai Government which allows foreign educational institutions, both higher education and undergraduate level, to set up and operate in the EEC area.

AMATA University is the part of AMATA’s strategic project namely “AMATA EDUTown”, The World class University Town where AMATA will coordinate with different international Top-rank Educational partners on different selected area of expertise (starting with National University of Taiwan) and working closely with more than 1,300 companies within AMATA City. Currently, there are 6 educational institutions already in operation in AMATA City and more than 20 R&D facilities that operate by AMATA’s partners and customers. The area where AMATA EDUTown is located will be started the construction within the 2nd half of 2019.

“With more than 300,000 people working in AMATA’s area, the location and the conditions of AMATA City Chonburi is one the best in ASEAN to set up the University Town, AMATA EDUTown, where educational sector can be working closely with industrial sector and sharing the common amenities that suitable for learning environment. AMATA Corporation and its subsidiaries can provide the basic infrastructure and supporting facilities with quick-entry and light-access collaboration model to any potential educational partners that working in AMATA EDUTown area”, said Mr. Vikrom Kromadit.

source : http://www.amata.com/

Asian Legal Business M&A Rankings 2018

Congratulations to our Asia Pacific M&A teams for being ranked Tier 1 in seven out of 12 Asian jurisdictions in the region by the Asian Legal Business (ALB). The research is based on the firms' presence and profile across Asia; key clients and new client wins; volume, complexity and size of work; key personnel hires; and practice group growth. The firm was also ranked Tier 2 in four other jurisdictions. Read ALB's cover story on the rankings here. https://bmcknz.ie/2IdDXl5

Lights, camera … Thai innovators take action, disrupting video marketing

OVER THE LAST decade, video has taken the internet by storm. Now Thailand-based video content creation platform, Crave Asia, is brewing its own storm.

In a modern world in which YouTube has become Google’s dynamic all-the-bells-and-whistles younger search-engine brother -- and in our multi-screen lives -- the relevance of video has evolved tremendously. Online video content is no longer purely for entertainment.

Creating a successful marketing strategy in today’s online environment must include video. Businesses big and small are using it for promotion and education, and customers are watching on smartphones, tablets and computers.

They are viewing on all of the social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, pre-roll YouTube ads, Snapchat content, Netflix ads and website landing pages

According to US-based online video platform Brightcove, social video is what people want. Businesses would all be well-advised to create engaging video experiences.

Brightcove claims that three-quarters of consumers who watch social video make a purchasing decision based on that video and are more likely to recommend that company. Consequently; it is important to get it right.

However, ror smaller businesses video marketing can seem intimidating.

Australian Raine Grady, who has more 25 years experience in TV and video production at the helm of Thailand’s Capital Television, saw a need for cost effective and easy to use video solutions. She established a new ‘disruptive’ video content creation agency called Crave Asia, which, in partnership with the video creation tool Binumi, is both affordable and manageable.  

“We live in the age of video and every business has a story to tell,” Ms Grady said. “Video is one of the most exciting mediums to do so because it tells a story in a way that text and photos can’t compete with.

“It is predicted to reach 80 percent of all internet traffic by 2020. It is exciting to be able to enable everyone to bring their business narrative to life, and to do so while offering an attractive RoI.”

BINUMI INNOVATION

The Binumi video tool used by Crave Asia was created by media tech entrepreneur and former National Geographic filmmaker Anthony Copping. It allows its partners to scale their video marketing quickly and inexpensively for fast turn around social media and event promotion.

The unique aspect of the tool is a massive royalty-free footage and music library from around 50 countries. Clients also get access to templates, edit effects and utilise cloud storage.

There is no limit on how many videos can be made each year.

Thailand-based marketing and commercial sponsorship business founder Paul Poole counts himself as a devotee of Crave Asia’s capabilities.

“We subscribe to Crave Asia’s rights-free content library and creation tool,” Mr Poole said. “This allows us to edit existing promotional videos and materials into a short mpeg and/or windows media files.

“This is an excellent way of bringing offers to life, massively aiding sales drive and giving an audio visual flavor to the offers.”

The cloud-based platform allows videos to be added onto landing pages that can be shared out direct to customers via e-mail, SMS, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

“When I saw what Anthony was creating with Binumi I realised this was the future of marketing,” Mr Poole said.

“She (Crave’s Raine Grady) added my own content library into his platform and is now working in partnership with Binumi to bring this solution to a wide diversity of businesses.”

Another big advantage he noted was that existing staff members could become an in-house digital marketing resource, able to represent the business, brand, and voice as employees “with just a little training”.

 

Videos are everywhere and their dynamic ‘feed me information quickly appeal’ is in-synch with today’s audiences that have increasingly shorter attention spans.

Unique, engaging content is the key to effective video that holds viewers’ attention and motivation to take action.

Fashion and jewellery designer, Matthew Campbell Laurenza said, “Photos are great, but videos bring my jewellery to life like nothing else can. I love it.”

Crave’s Ms Grady said most users also rapidly discovered what a time saver the platform can become.

“Of course the one commodity no one has is unlimited time,” she said. “To this end we can also create storyboards, film, and edit stories that can be quickly re-purposed as needed.”

www.craveasia.tv

Source: www.businessacumen.biz

NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST OUT-OF-WATER BOAT SHOW TO BE LAUNCHED

Following the overwhelming success of Multihull Solution’s Out-of-Water Boat Show on the Gold Coast, the company is set to replicate the facility at its New Zealand Sales Centre in late 2018.

The purpose-built year-round Out-of-Water Boat Show will be based at Marsden Cove Marina in Whangarei and will offer boat sellers premium display space to showcase their vessel to a strong audience of local and international buyers.

The facility is also conveniently located at a New Zealand Customs Clearance site making it extremely appealing for international cruisers to sell their vessel in Whangarei once they have completed their cruising adventures.

The Out-of-Water Boat Show will have a team of multihull specialists on hand to facilitate all aspects of the sales process, making it an easy and stress-free process for clients. Professional maintenance and cleaning packages are available to ensure each vessel is in pristine condition for buyers to inspect.

The Out-of-Water Boat Show concept allows sellers to showcase their boat for sale in a premium display space incurring less wear and tear on the vessel than traditional marina sales berths. The facility is professionally operated and located in a secure fully-fenced venue with convenient access to comprehensive shipyard facilities for any maintenance or repair work.

Multihull Solutions’ New Zealand Out-of-Water Boat Show will provide an extremely affordable and effective means for clients to successfully sell their multihull with rates at half the price of a regular marina berth. Buyers can inspect an extensive range of multihulls for sale from hull to interior on the hard in one convenient location with easy access for surveyors to conduct inspections prior to purchase.

Multihull Solutions is offering a special offer for new listings at its Out-of-Water Boat Show with 30 per cent off regular display rates.

Further information on the new Out-of-Water Boat Show in New Zealand can be obtained by contacting Multihull Solutions on 1300 855 338 or +61 7 5452 5164 (within Australia),  +64 (0) 9 432 7032 (within New Zealand) or emailing info@multihullsolutions.co.nz. 

FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP’S HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS BHMA HAS ANNOUNCED A NEW HOTEL

BHMA managing director Kent Davidson said the agreement would mark the company’s first foray into the popular resort island.

“Phuket is an extremely popular travel destination and one of the main growth destinations for FCTG’s expansion strategy. This property is a natural fit for the X2 Vibe brand and for BHMA group,” Davidson said.

Ideally located only a few short steps from Patong beach and within easy access of the centre of Patong’s dining and entertainment district, the hotel provides smart contemporary accommodation and amenities for modern travellers.

It features 131 rooms and five villas, a restaurant and bar, spa, swimming pool, fitness centre, boutique shop, library, meeting room and tour desk.

The new location brings BHMA’s X2 Vibe hotel portfolio to seven properties, and 27 total locations across the X2 Resorts, X2 Vibe Hotels and Away Resorts brands.

It follows the launch of BHMA’s first Vietnam property, X2 Vibe Viet Tri Hotel, last month.

Davidson said the new management agreement fulfilled the company’s stated objective of entering the Phuket market.

“We are now working hard on entering other critical markets such as Bali, Fiji, Queensland and the Maldives,’’ he said.

BHMA CEO Peter Lucas said the X2 Vibe Phuket Patong would offer visitors a distinctive, design-oriented resort, great location and the ability to enjoy social engagement with the destination.

“We’re excited to see BHMA expanding into new destinations on top of our existing locations across Thailand, Australia and Vietnam,’’ he said.

 Ms. Luckrada Lucksanawimol as New Regional Director Sales - Asia

Ms Luckrada, or “Annie” as she is better known, brings an impressive set of skills to Best Western. Having achieved a Master’s Degree in International Business Management from Stamford International University, she has held senior sales and management roles for a series of major hotels and resorts, both at property and head office levels.

Her experience includes serving as Director of Sales at B-Lay Tong Phuket, during the time it was operated by AccorHotels as part of the MGallery Collection; and serving as Director of Sales for the former dusitD2 Patong Resort, which was managed by Dusit International. She was also Cluster Director of Sales for Bangkok-based BHMAsia, overseeing 17 properties in Thailand and beyond.

And most recently, Khun Annie was Executive Assistant Manager at B-Lay Tong Phuket, having returned to the property in 2017.

She now embarks on the latest chapter in her career as Regional Director Sales for Best Western, with responsibility for the company’s expanding portfolio of hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia and Japan.

“Khun Annie is a confident, charming and forward-thinking person and a highly-skilled hospitality professional. Not only does she have extensive experience of sales, but she has also been involved in hotel operations at senior management level, giving her a deep understanding of the industry. We are delighted to have her onboard our dynamic team, and I am sure that her talent and expertise will be great assets to our entire company,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western’s Managing Director of International Operations – Asia.

“I am thrilled to be joining to Best Western, which is one of the most famous names in the hotel industry. This is a very exciting time for the company, with many fantastic new hotels and innovative brands being launched in Asia. I look forward to working with the entire team and helping Best Western to achieve even more success in the future,” Khun Annie commented.

A Thai national, Khun Annie is a keen scuba diver with a PADI open water certificate. She also enjoys travel and photography, landscape and interior design, swimming, reading and art.

She will now be based at Best Western’s Asia head office in Bangkok. To contact Khun Annie, please email luckrada.lucksanawimol@bestwestern.com.

CBRE APPOINTED TO SELL 28-RAI LAND ON RATCHADAPISEK

Ideal for Mixed-use Development

CBRE has been appointed to sell, by tender, a 28-rai or 11-acre site with a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 7:1 on Ratchadapisek. The site has the potential to be developed into a landmark mixed-use development. The tender submission date is Wednesday, 28 November 2018.

The site offers great convenience and accessibility to mass transit lines in one of the most sought-after locations in Bangkok at the new Thailand Cultural Centre interchange station of the MRT Blue Line and the under-construction MRT Orange Line. The site is opposite the Grade A AIA Capital Center office tower and the Esplanade Ratchadapisek shopping mall, with many residential developments in the surrounding area.

Over the past 10 years, land prices in the Ratchadapisek area have increased by 250% as it has become a hotspot for condominium buyers and office tenants. This has resulted in high demand for sites suitable for both residential and commercial development. Given the scale and location of this site, it has great potential to be developed into a new Bangkok landmark with a mix of uses. 

Ms. Kulwadee Sawangsri, Executive Director and Head of Capital Markets – Investment and Land, CBRE Thailand, said, “Land prices on Ratchadapisek continue to increase, but at different levels, depending on location as well as land size and shape. Most importantly, if a site is next to a mass transit station, the demand from buyers as well as the land price will be higher. The Ratchadapisek area is an established strategic location in terms of business, residential and leisure and provides great accessibility to work, live and play. A great example showcasing the popularity of Ratchadapisek is AIA Capital Tower, the first new generation Grade A office development in this area which has proved to be a great success, fully occupied at top market rentals.”

“It is very rare to find large sites suitable for development these days. The availability of this 28-rai plot on Ratchadapisek Road offers developers a great opportunity to build a mixed-use project. CBRE anticipates that the sale of this development site will be another record-breaking transaction, following the sale by tender of the 23-rai former British Embassy site by CBRE Thailand earlier this year,” added Ms. Kulwadee.

For enquiries of the tender sales, please contact Ms. Kulwadee Sawangsri, Head of Capital Markets – Investment and Land, CBRE Thailand at +66 2 119 2997 or investment@cbre.co.th

The Big Clean-Up for Bangrak Community 2018

H.E. Francisco Vaz Patto, Ambassador of Portugal in Thailand and H.E. Staffan Herrström, Ambassador of Sweden in Thailand together with Michael Schlueter, General Manager of Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Bangrak and Sampantawong District recently led the embassy of Portugal and embassy of Sweden in Thailand delegates, hotel associates and Bangrak together with Sampantawong road sweepers to conduct a big cleaning around Captain Bush Lane.

This annual activity is part of “Clean up the world” project, one of the largest community-based environmental campaigns in the world that engaged more than 35 million volunteers in 130 countries each year. Royal Orchid Sheraton taking part in this global campaign by collaborate and organize the Big Clean-Up 2018 activity with embassy of Portugal, Embassy of Sweden, River City Bangkok, Mahidol University and other neighbors along the Chao Phraya river to empower people in community to make the difference and build a greater atmosphere around Bangrak and Sampantawong district.

Photo shown from left to right

1. Miss Natee Nadgratok, Assistant Marketing Manager of River City Bangkok
2. Mr. David Robinson, Director of Bangkok River Partners
3. Mr. Wasan  Boonmuenwai, Assistant Director of Sampantawong district
4. Mr. Peera Suksangworn, Engineering Manager of River City Bangkok
5. Mr. Michael Schlueter, General Manager of Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
6. Miss Phakaporn Sanguansak, Bangrak district office’s president
7. Mr. Sombat Kanokthipphawan, Director of Sampanthawong district
8. H.E. Staffan Herrström, Ambassador of Sweden in Thailand
9. H.E. Francisco Vaz Patto, Ambassador of Portugal in Thailand

Marriott Executive Apartments Crowned ‘Thailand's Leading Serviced Apartment Brand’ For Five Consecutive Years at 2018 World Travel Awards

Marriott Executive Apartments (MEA) was recently named ‘Thailand’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand’ at the World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony 2018, which marked its fifth consecutive year as the industry’s leading brand in Thailand. 

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of prestigious accolades to recognize and celebrate organizations across all sectors of the tourism industry. Annual winners of the World Travel Awards are determined based on voting by business and leisure travelers worldwide, together with recommendations made by travel, tourism and hospitality industry professionals. 

Marriott Executive Apartments (MEA) is an international, premium serviced apartments brand that designed for executive expats on an extended stay or when traveling to other cities on a temporary assignment or relocation.  The brand offers prime locations, fully furnished service apartments with completed gourmet kitchens, plenty of space for living, working and relaxing.    

Throughout the year 2018, properties under the Marriott Executive Apartments in Thailand have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the guests in delivering consistently quality stays. They have been recognized in both local and international levels. Recent awards include ’Leading Serviced Apartment Brand in Thailand’ by World Travel Awards; ‘Luxury Apartment of The Year for Central Thailand’ by Luxury Travel Guide; ‘Certificate of Excellence’ by TripAdvisor, ‘Guest Review Award Winner’ by Booking.com and ‘Loved by Guests Award’ by Hotels.com.

Please visit www.marriott.com/executive-apartments/travel.mi for more information.

For more details on the properties, please contact: