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Asia
Good News about Thailand
Bangkok, January 10, 2005
Latest from JW Marriott Phuket:
JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa received minimal damage to the property after the earthquake on December 26, 2004 and wishes to advise that all services and facilities are currently operating with the exception of the open-air beachfront restaurant which will be back in service shortly.
Phuket's strong infrastructure remains in place. The airport is fully operational, roads are open and safe drinking water is in plentiful supply.
We send our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones throughout the region and thank everyone who has sent messages asking about our staff and the resort
From Panjama Leamsuwan (Ms.), Director of Sales & Marketing
Trisara:
Greetings from Phuket.
I felt that it is important to give you some facts on the situation here in Phuket, and also further north of the Island at Khao Lak resort in Phang Nga province, which was tragically much more widely damaged than Phuket.
The Island of Phuket is fast returning to normal life, and 90% of the hotels are operating as they did prior to the Tsunami. There have been no reports of any disease, despite what we are seeing on the television news.
Trisara (see recent report in the Asia section of this magazine) is blessed with a fringing reef that broke the waves’ strength, and we suffered only minor damage to the main pool, which simply filled with sea water. This has now been repaired and guests are happily lazing by the beach and pool. The scene at our property is exactly the same today as it was prior to the Tsunami, and we are so very lucky to have escaped the full strength of the waves.
No guests or staff members were hurt, and in fact no guests even departed early.
Of course, we can only imagine what you must be thinking when you see the constant pictures of the region which was so badly affected. Unfortunately, most footage is shots miles from here, and the reality here on Phuket is very different.
The main reason for me wanting to write to you personally was to put forward our view on how best to help the region.
We all know the monumental tragedy this incident has caused, and while we all come to terms with the scale of the loss of life, there are many more victims of this disaster that never make it onto CNN.
The livelihood of the average family here and indeed their ability to survive with dignity depends greatly on rebuilding their lives as soon as possible.
It is also tragic to think that literally thousands here now face another disaster as a community, being that visitors may stay away on the false belief that the place looks like a disaster zone, or that disease is prevalent.
The Islands beaches are clean and safe, restaurants and attractions are operating normally, and the overall experience at our resort and the surrounding areas is essentially returning to normal very quickly.
We are trying to get this message out to the global community in the hope that the ongoing news coverage of our environment can be more fairly balanced.
On behalf of all of the people of the region, we hope you will see this more positive message as a relief. Our guests are returning on a daily basis in amazement that the area bears no resemblance to what the press is portraying.
I can only conclude with a message from us all that we thank you all for your warm wishes and prayers, and that the best way to actively support Thailand is to not stay away. It is not a scene of depression and gloom, and the sprit of the Thai’s remains as positive as ever.
Please feel free to email me at sales@trisara.com, or call me on +66 76 310100 if you would like more information.
Warmest regards from a sunny Isle,
Panjama Leamsuwan (Ms.)
Director of Sales & Marketing
Trisara
60/1 Moo 6, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket 83110 Thailand
Tel. +66-76-310-100
HP: +66-(0)1-8928165
Fax. +66-76-310-300
www.trisara.com
From my friend, Lee Sutton, Director of Public Relations for Marriott here:
Greetings from Phuket.
We have received many requests from people wanting to donate to the victims of the Tsunami.
Mr Bill Heinecke's company, the MINOR Group, has set up a special relief fund to help the victims of the Tsunami. MINOR's Royal Garden Resorts is the owner of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, the Marriott hotels in Bangkok, Hua Hin and Pattaya as well as Four Seaons and Anantara Hotels in Thailand. The Anantara Khao Lak was destroyed by the Tsunami.
MINOR have set up a special relief fund to provide long term assistance to the Tsunami victims; details of which follow below. We would be most grateful for your help in getting this message out through your readers, and also to family, friend, colleagues and any associations or organizations you are affiliated with.
Many thanks for your help - please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance.
Best regards, Lee
Lee Sutton
Director of Public Relations, Asia, Australia
Marriott International Inc.
Mailing Address :
C/- JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
231, Moo 3, Mai Khao, Talang, 83110
Phuket,
THAILAND
Tel: 66 76 338 021 - direct
Fax: 66 76 348 360
Email: lee.sutton@marriott.com
Website: www.marriott.com
Dear Friends, Partners and Associates of the Minor Group
On behalf of all of us at the Minor Group, I would like to express our appreciation for your concern and support for our staff and the communities affected by the recent tragic tsunami.
The Minor Group, through both our operations and people, are an integral part of these communities and have a responsibility to assist in their recovery and continued development. To this end, we have established two recovery funds dedicated to meeting the objective and would like to invite you to participate in it alongside ourselves.
The first “MINOR Tsunami Recovery Fund” will assist in the recovery efforts in the Phuket Mai Khao and the Khao Lak area where the tsunami hit the hardest and will function as a channel for our Company, its staff, guests, business partners and well wishers who would like to offer direct assistance to communities in the South of Thailand. It will be managed by the MINOR Group’s organization network and distributed to affected people through local community organizations and schools. These funds will be especially helpful when the aid agencies finish their work and move on in a few weeks, when there will be a whole range of new challenges for these communities, especially with the children, for years to come.
Contribution to “MINOR Tsunami Recovery Fund” will be made through a variety of means :
1. Our 14,000 associates are encouraged to make voluntary contributions
2. From January to March 2005, all MINOR hotels will ask resort guests for a US$1 contribution for each room night spent, to help boost the tsunami recovery fund
3. Minor Group will match both staff and guest contributions dollar for dollar
4. The company will request to all its business, trade and media partners for contributions to the Fund. It will also make a public appeal on its website for donations.
Account name: “MINOR Tsunami Recovery Fund”
Account type: Current Account
Account No: 035-3-0-3553-4
Bank name: Siam Commercial Bank Pcl.
Bank Branch: Rama 4
Swift Code: SICOTHBK
Bank address: 4796/8 Rama 4 Road, Prakanong, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Please inform us or fax your pay in slip or bank advice to
Fax no. 66 (0) 2381 5777
or send your check to “MINOR Tsunami Recovery Fund” Attn: Mr. Chanchai Pewlongsawut, 18/F Berli Jucker Bldg., 99 Soi Rubia, Sukhumvit 42 Road, Bangkok 10110 Thailand. Or email to : Chanchai_pe@minornet.com
The second fund “Donation for MINOR Group Employees affected from Tsunai” is a special fund established to assist it’s staff who have been effected by the Tsunami and who may obtain assistance in rebuilding their homes and lives. The MINOR Group will also match all funds donated.
Account name : “Donation for MINOR Group Employees Affected From Tsunami”
Account Type: Current Account
Account Number: 035-3-0-3550-0
Bank Name: Siam Commercial Bank Pcl.
Bank Branch: Rama 4
Swift Code: SICOTHBK
Bank Address: 4796/8 Rama 4 Road, Prakanong, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Please inform us or fax your pay in slip or bank advice to
Fax no. 66 (0) 2381 5777
or send your check to “Donation for MINOR Group Employees affected from Tsunami” Attn: Mr. Chanchai Pewlongsawut, 18/F Berli Jucker Bldg., 99 Soi Rubia, Sukhumvit 42 Road, Bangkok 10110, THAILAND. Or email to : Chanchai_pe@minornet.com
Thank you again for all your support in these difficult times. It’s really a consolation to know we have so many friends, in the hours and days, after the disaster.
Warm regards,
William E. Heinecke
Chief Executive Officer
THE MINOR GROUP
From my friend Barnny Lim who is with Armani Exchange:
The Armani Exchange shop in Central Festival Mall (on Phuket) is not affected, since it is located in the town center & away from Patong Beach.
No casualties have been reported.
Business has been greater than before the event, as many tourists needed clothing to replace those vanished. Although we are thankful for this, we also see the irony of it.
Armani Exchange employees in USA, Singapore & Thailand have rallied together & raised money for the Red Cross Tsunami Relief fund, ranging from personal donations to contributions from sales of 2 selected tees in the stores ("Lend A Hand" campaign launched in USA on Friday, January 7. A brief was reported in WWD Fashion Scoop section of the same day. International stores to launch campaign at their own decided time.)
Mrs. Christina Ong (the owner) has generously agreed to match all personal donations from staff to the fund.
Best,
Barnny
From Philip Ong, a friend in Manhattan:
Hi Edward,
Sure glad you are still alive! I definitely think you are doing the right thing. It's better to shed good light that Phuket is back and need your business then a mere donation.
We should visit Phuket in droves as soon as it is ready. Lets pass the word around.
I am sure Phuket will be newer and better as the Thai people are the most hard working and resilient people on earth.
Carry on the good work. The Thais should be so lucky to have foreigners like you. I may drop by Bangkok in a few months time. Perhaps Phuket too.
Phil
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Please email me your travel tales, "postcards," and questions. I'll publish the most interesting, appropriate or outrageous in Correspondence - All the best, Ted (short for Edward)
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