Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, Founder and Honorary Chairperson of Dusit International, one of Thailand’s foremost hotel and property development companies, has received the prestigious SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).

Ranked among the top 3 “Hospitality and Leisure Management” institutions globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 and 2018, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field.

Established in 2016, SHTM’s annual awards are designed to honour outstanding personalities who have contributed substantially to the development of hospitality and tourism in Hong Kong, the region and around the world.

This year, the recipient was selected in accordance with the theme ‘Celebration of Women in Leadership.’

Thanpuying Chanut established Dusit International in 1948 and opened her first property in Bangkok, Princess Hotel, in 1949. It was one of the first properties in the city to feature a swimming pool, an elevator, and air conditioning.

Determined to open a five-star hotel offering luxury hospitality with a distinctively Thai touch, in 1970 she achieved this aim with the opening of the flagship Dusit Thani Bangkok – then the city’s tallest, grandest building – which has been a true icon ever since.

Building on the success of this property, Thanpuying Chanut opened more five-star hotels in major tourism destinations in Thailand and overseas, and branched out into hotel and culinary education with the Dusit Thani College in 1993, and Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School, a joint venture with Le Cordon Bleu, in 2007.

Incentives surge for plastic bag reduction

Tesco Lotus accelerates plastic bag reduction by offering five times more rewards to incentivise customers; donates 1 baht for every bag saved on International Plastic Bag Free Day to Royal Thai Navy towards marine animal rescue efforts

Tesco Lotus is accelerating plastic bag reduction by enhancing its reward programme, offering five times more points to customers who do not take plastic carrier bags every day for the rest of the year. On July 3, 2018, which is the International Plastic Bag Free Day, the retailer will also donate one baht for every plastic bag refused by customers. The proceeds will be donated to the Royal Thai Navy to purchase medical equipment for marine animals.

Salinla Seehaphan, Corporate Affairs Director, Tesco Lotus, said: “Throughout the past five years, we have been able to cut more than 100 million plastic bags and rewarded our customers with more than 3 billion Green Points as part of our effort to encourage customers to say no to plastic bags. We have found that customer participation has steadily increased, thanks in part to the heightened awareness in Thailand about environmental issues. Our goal this year is to accelerate the amount of plastic bag reduction by increasing incentive amount for customers.

“From July 3, 2018 until end of the year every time a customer refuses a plastic bag at any Tesco Lotus store, they will receive 100 green points instead of the current 20 points. In addition, on July 3rd which is International Plastic Bag Free Day, Tesco Lotus will donate one baht for every plastic bag customers refuse. The proceeds will be given to the Royal Thai Navy to purchase medical equipment for sea turtles and other marine animals.”

“We believe that continuous positive reinforcement coupled with increasing awareness in Thailand about the impact of single-use plastics will pave the way for a sustainable shift in behaviour amongst Thai shoppers. Throughout the year, we will be offering a variety of privileges redeemable with green points to further reinforce benefits of foregoing plastic bags among our customers.

In addition to carrier bags, Tesco Group has made a commitment to halve packaging weight by 2025 using the 2007 baseline,” Salinla said.

Revival of Tsunahiki, the 1982 tug of war shoe

Onitsuka Tiger yesterday re-launched the Tsunahiki, the shoe designed for tug-of-war competitions, first introduced in 1982. The Japan Tug-of-War Union was created in 1980, and the first nationwide Tug-of-War competition was held in 1981.

The original unique design – a wide, wrapped rubber outer sole, has been left intact. The revival model offers improved cushioning with the addition of an Ortholite mid-sole.

The original piping, stretching from around the shoelace holes to the collar and the eyelet design have also been left intact.

The new model is true to the original lava orange and oatmeal colour scheme. Four more new colors are also available.

ITD hosts regional trade and development forum

Marking its 18th anniversary this year, the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD) is hosting the Trade and Development Regional Forum 2018 under the theme of “Transformation towards Innovative Trade and Development Agenda for Regional Integration”, from 2-3 July 2018, 8.30 am-5.00 pm at Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok.

The forum is honoured by the presence of Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), who delivers a keynote address on the topic “Towards Innovative Trade and Sustainable Development Agenda for Regional Integration” and congratulates ITD on its 18th anniversary. On 3 July, Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, former director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and former UNCTAD secretary-general, will give a keynote speech on the topic “Global disorder and Its Impact on Trade Regime”.

As an organisation established by an agreement between the Thai government and UNCTAD to promote trade, development and other activities in line with the agreement, ITD last year held the Trade and Development Regional Forum with the theme of “Linking Trade and Development for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth”. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, ITD Executive Director, says this year’s forum continues the discussion in a new theme, “Transformation towards Innovative Trade and Development Agenda for Regional Integration”, to promote communication, knowledge sharing and brainstorming on emerging issues and challenges related to regional trade, investment and development, in order to encourage Asian countries to jointly formulate a trade and investment action plan which is responsive to the modern world and sustainable development.

At present, hyperglobalisation, the 4th industrial revolution, and digital economy are bringing both opportunities and threats to trade, development and investment for now and the foreseeable future. Science and innovation are progressing fast thanks to digital technology, rendering some bilateral trade and investment agreements and regulations obsolete and increased unemployment.

But at the same time, such progress offers a great deal of opportunity to new entrepreneurs. Therefore, the linking of trade, investment and development to achieve sustainable development goals requires a new paradigm and mindset in terms of policymaking and partnership.

This necessitates a platform for the public and private sectors as well as other relevant parties in Asia to discuss, share experiences and contribute suggestions that lead to sustainable development in the future.