Esso plans to spend Bt6 billion opening 700 petrol stations across Thailand by 2021 and another Bt700 million renovating existing ones. Its aim is to become the country’s third-biggest petrol retailer following the introduction of “Synergy Fuel Technology”.

ExxonMobil director and retail manager Yodpong Sutatham said Esso (Thailand) expects sales to exceed market expectations of 2-3 per cent.

It will expand its reach to 640 stations by year’s end and to 700 by 2021, he said, and spend Bt1 million per station on renovations. Seventy per cent of its outlets – 430 in all – have already been refurbished and all of them will be by next year.

Esso’s Synergy Fuel Technology incorporated in every type of petroleum is touted as doubling engine protection and improving acceleration. Its introduction hiked global sales of both regular and premium petroleum by 10 per cent, Yodpong said.

He said Esso believes the technology will continue boosting sales, maintain the firm’s 13-per-cent share of the Thai petroleum market and earn it third place among all oil companies.

Customer memberships are expected to increase to 3 million by year’s end from the current 2.5 million.

Manoch Munjitjuntra, director and manager of retail sales at Esso Thailand, said the company supports plans to adopt Euro 5 standards and is improving its B100 – biodiesel made from crude palm oil – to meet the standards of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.

“The company also sees opportunities even in the electric vehicles that are starting to gain more attention,” Manoch said.

“We forecast that Thailand will continue relying on oil as the main fuel for the next 20 years, especially in transportation. But we have begun trials on an EV charging station, and if that business expands, we will invest more in it.”

The technology now applies to all Esso fuel grades in Thailand.

Yodpong Sutatham, AP Marketing Programs Manager of ExxonMobil Ltd, said, “The Synergy Fuels Technology is the new global standard for our fuels. The introduction in Thailand today is part of our global launch, with similar events already held in the Asia-Pacific region including Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Saipan and New Caledonia.”

He said the Synergy Fuels Technology was developed at the same ExxonMobil Research and Engineering labs used by the Red Bull Formula One Racing Team, and includes dual detergents to clean engine parts such as intake valves.

Manoch Munjitjuntra, Esso Director and Retail Sales Manager at Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited, said Esso is investing in more attractive and brighter service stations to enhance our customers’ overall experience.

All Esso service stations in Thailand will be converted to the new Synergy look. Currently, 70 per cent of its 617 stations across Thailand have been converted to the new look with the rest to be completed by early 2020.

President and chief executive Sara Lamsam said on Tuesday its life insurance and non-life insurance sales grew an average 10 per cent in the first seven months.

However, its overall premium revenues declined by 13 per cent in the same period due to some customers’ contracts expiring as others suspending payment.

He was among speakers at a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS) Steering Committee.

Escap (the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) co-hosted the session to review new research and implementation of the AP-IS master plan among member countries.

“More than 1 billion people are not covered by mobile broadband services,” McDonald pointed out in a speech titled “Redefining Inclusion”.

“And 3.8 billion people are still offline. That’s half of the world’s population.”

He called on governments, industry and business partners to fill the gap.

“We need to take immediate action. Through joint effort, we can bring digital skills to all people in society,” he said.

“At Huawei, we have put together an action plan we call Tech4ALL, which has three priorities – connectivity, applications and skills.”

He said Huawei has vowed to continue to lower the barriers in terms of cost and coverage through technological innovation, help developers to create more applications for different communities and industries, and work with governments, local communities, and other industries to enhance awareness of digital skills and provide necessary help.

“For example, through our Seeds for the Future programme, in the past 10 years we have helped more than 30,000 students in more than 100 countries to enhance their digital skills.”

In Thailand, “Seeds for the Future” had sent dozens of university students to Beijing to study Chinese culture and to Shenzhen to study cutting-edge ICT technologies.

Huawei last year held an ICT Competition here to boost young people’s capabilities and drive the development of Thailand 4.0 and digital inclusion.

“Over the next five years our goal is to help another 500 million people directly benefit from digital technology,” McDonald said.

“This is our mission, and we hope you will join us. Together, we can bring digital to every person, home and organisation for a fully connected society.”

Oakwood Suites Bangkok is scheduled to open by the end of 2019, while Oakwood Suites Yokohama, a Mapletree-owned property, is set to open in mid-2020.

Oakwood launched its Oakwood Suites product in December 2016 with the opening of Oakwood Suites La Maison Jakarta in Indonesia. Conceived as a sanctuary for sophisticated travellers, Oakwood Suites offers exclusive residences for jetsetters and senior executives with an emphasis on prime locations within Asia Pacific’s most central commercial districts, according to a Tuesday press release.

“Oakwood Suites offers residential comfort for well-heeled global citizens who desire unpanelled service delivered in an unobtrusive manner. By expanding into Bangkok and Yokohama, we are greatly increasing Oakwood Suites’ footprint and bringing a new type of contemporary luxury to guests and travellers alike in both markets,” Dean Schreiber, the interim chief executive officer of Oakwood and managing director of Oakwood Asia Pacific, said.

Oakwood Suites Bangkok is strategically located along Sukhumvit Soi 24 within the popular Phrom Phong district. Just a four-minute walk to the BTS Skytrain Station, the property is in close proximity to a diverse range of restaurants and malls, as well as Bangkok’s Central Business District. Offering 232 well-appointed studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, Oakwood Suites Bangkok will redefine the jet-setting lifestyle of savvy travellers on short trips and extended stays.

After 12 successful properties in Japan, Oakwood Suites Yokohama marks the brand’s expansion into Japan’s second-largest city. With a collection of 175 elegant apartments occupying levels 46 to 51 of The Tower Kitanaka, the largest and tallest residential building in Yokohama, guests will find Oakwood Suites Yokohama’s locale highly favourable.

Oakwood Suites Yokohama is the second Mapletree-owned serviced apartment in Japan, following Oakwood Apartments Azabudai, Tokyo. “As part of our business strategy, Mapletree will continue to pursue opportunities to develop and acquire assets, and bring the Oakwood brand to global markets,” Chua Tiow Chye, the deputy group chief executive officer of Mapletree, said.

Oakwood Suites Yokohama will offer the elevated convenience of direct access to the Bashamichi Train Station and a plethora of shops and dining options within its retail and cultural zone. Guests will be able to enjoy a waterfront residential lifestyle, as the tower sits right next to Yokohama Bay in the popular Minato Mirai area and a stone’s throw away from Yamashita Park, famed for its waterfront views of the Port of Yokohama.

A half-hour train ride from Tokyo, Oakwood Suites Yokohama is set to be a highly anticipated accommodation option upon opening, ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Over the past few months, the brand has opened three restaurants at Avenue Ratchayothin, Don Mueang International Airport and 101 True Digital Park, the latter serving as its flagship outlet. Wok Station plans to open 10 branches by the end of this year and expand to overseas markets in 2020.

Dak Galbi Group is led by four new-generation entrepreneurs in their early 20s and opened its first Dak Galbi restaurant in Siam Square in 2012 at the height of K-pop fever. The restaurant quickly caught thanks to its outstanding food concept and was the first Korean restaurant in Thailand to serve “Dak Galbi”, stir-fried marinated chicken with Korean chili pepper sauce, which proved popular among Thai diners.

The Group has set its sights on developing itself from a start-up into a global restaurant chain and the new Wok Station is working towards this by positioning as a quick service restaurant (QSR). The menu features a range of Asian street food and cooked-to-order dishes that are tasty, clean and affordable and use high-quality ingredients sourced from reliable suppliers and farms. The restaurant’s target group includes the health-conscious, from the new generation to office staff. Wok Khao San Road and Wok CP Tower Silom are both set to open before the end of the month.

“Having travelled to many countries, I’ve found that Asian food, especially Thai food, is hugely popular with diners the world over. But most Thai restaurants overseas are fine dining establishments. The prices are high, especially at the good ones. And sometimes diners have to queue. As a Thai, I reckon that it’s not hard to cook and serve Thai food to people around the world at reasonable prices just as some of the American brands do,” said Preeyawan Tantasuralerk, the Group’s managing director. “So we have come up with a QSR model for our restaurant chain that has potential to expand globally. We know Thai people love warm, freshly cooked food. One of the pluses of WOK Station is that it has a diverse menu of dishes freshly cooked in an open kitchen. The menu features two food styles. “Create for You” refers to a range of freshly created dishes such as “Wok chicken fried rice”, “Stir-fried spicy Canadian lobster tom yum with vermicelli”; and “Spicy stir-fried spaghetti with holy basil and Hokkaido scallop.” “Create Your Own” consists of dishes designed by customers themselves based on the available ingredients. This menu has more than 1,000 dishes to choose from, with prices starting at Bt75.”

The restaurant uses a warm color scheme dominated by orange to establish the restaurant’s sizzling mood and tone while the staff are dressed in outfits inspired by firefighters to convey the idea that servers and other staff members are regularly caught in a hot environment. Layered with an apron, the outfit echoes the brand’s concept that focuses on serving freshly cooked creations.

“We want Wok Station to be a hunger station that represents the restaurant’s theme that permeates its overall design. The restaurant displays a signboard that looks like a bus stop sign. We want people to be hungry when seeing it. We are planning to have Wok Stations open 24 hours in some areas to meet our goal of being a round-the-clock dining outlet.”

WOK Station will also introduce countertop food warmers for takeaways for a grab-and-go style of dining during the rush hour. As for technology, WOK Station uses the latest innovations to increase the efficiency of restaurant management. The backdoor systems utilize sophisticated technology to ensure smooth delivery of ingredients, which allows for efficient restaurant management and the Group is currently developing a food ordering application.

Dak Galbi Group is supported by Charoen Pokphand Foods Pcl. (CPF) and is hoping to open outlets in China as soon as next year. Prasit Boonduangprasert, chief executive of Charoen Pokphand Foods Pcl. (CPF), says that the company is well aware of the potential of Thai start-ups and the limits confronted by these entrepreneurs. The company has a policy to support Thai restaurant startups so that they can overcome these obstacles and live out their dream of growing and developing their restaurant businesses into global restaurant chains.

“The company considers providing support to startups that have the determination to create their own restaurants successfully. They must have the vision to expand their restaurant chains locally and overseas, which is CPF’s goal. The company is ready to support in the way of technology, backup systems, and channels for business expansion as well as financial support,” Prasit says.

Slated to open early next year, ASAI Bangkok Chinatown will be the first hotel to open under ASAI Hotels, Dusit’s new affordable lifestyle brand for millennial-minded travellers, in a prime location adjacent to Yaowarat Road – one of the world’s most renowned street food destinations, according to a Tuesday press release.

Immersing guests in the old-world atmosphere of this bustling district, the property will offer easy access to many fascinating temples and shrines, various art galleries and museums, hip bars and coffee shops, lively fresh markets and an incredible selection of street-side eateries. The new Wat Mangkon MRT (underground) station, which connects the area to the rest of the city, is only 100 metres from the property.

In line with the four key pillars of the ASAI brand – thoughtful essentials, common ground, authentic connections, and a sustainable ecosystem – ASAI Bangkok Chinatown will feature 224 thoughtfully compact rooms (ranging from 18-22 square metres) . They will showcase contemporary, Thai-Chinese-inspired designs that emphasise the essentials, such as superior quality beds and high-pressure rain showers.

A large communal space, meanwhile, will include a comfortable and efficient workspace, a fitness centre, a bar highlighting craft beers and creative cocktails, and a pop-up restaurant concept featuring a seasonal farm-driven menu curated in collaboration with Paolo Vitaletti and Jarrett Wrisley of Appia, Peppina and Soul Food Mahanakorn restaurants in Bangkok. The hotel’s chefs will also be able to use fresh herbs and vegetables from an exclusive on-site organic garden.

To further promote sustainable agriculture, the hotel has partnered with Akha Ama, a socially empowered enterprise growing coffee in northern Thailand, to source 100 per cent Arabica beans from the project.

“Our investment in ASAI Bangkok Chinatown highlights our commitment to providing broadened experiences for our customers across the lodging spectrum and delivering sustainable, enduring value for all our stakeholders,” Suphajee Suthumpun, group CEO for Dusit International, said. “With its strong community focus and strategic location in one of Bangkok’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, the hotel is perfectly positioned to capture the attention of millennial-minded travellers, establish our presence in the affordable lifestyle market, and prepare the ASAI brand for further expansion within the city and throughout Southeast Asia.”

Siradej Donavanik, the managing director of ASAI Hotels, said, “Each ASAI hotel is being carefully designed to reflect the fabric of the neighbourhood and appeal to the needs and expectations of today’s generation of travellers and consumers who are constantly on the lookout for authentic, local experiences, as well as brands with value-driven credentials which they can connect with in more meaningful ways.

“ASAI Bangkok Chinatown’s distinctive offerings, fascinating surrounds, and excellent location near the new underground station make it a strong debut for the brand. We now look forward to introducing travellers and locals alike to our vibrant neighbourhood with its endless array of hidden delights.”

Alongside ASAI Bangkok Chinatown, five more properties are already confirmed in the pipeline. This includes three ASAI Hotels in Cebu, Philippines (in Mactan, Oslob, and IT Park); one hotel in Yangon, Myanmar (in the historic Yankin Township); and a second hotel in Bangkok (in the stylish Sathon district). These properties are expected to open from mid-2020 onwards.

But this is evolving and now more companies are providing optional workspaces outside their main offices, “alternative workplaces”. Here are five key reasons why:

Millennials and Generation Z entering the job market

These are the generations becoming more influential in companies, ranging from recent graduates and first-time jobbers to new-generation managers.

Having an alternative workplace answers their needs and significantly increases their job satisfaction. Both groups embrace the alternative environment – as long as they find state-of-the-art facilities including fast internet, full-function printers and modern meeting rooms equipped for video conferencing, plus ideally a “Hot Desk” area where seating is never fixed.

Agile work style with focus on productivity, speed and collaboration

Firms are adopting an agile working style, especially if staff members reside in different locations.

A comfortable working area without walls but with an atmosphere that promotes creativity is an essential ingredient. As a bonus, spaces are available as soon as the rental deal is signed.

New connections

An alternative workspace where people from various business sectors and industries mingle allows an organisation to expand its collaborative network and connections. Big companies can meet startups whose innovations complement their line of products. They can find new customers through networking with others.

Scalability and flexibility

In an era where businesses compete with speed, having an alternative workplace supports high flexibility and fast adaptation to customer needs and expectations. A company can accommodate its team and allocate this alternative workspace to greeting and meeting customers.

Renting a traditional office space often requires a long-term contract based on the number of square metres. Also, there are extra costs of set-up and decoration. Office space in a business district at the heart of the city is extremely expensive.

Commute times shortened

Traffic is one of the biggest challenges for office workers in Bangkok. Having an alternative workplace lessens the stress of the daily commute and increased work hours. It can be another way for companies to attract talent that favours easy commutes.

A good alternative workplace reflects all the above reasons. True Digital Park president Thanasorn Jaidee believes large companies are increasingly interested in providing alternative workplaces for their employees.

True Digital Park, Thailand’s first and Southeast Asia’s largest digital-innovation hub, provides co-working spaces that complement the lifestyles of today’s workers. Most clients sign up for its Hot Desk, where their staffers not only work in an environment that promotes collaboration and creativity but also gives them access to a full range of facilities.

Members can easily reserve a meeting room through an application.

True Digital Park offers workspace on a monthly membership basis. In addition to a full-range facilities and services, there are also various lifestyle and networking activities for its members.

Chief executive Kijja Sripatthangkura put the company’s net profit at Bt3.69 billion for the first half of this year, allowing directors to approve an interim dividend payment of Bt1.66 billion, equivalent to 45.15 per cent of profits.

“Ratch strives for continued business growth with an aim to creating value for stakeholders and reasonable return for shareholders,” Kijja said. “We regularly make dividend payments according to our dividend pay-out policy that no less than 40 per cent of net profits be allocated.”

The interim dividend record date will be finalised on September 9.

The company has already registered a patent in the United States for a small molecule it claims can kill cancer cells.

Executive director Dr Ornin Ruangwattanasuk this week expressed concerned with the “negative prospects” of the Thai cosmetics business.

“The industry has been on the decline since Q2 and its outlook in Q3 and Q4 remains unfavourable due to the global economic slowdown,” she said.

“Furthermore, the traditional sustainable business model faces a major challenge from the startup model. New-enterprise value is on the rise, making the overall business environment highly competitive. Our response is to become flexible and proactive and to place emphasis on innovation and quality products.

“The Dr Somchai brand is the first line of cosmeceutical products in Thailand that enjoys market acceptance – thanks to our laboratory and research capability. Our staff comprises several PhD graduates. Our research work is published regularly in overseas journals.

“We will register two more patents this year and intend to bring the total to five in the next five years,” Ornin said. “We look at this development as a critical step to drive innovation. Our company has embraced [gene-editing program] CRISPR as a new way to improve the process of creating protein to cure diseases. Its potential has generated equity participation interests from companies in Brazil and Dubai.”