Ten Hag not commenting after Greenwood’s charges dropped
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2023
THE NATION
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag hasn’t given any indication about striker Mason Greenwood’s future at the Premier League side.
Greenwood was suspended by the club in January last year when accusations against him surfaced on social media, before he was charged with attempted rape, controlling behaviour and assault in October.
All of those criminal charges against him were subsequently dropped by police and prosecutors on Thursday (February 2).
United released a brief statement following the news saying the club would “conduct its own process before determining next steps”, and Ten Hag pointed to the statement when asked about Greenwood during Friday’s (February 3) press conference.
“I can’t say anything about it. I refer to the statement of the club, and in this moment, I can’t add anything,” Ten Hag said.
Meanwhile, United’s deadline day loan signing Marcel Sabitzer is ready to play and could be handed his debut against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday (February 4).
Ten Hag not commenting after Greenwood
The midfielder, who joined from Bayern Munich until the end of the season, became a late target for United after Christian Eriksen was ruled out because of an ankle injury that could sideline him until early May.
“He did only one session but you can see he’s a very fit player and I didn’t have different expectations coming from Bayern Munich,” Ten Hag told reporters. “I think he is ready to play.
“I think he’s a really smart player and I think we gave him some guidance but he knows what to do, he knows the job.”
With United’s fine recent form propelling them back up the league table and into the top four, Ten Hag was handed a further boost this week when French defender Raphael Varane, who has suffered several injury setbacks during his time in England, announced his retirement from international football aged 29.
“For United, I think it’s good news,” Ten Hag said. “With his nation it is incredible what he achieved, big respect and I am happy he puts all his energy and experience into this team.
WorldHotels announces plan to add 50 new properties in 2023
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
Tammy Tameryn Somhar
The WorldHotels Group plans to open 50 new properties worldwide this year, including 14 in the Asia-Pacific region, executives at the group said at its annual conference in Bangkok.
“We will increase our visibility and build customer relationships,” group CEO Larry Cuculic told the 110 global managers and leaders attending the conference at the Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit.
In 2019, Best Western Hotels & Resorts acquired the WorldHotels brand, adding about 300 hotels and resorts to its global portfolio.
The deal helped rapidly expand Best Western’s diverse properties with an e-commerce platform and expand its portfolio.
WorldHotels says its key strengths are in its partnerships, a loyalty program, and sales and marketing.
Last year, WorldHotels had 50 hotels in the Asia-Pacific region, with a combined 19,400 rooms. It also had a strong development pipeline in the region, specifically in Vietnam where several projects were underway.
WorldHotels Asia-Pacific strategy this year will see it focus on Southeast Asia due to emerging star Vietnam. Vietnam is expected to continue to be its priority despite the government’s tougher regulation on hotels, resorts, and condotels.
While there is plenty of potential for Thailand, several resort spots are de-branding themselves. These indications are regarded as possibilities, according to executives at the meeting.
They confirmed that two new projects will open in Thailand this year.
Ron Polh, president of WorldHotels, said the company would focus on raising its profile and investing in technology this year:
“We are going to concentrate on a few essential points. First, by working with international PR firms, we hope to raise our profile’s visibility and the number of hotels joining our group. Second, we must make investments in technology, since it is vital to the operation of the company. This year, we’ve made an investment of US$85 million in technology alone. To build the revenue management platform, we collaborated closely with Sabre Hospitality Solutions. As a result, we can guarantee that the backend system will better serve all hotels.”
Nation Thailand had exclusive interviews with Cuculic, Polh and vice-president Olivier Berrivi.
[From left to right] Mr. Olivier Berrivin, VP, International Operations ASPAC, Mr. Larry Cuculic, President & CEO, BWH Hotel Group, Mr. Ron Polh, President, International Operations & WorldHotels, Mr. Wytze VanDenBerg, VP,International Operation EMEA, and Mr. Gregory Habeeb, President, North American WorldHotels.
I was wondering if you are one of the very few CEOs in the global hotel industry with a background in law.
Cuculic: Yes, I was a lawyer before. It teaches me to think strategically, and that skill set is transferred to my new responsibilities. Being a lawyer allows me to be involved across all responsibilities, including brand management, financial matters, and so on. I used to look at everything from a lawyer’s viewpoint, but now I look at things differently from a business perspective because I have a lawyer who works for me. There is still a part of me that will never forget that I am a lawyer. I am maybe more conservative by nature, I think.
You came to Thailand in 2015. What are the most important changes you’ve seen in Bangkok and in the hotel business since then?
Cuculic: The growth of Bangkok is evident as you can see all the buildings outside. It is phenomenal how the city can grow as much as it has in the several years that I have been here. In terms of the hotel business, I think the hotel industry here in Bangkok has grown tremendously because of the demand for travel. Lots of people want to visit Thailand.
Berrivi: The number of hotels joining WorldHotels is increasing, and there are also more international hotel chains coming to Thailand. Back then, five years ago, Thai hospitality was No 1, as people knew it as the land of smiles. However, we rarely see the Thai flavour in the huge hotel chain service, whereas we try to retain that best quality in Thai hospitality at all levels.
Mr. Larry Cuculic, President & CEO, BWH Hotel Group
When WorldHotels was acquired in 2019 and then got hit by COVID-19, what were the biggest changes in how you ran your business and managed it?
Cuculic: We were there when they needed us the most. We were very thoughtful with our hoteliers, making sure that they had the support they needed to sustain themselves through the pandemic. We did whatever we could to support them in terms of providing them advice and the brand standard, which would help the safety department not just welcome customers but take care of their health and well-being. So we are establishing the program to provide hoteliers with the protocol to get through the pandemic. So we did that very differently, and we adapted it very quickly. We work with the hotel to make sure that they have that kind of support. We understand if some hotels want to close. Because of the pandemic, we worked with them and knew the epidemic would end eventually. We were really focused on the relationship between the hoteliers and us. We also focused on sales as best as we could because there were still some sales opportunities … Some of our hotels turned themselves into safe lodging for Covid victims who needed a place to stay for a period of time, or a place for quarantine. Also, in Europe, some of our partners turned themselves into refugee housing units; they were escaping from Ukraine. That’s a good story to tell.
Polh: What WorldHotels had I think you wouldn’t see from other hotel chains. All hoteliers in the conference room this morning could pick up the phone and call Olivier, me or Larry anytime and we answered the phone. This is not a push it down to someone else in the organisation [style of management]. We are available to any owners, any general managers who want to call us.
Mr. Ron Polh, President, International Operations & WorldHotels
You once went on a “listening tour” to hear what your employees had to say. Did you do that while you were here? So far, what have you learned?
Cuculic: No, I haven’t, but that is a great idea. I probably should have done that. When I took over the job, I went on a listening tour across North America. All the hoteliers can come and provide me with some feedback, and I will create the atmosphere that will help the employees feel free to give me their real comments. If they want to criticise the marketing team, then the marketing team should not be in the meeting. I just want them to know that they can tell me the truth without any pressure or hurting someone’s feelings.
As I heard your speech at the conference, it gave me that vibe of winning spirit. Can you tell me how to pass that on to your employees?
Cuculic: I am a very social person. Every day I will walk around the building and put on a smile. I interacted with them and asked, ‘How was your day going?’ I enjoy that interaction of getting to know people. I even held the campaign, ‘Lunch with Larry’, which allows me and employees to have lunch together, one on 25 employees, and last week we just talked about rock and roll during lunch. We just want to make sure that we care about them and that they are making a difference. I also encourage a work-life balance, and I think it is tremendously important that you take care of your family. The other thing you have to do is have a plan to take care of your employees; make sure their compensation is fair; make sure they have a benefit program; and everything else … you have to go beyond the smiling face.
WorldHotels is getting a lot bigger. Can you tell me what makes independent hotels want to join your group?
Polh: The short answer to that is you got the support of the global organisation behind them without all the costs they would have if they tried to do it themselves … The independent hotels could have a loyalty program, but how many people are going to be a part of that? The cost is too expensive to do it on their own with limited returns. Connect to [us] and now you have access to 55 million rewards members. We have invested $85 million dollars this year just in technology alone, so you have all of these resources available for hotels, including education and training for the staff that help you navigate all of that, so there is no downside to doing it. The service at WorldHotels is very flexible. We want to do what makes you more profitable, not just charge you.
One last question is: How does Thailand play a role in WorldHotels’ portfolio?
Cuculic: One of our top priorities is to open as many properties as we can. We have one more hotel that will be opening soon in Phuket. We just want to make sure that we have the right products in the right places. We do not want to develop too much so that we don’t create unnecessary competition.
This year’s Money Expo will highlight environmentally friendly financing to raise awareness of global warming and the importance of green financing, according to its organiser, Money and Banking magazine.
The expo will draw major players in the financial services industry, including banks, financial companies, nonbanks, insurance companies, securities companies, asset management companies, as well as government and private agencies, Money and Banking magazine chairman Santi Viriyarungsarit said.
This year’s Money Expo will comprise seven expos, with the first and last in Bangkok. Five other expos will be held in Songkhla, Nakhon Ratchasima, Rayong, Udon Thani, and Chiang Mai provinces.
Green financing encompasses green bonds, green equity funds, green loans, and green deposits, Santi said.
Last year, the Thai government began supporting green financing and its Bio-Circular-Green economic model by implementing standards to classify economic activities based on their environmental impact, he added.
The amount of green financing globally soared more than 100 times between 2011 and 2021, according to research by global banks. Its global value is expected to reach US$6 trillion per year in 2030, said Santi.
This year’s Money Expo will kick-off in Bangkok in May:
1. Money Expo Bangkok: May 11-14, Challenger Hall 2-3, Muang Thong Thani
2. Money Expo Hat Yai: July 7-9, Hat Yai Hall, Central Festival Hat Yai
3. Money Expo Nakhon Ratchasima: August 18-20, EMC Hall, The Mall Korat
4. Money Expo Rayong: September 8-10, Central Plaza Rayong
5. Money Expo Udon Thani: October 6-8, Udon Hall, Central Udon Thani
6. Money Expo Chiang Mai: November 10-12, Chiang Mai Hall, Central Chiang Mai Airport
7. Money Expo Bangkok: December 14-17, Exhibition Hall 4, Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre
Thai hospitality group adding 11 properties in Asia this year
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
Chanapat Komlongharn
ONYX Hospitality Group, a Thai-based hotel management company, is planning to add 11 hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments this year in Asia, including five in Southeast Asia, said its CEO Yuthachai Charanachitta.
It will open three properties in Malaysia, two in China, and one each in the Maldives, Thailand, Japan, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong SAR, Yuthachai said.
The company expects to generate up to 8.8 billion baht in revenue this year, a 60% rise from last year. Its revenue reached 7 billion baht in 2019, but plunged to 3 billion baht in 2020, during the first year of the pandemic.
It owns the Amari, OZO, and Shama brands, among others. The company operates 44 properties, most (82%) under management contracts. It owns the rest.
Yuthachai said Southeast Asia remains its focus as it is Asia’s most popular region for tourism, adding that the region’s tourism industry was one of the first to bounce back.
“Travellers and expatriates are eyeing the region for holidays, businesses, or new homes,” Yuthachai said.
Malaysia is a compelling market for hospitality businesses due to its size and high spending power and substantial inflow of business travellers, he said.
China, by contrast, has not yet seen a full recovery in its tourism sector despite its reopening, he said, adding that foreign vacations were primarily limited to wealthy Chinese nationals.
ONYXis positioning itself to be the top medium-sized hotel management company in Southeast Asia. Its customers are primarily from outside the region, Yuthachai said, listing the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia as its top three markets in that order.
Thanachart Bankhas forecast that Thailand will receive 28 million foreign tourists this year and that they will generate about 2.2 trillion baht in income.
Yuthachai, however, said three impediments could hinder the growth of the tourism industry: the war between Russia and Ukraine, inflation, and the high cost of living.
Thailand’s air pollution problem is not a major problem because it is temporary, he said.
ONYX is in talks with low-cost airlines to develop promotions and marketing campaigns to attract more tourists to the region, Yuthachai said.
Images purported to show China spy balloon emerge on social media
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
Reuters
A suspected Chinese spy balloon has been flying over the United States for a couple of days, U.S. officials said on Thursday (February 2), in what would be a brazen act just days ahead of a planned trip to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Fighter jets were mobilized but military leaders advised President Joe Biden against shooting the balloon out of the sky for fear debris could pose a safety threat, advice Biden accepted, U.S. officials said.
The United States took “custody” of the balloon when it entered U.S. airspace and had observed it with piloted U.S. military aircraft, one the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
Video shot by an eyewitness showed what appeared to be the suspected spy balloon.
Reuters could not independently confirm the images were of the spy balloon, but they were filmed over Billings, Montana after authorities issued a ground stop as the military mobilized assets including F-22 fighter jets in case President Biden ordered the balloon be shot down.
The man who shot the video, Chase Doak, said that the object had remained stationary in the sky for over half an hour.
A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, U.S. February 1, 2023 in this picture obtained from social media.
The incident recalls the lengths to which Beijing and Washington have been willing to go to spy on each other amid rising tensions between the superpowers.
“The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground,” Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told reporters.
Blinken is expected to travel to China next week for a visit agreed to in November by Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. It was not clear how the discovery of the spy balloon might affect those plans.
The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
China and the United States, the world’s two largest economies, have experienced tensions of late, clashing over Taiwan, China’s human rights record and its military activity in the South China Sea.
Fifth round of subsidies for domestic tourism begins next month: TAT
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
The timeline for the fifth phase of the government’s domestic-tourism promotion campaign – which provides subsidies to hoteliers and tourists to encourage travel – will run from early March till the end of April, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced on Friday.
The fifth phase of the “We Travel Together” campaign received Cabinet approval on Tuesday with a budget of 2.016 billion baht.
The government provides subsidies equivalent to 40% of room rates, capped at 3,600 baht per room per night, through the campaign. A total of 560,000 room subsidies will be available and each one will include a 600 baht voucher for tourists to buy food or services.
A tourist can receive no more than five room subsidies. Airfare is not included in the campaign.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn provided the following timeline for the latest phase of the campaign:
February 8-15: Registration opens for new hotel operators wishing to join the campaign.
March 8: Hotel reservations open to the public.
March 11: First day the subsidies begin.
April 27: Last day domestic tourists can reserve a hotel room.
April 30: End of phase 5.
Eligible candidates must be Thai nationals with a valid ID card and over 18. Registration can be made at: www.เราเที่ยวด้วยกัน.com and finalised through the Pao Tang application.
Govt working urgently to tackle PM2.5 crisis, says spokesman
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2023
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed his government to take urgent action to tackle the PM2.5 crisis, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Friday.
The government has not been idle about the crisis and tackling PM2.5 pollution has become a national priority, Anucha said.
“The prime minister instructed all the state agencies to monitor the situation closely and continuously. He also follows up on the progress regularly to make sure that his proposed measures are taken,” he said.
The government has taken short- and long-term measures to deal with the problem, and information has been released to the public so that people can protect themselves from the health risks of PM2.5, Anucha said.
The amount of PM2.5 – fine dust – in the air is increasing in urban, farming and forested areas of the country, while the lack of airflow, as well as dry weather, are aggravating the problem, the spokesman said.
He urged commuters to use public transport more often to help reduce PM2.5 dust and to wear facemasks while outdoors to protect themselves.
The Public Health Ministry, Transport Ministry, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives have all prescribed measures to reduce PM2.5 levels. These include banning vehicles that emit black fumes, reducing hotspots, discouraging outdoor burning, and reducing exhaust emitted by factories.
Many areas of Thailand, particularly Bangkok and the Northeast, have been shrouded by unhealthy levels of fine dust. The Pollution Control Department warned that the crisis would continue until the middle of next week.
The levels of PM2.5 in Bangkok and northeastern provinces exceeded the “safe” threshold of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre (μg/m3 ) on Thursday, ranging from 62-139 μg/m3 in Bangkok and 57-158 μg/m3 in the Northeast.
PM2.5 can be hazardous to people with lung and respiratory problems.
Energy Ministry closely monitoring electricity costs
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2023
The Energy Ministry will continue monitoring factors that could affect the price of electricity despite a decline in the global price of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said on Friday that the price of LNG had dropped from US$40 per million British thermal unit (BTU) to $17 per million BTU.
However, the price of LNG could increase due to the Russia-Ukraine war and rising demand during the winter.
The ministry has asked state-owned PTT to speed up its purchases of LNG to ensure Thailand buys it while the prices are low, Supattanapong said.
He said PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) had been told to increase natural gas production in the Gulf of Thailand as soon as possible.
PTTEP took over operation of the Erawan gas field in the Gulf of Thailand from Chevron last April. Natural gas production in the field has reached 50% of the production rate Chevron was at, the minister said.
“Natural gas production is expected to increase to 75% of Chevron’s production capacity this year,” he said, adding that the production is expected to return to normal at the beginning of next year.
Supattanapong said higher domestic production would help Thailand reduce reliance on imported LNG.
Thailand’s ‘little ghosts’ have until end-Feb to leave South Korea
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2023
Thais working illegally in South Korea are being offered one last chance to return home without having to pay a huge fine, the government announced on Friday.
Deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said more than 100,000 Thai illegal workers, referred to as “Phi Noi” (little ghosts), are working in South Korea and Seoul has set February 28 as the deadline for them to return home.
She added that illegal workers can contact South Korean immigration authorities or visit www.hikorea.go.kr to organise their return.
She said if the workers return within February, they will not have to pay the 30 million won (about 800,000 baht) penalty.
“South Korea opened channels for Thai illegal workers to return home since November 7 last year,” she said.
She said Thais who wish to continue working in South Korea should follow the regulations set by the Department of Employment.
“People should not accept invitations to work illegally in South Korea as they will not be granted welfare,” she said.
She added that illegal workers are open to exploitation, low wages and are forced to lead lives in the shadows.
“If illegal Thai workers return home under this offer, then they will be able to return to South Korea again,” she said, adding that if they do not take the correct steps, they will face difficulties in the future.
For more information, call the South Korean Immigration Contact Centre at 1345 (Thai interpreters are available) or the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul: +82 10 6747 0095, +82 10 3099 2955, email: kumkrong.sel@mfa.go.th, or visit the embassy’s Facebook page.
How the Doi Tung project is changing lives in Isaan
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
Nongluck Ajanapanya
The Doi Tung project has shown itself to be a successful model that has created sustainable communities and economies, joining in the transformation of Isaan as a smart modern part of the country.
The model was displayed during a seminar as part of the first sustainable innovation expo ever held in Thailand’s Northeast in mid-December 2022.
The central idea behind this model is to simply provide tactical incentives, opportunities, and jobs for locals to truly access equal prosperity.
The model, according to ML Dispanadda Diskul (Duke), Chief Executive Officer of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage, is part of an inclusive economy concept that aims to increase people participation, reduce income gaps, increase natural resources, and improve sharing.
Doi Tung has always believed in the good power in people since its inception, he said, adding that in addition to eradicating opium and poverty in northern Thailand, where the majority of stateless people reside, the Doi Tung Foundation has always prioritised empowering people.
He said that if people are strong, they will be able to live and protect their own local economy and natural forests.
“Our Princess Grandmother, Doi Tung’s founder, always said that nobody wants to be a bad person. It’s just that they don’t have the opportunity to do good.”
All Doi Tung does is educate people and provide them with tools to manage and exploit their local resources and forest in a sustainable manner.
“If people can live, then forests can survive,” he said.
As actions speak louder than words, Dispanadda showed some examples of how Doi Tung had transformed into an inclusive social enterprise that genuinely spread prosperity to local communities over several decades.
One of the undertakings is a forest preservation project in which locals will take the lead in protecting their own forest. Doi Tung would share knowledge with them as part of a business partnership.
“We teach them how to develop eco-friendly processes and products so that they can be self-sufficient in the long run. We’ll then help them with marketing and distribution. Meanwhile, we provide some incentive programmes through which they can earn extra income from nature’s carbon footprint by caring for their trees,” Dispanadda noted.
He added that the number of forest fires in a month is a good indicator of forest care quality. Doi Tung will assist the community in conducting audits twice a year so that locals can feel confident and be inspired to do better in developing their own green business and lifestyle.
Dispanadda stated that Doi Tung is currently a 100% zero-waste landfill social enterprise that is transitioning to a circular economy with the goal of increasing the proportion of renewable energy used as much as possible.
The project also intends to increase forest area under their territory from 100,000 rai (16,000 hectares) to 200,000 rai over the next 2-3 years.
“I hope our Doi Tung model will inspire you [Isaan people], and I hope I will have the opportunity to work with you to make Isaan a leading innovative bio-circular-green [BCG] economy region of Thailand,” Dispanadda concluded.
Doi Tung is a development project of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation. The brand was created to aid in the advancement of development efforts.
This social enterprise has five business units: handicrafts, processed food, a café, agriculture, and tourism.
Since 2000, the brand has been self-sustaining and is regarded as a model business for assisting villagers in achieving self-sufficiency.
A portion of the profits from the Doi Tung social enterprise are returned to the villagers, while the remainder is used to improve public health, education, and the environment on Doi Tung.
![[From left to right] Mr. Olivier Berrivin, VP, International Operations ASPAC, Mr. Larry Cuculic, President & CEO, BWH Hotel Group, Mr. Ron Polh, President, International Operations & WorldHotels, Mr. Wytze VanDenBerg, VP,International Operation EMEA, and Mr. Gregory Habeeb, President, North American WorldHotels.](https://media.nationthailand.com/uploads/images/contents/w1024/2023/02/JK6BKD0vP5yUU5amPWY4.webp)
[From left to right] Mr. Olivier Berrivin, VP, International Operations ASPAC, Mr. Larry Cuculic, President & CEO, BWH Hotel Group, Mr. Ron Polh, President, International Operations & WorldHotels, Mr. Wytze VanDenBerg, VP,International Operation EMEA, and Mr. Gregory Habeeb, President, North American WorldHotels.
Mr. Larry Cuculic, President & CEO, BWH Hotel Group
Mr. Ron Polh, President, International Operations & WorldHotels
A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, U.S. February 1, 2023 in this picture obtained from social media.
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