CP Land is also expanding its four star-hotel chain “Fortune” and building a new convention centre in Khon Kaen. Moving into the hospitality sector, the country’s largest conglomerate aims to cash in on growing tourism which now accounts for 16 per cent of national gross domestic product.

Naravadee Waravanitcha, executive vice president for investment and hotel management at CP Land Plc, said she would meet with executives of PTT this week to discuss cooperation in building budget hotels at PTT petrol stations.

CP Land will propose to PTT to select 50 PTT oil stations out of 1,400 stations nationwide for building budget hotels branded “Fortune D”.

CP Land and PTT, however, may consider creating a new hotel chain if they do not agree on the proposed brand.

“The new hotel projects are aimed at serving motorists particularly at prime-road traffic locations. Each room will feature entertainment from True Vision [another business unit of CP Group], fresh coffee and flexible one meal and check-out times,” she said. Rooms at PTT stations will be priced at Bt700 per night.

Aside from Fortune D projects at PTT stations, CP Land is expanding the chain into a new tourist destination, including Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai province.

She said Chiang Rai has the potential to help boost the country’s economy, cross-border trading and tourism, investment, and logistics management as the province is the gateway to Thailand and neighbouring countries in the greater Mekong Sub-region.

“Chiang Rai has high potential to become medical and health tourism, as well as agriculture and logistics hubs due to good infrastructure,” she added.

CP Land decided to build a four-star hotel, Fortune River View Chiang Khong, at a cost of Bt270 million, which opened earlier this year. The 147-room hotel targets the local and international markets.

According to Naravadee, the company has opened Fortune View Khong Hotel in Nakorn Phanom with an investment of Bt110 million and a Bt-270-million Fortune River View Nakhon Phanom. The company also plans to open Fortune D in Maesod in Tak province within this year, at an investment of Bt200 million.

In 2017, it is scheduled to open Fortune D Plus Khao Yai, Fortune D Loei, Fortune D Burirum, Fortune Grand Hotel In Nakorn Sri Thamarat, and other tourists destination in the South.

Average room rate at the Fortune D brand is Bt750 per night while the rate at Fortune D Plus brand is Bt1,200-Bt1,400 per night.

From 2012 until end of 2017, CPLand expected to invest at least Bt1.8 billion in the hotel business.

Aside from hotel expansion, CP Land is also entering into the meeting, incentive, convention, and exhibition (MICE) business by investing in a convention centre in Khon Kaen province at a cost of Bt1 billion. The new MICE centre, over 26,000 square metres, is expected to open in 2017. The company believes that the existing convention centre – Khon Kaen Convention Exhibition Centre – cannot meet demand, as it is operating with some limitations such as lack of free trade zone and also it is not suited for huge events.

“C Channel is a new media brand for the smartphone era. It will enable people to communicate through videos,” Akira Morikawa, chief executive officer of C Channel and a former CEO of Line, said on Saturday.

C Channel is his latest creation, which was launched in Japan a year ago.

C Channel is set to become the global No 1 video magazine for women’s fashion, he said.

Globally, there are many fashion magazines for women. This is a big market for advertising, especially for make-up and fashion.

This market is really shifting to digital media, but it is not digital media for women, so C Channel is creating a new market in this area.

“The four major videos at C Channel are make-up, hair arrangement, food, and lifestyle,” he said.

The company wants to open media branches in Asia. It started its global business in China, Taiwan and Thailand and plans to expand to Korea and Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

This year C Channel will be seen in seven countries in Asia.

In Thailand, C Channel aims to draw over 100 million views by year-end, from more than 20 million views now.

“Ookbee is a good partner in Thailand since they are strong in the user-generated content service that is a vital part of C Channel.

“With Ookbee, first we will create a new market together and then we will do a joint venture this year,” he said.

C Channel’s concept is to make videos easy stuff.

With C Channel’s app for both iOS and Android, people can shoot and edit their video on their smartphone and then post it onto cchna.tv and social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Line.

“We are going to make a world where we can create a large amount of videos quickly with high quality,” he said.

There are three points, including an open studio where people can create videos easily anywhere and anytime.

There is the Spa model, which is a way to create high-quality videos quickly.

The third is a one-minute video that is optimised for smartphones.

The SPA model likes fast fashion. Performers work with creators, producers and engineers at the same office.

Young people stay on smartphones and they do not entertain longer versions of videos because they enjoy short videos, so C Channel focuses on one-minute videos.

C Channel also makes original videos even though it also plays the role of a video platform like YouTube.

C Channel calls its video producers “clippers”. It will select quality videos produced by them to share on social media.

In Thailand, it has about 100 clippers, mostly Japanese bloggers and online influencers. It now gets over 100 million views per month after soft-launching here for two months.

For revenue, C Channel uses the adverting model including video native adverting and video e-commerce.

Video native ads will be blended and tied into a clipper’s video, which will go viral and be seen by the clipper’s followers.

Video e-commerce is videos that lead viewers to purchase products online. The company will share revenue with its clippers.

“Initially, the big part of revenue comes from video native advertising, but in the long run, video e-commerce will take the lead,” he said.

The Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show, whose run this year will take place from November 24-27, has been a catalyst for the Gulf of Thailand’s marine industry, promoting the onshore facilities and offshore cruising grounds worldwide.

“Since launching Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show five years ago, we have seen considerable growth in marine tourism and boat use in the Gulf of Thailand.

“The boat show has helped to position this region as a leading marine destination in Southeast Asia.

“Both the number of boat owners overseas choosing Ocean Marina to base their boats and the number of Thais buying boats in the region have increased, and this trend looks to continue,” Scott Finsten, the harbour master of Ocean Marina, said last week.

With 22 boats up to 119 feet in length at last year’s show, organisers are planning for an even bigger and better display this year, and have expanded the in-water display space to accommodate the increased interest.

Early exhibitor confirmations include top dealerships Simpson Marine and Boat Lagoon Yachting, both of which have secured larger exhibition space this year.

They are joined by luxury Italian boat brand Azimut Yachts, Beneteau, Cranchi, CNB Yachts, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Monte Carlo Yachts, Prestige, Princess Yachts, Viking Yachts and Wider.

Superyacht brands represented at the show include Admiral and Sanlorenzo, and a large selection of brokerage yachts will also be available for viewing.

Tirachai Pipitsupaphol, managing director of Ocean Property, said the show set a new benchmark with increased exhibition space onshore and in the water.

Already many top boat brands having confirmed their attendance.

Last year, 68 per cent of visitors were Thai, a key demographic for organisers and exhibitors, and a statistic in line with Ocean Marina’s experience of a boom in Thais spending time on the water.

Having recognised this growth in boating interest and the need for more berths, Ocean Marina has undergone a phased expansion over recent years and is now, with 380 berths for boats up to 50 metres, the largest marina in Southeast Asia.

Besides the line-up of boats, cars and luxury lifestyle exhibitors, highlights for visitors include daily yacht cruises, kayak and paddleboat trials, jetpack flying board demonstrations, games, a food and drinks festival and the Boat and Yacht Thailand Conference.

Thai Drinks Co, maker of est, has appointed South Korean pop group Got7 as brand ambassadors for the campaign. New limited-edition packaging features Got7 designs, while “est Korean Orange Cola”, which blends the cool fizz of est cola with a refreshing hint of orange flavour in a Korean style, is being launched.

“An enhanced brand proposition will help sustain est’s success in growing its regular consumer base from 39 per cent to 51 per cent [of the cola market] while increasing brand love among target consumers in both local and regional markets,” said Vivek Chhabra, president of Thai Drinks Co.

“We have allocated Bt300 million to excite the CSD market in the third quarter of 2016 as we introduce consumers to the ‘Zaa Zeed Sud Kua’ brand proposition, with popular international boy band Got7 building est brand awareness in the Thai and other AEC [Asean Economic Community] markets.

“est will also increase the rate of product trials among consumers to enhance brand efficiency and win Thai teens’ hearts to pave the way to becoming a regional carbonated beverage brand.”

He said the company was implementing a marketing strategy this quarter that focused on three key areas.

The first focus is catching the latest trends to create differentiation for est’s marketing campaigns by appointing Got7 as brand ambassadors to strengthen est’s connection with Thai teens while building a base in export markets.

Second, an exclusive collection of new packaging has been introduced featuring the members of Got7.

The third strategy is the introduction of est Korean Orange Cola.

Jesdakorn Ghosh, senior vice president of Thai Drinks Co, said: “Since early this year, we have proactively excited the market by catching the hottest trends with a ‘happening’ communications strategy, building momentum for current trends by leveraging the power of superstars and famous public figures such as Nadech Kugimiya and the Thai national women’s volleyball team.

“We will build on our success by introducing Got7 as est brand ambassadors to bring teens in the Thai and international markets closer to the est brand.

“Got7 is a rising Korean boy band, and members JB, Mark, Jackson, Junior, Youngjae and Yugyeom, along with Thai member BamBam, have won over millions of fans since their debut in 2014.

“Got7 has a massive fan base on social media. Tickets for their first concert in Thailand in June, called ‘FLY in Bangkok’, sold out in minutes. The talented members of Got7 show great determination while being fun and friendly, which reflects est’s brand personality. This will help us to engage teenagers nationwide and reinforce est as their preferred brand,” she said.

est will communicate its new brand proposition through an integrated campaign beginning with a new television commercial called “Zaa Zeed Sud Kua with Got7” that will start airing on August 1. It reflects the est brand’s fizzy and edgy image by highlighting Got7 as the new brand ambassadors.

The commercial will coincide with many other activities to have an impact on digital and other media channels. New limited-edition packaging featuring images of Got7 members will be available for every est product and size.

“We will also extend our successful introduction of new products,” Jesdakorn said. “In January, we launched est Play Grapeberry. It really won over Thai consumers, achieving a record 18-per-cent sales growth for est Play.

“We are rocking the market with the latest est Korean Orange Cola launch. From the first sip, est Korean Orange Cola will delight fans with a cool and fantastic refreshment experience.

“Consumers will also enjoy an online campaign to deliver a fizzy experience that includes an activity called ‘Got7 Ahgase Move’. They will be invited to ‘show your cool-est steps’ by sending in a video clip of themselves dancing for an opportunity to be part of a fan-made FLY music video and win exclusive prizes.

“Clips can be submitted from August 15 to September 15,” she said.

Customers can shop directly for their favourite products, which allows the brand to meet its target consumers directly and efficiently. The platform will also help the brand reach out to consumers nationwide as well as foreign shoppers, the company says.

Shop.CPSClothing.com offers clothes, accessories and bags for men and women, allowing them to get the latest pieces instantly and conveniently without having to leave their home or office, Jaspal Co says.

The website offers nationwide delivery, and customers can choose from home or office delivery or Skybox pick-up at any of seven BTS Skytrain stations, namely Chong Nonsi, National Stadium, Thong Lo, Mo Chit, Victory Monument, Ari and Asoke. Shipping is also offered in Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and Taiwan.

Regular delivery takes three to seven working days, while express delivery takes two to three working days. Skybox pick-up at BTS stations takes three to four working days. Currently, service is only available for order and shipping in the same country.

With every Bt1,000 spent, delivery is free. Payment methods include debit or credit card and cash on delivery. There is also a call centre to answer any questions about the service.

This growth will be in line with Asia in general, which has posted a significant increase in the sales contribution to Christie’s global auction business, from only 12 per cent in 2008 to 22 per cent in 2011, and 28 per cent last year, or around US$2 billion (Bt35 billion). In five years, the auction house hopes to drive Asian clients’ sales contribution to 30 per cent or above, Hu said.

In contrast, the contribution from Europe to Christie’s sales has declined gradually, from 49 per cent in 2008 to 39 per cent in 2011 and 36 per cent last year. Meanwhile, the contribution from North America also declined slightly from 39 per cent in 2008 to about 36 per cent last year, while Asians have become more and more active in global auction markets.

Hu said Thai collectors were able to cope with barriers such as language to engage in international auction events. They are also familiar with the auction process and able to submit bids even for high-priced items. They find information about luxury products and artworks and make their own judgements before participating in the auction process. “Since Christie’s set up its representative office in Bangkok about 18 years ago, the business in Thailand has surged by 23 times,” she said.

Hu said Christie’s expected transactions by its Thai clients to be stable over the next two to three years, and to reach double-digit annual growth once the current market difficulty settles down.

She added that in times of economic difficulty, rich families in Thailand were looking to park their money somewhere. They bid for luxury and art objects either for investment purposes or to pass them on to the next generation.

Hu said Christie’s expected auction transactions from Asia to be stable this year, but the region is expected to show strong annual growth once the global economy stabilises.

“Amid [the] economic difficulty, we will focus on strengthening the relationship with clients via providing high-quality objects to meet their demand. Thailand, however, has a lot of potential to grow in the future,” she said.

Christie’s has 11 offices in Asia: in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Manila, Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo.

The company’s regional headquarters is in Hong Kong, and there are two auction venues, the biggest in Hong Kong and the other one in Shanghai.

Since its inaugural Hong Kong auction in 1986, the transaction value from Asian auctions increased by about 430 times to $769 million last year.

In Hong Kong, the auctions are conducted twice a year, at the end of May and in November. Between 3,000 and 4,000 objects, including jewellery, watches, art, wines and handbags, are auctioned each time. Participants can bid in writing, by telephone, in the auction room, or online.

Lee William Bingle, Christie’s corporate communications manager for Asia, said e-commerce sales recorded exceptional growth in the first half of this year, almost doubling the equivalent period last year. Asian participation in digital sales increased by 40 per cent, compared with 33 per cent for Europe. Total online sales reached $100 million in the first six months of this year.

In the past, Asian collectors preferred works from artists of their home countries, but as tastes and knowledge evolved, they started looking abroad towards Western art, which now forms a major buying pattern for Asians.

The growth potential in Asia remains robust. The percentage of new buyers from Asia increased by almost 20 per cent in the first half of 2016. For example, Chinese collectors are very active, purchasing works for multiple reasons, from storing their wealth to enriching their collections.

As the digital trend emerges, Christie’s has prepared for the change by investing in online platforms. Bingle said 26 per cent of all new buyers so far this year had made digital transactions. New buyers are willing to try online platforms because of the ease of access as well being able to participate in more than 300 auctions around the world.

He added that Thais were enthusiastic buyers of luxury items, including jewellery, watches and handbags, while there is increasing passion for Asian contemporary arts. Christie’s has acknowledged this interest by eagerly encouraging and advocating products in this field.

“Thailand’s collector base is very international, with an open and knowledgeable collecting culture. Thailand has a long culture of appreciating luxury items like jewellery as well as arts. Moreover, we see solid potential in Thailand’s economy and among its collector base,” Bingle said.

Punchalee Phenjati, vice president of Christie’s Auction (Thailand), said Thai customers preferred luxury items such as jewellery and watches. The company would also like to promote local art so as to bring talented Thai artists to the world market. This will also encourage greater interest among Thais themselves who had previously not appreciated Thai art.

Chanvit Khieonavavongsa, marketing and public relations director and head of e-commerce at UNIQLO Thailand, said the online store would help strengthen the firm’s “Made for All” brand promise, which means serving customers in all groups.

Entering the Thai market nearly five years ago, UNIQLO currently has 32 physical branches in nine provinces, covering around one-third of the population.

The e-commerce channel is a means of answering the demand for broader coverage, since the firm has consistently received queries from consumers who do not live in those areas where it has branches, he said.

Furthermore, the online store has free space to offer a vast number of sizes, colours and stock-keeping units to serve customers’ fashion needs, he added.

Exclusive to the Thai online store, UNIQLO will offer cash payment on delivery to address concerns of those Thai consumers who are still not confident about using credit cards for online transactions.

Chanvit said the online channel would not, however, decelerate UNIQLO’s expansion of its physical outlets in the Kingdom.

“We consider this [physical expansion] separately. As long as there are good locations and customers, [we will open a store]. There is no intention of reducing the opening of branches,” he stressed.

UNIQLO Thailand, which opened two branches in the first half of this year, is scheduled to introduce another two outlets – at Blu Port in Hua Hin, and at the Mall Korat – in September.

The Thai online store is the Japanese fashion label’s 12th worldwide, following similar stores launched in Singapore in 2014 and in Malaysia last year.

UNIQLO has assigned Singapore Post to handle logistics and delivery for orders placed via the Thai online store, with guaranteed nationwide delivery of between one and three days. The company charges no delivery fee, while the packaging charge is waived for orders of above Bt1,500.

Customers can return their goods to the company within 30 days if they are not satisfied.

Due to go live on July 29 on www.uniqlo.com/th, UNIQLO Online Store will offer exclusive online items and collections such as the KAWS collection of companion t-shirts, the new Fall/Winter Ultra Light Down collection and the HeatTech line of thermal wear.

To celebrate the online launch, the company will also offer special prices for some of its best-selling men’s and women’s items.

Chanvit said the e-commerce expansion was part of UNIQLO’s global target to have 30 per cent of its sales derived from the online channel by 2020.

UNIQLO Online Store comes as it has already built sufficient brand awareness and established a substantial presence online in the Thai market, such as through Line, where it has 12 million subscribers, and more than 1 million likes on Facebook, he added.

Thailand’s Internet penetration rate is expected to reach 56 per cent this year, or 36 million people, growing over 20 per cent from last year, while about 42 per cent of Internet users have experienced buying online.

The estimated value of the Thai e-commerce market last year was Bt1.2 trillion, up 3.65 per cent from the 2014 level. Beauty and fashion together accounted for 42.6 per cent of all online transactions. Chanvit said UNIQLO sales in Thailand so far this year were still in line with its target.

To build consumer awareness of UNIQLO Online Store and attract only shoppers, an integrated marketing communication plan will be launched across offline and online channels nationwide, including print, radio and in-store materials, as well as communication on social-media platforms, he explained.