A great night was enjoyed on Tuesday by 48 Northern Ireland travel agents and 19 exhibitors at the Amazing Thailand Roadshow hosted by Chris Lee and Emma Arnott of Thailand Tourism at the Ten Square Hotel in Belfast – with Diep Le Shaker the Dublin venue on Wednesday night.
Many prizes were on offer, including three prizes of hotel stays ranging from six nights to 12 nights and a top prize of a place on an Etihad Airways and Thailand Tourism fam trip next November, which was won by Neil Walker of Reliable Travel (above with Emma Arnott, Thailand Tourism, and Liza Hammond, Etihad Airways).
After a welcome Mai Thai, and for some a head+neck massage by Anny and Maya from Orchid Thai Massage, and a presentation by Emma Arnott, the attendees enjoyed some Thai food as the exhibitors made their presentations at each table in turn. Emma urged all the agents to undertake the Thailand training on http://training.tourismthailand.co.uk/ and highlighted the fact that Thailand welcomed 64,716 Irish visitors last year.
Liza Hammond of event sponsor Etihad Airways emphasised that the airline’s Global Sale, offering discounts in Economy and Business Class for travel throughout 2016 to the most popular destinations continues until Monday 29th February – and that the ex-Dublin service to Abu Dhabi would revert back to double daily from Wednesday 15th June.
The Louvre Museum and the Zayed National Museum are scheduled to open in Abu Dhabi this year, followed by the Guggenheim Museum in 2017. The new terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport is currently scheduled to open in December 2017.
Belfast Prizes and Winners
First Prize: Etihad Airways and Thailand Tourism fam trip. Winner: Neil Walker, Reliable Travel
Second Prize: 2 nights Mai Samui & Spa Koh Samui + 2 nights DoubleTree Sukhomvit Bangkok + 1 night Park Hyatt Bangkok + 3 nights Centara Khao Lak. Winner: Paula Emmenegger, Travel Counsellors
Third Prize: 5 nights Rawai Palm Resort + 7 nights BW Bangtao. Winner: Alex Steele, Clubworld Travel
Fourth Prize: 3 nights Patong Merlin + 3 nights Khao Lak Merlin. Winner: Michelle Irvine, Laffin Travel
Dublin Roadshow
Another great night was enjoyed on Wednesday by 47 Irish travel agents and 20 exhibitors at the Amazing Thailand Roadshow, again hosted by Chris Lee and Emma Arnott of Thailand Tourism, this time at Diep Le Shaker in Dublin.
The format was the same as the Belfast event, with some excellent Thai food, and the winner of the top prize of a place on the Etihad Airways and Thailand Tourism fam trip next November was Martin Churchill, Product Manager, USIT Travel.
Dublin Prizes and Winners
First Prize: Etihad Airways and Thailand Tourism fam trip. Winner: Neil Walker, Reliable Travel
Second Prize: 2 nights Tubkaak Resort & Spa + 2 nights Hyatt Bangkok + 3 nights Vijitt. Winner: Mary McCormack, Sunway
Third Prize: 5 nights Rawai Palm Resort + 7 nights BW Bangtao. Winner: Denise McMorrow, Trailfinders
Fourth Prize: 3 nights Patong Merlin + 3 nights Khao Lak Merlin. Winner: Maurice Shiels, Topflight
Fifth Prize: 3 nights Centara Kata Beach Resort + 2 nights Hilton Sukhumvit. Winner: Taylor Golat, USIT Travel