Bangkok, Thailand, June 25, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / Grande Asset Hotels and Property PLC is enhancing its health and safety standards, placing particular emphasis on the safety of tourists. The introduction of new hygiene protocols aims to boost confidence in travel. For the first time in Thailand, TytoCare and online medical services from Phyathai Hospital have been implemented in hotels. In addition, advanced guest screening solutions from AIS are being implemented. Travelers will also receive special vouchers for stays at the six luxury resorts in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pranburi, and Phuket, as well as discounted flights with Thai AirAsia, COVID-19 insurance from Dhipaya Insurance, and benefits with ICBC and KTC credit cards.

Grande Asset Hotels and Property Public Company Limited, a leading real estate and hotel development group, announced its collaboration with business partners to strengthen traveler confidence at a press conference attended by Mr. Wichai Thongtang, Chairman, and Mr. Wittawat Wipakul, Vice President, along with Dr. Apirak Palwatwichai, General Medicine Center, Phyathai Hospital Group – Phyathai-Paolo Medical Campus; Mr. Yongsit Rojsrikul, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of AIS; Dr. Somporn Suebthawilkul, Managing Director of Dhipaya Insurance Plc; Mr. Tassapon Bijleveld, Executive Chairman of Thai AirAsia Co Ltd.; Mr. Wan Huat Joseph Chia, Executive Vice President – ​​Branch Banking Division, ICBC Bank Thailand; and Ms. Prym Panyasereeporn, Vice President – ​​Travel & Leisure (Hotel Marketing), “KTC” or Krungthai Card Public Company Limited.

Mr. Wichai Thongtang, Chairman of Grande Asset Hotels & Property Public Co. Ltd., stated: “This is a significant collaboration between leading organizations to promote Thai tourism. Thailand has today become the second country in the world to demonstrate its potential to contain and eliminate the Covid-19 epidemic. As a result, travel and hotel bookings are increasing significantly again. This is a positive sign for the tourism industry. Grande Asset Hotels & Property's hotels have been upgraded to meet the highest hygiene standards. This means that all tourists and visitors can experience a new level of hygiene thanks to modern technology and advanced medical services, allowing them to feel completely safe. For the first time in the Thai hotel industry, tourists are being offered such advanced medical and innovative technologies to guarantee their health and safety. These measures not only strengthen the confidence of Thai tourists but also serve as excellent preparation for reopening to international visitors.”

Wittawat Wipakul, Vice President of Grande Asset Hotels and Property, explained: “Grand Asset Hotels & Property is collaborating with its business partners in two areas. In the area of ​​health and safety, we are cooperating with Phyathai Hospital, AIS, and Dhipaya Insurance. This includes Phyathai Hospital establishing TytoCare and online medical services, AIS implementing modern solutions for guest screening, and Dhipaya Insurance offering COVID-19 insurance. In the tourism sector, we are benefiting from close cooperation with leading business partners, including special flight tickets from Thai Air Asia and exclusive benefits through credit cards from ICBC and KTC.”

Grande Asset Hotels and Property plans to increase the number of Thai tourists by upgrading its vouchers. These vouchers can be redeemed at our luxury hotels and resorts in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pranburi, and Phuket. For the first time, the vouchers are valid at various hotels within the Grande Asset hotel chain, including the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit, the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok, the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, the Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas, and the partner hotel Amatara Wellness Resort in Phuket. A voucher worth 6,000 Baht is equivalent to 10,000 Baht, and a voucher worth 12,000 Baht is equivalent to 20,000 Baht. Both vouchers can be used for accommodation, meals, and spa treatments. The vouchers are available from today until July 31st in all six hotels and can be redeemed daily (except on public holidays) until December 23rd, 2020.

Dr. Apirak Palawatwichai explained the health and safety standards of the Phyathai Hospital Group: “The Phyathai Hospital Group offers medical services to enhance the health and safety of its guests. For the first time in a hotel in Thailand, the TytoCare device is being installed. This new medical technology can monitor a patient's health and transmit information about their lungs, heart, heartbeat, blood pressure, oral cavity, ears, and skin to doctors for diagnosis. In conjunction with the Clinic Connect service, this enables online consultations, eliminating the need for users to visit the hospital. Furthermore, there is a partnership with the hotel in the area of ​​hygiene management. As part of the Indoor Air Quality initiative, the air conditioning systems in the main areas of the hotel are thoroughly tested for dust, pollutants, allergens, and temperature. This directly impacts the health of the guests. The safety of the hotel facilities is also ensured according to the criteria established by the Phyathai Hospital Group.” This includes safety and hygiene training for hotel staff, especially for room service, restaurants, meeting rooms and the pool area. Swimming pools, as well as improvements to safety precautions and services, such as the disinfection of rooms and ambulances with ozone, are available around the clock.

Mr. Yongsit Rojsrikul, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of AIS, explained: “AIS, in collaboration with Grande Asset, has developed a thermal facial recognition solution that efficiently measures heat and body temperature, thereby increasing guest confidence. The facial recognition system simultaneously captures identity and temperature data and displays visitor numbers in real time via Traveler Tracking Solutions. This tracking device, using NB-IoT technology, enables the logging of travel data, which is helpful in investigating and tracking cases of illness. Additionally, there is a system for setting up monitored zones that alerts tourists when they enter these areas, as well as an emergency button for emergencies. Customers can also conveniently purchase Grande Asset vouchers through the ‘JongSabuy’ app, which offer discounts and rewards for AIS Serenade membership.”

Guests who have purchased a voucher set will also receive COVID-19 insurance from Dhipaya Insurance. Dr. Somporn Suebthawilkul, Managing Director of Dhipaya Insurance Plc, explained: “With the ‘COVID-19 Insurance Plan,’ Dhipaya Insurance offers hotel guests coverage that includes medical expenses for COVID-19 infection up to 100,000 baht, compensation for serious illness due to the coronavirus up to 100,000 baht, and additionally, accidental death insurance of 100,000 baht. The insurance coverage is valid for 30 days.”

Regarding the cooperation with Thai Air Asia to promote tourism, Mr. Tassapon Bijleveld stated: “Thai Air Asia offers special fares on domestic flights for customers who book through Grande Asset Hotels and Property, in order to provide all travelers with a comfortable journey. This cooperation is a good opportunity for companies in the tourism industry to combine our products and services and thus boost tourism.”

The collaboration with financial partners includes ICBC Bank Thailand. Mr. Wan Huat Joseph Chia, Executive Vice President – ​​Branch Banking Division of ICBC Bank Thailand, explained: “ICBC credit card holders who purchase vouchers from Grande Asset Hotels and Property will be offered special benefits. This offer is exclusively for ICBC credit card holders residing in Thailand who are Thai customers or Chinese businesspeople – customer groups with high purchasing power in the tourism sector.”

Regarding the benefits of the Krungthai Credit Card (KTC), Ms. Prym Panyasereeporn explained: “The KTC Credit Card offers special benefits and added value to help cardholders enjoy an unforgettable holiday experience. All KTC credit card holders receive an immediate 4% discount when purchasing a gift card from Grande Asset Hotels and Property, or alternatively, can choose interest-free installment payments over 5 months. Cardholders who purchase a gift card through the KTC World Travel Service Center (Tel. 02-123 5050) between July 1st and 31st, 2020, will also benefit from these advantages and receive KTC Forever points equal to the purchase amount for an additional 12% discount.”