Appointments
Expectations:
I started to count the sleeps
long in advance in anticipation
of my trip. Expectations
build up and there is always
a chance that you may be
let down, however this was
certainly not the case when
I flew into Chiang Mai and
explored northern Thailand.
The destination left me
feeling rejuvenated and excited
to be exploring a part of the
country that is slightly less
travelled than down south.
I came home feeling that I had
made a life-long friendship with
a beautiful destination!
While it was probably the
most turbulent flight I have
been on in a long time,
Singapore Airlines was a
pleasure to fly on. The crew
were calm and professional
and looked after their
passengers.
Changi Airport is great and
probably one of the best
airports to have a connection
– you almost wish you could
have more time there. There
are numerous activities and
attractions, from rooftop
sunflower gardens to terminal
slides for the kids and,
obviously, WiFi.
Highlights:
I had previously been to a
night market in Bangkok,
however the Chiang Mai
markets really give you a
different experience. The
market has an authentic and
cultural feel to it that you don’t
get elsewhere in the country.
My suitcases came back
packed with Thai-style pants,
cotton scarves, dried fish (for
the cat) and pink elephant keyrings
(for the office).
It is always refreshing
travelling to countries that
offer a different perspective
on cultures and religions and
one comes back feeling a
little worldlier. I loved seeing
Wat Prathat Doi Suthep
temple and, through our guide,
gained more knowledge of the
Buddhist way of life.
The food in northern Thailand
is less spicy than in the south,
but certainly no less tasty. We
were treated to a selection of
delicious dishes, my favourite
being khao soi, which is a
curry-based soup with coconut
milk and noodles, followed
closely by a cold Singha beer.
Coffee is now grown in the
area instead of opium, so an
iced coffee is essential in the
tropical heat!
We were welcomed like
friends into the hillside tribe.
The world would be a different
place if more people could
experience their way of life.
The people living there are
peaceful and happy living a
simple life surrounded by
natural beauty.
I had my reservations
about visiting the Elephant
Sanctuary. Truth be told, there
are loads of illegal and cruel
activities that elephants are
put through around Thailand,
however there are also ethical
sanctuaries that are healing
these beautiful giants and
giving them a better life. We
visited one of these places,
which opened our eyes to
the plight of these animals
as well as the importance of
supporting organisations so
that they can carry on their
dedicated work.
I always prefer travelling off
the beaten track and we were
fortunate to become ‘lost
tourists’ on our longtail boat
on the Mae Kok River. It was
just ourselves, the beautiful
landscape, a few fishermen
and a once-in-a-lifetime
memory.
How often can you say that
you have stood and looked
upon three countries at once?
The Golden Triangle is a must
for anyone’s bucket list. South
Africans generally visit the
southern part of the country,
but northern Thailand easily
matches its beauty, adventure,
culture and tradition.
Top tips:
Pick up a free SIM card at
the airport and buy data for
the duration of your stay.
Recommend that your clients
order a selection of dishes
from restaurants and share
with friends so they can try a
variety of different things.
Organise a guide to
accompany clients on temple
tours to provide more insight.
Sell northern Thailand – it is
good for the soul! Flight Centre
Travel Group
has appointed
Tebogo
Thekisho to
its FCM Travel
Solutions
and FCTG
Corporate boards as a nonexecutive
director. “I aim to
use my networks, resources
and influence to create
new business and forge
relationships, but also to grow
the business and help steer
it to a new market,” says
Tebogo.
Lauren Blaine
has joined
Beachcomber
Tours as a
sales executive.
Lauren previously
worked in
sales at Flight Centre, The
Travel Corporation and World
Leisure Holidays. “It is a
phenomenal brand with an
amazing reputation and I feel
honoured to be representing
the pioneers of the Mauritian
island,” Lauren says.
Pentravel
has appointed
Nicole Coetzer
as national sales
manager. Nicole
started at the
George branch and progressed
to manager in nine months.
From there she became the
Cape trainer and then Cape
regional sales manager.
Carol White
has been
appointed md
of Meikles
Hospitality and is
the first female
executive to
hold the post. She previously
worked in sales and marketing
and has held several positions
in commerce throughout
Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The Rezidor Hotel Group
has announced two new
appointees. William McIntyre
is the new regional director of
Southern Africa. William has
over 20 years’ experience
in the hospitality industry,
most recently as coo of the
Hospitality Property Fund. He
will be based in the group’s
Africa and Indian Ocean
area support office, in Cape
Town. Patrick Lan has been
appointed regional director
of sales, North Africa and
Indian Ocean. Patrick has over
12 years’ experience in the
hospitality industry, with a core
focus in sales and marketing,
most recently as deputy gm
at Maritim Hotels and group
director of sales and marketing
at Sun Resorts before joining
Carlson Rezidor in 2016.
Obituaries
Claudia
Camarda,
owner of
Travel C,
died on
June 23.
She started
Claudia’s
Travel in 1999 and later
sold it to Travel Assignment
Group. Last November
Claudia started a new
business, Travel C. “Claudia
was a dynamic woman,
she was never one to sit
around and do nothing,”
says Bobbi Markantonis,
corporate manager of
Claudia’s Travel.
Lameez
Pillay died
on June
26 after a
third heart
operation.
Lameez
was an
administrator in the
processing department
of Comair. “She was
known as the ‘mother’
in the office and always
took care of everyone,”
say Geraldine Treasurer,
operations manager –
retail travel of Comair.
Lameez is survived by her
husband.
