Pattana unveiled as new MENA Golf Tour venue in Thailand

Big boost for the tour’s rising popularity in the Far East and beyond

Pattana Golf Club and Resort will make its debut as one of the host venues when the MENA Golf Tour returns to Thailand in 2017 in a clear manifestation of the tour’s rising popularity index in the Far East and beyond.

With Pattana coming on board, the MENA Golf Tour will have a minimum of three tournaments during its second visit to the kingdom in May as Banyan Golf Club and Mountain Creek have already committed to continue their support after successfully hosting the tour events earlier this year.

“We feel proud and privileged to join hands with Pattana. Their support augurs well for the growth of professional golf and further strengthens our resolve to create meaningful playing opportunities for our members to showcase their skills on a global basis,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour.

“With an impressive portfolio of world-class courses, Thailand has already established its credentials as one of the most popular golf destinations in the world and the addition of a new MENA Golf Tour event at Pattana will further realise the country’s huge tourism potential.

“The MENA Golf Tour events will provide a great opportunity for the Thai talent to gain valuable World Ranking Points in addition to promoting Golf Citizen, one of the fastest growing online tee time booking engines which has richly-diverse golf courses on its network.

The Pattana management was equally upbeat about welcoming the MENA Golf Tour party to their course.

“We are very excited with our association with the MENA Tour, which, I am confident, will further stimulate the growth of golf. It will be a great opportunity for us to showcase our championship course, which we are proud of,” said Rujirapun Juangroongruangkit, Vice Presedent of Pattana Golf Club.

“We look forward to welcoming MENA Golf Tour members and I am confident they will have a memorable experience playing on our course that offers value for money.

“We are motivated to make this one of the most popular event in Thailand and look forward to welcoming fans, players, sponsors and organisers alike to Pattana in May 2017,”

"Hosting international sporting events are in sync with Thailand’s drive to increase in-bound visitor numbers and contributes significantly to the economic growth of our city,” he added.

Located a mere 90 minutes from Bangkok, Pattana Golf Club and Resort boasts a full range of premium accommodations and amenities, meeting and event facilities, championship 27-hole golf course, and 7,000 capacity stadium.

Set up in 2004 by Dr. Somporn Juangroongruangkit in memory of her husband who established the Thai Summit Group, the Pattana layout, highlighted by a mixture of well-placed trees, bunkers and exciting greens, tests every aspect of the game.

Himself a passionate lover of the greens Dr. Pattana Juangroongruangki may have left for the links in the sky, his legacy will continue to live on forever, inspiring a culture of healthy lifestyles at Pattana Golf Club and Resort.

An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour was created in 2011 with the aim of developing golf in the region. It is affiliated to R&A, the worldwide golf governing body based in the home of golf, St Andrews, and the Arab Golf Federation and enjoys the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status.

Multiple European Tour starts, including the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the Hassan II Trophy and the Maybank Championship Malaysia in addition to full playing privileges on the Sunshine Tour and exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Q-School for the leading three professionals are some of the added incentives for the MENA Golf Tour members.

Energy Saving Trust adopt Ideagen’s Q-Pulse to enhance Quality Management

Energy Saving Trust, a leading and trusted organisation which helps individuals and businesses save on everyday energy use, is to implement Ideagen’s Q-Pulse software to transform quality management across its organisation.

The EST, devoted to promoting energy efficiency, energy conservation, and the sustainable use of energy, will use Q-Pulse to increase control of documentation, introduce a solid software solution and improve its overall quality management structure.

Malcom Thomson, Director of Operations at Energy Saving Trust, said: “Q-Pulse will improve our quality management processes, particularly our document control, and we plan to integrate it into the business.

“We are putting in place an improved structure for our ISO accreditation and Q-Pulse and its document control and corrective action capability will help immensely.”

Q-Pulse is Ideagen’s leading quality and safety management software and is used by more than 2,000 organisations across the globe.

As well as document control, the software will also be implemented as a central base to record and analyse customer feedback data, auditing and highlight overall business improvements.

Malcolm added: “Q-Pulse will help us with our business improvement initiatives in EST. It will promote wider use and engagement of quality and quality understanding within the business and will ultimately help develop a quality management culture throughout.

“We are really looking forward to having Q-Pulse up and running and seeing the impact it has on the business.”

5 space-saving hacks to pack your luggage for Eid al Adha holiday!

Eid al Adha holiday is approaching and while most of us planned carefully our trip, the packing will be left for the very last minute. Last minute packing involves scrambling to toss anything you can think of in a suitcase and stumbling out the door just in time for your flight. It’s disorganized, messy and results in packing something that you do not need or even forgetting the essentials!

Last-minute panic packers, rejoice! Helpling.ae, the leading online platform for household services in the Middle East, has come up with five simple hacks to help you pack with ease so you can begin your trip on an exciting note, not with chaos.

1. Make a listThe first step is preparing a list of essential items you want to bring along. Group the items into different categories, and try to only include clothing and accessories that are essential. 

Before you start listing down, leave out items that can be purchased easily at a convenience store, such as toothpaste and shower gel, to avoid overpacking. This leaves you room for other items that you would have had to leave behind otherwise.

2. Packing and unpacking your suitcaseLeave the bulkiest items such as your jeans and pants, to the bottom of the suitcase, followed by your shirts and blouses. When packing the latter, don’t forget to button them up so as to avoid creases.Store your underwear, socks and other loose items last, at the free corners of your suitcase, to maximise space. The corners are also a great storage for T-shirts. 

Once you have reached your final destination, empty your suitcase immediately or, at least, unpack the most delicate clothes (and those who are creased). Hang them in the bathroom and leave the hot water running and keep the door closed for about ten minutes. The steam will be eliminate the wrinkles without the help of an iron .

3. Bulky items: shoes, space and odourWhat about bulky items such as your shoes, or other items that are impossible to roll up? We understand that your shoes especially, if kept indoors for several hours, will stink up the whole suitcase, leaving a lingering stench to your clothes.
To avoid this problem, place your shoes in a storage bag  before  inserting them in the sides of the suitcase. This allows the sole of your shoes to keep distance to your clothes and gives them a chance to breathe.

4. A tip for personal hygiene
Once your clothes and shoes have been packed, the last group of elements to be taken into account for are your beauty essentials and personal hygiene products.
To save space and have everything in order,  simply purchase a beauty travel bag (even better if equipped with mini bottles, ready to be filled with face wash and shower gel). This allows you to reuse the same little bottles every time you travel, filling them with your favorite products.

5. Lastly: Choose the right suitcase!The choice of your luggage has to take into account the destination of the trip (diving, backpacking, etc), and also the means of transport to reach the destination. A trolley luggage is highly recommended for those of you traveling by air, particularly the ones that are resistant to shocks.

 Those traveling by car, should opt for a rather large duffle bag. Thanks to its softness, it can be easily stored in the trunk of the car. You may also consider bags that are equipped with casters as they can be maneuvered with little effort between the tracks.

About Helpling: 
Helpling is the leading online platform for home services in the Middle East. On the website or via app, customers can book a vetted and professional cleaner and gain back free time within a couple of clicks. The German company currently has more than 300 employees and offers its services in 9 countries, throughout 3 continents. Helpling is supported by Rocket Internet, whose network consists of companies such as Namshi, Talabat, and Wadi.

خمس طرق مفيدة ومهمة عند ترتيب حقيبة السفر لقضاء إجازة العيد

اقتربت إجازة عيد الأضحى المبارك، ورغم أن معظمنا قد خطط تفاصيل رحلتهم القادمة لقضاء الإجازة في مكان ما، إلا أننا عادة ما نترك ترتيب وحزم الحقائب لآخر لحظة، مما يؤدي إلى العجلة وننتهي بوضع أشياء غير ضرورية في حقيبة السفر قبل مغادرة المنزل والتوجه للمطار. والنتيجة، حقائب غير منظمة وفوضى متعبة، لنكتشف بعد أن نصل إلى وجهتنا أننا نسينا حزم عدد من المتعلقات اللازمة التي كان ينبغي أن نحضرها معنا.

ولكن، لدينا أخبار سعيدة لكل شخص اعتاد أن يحزم حقائبه آخر لحظة! فقد جمعت Helpling.ae، المنصة الإلكترونية الرائدة أون لاين لتقديم خدمات تنظيف المنازل في الشرق الأوسط، خمس طرق ونصائح مفيدة لمساعدتك في حزم حقائب السفر بسهولة لتنطلق في رحلتك القادمة براحة وهدوء بال، بعيداً عن الفوضى والنسيان.

1. جهز قائمة بحاجيات السفر

أول خطوة إيجابية تقوم بها قبل البدء بحزم حقائب السفر هي تحضير قائمة بالأشياء الضرورية التي تجب عليك أخذها معك في رحلتك. قسّمها إلى مجموعات مختلفة، وحاول أن تتضمّن الملابس والإكسسوارات الضرورية فقط.

قبل أن تبدأ بوضع قائمة بما هو ضروري، استبعد الأشياء التي تستطيع شراءها بسهولة من وجهتك القادمة، مثل معجون الأسنان أو صابون الاستحمام، لتجنب زيادة وزن الحقائب. سيوفّر لك ذلك مساحة كافية لحزم أشياء أخرى تحتاجها كان من الممكن أن تتركها وراءك في حال آخر.

2. حزم حقائبك وتفريغها

ابدأ بقطع الملابس كبيرة الحجم مثل بلاطين الجينز وغيرها في أسفل حقيبة السفر، ثم ضع قمصانك فوقها، مع مراعاة إغلاق أزرارها لتجنب حدوث التجاعيد. ضع ملابسك الداخلية، جواربك، وغيرها من القطع الصغيرة، في ركن حقيبتك، لتحقيق الاستفادة القصوى من مساحة الحقيبة. كما تُعتبر أركان الحقيبة الأربعة أماكن رائعة لقمصانك القطنية (التي شيرت).

ومتى ما وصلت إلى وجهتك الأخيرة، قم بتفريغ حقيبتك فوراً، أو على الأقل، أخرج ملابسك الناعمة أو التي تجعدت، وعلقها في الحمام. افتح الدوش ليجري الماء الساخن، مع مراعاة إغلاق الباب لمدة عشر دقائق. سيعمل البخار على التخلص من التجاعيد دون أن تضطر إلى كيّ ملابسك.

3. الأشياء كبيرة الحجم مثل الأحذية: المساحة والرائحة

ماذا عن الأشياء كبيرة الحجم مثل أحذيتك، أو غيرها مما يصعب طيّه؟ نحن نعرف أن أحذيتك، خاصة إذا كنت تتركها في الخارج لبضع ساعات، ستترك رائحة كريهة في حقيبتك ومن المؤكد أنها ستعلق بملابسك.

لتجنب هذه المشكلة، ضع أحذيتك في أكياس مخصصة لها قبل أن تحزمها في ركن حقيبة سفرك. سيعمل ذلك على عزل نعل حذائك عن ملابسك ويحمي ملابسك من الاتساخ.

4. منتجات العناية الشخصية

آخر شيء تحزمه بعد أن تقوم بحزم ملابسك وأحذيتك، هو منتجات العناية الشخصية. لتوفير المساحة في حقيبة سفرك، وللتأكد أن كل شيء في مكانه، ننصحك بشراء حقيبة صغيرة تحتوي على منتجات العناية الشخصية الخاصة بالسفر (خاصة إذا كانت مزودة بعبوّات صغيرة جاهزة بغسول الوجه وصابون الاستحمام). سيسمح لك هذا بإعادة استخدام هذه العبوّات كل مرة تسافر فيها، وملئها بمنتجاتك المفضلة.

5. وأخيراً، اختر حقيبة السفر الملائمة

لاختيار حقيبة السفر، عليك أن تأخذ بعين الاعتبار وجهتك (هل ستسافر للغوص، للترحال والاستكشاف، وغيره)، وكذلك طريقة السفر. ننصحك بشراء حقائب بعجلات إذا كنت ستسافر جواً، خاصة الحقائب المقاومة للصدمات.

أما إذا كنت تنوي السفر بالسيارة، فمن الأفضل اختيار الحقائب القماشية الأسطوانية، فطراوتها تجعل من السهل تخزينها في صندوق السيارة. كما تستطيع شراء حقائب بعجلات أيضاً حتى تستطيع سحبها بسهولة على سكك القطار وغيره.

TAT extends its thanks for the confidence in Thailand

Dubai, 25 August, 2016 – Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Governor, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn has extended a warm word of thanks and gratitude to the thousands of tourists who maintained their confidence in visiting Thailand in the aftermath of the 11-12 August incidents in the Southern parts of the country.

Hua Hin Railway Station

He also thanked the entire Thai private sector for their show of unity in the face of adversity. “We would like to thank everyone in the tourism sector who is contributed to the revival of Thailand’s tourism. This includes the tourists world-wide who still keep coming to our destinations as well as both the private and governmental sectors who have unitedly given their hands in restoring the situation back to normal in a short time.”

Visitor arrival statistics in the immediate aftermath of the attacks in various parts of Thailand indicated just a small percentage drop, which lasted exactly a week. As of 19 August, arrivals began increasing again. It is expected that the arrivals will fluctuate over the next few days but return to steady growth by September. TAT is optimistic that the projected arrivals of 33 million visitors this year can be met.

Among some of the high-profile visits and events that have proceeded normally are:
–       A Phuket call by the Pacific Eden cruise ship, with 1,343 passengers and 620 crew members.  Phuket was one of the major destinations of Pacific Eden’s one-month inaugural sailing in Asia.

–       The Travel Managers Conference from Australia, comprising 230 participants to join the team-building, and workshop activities during 19-21 August, 2016, at the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong in Bangkok.

–       Among Japanese travellers, several pre-booked school tours from Japan have gone ahead as planned with organisers expressing full confidence in the safety and security of the kingdom.

Mr. Yuthasak credited several factors for this minimal impact, but cited the positive force of social media as playing a large role.

“It is clear that visitors no longer just rely on mainstream news delivered via TV and print for their information. Social media networks can also be used effectively to provide accurate and updated news,” he added.

“We did this well via our in-house crisis management channels at TAT. I am happy to report that our private sector, which has a very high stake in warding off cancellations, also did a good job. The thousands of visitors who were in Thailand at the time were also able to make use of their own social media channels to communicate the all-clear.”

He noted that all the various recovery campaigns (read more here: Thailand formulating strategies to boost industry and tourist confidence after recent incidents) would remain in place, especially those targeted at women visitors in this month marking the auspicious 84th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.

“We look forward to communicating a strong business-as-usual message at all the international travel trade events over the course of the rest of the year. And once more, we thank all our visitors, security agencies and the private sector for their support and confidence in Thailand.”

About Tourism Authority of Thailand:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was established on 18 March 1960. TAT was the first organisation in Thailand to be specifically responsible for the promotion of tourism. TAT supplies information and data on tourist areas to the public, and publicises Thailand with the intention of encouraging both Thai and international tourists to travel in and around Thailand. TAT has established many overseas offices, the first being in New York, which opened in 1965. During the past 30 years, TAT has established 27 more offices in different parts of the world. In early 2016, TAT will open its newest office in Prague, in the Czech Republic.

Bentley Technology Enables Vic’s Crane & Heavy Haul to Build and Deliver a 160-foot-long Process Vessel on Time and as Safely as Possible

Flint Hills Resources chose Vic’s Crane & Heavy Haul to transport a 160-foot-long, 750,000-pound process vessel by barge and trailers to its Pine Bend Refinery in Rosemount, Minnesota. The two-year feat involved coordinating the loading and unloading of transport vehicles, permitting the load on highways, coordinating with utilities, and redesigning roads and bridges that are not designed for heavy loads.

Oversized and overweight cargo which travels thousands of miles utilizes multiple methods of transport such as ships, barges, and heavy-haul over-the-road transporters. There is significant risk involved with moving such equipment over public waterways and highways as well as when hoisting and setting the equipment onto its permanent foundations. Bentley software allowed Vic’s Crane & Heavy Haul to detail every aspect of this USD 100 million project. The company used Bentley products including SUPERLOAD, AECOsim Building Designer, and ConstructSim for planning the equipment transport and installation and to design roads, bridges, and lifting equipment required to get the vessel to its final destination.

Movement of a vessel this large required a significant amount of coordination particularly within a congested refinery setting. There were multiple complex construction activities taking place along the vessel transport route as well as in close proximity to where the vessel would ultimately be delivered. The use of Bentley AECOsim Building Designer models of the project imported into the integrated refinery model allowed construction managers to visualize the impact that vessel transport would have on their projects and schedule their projects in accordance with vessel delivery. New roads and bridges were designed, scheduled, and constructed well in advance of vessel delivery resulting in a minimal impact to other refinery construction activities and operations. The result of two years of planning culminated in a final move of the vessel into the refinery that began at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning and finished with the vessel safely on its foundation by 3 p.m.

Bentley software allows Vic's Crane & Heavy Haul to eliminate as much risk as possible from the design and provide their clients with a safe project delivered on time and within budget.

Paul J. Newman, project manager, Vic's Crane & Heavy Haul, emphasized the value of simulating the transport of the process vessel. “Bentley's design software allows Vic's Crane & Heavy Haul to visualize and ‘see’ into the future of our most complex projects. By using this technology, Vic's can consistently deliver a safer and higher quality product to all of our clients.”