by

Disaster Preparedness in the Thai Hospitality Industry

On behalf of Anika Malhotra:

Disaster Preparedness in the Thai Hospitality Industry

One of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, resulted in the deaths of over 230,000 people in fourteen countries and provoked worldwide humanitarian efforts which led to the donation of over USD$14B in aid. Of these fourteen countries, Thailand was one of those that were hardest hit with an estimated 8,212 death toll.

The two industries that were greatly impacted by this disaster were the fishing and tourism industries. The destruction of industrial infrastructure in coastal areas within the fishing industry had substantial impacts both on regional and national scales, affecting employment in coastal regions and foreign exchange earnings on a national level.

 

With these direct effects of the tsunami, came indirect effects within the hospitality industry. As investigations into the disaster continued, there was speculation that many of the resort hotels directly hit by the tsunami did not alert guests in a timely fashion and that staff were not well equipped to handle such situations. Moreover, regardless of whether tourist’s travel destinations were affected or not, there was a psychological concern and fear for their safety while traveling in areas of this part of the world. The hospitality industry was then hit with numerous cancellations as a result.

 

Tourist’s concerns and trip cancellations created a negative image of the hospitality industry for their lack of disaster preparedness. As the industry began to fear that this negative impact might be long lasting, many hospitality companies joined forces with humanitarian organizations to develop stronger disaster preparedness, recovery, and risk mitigating skills.

 

Addressing issues of crisis management and providing hospitality employees with the necessary skills involved gives these companies a competitive advantage. The first step in these efforts is focused on pre-crisis communication. The thought here is that communicating more effectively and implementing solutions for these situations will help rebuild trust and credibility from the public’s perspective.

 

Rather than a focus on maximizing profits for shareholders, there has been an increased focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the hospitality industry. Although brand reputation and financial factors still play a major role in the decision making process for tourists and potential employees, they are looking more for companies who contribute to more wide-ranging societal goals. These CSR contributions are often in the form of cash donations, work force initiatives, partnerships with NGO’s, and by providing shelter and evacuation. The top 3 hotel companies in the industry that are most contributing to this reform are Hilton, Marriott, and Accor.

 

The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand, The International Federation of Red Cross and Societies, and other NGO’s, as well as those in the Thai private sector formed partnerships with these hospitality companies to train employees and provide assistance and funding in these efforts to rebuild the economy in Thailand. The Tsunami Victim Relief Center was also founded days after the tsunami to help in mobilization efforts. The Royal Thai Government (RTG) has also been greatly praised for their role in providing support to the affected communities. The United Nations Country Team along with bilateral development agencies worked with the RTG to address issues and challenges in the rebuilding effort.

 

The efforts of these organizations in collaboration with hotel companies and educational efforts proved to help tremendously towards rebuilding the hospitality industry in Thailand. Below can be found the Tourism and Earnings Growth in Thailand chart as of one year after the tsunami (2005):

The above chart proves that not even fully into 2005, in Q2, there was shown a significant positive change in the percentage of tourism earnings in one year from

-6.2 to +4.4 in growth.

 

The monsoon season in Thailand in 2011 was a period in which was demonstrated how far humanitarian aid efforts and disaster preparedness have improved since the tsunami disaster in 2004. As a result of the storms during this time, flooding began to spread throughout the Northern, Northeastern, and Central areas of Thailand. These floods resulted in the deaths of 815 people, with a total of 13.6 million people having been affected by the same. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) projected a combined loss of USD$825M as a result of reduced international and national tourism, with people having cancelled their trips to the region.

 

Hotels in and around the affected areas in Thailand began to take measures to ensure the safety of their guests, and help with the relief efforts of the surrounding community. The Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok organized a thorough workshop for more than 1,000 of its staff members to drill them in how to manage the flood situation. The Shangri-La Hotel also took precautionary measures during this time by placing sandbags outside of the property in an effort to prevent water from flowing into the property and by storing enough food and medical supplies for their guests and staff to last three days in the case of an emergency situation.

More major hotel companies are doing their part to help with disaster relief in other ways:

 

a)    Marriott International converts points donated by guests into cash for contribution to the IFRC Disaster Relief Emergency Fund.

b)    Hyatt has developed a volunteer outreach program, Hyatt F.O.R.C.E- allowing for employees to provide local and worldwide support on company paid time.

c)     Hilton Honors has implemented a charity titled “Blanket them With Love” to help with the after effects of the 2011 floods in Thailand. “The project will provide 1) immediate relief to victims by giving emergency life packs (includes food and other daily necessities) to evacuees, 2) 700 financially needy families affected by the coming 4 months of cold weather with blankets, so that the most vulnerable targets like young children and elderly will be protected from diseases associated with the cold climate. 3) Help to at least 10 affected homes with repairs after the floods, so that the family go back to safe shelters.”

d)    AirAsiaGo had absorbed the cost of credit card transaction fees on their website for one month from October-November 2011. In addition to this, they worked with local hotels in Bangkok to provide discounts to travelers.

e)    As part of their CSR initiative, Hilton Pattaya donated 100,000 baht to the Rotary Club of Taksin Pattaya to help with relief and rehabilitation projects for the aid of those affected by the floods in Thailand.

In order to help with the rebuilding efforts after the floods, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has implemented a communication center that will keep event organizers updated as to the status of their future events, one such event being the annual Royal Flora Expo.

 

It is made evident to us that the efforts made for disaster preparedness by the hospitality industry in Thailand and throughout the world will help in reducing financial and emotional burdens of many of those affected by such natural disasters as the 2004 tsunami and 2011 floods. Whether it is by partnering with NGO’s or companies within the private sector to help provide employees and their families the skills needed to help mitigate the outcome of such disasters, by providing direct financial support, by sending its employees on volunteer efforts within the community or worldwide, or by providing food and shelter to those affected, the hospitality industry in Thailand is helping to rebuild security and lessen the fears of travelers worldwide.

 

 

13,094 thoughts on “Disaster Preparedness in the Thai Hospitality Industry”

  1. I have a comparable thermometer which was my token for my very journey towards US. I didn’t completely that we have to place it in direction of the chicken despite its cooking till I noticed it being used in a movie. mlb중계

  3. Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. Big thanks for the useful info. https://vottion.com/

  5. A few weeks ago,I was tricked into joining a fraudulent BitbyBit trading site with the hope of making 10% daily profit trading on the platform,and I lost almost $325,000 USDT to it.I had a terrible problem getting through my feeding schedule and paying my payments during this period.I had to confide in a close friend,who subsequently connected me to CYBERETRIEVE a crypto recovery team and best recovery software.When I got in touch with them,they easily recovered all of my digital assets that had been stolen.It was a truly remarkable service,and it will always rank as the best I’ve ever received online.I heartily urge considering this squad If someone is experiencing a similar scenario with their investment or fund theft, they should contact the team right away to find the best suitable solution and to prevent falling for other fraudulent recovery agents. Send in your grievance right away!
    Make Contact:
    WHATSAPP:+1(216)4187518
    EMAIL:cyberetrieve@mail.com
    TELEGRAM:@cyberetrieve

  6. CRYPTO RECOVERY SERVICE 2024 WITH LOST RECOVERY MASTERS

    Lost Recovery Masters are Cyber skilled hackers with special abilities and skills that enact penetration to help victims of Crypto Fraudulent activities who are faced with cyber challenges get back their lost funds.
    In conclusion, Lost Recovery Masters emerges as the best company to recover crypto after a scam due to its unmatched expertise, utilization of cutting-edge technology, and commitment to ethical practices. With a proven track record of success, a dedication to staying abreast of technological advancements, and a focus on transparency and client communication, Lost Recovery Masters sets the gold standard for crypto recovery services. By entrusting your crypto recovery needs to Lost Recovery Masters, you can rest assured that your assets are in capable hands, ready to be recovered and restored:
    Contact them on:
    Whatsapp: (+44(7537)-105921)
    Email: (Support@lostrecoverymasters.com)
    Website: https://lostrecoverymasters.com/

  8. The MMH in Asia Master Class in Bangkok is set to be an enlightening event, bringing together industry leaders and enthusiasts. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn cutting-edge strategies and insights from top professionals, including ” SEO expert Sebastian ” . This master class promises to be a valuable experience for anyone looking to enhance their skills in the dynamic world of digital marketing.

  11. The article beautifully highlights the allure of 휴게텔
    as urban sanctuaries, emphasizing their role in promoting self-care and well-being.

  19. Now you can Akhuwat Loan Apply Online To Check Your Loan status online Please Enter your Valid CNIC Number and Official File Number Provided by the Akhuwat … Akhuwat Loan

  24. Exploring the intricate dynamics of the 부달
    community unveils a vibrant tapestry of diverse interactions and shared experiences.

  39. I have a comparable thermometer which was my token for my very journey towards US. I didn’t completely that we have to place it in direction of the chicken despite its cooking till I noticed it being used in a movie. 메이저리그중계

  40. I think other web-site proprietors should take this web site as an model, very clean and great user genial style and design, as well as the content. You are an expert in this topic! npb중계

  41. Optimizing ” 쏘걸주소
    ” on media sites requires strategic planning and continuous monitoring to ensure maximum engagement and brand visibility.

  43. Thanks for a very interesting blog. What else may I get that kind of info written in such a perfect approach? I’ve a undertaking that I am simply now operating on, and I have been at the look out for such info. Agen108

  44. Is it possible for scam victims to receive their money back from cryptocurrency scam? Yes, if you have been a victim of a fraud from an unregulated investing platform or any other scam, you may be able to reclaim what was stolen from you, but only if you report it to the appropriate authorities. You may reclaim what you’ve lost with the appropriate strategy and evidence. Those in charge of these unregulated platforms would most likely try to persuade you that what happened to your money was an unfortunate occurrence when, in reality, it was a sophisticated theft. If you or someone you know has been a victim of these situations, you should know that there are resources available to assist you. Simply contact  INFINITE DIGITAL RECOVERY, It is never too late if you have the right information your cryptocurrency will be recovered, reach out to INFINITE DIGITAL RECOVERY through email or telegram.
    Email: infinitedigitalrecovery@proton.me
Telegram: +1 562 553 9611

  45. Great write-up, I am a big believer in commenting on blogs to inform the blog writers know that they’ve added something worthwhile to the world wide web!.. jackpot108

  46. I haven’t any word to appreciate this post…..Really i am impressed from this post….the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us. jackpot108

  47. To whom it may concern,

    There is a tech expert that can help you in recovering all the money lost to scammers online. It recently worked for me and I now have peace of mind after the huge recovery of all my lost funds. If you are a victim of online scams then I will advise you contact them with the details below.

    Email: kbhacktools@outlook.com
    Whatsapp: +1 (559) 593-1640

  48. This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here keep up the good work Liga8et

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *