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.

 

 

11,923 thoughts on “Disaster Preparedness in the Thai Hospitality Industry”

  2. Good post but I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Appreciate it! MISTERIBET77

  4. ayatul kursi, found in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:255) of the Quran, is considered one of the most powerful and significant verses in Islam. It speaks of Allah’s supreme authority, eternal existence, and knowledge that encompasses everything in the heavens and the earth. Muslims recite Ayatul Kursi for protection, blessings, and peace, believing it shields them from harm and brings divine favor. The verse highlights Allah’s greatness, stating that nothing can happen without His will. Many memorize and recite it regularly, finding spiritual strength and reassurance in its profound message.

  5. Dramacool is a popular online platform known for offering a wide variety of Asian dramas, including Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai series. It provides free streaming and downloading options, making it accessible to users worldwide. The site is appreciated for its extensive library, high-quality videos, and English subtitles, allowing international viewers to enjoy content they might not otherwise access. However, it’s important to note that Dramacool operates without official licensing, raising concerns about copyright infringement. Despite this, it remains a go-to platform for fans of Asian dramas looking for the latest episodes and classic series.

  9. Top Grooming Services Offered by Brooklyn Pet Spa
    Brooklyn Pet Spa
    offers a range of grooming services to suit every pet’s needs. From basic baths and haircuts to special treatments like de-shedding and pawdicures, they have it all! Their team uses pet-friendly products to ensure safety and quality, so whether your pet needs a tidy-up or a full makeover, Brooklyn Pet Spa is the place to go.

  12. 언제 어디서나 편리하게 받을 수 있는 출장안마 서비스로 휴식을 최상의 휴식을 제공합니다(스팸링크를 피하려면 구글에서 “윈터출장샵” 검색해서찾아주세요)(알바생모집 25만원보장)(경력자우선)(나이20세~30) 100%후불제입니다
    대구출장마사지

  15. SYNACK HACKERS IS RESTORING ALL LOST DATA,ASSETS AND PEACE OF MIND
    I was once a victim of a heart-wrenching cryptocurrency scam that left me devastated. I had invested a significant sum of $95,000 worth of Ethereum in an online investment platform, hoping to reap substantial profits. Little did I know that I was about to face a nightmare. As the weeks went by, my excitement turned into despair when I realized that the platform I had trusted was nothing more than an elaborate scheme to rob unsuspecting investors like me my hard-earned Ethereum, leaving me feeling helpless and betrayed. After extensive research, I came across Synack Hackers Recovery Team, a crypto recovery specialist who helps victims like me regain their stolen assets. After weeks of tireless efforts, (s y n a c k h a c k e r s @ p r o t o n . m e ) had successfully recovered a substantial portion of my lost Ethereum. To anyone who finds themselves in a similar unfortunate situation, I urge you not to lose hope. Reach out to Synack Hackers Team.

  16. You have a real talent for writing unique content. I like how you think and the way you express your views in this article. I am impressed by your writing style a lot. Thanks for making my experience more beautiful. gold detector

  17. Naru’s anti-aging cosmetics were developed with the concept of “healthy and beautiful bare skin” in order to bring out a person’s natural beauty. Carefully selected anti-aging cosmetic ingredients based on dermatology, including Naarsgen, which was jointly developed by Kyoto University and Osaka City University. It leads to the natural beauty of bare skin, full of moisture and firmness. Aging care cosmetics are cosmetics that can be used to care for your skin according to your age. As we age, skin problems such as dryness and lack of firmness increase. エイジングケア化粧品

  18. Very good topic, similar texts are I do not know if they are as good as your work out. These you will then see the most important thing, the application provides you a website a powerful important internet page: 스포츠중계

  19. สล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดีสล็อตแตกดี

  21. Composing with style and getting great compliments on the article is very hard, to be honest.But you’ve done it so serenely and with so cool feeling and you’ve nailed the activity. This article is had with style and I am giving great compliment. Best! https://www.sartreotr.com/

  22. Easily, the article is actually the best topic on this registry related issue. I fit in with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your next updates. 축구무료중계

  23. You can still think about a number of advised organized tours with various limo professional services. A handful of offer medieval software programs a number of will administer you really to get automobile for any capital center, or perhaps checking out the upstate New York. ??????? designed-forlife.com

  26. GoldmanCFD is a big scam, They scammed me for a huge amount of dollars, they kept asking for more deposits, they didn’t allow me to withdraw my money, after several attempts. I hired a charge back service to recover my money from them, and it was successfully done with the help of a recovery service done by recoverydarek@gmail.com They helped me to recover my money back from them. Everyone should be careful, I believe someone might find this information useful.

  27. Saya punya banyak hal menarik di blog Anda. Saya rasa saya bukan satu-satunya yang menikmatinya! Teruskan kerja bagus Anda. Tw88

  34. Thank you for another great article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information. deratyzacja warszawa

  44. Well-Written article. It will be supportive to anyone who utilizes it, including me. Keep doing what you are doing – can’t pause to read more posts. Thanks for the precious help. arjuna 189

  49. Hello everyone, my name is Hana I want to use this Medium to say big thank you to DAREK Recovery for they helped me recover my stolen crypto worth $220,000 through their hacking skills I got my money back in less than 48 hours after contacting them on:{ recoverydarek@gmail.com } I’m so glad I came across them early because I thought I was never going to get my money back from those fake online investment websites .

  50. Hey there, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog site in Opera, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog! Linkbola.net

Leave a Reply

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