TRAVEL TITBITS
New Chiang Mai buses
An air-conditioned bus service will kick off in Chiang Mai next month. Called Chiang Mai Smart Bus, it will be operated by Regional Transit Corporation Company. The public bus will be an alternative to the long-established red songthaew, the modified pickup with two rows of passenger seats.
The company invested about 50 million baht in its first lot of 10 air-con buses. Each will have 31 seats and be equipped with free Wi-Fi, GPS and a smart-card reader for passengers to pay for their fare. The service charge will be a flat rate of 20 baht.
The bus will pass Chiang Mai Airport, the old town of Chiang Mai, and Nimman Haemin Road. There will be 52 stops along the 17km route. The service will be available from 6am to midnight daily.
The Regional Transit Corporation Company also plans to launch the Chiang Mai Smart Bus app for both Android and iOS smartphone users to track bus locations in order to estimate arrival times.
Visit facebook.com/RTCCMSmartBus.
Chauffeur service introduced to Grab
Grab, the ride-hailing company, has introduced a daily car rental with chauffeur service.
Called GrabRent, the service is available for passengers in Bangkok with two options: GrabRent Eco and GrabRent Plus. The minimum rental period is four hours.
The service charges for GrabRent Eco is 1,200 baht for travelling within Bangkok and 2,500 baht for inter-city trips starting from Bangkok. Each additional hour will cost 300 baht.
GrabRent Plus is a premium service offered by drivers with at least a 4.8 star rating. These drivers must drive vehicles aged not over five years. Service fees start at 1,600 baht for the first four hours within Bangkok and 3,200 baht for going upcountry, plus 450 baht for each additional hour.
Passengers can pay for the service by credit card and must book at least one hour in advance.
In addition, Grab launches Grab Taxi and Grab Car services in Ayutthaya, the 12th province in Thailand to do so. The others are Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Phuket, Songkhla and Surat Thani.
Visit facebook.com/GrabTH.
Airlines update
Lanmei Airlines, a Chinese-owned, low-cost airline based in Cambodia, has launched a direct flight between Phnom Penh and Bangkok.
The airline flies four times a week on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The departure time in Phnom Penh is 8.40pm and the arrival time at Suvarnabhumi airport is 10pm. The return trip from Bangkok is 11pm and the arrival time in Phnom Penh is 12.10pm.
The airline will reschedule its service to include a morning flight. Starting on March 24, the airline will fly from Cambodia’s capital at 7.55am and the return trip from Bangkok will be 10.05am. The travel time is one hour and 10 minutes.
The service of Lanmei Airlines will be an alternative to Bangkok Airways, Cambodia Airlines, Thai Air Asia, Thai Airways and Thai Smile.
Visit www.lanmeiairlines.com.
Bangkok Airways has signed a two-year sponsorship agreement with Borussia Dortmund, one of the largest football clubs in Germany.
The airline will be a regional partner of Borussia Dortmund, which will allow the airline to launch co-branding and advertising campaigns from 2018-2020 in Southeast Asian countries China, Hong Kong, India and Bangladesh.
“With Borussia Dortmund’s strong global brand presence and a huge fan base, it will strengthen Bangkok Airways’ brand image and make the airline better known in Europe,” said airline president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth.
Bangkok Airways and Borussia Dortmund also plan to introduce a coaching programme by implementing Dortmund’s coaching expertise for Thailand’s national youth teams.
The airline flies to 25 destinations in Asia with 38 aircraft.
Visit bangkokair.com.
Hotels update
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will buy a 51% stake in Regent Hotels and Resorts for US$39 million (1.2 billion baht) in cash.
The acquisition is part of IHG’s strategic initiatives to expand its footprint in the fast-growing US$60 billion luxury segment.
Regent Hotels and Resorts was founded in 1970 by industry veteran Robert H. Burns. Regent is headquartered in Taipei and currently has six hotels offering 2,000 rooms in total. It will add three more in the near future.
All current Regent properties will join IHG’s global online reservation system and loyalty programme. IHG expects to grow the brand to more than 10,000 rooms (40 hotels) over the long term. IHG has the option of acquiring the remaining 49% stake in a phased manner from 2026. IHG owns InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, Even Hotels, Hualuxe Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Holiday Inn Resort, Avid hotels, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.
Visit ihgplc.com.