New GM Aurielio A Giraudo said in an interview the second quarter would see renovations, the addition of new rooms and a spa and coffee shop added.

It is his aim to fill more rooms at a time when the tourist trade has been harmed by the New Year's Eve bomb blasts.

"If the political situation is stable

things should improve. Right now, Asian tourists are scared, while tourists from Europe understand this is domestic fighting which should not affect them," Giraudo said.

As a result of the blasts Kasikorn Research Centre forecast foreign tourist arrivals in the first quarter would drop by 600,000, while income would fall by Bt8 billion.

Nai Lert Park, now managed by the Raffles Group, has seen its occupancy rate fall to 50 per cent. Giraudo vowed to increase it to between 70 per cent and 80 per cent this year.

Nine out of 10 guests are foreigners and 55 per cent of those are Asian - mainly from Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Domestically the hotel will aggressively advertise its wedding facilities and restaurants.

While Asian guests fill most rooms on a weekend, the hotel will turn to local businessmen and European guests for the other days of the week.

In its attempt to bring back Japanese and other Asian tourists - particularly from Hong Kong, Singapore and China - Nai Lert Park is working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The hotel will attend a tourism fair in Singapore.

"We have to go out and be an ambassador for Thailand," Giraudo said.

As well as Hong Kong, Singapore and China, it is looking to Malaysia for busi-ness.

Giraudo is bullish about better occupancy rates because the hotel is a good meeting place for businessmen and relaxing for tourists who prefer a city atmosphere.

He thinks improvement is probable given the hotel's competitive room rates and top-class service.

Achara Deboonme,

Suchat Sritama

The Nation