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Holidays for all seasons

Hold off buying a holiday package until you've visited the Thailand Tourism Festival 2009. This annual event, which takes place at Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre, Muang Thong Thani from June 3 to 7, brings together a wealth of sales and marketing activities, with resorts, hotels, spas and airlines trying to win your business with "how-low-can-you-go" promotions. The showcase is divided into different zones, among them Gourmet Tourism, Rustic Thailand, Health & Spa, Adventure and EcoTourism.

Running for a cause

Bangkok, Southeast Asia's unofficial nightlife capital, will host the Charity Midnight Run on October 10, and the good news is that you don't have to be the fastest to have fun. The annual "Amari Watergate Hotel & BMW Thailand Charity Midnight Run" will kick off at midnight at Amari Watergate Hotel on Phetchaburi Road and continue through the city's streets.

Contestants can choose between six and 12 kilometres at a fee of Bt300 and Bt1,000. Proceeds go to underprivileged students under patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and HIV-positive children at Baan Gerda in Lop Buri.

The winners receive airline tickets, hotel packages and other great prizes. Call (02) 653 9000 or email: watergate@amari.com.

Beautiful butterflies, succulent fruit

The rainy season is here, and it's about time to swap your summer sandals for hiking shoes. Pangsida National Park in Sa Kaew, about 300 kilometres to Bangkok's east, beckons the butterfly-watchers to pitch up their tents in the park. More than 400 butterfly species can easily be captured for posterity even with the camera built in to your mobile phone, in handy phone. The butterfly watching season in Sa Kaew coincides with the fruit picking season in the eastern provinces, so don't forget to stop off on your way back and stock up with your favourites. For more information, call (037) 243 775.

A terrific impact

Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villas Hua Hin has been recognised for its community-friendly property.

The resort recently received the Thailand Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Monitoring Award for 2008 for the hotel 's outstanding contribution to community service and tourist accommodation.

This is the third occasion that the Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villas Hua Hin has won this award, the previous two years having been 1999 and 2007.

"We ensure that our own environmental protection and energy saving policies are carried out at every one of our properties," notes Thirayuth Chirathivat , a vice president of Centara Hotels & Resorts Group.