Bangkok has improved a great deal on dining options outside of hotels. There are now more choices of all kinds of cuisines at venues with ambience and style, all for an excellent way to explore and appreciate the City of Angels even more.

Queen of Thai cuisine would be the Blue Elephant, elegantly set in the historical building that was the Chinese-Thai Chamber of Commerce. The dining room on the ground floor accommodates 80 at tables of varying capacities. The bar on the 2nd floor is quite inviting while the back part is the cooking school, one of the best equipped in Thailand.

For riverside dining, Supatra River House is top of the list. Formerly residence of the late Khunying who managed the express boat company, the restaurant offers seating in the 2 Thai traditional buildings plus the popular terrace by the water, with a view of the illuminated Grand Palace to complement an authentic Thai meal.


Kuppa is a former warehouse which has been cleverly remodeled to offer casual but stylish dining. Seating can be at glass-topped tables or sofa settees in the spacious barn-like atmosphere with the mezzanine also functioning as an art gallery. A perfect day to hold an exclusive function here is Monday when it normally closes. A salad, grilled plate and famous cakes with wine and a jazz quartet in a corner will make a party no one wants to leave.

Perhaps the most unique is Bed Supper Club with a spaceship-like exterior, crisp white interior, creative cocktails at the bar and beds instead of tables for dinner, with the east meets west menu. Capacity is 120 at the dining room.

Thailand is an incentive destination that impresses every time. Contact CDM for program proposals to motivate and inspire.

The popular Night Bazaar opened a year ago and has caught on quite famously, complementing Bangkok's claim as shopping paradise and making it more enjoyable as an evening option for locals and visitors alike. Some 4,000 shops offer a vast array of handicrafts, clothing and all kinds of knick knacks like the Weekend Market but less congested, and with added features of restaurants, bistros and outdoor food market as well as the Joe Louis Puppet Theater, the bazaar is an attraction in its own right. The perfect central location across from Lumpini Park makes it one of the must-visit places while in the City of Angels. It opens from 3 p.m. to midnight, every day.

BEC-Tero Hall is within the bazaar an offers 3,000 square metre column free space suitable for parties, gala dinners, meetings, concerts, exhibitions, corporate events, product launches, etc. Annexes and Concourses on both sides of the hall offer additional space for receptions, product exhibitions, etc. 12 separate VIP boxes on the second floor can be used for exclusive groups with an unparalleled vies of the stage and main hall interior.

BEC-Tero Hall is another option for medium size to large events and will certainly be one of the important decision-making factors for planners to bring movements to the better-than-ever-Bangkok.

The tranquil twin beach resorts 2.5-hour drive southwest from Bangkok on the Asian Highway is favored as an incentive destination by those in the know because of the unspoilt, untouristic image and traditional charm. It has changed little over the years, was never featured prominently on wholesale travel brochures, and today there is just handful of hotels and limited infrastructure making it a challenge to create activities for travel programs.

Activities start from train charter from Bangkok, complete with seat headrest cover, strolling musicians, fortune tellers, caricaturists and service staff for beverages and snacks. Grand welcome with flag wavers and marching band at the station is optional, of course.

Nearby national parks can be visited and a relaxing picnic can be organized. Getting there can be by mountain biking along the coast. Visit of the King's Summer palace when not in residence is possible. Beachside brunch with music, an evening at the 100-year old teakwood summer palace and theme dinner tied to traditional festivals, such as the Loy Krathong (Floating Festival of Lights) are just some of the components for a successful program.

With CDM, the Dusit Resort & Polo Club (www.dusit.com) has accommodated many programs with memorable successes. The property setting, the variety of indoor and outdoor venues, the very fine food & beverage standard and the understanding of customer requirement make it a planner's

The Nakalay Junk was built in Indonesia over a century ago and was originally used to transport rice to China. In 1995 the Junk was in the film Cut Throat Island which was filmed in Phuket and Malta. The junk has been refurbished and is now based in Phuket and available for charters. The Nakalay Junk is 116 feet/35 metres long and 42 feet/14 meters wide. Maximum capacity is 280 for dinner and 400 for day trip and cocktail cruise. It has 3 decks, 1 suite, 2 bedrooms, kitchen, bar and a full sound system.

A day on the water in Phang Nga Bay can be combined with a speedboat ride, nature appreciation by sea canoe and snorkeling afternoon, using the junk as a comfortable base.