Weekly Update, 6 November 2026: PHOODIE, PHAB and the Cornell GMP Scholarship

PHOODIE Phuket Food Festival 2026: the launch

On 1 November, the Phuket Hotels Association officially launched PHOODIE Phuket Food Festival 2026 at Casa Boho, Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort. More than 75 guests attended, including media representatives, influencers, industry partners and hospitality leaders. Many shared photos and highlights on their own channels, which has widened the festival's reach ahead of the event.

More photos from the launch

PHOODIE dates

• 20–27 November: 50 restaurants and bars take part across Phuket.
• 28 November, 4pm–10pm: PHOODIE MEET at Limelight Phuket Town, bringing together food, cocktails and local hospitality talent.

The festival is supported by its sponsors and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Participating venues and festival news are on the PHOODIE page. A few booths at Limelight are still available for PHOODIE MEET (one night only, 28 November). Sign-up: link in PDF (QR code on the PHOODIE MEET picture).

PHAB: investing in Phuket's hospitality talent

The PHAB scholarship interviews continued this week with a further 15 students from Phuket Vocational College, who are being considered for educational support through the Phuket Hotels Association Benefit programme. PHAB aims to do more than fund education: it builds pathways into hospitality careers and a stronger workforce for Phuket. More on the students and the selection process will follow in next week's Weekly Update. Thank you to the member hotels, affiliates and sponsors who make PHAB possible.

Cornell General Managers Program (GMP) Scholarship 2026: applications open

Applications are open to hotel members in leadership roles. The scholarship covers two online certificate courses at Cornell and one in-person residential week on the GMP course at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

• Eligibility: Thai nationals only
• Application deadline: 25 November 2026
• How to apply: link in PDF

Upcoming events

20–28 November: PHOODIE Festival

• See above, and the PHOODIE page.

24–25 November: NoVacancy Asia 2026

• Hotel and accommodation expo at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Bangkok.
• PHA's President, Executive Director, committee members and members are among the speakers.
• Register

2 December: Unlock Your Frontline. Grow Your TRevPAR

• Workshop for GMs and revenue leaders, run by PHA with Frontline Performance Group: how top hotels motivate and develop front desk and F&B teams, which incentives work, daily routines and the KPIs that matter.
• Registration: link in PDF

4 December: Phuket Green Day

• Island-wide beach and street clean-up on Thai Environment Day. Join one of the beach locations or organise your own and tell us where and when.
• Registration: link in PDF

9 December, 3:00–6:30pm: Q4 General Managers' Meeting

• SAii Laguna Phuket. The year-end meeting, including a 30-minute session, "AI in Hospitality: The Why, the What and the How".
• Registration: link in PDF

Industry news in brief

• Thailand's next tourism plan (2028–2032): the draft Fourth National Tourism Development Plan targets THB 4 trillion in tourism revenue and a top-30 ranking in the global Travel & Tourism Development Index, with priorities including higher-spending visitors, cruise and marina development, more year-round provincial tourism and better e-Visa and airport entry processes. Source
• Global Wellness Summit 2026: Phuket hosts around 600 international wellness leaders at Angsana Laguna Phuket on 10–13 November, with the opening ceremony on 11 November. Source: link in PDF.
• Thailand–Russia tourism: discussions on air connectivity, digital services and products beyond beach holidays. Russia was Thailand's fourth-largest source market in 2025. Source: link in PDF.
• Phuket Airport and Russian charter operators: more than ten tour operators have raised concerns about a ban on temporary counters used for charter arrivals and transfers, and are asking for a practical solution before high season. Source

Thailand tourism market update: week 5 of October (25–31 October 2026)

Weekly arrivals rose 7.31% to 538,661 visitors. Long-haul markets led the gain for a fifth week running (up 13.60% to 227,153 as winter holidays approach). Russia rose 27.19% to 44,499 and moved to third place. Short-haul markets grew 3.14% to 311,508, with Malaysia first and China second. Year to date, Thailand has recorded 25.46 million arrivals, down 4.59% on last year, and THB 1,241,067 million in tourism revenue.