|
|
Embargo until 10 March 2006
Diethelm Travel Thailand
and Bumrungrad International Hospital
Thailand’s number one tour operator and hospital attract overseas patients
Bangkok (10 March 2006) Bumrungrad International hospital and Diethelm Travel Thailand (DTT) have signed a partnership agreement to develop and market new products and services to meet the needs of Thailand’s booming medical tourism industry.
Under the agreement, DTT will act as Bumrungrad International’s exclusive ground service agent, providing support services for inbound patients coming to Bangkok for treatment. DTT will also market Bumrungrad medical tourism packages to the travel and tour industry.
This unique partnership brings together the resources and strengths of Thailand’s number one hospital and tour operator, and provides each with access to new market segments. “This is truly a natural fit,” comments John Watson, Diethelm Travel Asia’s CEO. “Bumrungrad’s international patients need and want seamless door-to-door service from the moment they arrive, and that’s precisely what DTT provides.”
Bumrungrad and DTT explored opportunities to work together in the past, but it wasn’t until DTT Managing Director, Richard Brouwer, heard a presentation by Bumrungrad Group CEO, Curtis Schroeder, did the company decide to actively pursue a strategic partnership with Bumrungrad. “I was floored by the presentation,” says Brouwer. “I had no idea the hospital was attracting so many patients from all over the world.” Bumrungrad International is the world’s number one medical tourism destination, attracting over 400,000 international patients in 2005 from over 150 countries. The hospital has been featured extensively in international media, like CBS’ 60 Minutes, for its quality care and affordable prices.
Bumrungrad Group CEO, Curtis Schroeder, also saw the benefits in associating with a strong travel partner. “Our business is medicine, not travel. The partnership with Diethelm Travel allows us to focus on our core business, and provide our patients with expert ground handling services.”
Diethelm Travel Thailand will have a coordination office inside Bumrungrad International hospital and will have a presence on the Bumrungrad International website to facilitate ground service coordination activities. The two companies will also collaborate to market medical tourism packages at major international trade shows like ITB in Berlin and ATM in Dubai.
DTT is part of Diethelm Travel Asia, the leading inbound tourism agency in South East Asia with further official licensed offices in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam, employing some 700 staff, designing itineraries for tourists from more than 95 countries.
DTT books annually more than 420,000 hotel room night and handles in excess of 250,000 tourists.
Bumrungrad International is Thailand’s premier medical center, a regional referral center for acute care and the world’s premier medical tourism destination. Founded in 1980 as a one stop center for healthcare, Bumrungrad offers five-star facilities, over 700 internationally trained and board certified doctors, and a complete range of medical services from check-ups to cardiac surgery. The hospital attracts over 1 million patients annually, and is the first hospital in Asia and the only one in Thailand awarded Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA).
For further information;
Please contact:
John Watson Email Address: jw@dtregional.com
Richard Brouwer Email Address: rb@dtregional.com
Ruben Toral Email Address: ruben.toral@bumrungrad.com |
||||