KARACHI: Beach Luxury Hotel is hosting a eleven day long Thai food festival, which started off on the 4th of April and will continue till the 15th. On the day of the inaugural ceremony many foreign diplomats posted in Karachi such as from France and Sri Lanka attended the event along with the city’s elite and a large number of local food lovers. The Thai Consul General in Karachi, His Excellency Suwat Kaewsook along with General Manager Beach Luxury Hotel, M. Azeem Qureshi and Senior Vice President (Operation) of Avari International Hotels Group, Grant Raubenheimer, Mr. Arif Suleman, Honorary Trade Adviser to Thailand Government in Pakistan and President Pak-Thai Business Forum and Mr. Kanaporn Apinonkul, Country General Manager-Pakistan Thai Airways International inaugurated the festival.
[huge_it_slider id=”213″]
“Avari International Hotels Group organized the festival in collaboration with Royal Consulate Thailand and Thai Airlines. It is one of the series of events being held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Beach Luxury Hotel and on getting the status of four-star hotel after its renovation and up-gradation”, said General Manager Beach Luxury, M. Azeem Qureshi while speaking at a media briefing prior to the event at which the Honorary Trade Adviser to Thailand Government in Pakistan, and President Pak-Thai Business Forum, Mr. Arif Suleman, Media Coordinator of Avari Hotels, Ms. Madiha Owais, Mr. Mobin Ansari and Imran-ul-Haq were also present.
He said, “Avari Hotels has been holding various cultural and other entertainment programs including food and literary festivals, and a Basant Mela. Earlier, Pakistan, Chinese and Sri Lankan food festivals were also held. Beach Luxury is one of the hotels which always focus on authentic cuisines to cater to the foodies around the nation.”
He further added, “After China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) hotel business have witnessed a 40 percent increase and now one would hardly find a vacant room in four-star and five-star hotels in Pakistan. The increasing occupancy has forced the hotel chains for expansion.”
Whilst talking to media Grant Raubenheimer gave an insight about the expansion program stating, “Avari International Hotels Group has also come up with a massive expansion plan titled Avari Express Hotels in which nine more hotels are being set up in different cities of Pakistan including two in Lahore, two in Multan (one of which has already started functioning), one each at Faizabad (junction of Rawalpindi and Islamabad), Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Koh-e-Mari and Sialkot.”
During speeches the Consul General of Thailand, H.E. Suwat Kaewsook informed the attending media and guests that free trade agreement between his country and Pakistan was at the final stage. He was confident that the FTA would be very fruitful to the benefit of the two nations; especially the common man. He said Thailand could be partner in many economic sectors especially tourism and the allied facilities.
The food at the Thai Food Festival was prepared by the most experienced, critically acclaimed and accomplished chefs in town who thoughtfully selected the most popular Thai dishes and cooked them with the utmost authenticity using spices and ingredients brought in specially from Thailand for the festival. An extensive buffet was displayed which included Thai Beef Basil, Coconut Shrimps, Prawn Tempura, Chicken Green Curry, Tom Yum Soup and many more along with a wide variety of fresh salads including the infamous Green Papaya Salad and desserts. The exquisite and delectable taste of pure Thai food along with an excellent service resulted in the evening being a memorable one.