A sponsorship for our annual conference is an excellent opportunity to promote your company during GPLN’s 20th Annual General Meeting at the Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel in Bangkok.

Please refer to below terms, conditions and special benefits and contact us now to secure your preferred sponsorship package, as bookings will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sponsorship Opportunities
GPLN Annual General Meeting at Westin Grande Bangkok / February 14-16, 2025

Benefits:  

• We will include a full-page company presentation with the sponsor’s name and logo in our meeting agenda which is distributed to each attending delegate.
• We will promote your company on a banner throughout the meeting.
• The sponsors will be promoted in the GPLN newsletter and in press releases.
• Sponsors who are spending USD 1,500 USD 1,900 for the sponsorship package get one quarter page advertisement in the GPLN newsletter.
• Sponsors who are spending USD 2,500 or USD 2,900 for the sponsorship package get one half page advertisement in the GPLN newsletter.
• Sponsors who are spending USD 5,900 for the sponsorship package get one free conference fee per company and one full page advertisement, plus two half page advertisements in the GPLN newsletter (different issues).

Terms & Conditions: 

• Payment to reach us latest by 15, December 2024.
• Design/artwork to be supplied by all sponsors latest by 15 December 2024.
• Advertisements in the GPLN newsletter will be published in one of our newsletter issues in 2025 at
  our discretion.
   

We are looking forward to receive your reservation of the sponsorship packages to: events@gpln.net well in advance, as they are given away on a first-come, first-served basis.

Entry formalities to Thailand

Visitors from 93 countries will now be able to enjoy VISA-free entry to Thailand for a visit of up to 60 days, according to the newly approved implementation. This is applicable to both business and tourism visits and is valid from July 15, 2024, onwards: https://www.tourismthailand.org/Articles/visa-free-entry-to-thailand-en

Visa Exemption

Thailand will grant visa exemption for nationals of 93 countries and territories, up from 57 countries previously. Visitors under this scheme will be allowed to stay for tourism purposes and short-term business engagements for a period not exceeding 60 days, which can be extended at the Immigration Office for another period not exceeding 30 days.

Countries

Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea (ROK), Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

Visa on Arrival (VOA)

Thailand will allow nationals of 31 countries and territories, up from 19 countries previously, to apply for VOA at the immigration checkpoints on arrival. Visitors under this scheme will be allowed to stay for tourism purposes for a period not exceeding 15 days. The visa fee is 2,000 Baht.

Countries beside listed ones above

Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, Nauru, Paraguay, Serbia, Seychelles, Tunisia, Vanuatu, and Venezuela.

For more information, please contact the Thai Embassy or consulate in your area of residence.

If your country is not eligible for a visa-free entry or visa on arrival please contact your nearest Thai embassy or consulate for the application procedures and costs of an entry visa to Thailand. Please apply on time for a visa as this is beyond GPLN’s influence and responsibility.

Introducing Bangkok

Bangkok (In Thai: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon) is the capital of Thailand and, with a population of over twelve million inhabitants, by far its largest city. Bangkok is one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities with magnificent temples and palaces, authentic canals, busy markets and a vibrant nightlife that has something for everyone.

For years, it was only a small trading post at the banks of the Chao Phraya River, until King Rama I, the first monarch of the present Chakri dynasty, turned it into the capital of Siam in 1782, after the burning of Ayutthaya by Burmese invaders but they did not take over Ayutthaya. Since then, Bangkok has turned into a national treasure house and functions as Thailand’s spiritual, cultural, political, commercial, educational, and diplomatic center.

Bangkok is a tropical metropolis that is also one of the most traveler-friendly cities in Asia with the irrepressible smile that accompanies many Thais. The city is safe and more organized than it initially appears, and full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Thai cuisine is justifiably famous, varied, and affordable. Bangkok for many represents the quintessential Asian capital. Saffron-robed monks, garish neon signs, graceful Thai architecture, spicy dishes, colorful markets, traffic jams, and the tropical climate come together in a happy coincidence.

The Sukhumvit Road is an exclusive district, popular among tourists, expatriates, and upper class local Thai’s. It is filled with quality hotels (including our venue hotel: The Westin Grande Sukhumvit), restaurants and shopping plazas.

History

Bangkok originally was a small village on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. After the fall of Ayutthaya in the late 18th century, King Taksin the Great turned that village into Siam’s new capital and renamed it Thonburi. In 1782, King Rama I moved the capital to the eastern bank of the river at Rattanakosin; originally the site of a Chinese community, who were moved outside of the new city walls to Yaowarat. King Rama I named the city Krung Thep, as it is now known to Thais and which in English is translates as the “City of Angels”.

In the past life was taking place on the water; ordinary people lived on bamboo-rafts along the river, while floating vendors roamed the water to sell fruit and vegetables. The only stone structures built on land were temples and palaces. In the 19th-century, Western powers incorporated much of Southeast Asia into their colonial empires. King Rama IV and V felt that the only way to keep Siam independent was to modernize the country along European lines. Traditional canals were filled up and turned into roads.

Bangkok really started to develop after World War II and established itself as the driving power behind Thailand’s new role as a newly industrializing country from the 1980s onwards. Rapid economic growth has attracted migration from the countryside, with millions of Thais moving here from Northern and Northeastern Thailand to make a living.

This rapid expansion turned Bangkok into one of the most cosmopolitan and happening cities in Asia. Bangkok’s seemingly never-ending traffic jams continue, even so the new Sky train and metro systems are improving the life of many Thais, expatriates, and tourists.

Transportation

There are plenty of ways to get into the city from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Most people opt for the taxis as they are also reasonably priced by world standards. Ordinary metered taxis are available on the ground floor (one floor below arrivals). Follow the “public taxi” signs that lead to the outside of the airport premises, queue up and state your destination at the desk (English is understood). There is a 50 baht surcharge on top of the meter (not per passenger), meaning that trips to the city will cost around 400 Baht (plus possible expressway tolls of 45 and 25 baht, depending on the routing).

Make sure you have change ready to pass to the toll operators to avoid being overcharged for the tolls later on. The ride to downtown Bangkok takes about 45-60 minutes, depending on traffic.  No other surcharges apply, not even for going back to the airport. If there is a huge taxi queue or for more comfort and space consider taking a limousine taxi which charges by distance (around 900 Baht with a Toyota car to Sukhumvit Road). This transfer can be reserved at the limousine hire counter on the second floor just outside arrivals) or you can book a hotel limousine in advance at the Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel and charge the cost to your hotel bill.

You should also watch out for ‘helpful’ touts hovering nearby the main taxi desk who will lead you across the road to legitimate taxis. These drivers will refuse to use the meter by saying there is heavy traffic and will charge a phenomenal price supposedly based on distance and number of passengers. Refuse to deal with these touts on sight.

Local Time

Thailand is seven hours ahead of UTC (Co-ordinated Universal Time – formerly known as GMT) and there is no daylight saving. Hence, when it is 12.00 midday in Bangkok, it is 1am in New York, 6am in London, 7am in Munich and Johannesburg, 10:30am in New Delhi, and 3pm in Sydney (not allowing for any summer time saving in those countries).

Weather

According to the World Meteorological Organization, Bangkok is one of the hottest cities in the world. Located just 14 degrees north of the Equator, Bangkok is sunny at any time of the year with temperatures well over 30°C (86°F). The most pleasant time to visit Thailand is from November till March. 7-day weather forecast: https://www.bbc.com/weather/1609350

What to Wear

Dress lightly for the weather, but keep in mind that some palaces and all temples (notably the Grand Palace) have a strict dress code. Also be sure, and this cannot be said enough, drink enough fluids! You don’t have a reason not to, as various convenience stores are abundant in Bangkok and sell a wide variety of cooled beverages at affordable prices.

Money

Most travelers rely on credit or debit cards to access cash in Bangkok, where ATM’s are also common and located all over the places. The basic unit of Thai currency is the Baht. There are 100 satang in one Baht. Coins come in denominations of 25 satang, 50 satang, 1B, 5B, and 10B. Paper currency comes in denominations of 20B, 50B, 100B, 500B, and 1000 Baht.

Standard banking hours are 8.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday, though some banks close at 4.30pm on Fridays, and almost every bank in Bangkok has at least one ATM.

Medical Services

Bangkok has become a major destination for medical tourism, with patients flying in for treatment from all over the world. The city is home to an ever-expanding number of public and private hospitals and hundreds of private medical clinics. Bumrungrad International, widely considered the best hospital in the country, has US accreditation and is located just 5-10 minutes away from our GPLN venue, the Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel.