Are people really this outrageous, or is this a case of “any publicity is good publicity?”
In this post:
Sri Panwa owner goes on bizarre tirade
Sri Panwa is a luxury resort in Phuket, and a Facebook user who went by the name “Graz Suphawit” claimed to have stayed at the hotel February 13-15, 2022. The guest claims she paid 40,000 THB (~$1,250) per night for the stay, and wasn’t happy with the condition of the room, stating that the room was made of old wood and was musty.
In response to this review, the hotel’s owner (who is an heir to the family business) took to his Instagram account to threaten to file charges against the traveler, and more. In a now deleted Instagram post, the owner threatened to sue for millions, called the guest a gangster, and compared himself to the internet world equivalent of “Putin US presence and China UUSR& USA security force working together” (I know, lol, what?).
Here’s the full message:
Fake news again I will get you for a law and 112… I know who you are and why are so instead of me going to deal with you myself you were there with the law I will expose you and you apologize in public anticipates as you follow otherwise you got a present and you pay millions. Just to remind you keyboard want to be gangaster out You are messing with the wrong person because I’ve been on social media and Facebook and hi5 I will since you were born or even before you were if I Wass me In that Internet world I will be like Putin US presence and China UUSR& USA security force working together. the team so good luck. Cause those of you who gave me a death threat. We Treace u Where you get your money from why are you live who we are most of them have fairgrounds but I don’t where the fake account was set & where & hkwho is paying. But as a country we also know and we are taking things slowly because we are a land of compiles of compromise. After I found out who you are I will give you a free room for compassion.
Thailand has some wild laws…
There are a couple of things at play here. First of all, Section 112 of Thai Criminal Code is referenced, which is the following:
“Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to fifteen years.”
The owner did some digging on the guest, and found she had shared a meme related to the pro-reform movement.
The other big issue is that Thailand has some of the world’s strictest defamation laws, which are often taken to the extreme. The problem is that posting a negative review in Thailand is sometimes interpreted to be defamation, to the point that people get jailed for negative reviews
For example, in September 2020 I wrote about an American man living in Thailand who was jailed because of the reviews he left online about a negative experience at a quarantine hotel.
For that matter, back in September 2020 Sri Panwa threatened to sue guests who left negative reviews, also arguing it was defamation. It’s bad enough when something like this happens at a cheap quarantine hotel, but to see this at a luxury resort charging thee kinds of rates is beyond wild.
Bottom line
A guest staying at a luxury resort in Phuket wrote a negative review online, causing the owner to have a shocking reaction. He threatened to sue her for millions, and to have her arrested for her political opinions. Absolutely wild… I can’t imagine why anyone would stay at this hotel if this is how the owner acts.
(Tip of the hat to @pueblotragico)
Threat to life in Thailand for shaming someone is quite common, you could get someone murdered for very little money or reason. A jealous boyfriend or husband if upset who wants revenge "bewere" mr tourist. As mentioned before, Thailand is very corrupt. Many western men fall for bar girls and usually end up loosening every penny buy a farm build a house buy business none of those things will be yours , some may get...
Threat to life in Thailand for shaming someone is quite common, you could get someone murdered for very little money or reason. A jealous boyfriend or husband if upset who wants revenge "bewere" mr tourist. As mentioned before, Thailand is very corrupt. Many western men fall for bar girls and usually end up loosening every penny buy a farm build a house buy business none of those things will be yours , some may get lucky most dont. They are ruthless for money. But all said it is a beautiful country and if you allow yourself to submerge in to the culture you will make friends. This applys to the countryside where begins real Thailand not the rat holes of well none resorts. Rule number 1. Dont embarrass, get in to arguments or be aggressive. It just could be your last night on earth. If you are responsible & respectable you will have a wonderful time.
Anyone visiting the cesspit that they call Thailand has to be mentally challenged. The corruption starts with the royal (I use that word very tongue in cheek) family and works it's way right down to ordinary citizens. It is rapidly returning to third world status and the only people to blame are the Thais. One only has to listen to the national media stations to understand why. According to Thai media everything from fire to...
Anyone visiting the cesspit that they call Thailand has to be mentally challenged. The corruption starts with the royal (I use that word very tongue in cheek) family and works it's way right down to ordinary citizens. It is rapidly returning to third world status and the only people to blame are the Thais. One only has to listen to the national media stations to understand why. According to Thai media everything from fire to the quantum computer was invented by their 'king'. I have visited Thailand since the 1960s and lived there for some years but since the tsunami the people have turned into nasty, grasping creatures who think they are entitled to rip off visitors who are the lifeblood of the country. The reason most people visit Thailand is the willingness if the women to lie down and spread their legs.
So @Richard how on earth could you live in a cesspit for years?
Did you, and I quote @Michael, "fall for bar girls and usually end up loosening every penny buy a farm build a house buy business" so that's why you have personal issues?
I just don't get why people should associate tourists with local politics. You mind your own vacation, they mind their own business. Who goes on vacation to fix problems of...
So @Richard how on earth could you live in a cesspit for years?
Did you, and I quote @Michael, "fall for bar girls and usually end up loosening every penny buy a farm build a house buy business" so that's why you have personal issues?
I just don't get why people should associate tourists with local politics. You mind your own vacation, they mind their own business. Who goes on vacation to fix problems of another country? Maybe Americans in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, or Ukraine?
I just returned from 30 days in Thailand. Spent most of my time in Koh Phangan and I can say with great confidence that something has fundamentally changed over there. Of course all the COVID regulations and procedures are a pain in the ass. I was allowed in under the Test and Go programme and it is a ridiculously expensive and tedious scam. There's something else going on over there. The Thai people are changing....
I just returned from 30 days in Thailand. Spent most of my time in Koh Phangan and I can say with great confidence that something has fundamentally changed over there. Of course all the COVID regulations and procedures are a pain in the ass. I was allowed in under the Test and Go programme and it is a ridiculously expensive and tedious scam. There's something else going on over there. The Thai people are changing. There is this underlying attitude of resentment and in some cases, outright hostility and aggression towards tourists. Let's not forget about this quote from the Thai Health Minister, Anatun Charnvirakul: "Many Farang dress dirty and don’t shower. As hosts we have to be very careful.” In the same press conference he went on to praise the Chinese for cleanliness and said it is unfortunate that more 90 percent of the tourists he saw in Chiang Mai were "dirty Farang" and encouraging Thais to attract more Chinese Tourists. I wonder if the Health Minister has ever been within spitting range of Chinese person? Has he ever had to use a squat toilet on a Chinese Train?
After my recent experience in Thailand, I think I'll be spending my Holiday dollars in a place where my business is truly appreciated. Thailand is still a beautiful Country, but the people are starting to turn rather ugly on the inside.
Thailand was okay back whrn it was a bargain destination (I remember paying $28/nt for a five star hotel room in Bangkok). But since then it has grown unduly expensive, and really good at squeezing every last dollar out of visitors. You can do much better for your money than Thailand these days. It is too corrupt and trashy to demand the prices it currently does. I'd rather go to a more civilized country with...
Thailand was okay back whrn it was a bargain destination (I remember paying $28/nt for a five star hotel room in Bangkok). But since then it has grown unduly expensive, and really good at squeezing every last dollar out of visitors. You can do much better for your money than Thailand these days. It is too corrupt and trashy to demand the prices it currently does. I'd rather go to a more civilized country with actual rule of law and accountability (like Taiwan, Korea or Singapore) and not pay much more.
LOL.
I'm always amused at people who try to avoid things for wrong reasons.
Like people who will never fly 737MAX again.
...Or avoiding a vacation destination because the country is corrupted?
How would corruption ruin my vacation, more specifically, do worse for my money?
Most of us already know that many countries in Asia is know for corruption. Doesn't seem to stop visitors at all. And don't even start about Singapore.
LOL.
I'm always amused at people who try to avoid things for wrong reasons.
Like people who will never fly 737MAX again.
Or avoiding a vacation destination because the country is corrupted?
How would corruption ruin my vacation, more specifically, do worse for my money?
Most of us already know that many countries in Asia is know for corruption. Doesn't seem to stop visitors at all. And don't even start about Singapore.
By the way, does Jan 6 make you rethink your benchmarks for 'a more civilized country with actual rule of law and accountability'?
And my 2 cents as a tourist, you should be more afraid of scams than corrupted government.
What's the fascination with jailing people there?
Maybe reviews should state the opposite of what the customer experienced. Sarcasm is lost on most if not all Thais. It could go like this:
I stayed in a bungalow which didn't have a musty smell. There were no cockroaches on the breakfast buffet, and the receptionists were so friendly they threw me a party. They never shouted at me nor complained loudly when I asked to change rooms. Tbc
Sarcasm doesn't protect you from defamation.
Sarcasm is lost on most people, because it's not politically correct.
People today get offended by everything.
Take example, your sarcasm review offended cockroach lovers.
What's wrong with cockroaches on food? They're just living their instincts. #AnimalRights
So now you force the property to exterminate it. #CockroachLivesMatter
Then PETA decides to ban that bungalow. And someone somewhere will cancel @John B for this.
Then...
Sarcasm doesn't protect you from defamation.
Sarcasm is lost on most people, because it's not politically correct.
People today get offended by everything.
Take example, your sarcasm review offended cockroach lovers.
What's wrong with cockroaches on food? They're just living their instincts. #AnimalRights
So now you force the property to exterminate it. #CockroachLivesMatter
Then PETA decides to ban that bungalow. And someone somewhere will cancel @John B for this.
Then the next thing you know, some extremist lover will start hitting cockroaches elsewhere too in retaliation for something that's none of their business. But because they interpret the constitution their own way.
And I didn't even start at how a resort's bungalow can offend the native culture bungalow i.e. painting a face of bungalow black.
All this because @John B had one bad experience.
Do you see what's wrong with people in 2022?
How crazy. One of my clients owns a well known 5 star resort on Mykonos. When the hotel refused to give a particular UK based influencer more than 24 hours of all inclusive junket (rather than the 5 she demanded), the influencer threatened to put up on Instagram that the hotel is a pedophile hangout because Epstein had stayed there years earlier. She even sent a sample Instagram story of what she proposed to do....
How crazy. One of my clients owns a well known 5 star resort on Mykonos. When the hotel refused to give a particular UK based influencer more than 24 hours of all inclusive junket (rather than the 5 she demanded), the influencer threatened to put up on Instagram that the hotel is a pedophile hangout because Epstein had stayed there years earlier. She even sent a sample Instagram story of what she proposed to do. A few calls to the Greek police and this influencer hardly uttered another word in Santorini, at least on her profile.
In my personal view, the word of influencers and online reviews can sometimes be as corrupt and unethical as the hotels they complain about.
Is it the Aegon Mykonos?
#OMAAT
:)
Agree. In my personal view, the word of influencers and online reviews can sometimes be as corrupt and unethical as the hotels they complain about.
However, any influencers who fully disclose their affiliation or compensation gets my respect and I can set my expectations accordingly.
Hehe it wasn't.
I totally agree that many infuencers and bloggers (and blogs) add enormous value to the travel knowledge matrix. Especially when they come off a foundation of good research and balanced opinion. OMAAT is a good example and while I don't always agree with Ben, I respect his views and follow this site. He's also transparent and usually balanced.
But some aviation bloggers / YouTubers and their sensational videos, 'expose' headings, and...
Hehe it wasn't.
I totally agree that many infuencers and bloggers (and blogs) add enormous value to the travel knowledge matrix. Especially when they come off a foundation of good research and balanced opinion. OMAAT is a good example and while I don't always agree with Ben, I respect his views and follow this site. He's also transparent and usually balanced.
But some aviation bloggers / YouTubers and their sensational videos, 'expose' headings, and content are too much for me. As if they think their videos are saving the planet. It's all about balanced opinion for me, but I guess I probably wouldn't be a very successful blogger for that reason.
A little difficult to sue for defamation, which ISN'T defamation!
ESPECIALLY when the ex-guest doesn't even RESIDE in the country!
All that the moronic owner has achieved is publicity ... of the wrong KIND!
Ignorant foreigners like you is why people get locked up abroad.
Learn to local law, obey and respect it while in foreign land.
Defamation laws isn't universal. Truth doesn't always set you free.
Residency has nothing to do with prosecution. No extradition doesn't mean you're not guilty. On the contrary, being outside of the country and no one to defend your case, you're almost automatically guilty.
I suggest you make friends in the State...
Ignorant foreigners like you is why people get locked up abroad.
Learn to local law, obey and respect it while in foreign land.
Defamation laws isn't universal. Truth doesn't always set you free.
Residency has nothing to do with prosecution. No extradition doesn't mean you're not guilty. On the contrary, being outside of the country and no one to defend your case, you're almost automatically guilty.
I suggest you make friends in the State Department, with your mentality you're gonna need them eventually.
Indeed for thailand: truth not set you free, but family status and money
The Resort owner is a fool & should be apologising 2 the guest & fixing his obvious problemz
S & deficiencies at his Resort..
Truly bizzare & pathetic attitude for owner 2 take.
THE GUEST OR CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT..
John, let me ask you this, how often have you been to Sri Panwa? I go every few weeks for brunch, as my house is just 20 away from there. I regularly have friends (who are used to the best hotels in the world) staying there and never heard such a complaint. I still don't agree that the owner tried to make such a public battle out of this. If he really knowsthe individual, simply...
John, let me ask you this, how often have you been to Sri Panwa? I go every few weeks for brunch, as my house is just 20 away from there. I regularly have friends (who are used to the best hotels in the world) staying there and never heard such a complaint. I still don't agree that the owner tried to make such a public battle out of this. If he really knowsthe individual, simply go ahead and sue her for defamation (which I can assure you it is, as I know this resort very well inside and out), but don't make such a public drama out of it.
I agree that some of these laws may need to be reviewed but slander and defamation is illegal everywhere as far as I know.
Apparently this isn’t the first time Sri Panwa’s owner got into controversy. Back in Sep 2020, he launched the tirade against students in the pro-democracy movement. It ended up with a boycott campaign against the hotel on Twitter
Believe you mean Sri Panwa Hotel not "Sri Pawna."
Believe you mean the Sri Panwa Hotel...not "Sri Parwa."
Thailand is one country that anyone should avoid. There is nothing good about it. Why American visit that place is beyond comprehension.
There are many beautiful places in Thailand and wonderful food. It’s just the politics.
That's like saying everyone should avoid the country that you reside at because you're there. Why any of your friends will visit you is beyond comprehension.
My Thai Partner, gets extremely annoyed with me if I complain about anything in Thailand, saying I shouldn't complain as I am a foreigner and have no rights, the reality is when you are paying for a service you are treated with utmost respect, complain about poor service and you are treated with total contempt, as a Farang you are a 3rd class citizen in this racist country you will always be wrong, hence why I would never live there.
Have lived in the Kingdom for over 20 years and have never felt second class, in fact just the opposite, maybe it's the way you carry yourself or the type of partner you have on your arm (did you meet her playing pool?).
Lol, so you are a farang kee nok 555
The lesson in Thailand - if you want to complain, make sure you have a burner account connected to a burner gmail.
Anything else invites trouble.
Why didn't you post the text of the original review? Are you worried they are going to try to prosecute you in Thailand?
You forgot to mention the best part of the story: the owner of the hotel is under criminal investigation over illegal land encroachment of his hotel by the DSI.
The DSI encroached on his land!?
If not, you need to reconsider your wording ... not to mention use of punctuation!
Says the white supremacist. Thanks for correcting me. How many languages do you speak? But, yeah, thanks again. *middle finger*
I lived in Thailand for ten years, left when the army took over 7 years ago. When hotels are advertised there as 4 or 5 star you can probably knock off at least 1 star from their rating. Another very big problem with Thai culture is the issue of " losing face" Thai people will never admit they are wrong or make mistakes. On top of that they are the biggest scammers on the world.
Reading the hotel owner's response, even allowing for his tenuous grasp of the English language, it is clear he is totally unhinged.
Best to avoid his establishment; there are plenty of other great hotels in Bangkok to choose from.
Secondary school in UK.
College in USA.
Hotel management school.
At least 10 years where English is de facto and hotelier education.
It has to be Google translate and auto correct.
The problem with these "consumer reviews" is trying to dissect them. I can appreciate why hotels and businesses in general are frustrated. Sure, many are legitimate and reasonable in their rants, i.e. Ben's review of the Santorini(?) resort this past summer. However, many are entitled and primarily just looking for attention or some sort of kick back amenity for the future. Furthering this is the fact that algorithms and trends are towards the negative. Far...
The problem with these "consumer reviews" is trying to dissect them. I can appreciate why hotels and businesses in general are frustrated. Sure, many are legitimate and reasonable in their rants, i.e. Ben's review of the Santorini(?) resort this past summer. However, many are entitled and primarily just looking for attention or some sort of kick back amenity for the future. Furthering this is the fact that algorithms and trends are towards the negative. Far more will complain on these platforms before they will praise. And far more will read the complaints. It's a strange circle and must be frustrating for hotel owners, not that I am justifying the response of this one (which was idiotic).
Great content some 14+ months after this story broke.
Great job with your attempted trolling. I guess you have no life?
Reading the headline, I thought the issue had died down. Reading the content, I realised this is whole new version entirely. Yikes
There are tons of stories similar to this. Bottom line, don't write your review until you are out of the country, anonymize your screenname, don't leave review on any site that has your real name, don't use same email booking hotels as you do leaving reviews, and don't put anything in the review that will identify who you are to them. You know what, it's just not worth it, better just to not leave a review of anything in Thailand.
I stayed there once around 2013 when I did not know too much about rewards. I just booked on Priceline via name your price. I can confirm it’s not a five star hotel. Its dated, needed maintenance and lacked Management, just like WA Grand Wailea but ten times cheaper.
Barbara Streisand effect . I am almost tempted to write a nice review on the hotel myself. It’s pathetic.
I had once a terrible stay in a five-star hotel in Bangkok, made a comprehensive review on Trip Advisor simply stating the facts and the follow-up was a ghost review rather after mine bashing me top to bottom - it was clearly planted by the head manager, for only he could know what we had discussed and ended up somehow mentioned in the ghost review!
I contacted the regional manager for Accor directly, presented...
I had once a terrible stay in a five-star hotel in Bangkok, made a comprehensive review on Trip Advisor simply stating the facts and the follow-up was a ghost review rather after mine bashing me top to bottom - it was clearly planted by the head manager, for only he could know what we had discussed and ended up somehow mentioned in the ghost review!
I contacted the regional manager for Accor directly, presented the case, she apologised whole-heartedly to me, returned the whole amount paid and invited me over to the SAME hotel for the same period, where I had TOP service.
The manager got relocated elsewhere... That's the advantage of chains.
You had no concerns that it was a ruse to get you back and throw you in jail?
So if you write a complaint in Thailand they threaten you, rather than apologise. Imagine working in a customer relations department there.
There's also a very active movement in Thailand right now to try to get Amnesty International banned from the country (along with other do-gooder NGOs). Thailand may like to be known as "the land of smiles" but their government (and sadly, too much of their society) is thoroughly corrupt. Hint: the current government is a military dictatorship that took over in a coup (there's a long history of this). People are routinely jailed for criticizing...
There's also a very active movement in Thailand right now to try to get Amnesty International banned from the country (along with other do-gooder NGOs). Thailand may like to be known as "the land of smiles" but their government (and sadly, too much of their society) is thoroughly corrupt. Hint: the current government is a military dictatorship that took over in a coup (there's a long history of this). People are routinely jailed for criticizing the government or even hinting at criticism of the royal family (you want to see corruption, start looking right there -- the fish indeed rots from the head). They are also very cozy with other nearby authoritarian governments run by goons -- Myanmar, Cambodia, and most of all, big brother China.
Until the culture of corruption ends, expect more of this.
Or don't complain, enjoy the food and warm weather in the winter and leave the country without incident. I don't dispute any of your comments above but the sensitive issues to avoid are pretty clear and by regional standards the overt expressions of military/police authority in daily life are limited. There are very few places in East Asia where making public protests doesn't result in some type of blowback. The Thai elite (king, military and...
Or don't complain, enjoy the food and warm weather in the winter and leave the country without incident. I don't dispute any of your comments above but the sensitive issues to avoid are pretty clear and by regional standards the overt expressions of military/police authority in daily life are limited. There are very few places in East Asia where making public protests doesn't result in some type of blowback. The Thai elite (king, military and state-linked businesses) endured colonial pressures and regional spread of communism without ceding authority. They'll likely survive the scorn of travel bloggers as well. For people that feel strongly about issues linked to personal expression, they may well be happier visiting other countries.
I couldn't agree more! Not everyone is a representative of the land of smiles. The authorities are not only corrupted but can be downright rude and hostile starting from the airport officials and the list will not end there...it is just the poor villagers who are full of smiles to some extent...I hope this review and our responses here also will don't land Ben into trouble. They are very much capable of acting wild
The hotel owner needs to relax. Anyone who can afford to spend $1,000+ per night on a hotel isn't checking Facebook reviews for advice on where to stay.