Category: Latest Travel News

Koh Samui, Thailand, September 13, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / After the island’s discovery more than a century ago, stories of fishermen, sailors, and sea traders who found the island as a harbour against monsoons and high seas live on in the local folklore. A.Shore at Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort, the latest addition to Koh Samui’s vibrant beach life, takes inspiration from this alluring blend of heritage, the stunning Gulf of Siam coastline and rustic aesthetics of the neighbouring fishermen’s village.

• Discover the World’s Best Luxury Hotels and Prestigious Hotel Awards in Koh Samui and Thailand at Top25Hotels.com

A.Shore Beach Bar is a haven where the islands trendsetters can find refuge and relax with a glass of a refreshing beverage and a plate of simple, wholesome food. Putting a 21st century spin on the idea of a tropical paradise, the rustic looking bar is peppered with Instagram-friendly spots, the furniture and furnishings are made from reclaimed wood, including a boat that before getting a new lease on life as a glamourous beach sofa was a hard-working fishing vessel. Set on a whitewashed deck, swings, beanbags and beach beds create an inviting display against the shimmering backdrop of Bophut’s stunning white sand beach.

Matching the décor, the menu is stylish yet informal and centres on the rustic Mediterranean fare with Asian influences. For lunch, think light appetisers, flavoursome main courses, and various grilled fish and seafood ideally suited to be enjoyed in a stunning open-air setting. Featuring signature dishes such as a fresh Samui Seafood Platter, Guacamole Ciabattas or a Tofu Satay Baguette. Cool down with refreshing drinks such as the A.Shore signature cocktail Sabai Sabai, which includes Mekhong whiskey, sweet basil leaves, lime juice, ginger ale, Angostura bitter and syrup. Kids can also enjoy a Unicorn Loaded Shake – a bubblegum flavoured milkshake topped with candy canes, sprinkles and whipped cream.

As the day progresses and guests settle into sumptuous beanbags, sunset-coloured Sangria in hand, the upbeat tunes and soft roll of the waves start humming in perfect unison. A.Shore promises varied music programming with guest DJs – guaranteed to ensure time spent with family and friends is worth every second. For those who prefer to simply kick back with a drink and trade stories, there are sundowner sessions, guest bartender days, as well as local collaborations for art and culinary experiences that will support the local artisan community.

• Discover the World’s Best Luxury Hotels and Prestigious Hotel Awards in Koh Samui and Thailand at Top25Hotels.com

Come for the swing, stay for the beach bar – located on the shore of Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort, A.Shore Beach Bar is open every day from 10.00 am until sundown.

About Anantara Hotels & Resorts
Anantara is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, connecting them to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the world’s most exciting destinations. The collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts provides a window through which to journey into invigorating new territory, curating personal travel experiences.

From cosmopolitan cities to desert sands to lush islands, Anantara connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds them in authentic luxury, and hosts them with passionate expertise. The portfolio currently boasts over 35 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zambia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Portugal, with a pipeline of future properties across Asia, the Indian Ocean, Middle East, Africa and South America.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched the Happy Paradise Campaign to present tourism products and services, bringing impressions and new experiences to tourists in the Phuket Sandbox programme through the Happy Paradise Campaign while supporting the local communities and local culture.

Giving Happy Paradise Welcome Kit & Happy Paradise Souvenir to the Phuket Sandbox Tourists.

The reopening program of the pilot provinces to welcome back international visitors started with the Phuket Sandbox programme on the past July 1, 2021. To July 31, 2021, there are about 14,000 tourists in the Phuket Sandbox programme which generates more than 829-million-baht income. In order to bring impressions to tourists and support the communities, TAT has launched the Happy Paradise Campaign to welcome tourists back, bringing impressions and confidence in traveling in Thailand, as well as spreading income to southern local communities and tourism entrepreneurs in the Sealed Routes: Phuket, Krabi, Phang-nga, Ko Samui, Ko Tao, and Ko Pha-Ngan.

The Happy Paradise Campaign presents tourism products and services while attaching importance to establishments awarded the safety and health standard under the SHA+ symbol through various Happy Paradise activities. One of the activities is giving 1,000 Happy Paradise Welcome Kits to international visitors who arrived in Phuket on 12-14 August 2021. The welcome kit consists of the Tourism Ambassador 2021 Special Edition badge and the Journal Book. Tourists can get a special discount by showing the badge to participating establishments in the Sealed Routes.

Moreover, all tourists who stay in SHA+ hotels are also given the Happy Paradise Souvenirs which are a unique local product from southern communities:

1. Manorah beaded keychain from Phatthalung,
2. Pandanus phone bag from Krabi,
3. Batik notebook from Phuket,
4. Rubber tree phone/picture holder from Trang,
5. Batik pants from Phuket,
6. Batik mat from Krabi,
7. Batik face mask with pearls straps from Phuket, and
8. Batik face mask with Manorah beads straps from Phatthalung.

The Happy Paradise activity also includes the shows to spread local southern culture through the Manorah Dance and Ron Rae Dance. The shows was held on 18-23 August, 2021, at the designated hotels. Last but not least, the Happy Paradise Campaign holds an online activity for tourists to participate in. Check into tourist attractions in Phuket, take photos of the Happy Paradise souvenir, and post it on social media with the hashtag #ThailandHappyParadise to get a chance to win prizes.

TAT is confident that the Happy Paradise Campaign will be another factor to help support and recover Thailand’s tourism industry, as well as generating income under a performance that focuses on safe tourism and helping the communities to stay strong.

Follow news and additional details about the campaign at:

Geneva, Switzerland, September 11, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / A new survey found a majority of fully vaccinated adults would get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot if offered, but think priority should be given to people who have not had a first dose.

The latest World Economic Forum/Ipsos survey was conducted at the end of August in 13 countries and included 9,521 adults under the age of 75, of whom nearly 6,000 had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The World Health Organization has called for a pause on COVID-19 vaccine booster to narrow the gap in vaccinations between countries.

Genya Dana, Head, Health & Healthcare at the World Economic Forum said: “It is vital we work to close the gap between those with access to vaccines and those without. COVID-19 highlighted how vaccination is by far the most effective public health intervention to protect populations from disease and it is crucial that robust vaccination infrastructure is deployed in every country on earth.

Dr Dana continued: “At least 60% of world’s population needs to be vaccinated by 2022 to get the current pandemic under control – but the issue of equity and access must be front and centre of this effort. With only 0.4% of current doses administered in low-income countries, this crisis will keep multiplying. We need to redouble our efforts to get vaccines to everyone who hasn’t had one yet.”

Boosters likely needed

The survey shows a widespread belief that COVID-19 vaccine booster shots will be needed at least annually to maintain protection against the disease. The expectation was highest in Mexico, Brazil and the United Kingdom, but lowest in Russia.

The survey also showed that a majority of adults who have had two doses of COVID-19 vaccine would get a booster shot if they were offered. Intent to get a booster shot was highest in Brazil (96%), Mexico (93%) and China (90%) and lowest in Russia (62%) and Italy (66%).

About the survey: The survey was conducted by Ipsos on its Global Advisor online platform, August 26-30, 2021, among adults 18-74 years of age in Canada and the United States, and 16-74 in Australia, Brazil, China (mainland), France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Sustainable Development Impact Summit 20-23 September
Equity and inclusion will be key issues discussed at the Forum’s upcoming Sustainable Development Impact Summit. The meeting brings together global leaders from business, government, and civil society under the theme Shaping an Equitable, Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery. It will focus on new technologies, policies and partnerships to advance cooperation, accelerate progress, and highlight tangible solutions to our global challenges. Media can learn more and register here.

About Ipsos
Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people. They serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999.

Leshan, Sichuan, China, September 11, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Virtual PATA Travel Mart 2021 (Virtual PTM 2021), organised in conjunction with the Sichuan International Travel Expo (SITE) with the support of the Leshan Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau and powered by official virtual partner Dragon Trail International, attracted 573 delegates from 69 global destinations. The delegate numbers embraced 242 sellers from 226 organisations and 30 destinations, along with 163 buyers from 156 organisations and 39 source markets.

“While border restrictions have been more conservative in Asia-Pacific than other regions, the latent growth for the future is still here. The foundation is being built for a safer, more resilient, responsible and sustainable global travel and tourism industry. Virtual PATA Travel Mart 2021 is just a small example of how we can support each other in these times of crisis,” said Liz Ortiguera, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). “I would like to thank all of you who joined us for this event as we continue to support a strengthened, more evolved travel and tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

Virtual PTM 2021 officially opened on Thursday, September 2 and ran until Sunday, September 5. The event offered two full business days of business appointments across all time zones on September 2-3, as well as two trade visitor days on September 4-5.

In addition to the business-to-business travel contracting, the event included various forums, including Destination Recovery Insights from Azerbaijan; Guam; Kiribati; Macao, China; Nepal; Sabah, Sarawak, and Thailand. Delegates also were able to join several insight sessions from various stakeholders from across all segments of the industry.

On Friday, September 3, Virtual PTM delegates had the opportunity to join a special live stream of the opening ceremony of the Sichuan International Travel Expo (SITE). Furthermore, various games and giveaways allowed delegates a chance to win travel giveaways and prizes from sponsors and partners.

Buyers, sellers, visitors and media can still access the Virtual PTM 2021 platform until October 5, 2021 to message participants and view all previous forums and sessions on demand.

Monsaraz, Alentejo, Portugal, September 11, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Innovation, partnerships and enhanced coordination are essential for making wine tourism a driver of rural development. That was the takeaway message from the 5th UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism, held this week in Alentejo, Portugal, around the theme “Wine Tourism – a driver for rural development.”

Aligning with the central focus of World Tourism Day 2021, due to be celebrated 27 September, the Conference brough public and private sector stakeholders together to identify ways to maximise the sector’s potential contributions to inclusive growth. Also on the agenda was advancing digital transformation, marketing and promotion and the conservation of nature through a thriving wine tourism sector. Around 150 people attended the conference in person, with many more joining virtually to hear from a wide range of experts, from wine producers and distributors to tour operators, destinations and media.

Connecting tourists to territories

Wine tourism and its connection with the territory, local products and traditions opens new opportunities to advance jobs and inclusiveness in rural areas

Opening the event, UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili: “The pandemic has strengthened the role of tourism in advancing rural development. Wine tourism and its connection with the territory, local products and traditions opens new opportunities to advance jobs and inclusiveness in rural areas”.

Joining Secretary-General Pololikashvili for high-level panel discussions were Rita Marques, Secretary of State of Tourism of Portugal, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, State Secretary to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Sofia Zaharaki, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Greece and Mariam Kvrivishvili, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.

The Minister of State, Economy and Digital Transition for Portugal, Pedro Siza Vieira, affirmed: “Wine tourism is at the forefront of our National Plan for Tourism. Its mission is to reach more visitors, from more countries, around the year, all over Portugal.” He also announced the launch of the Portuguese Wine Tourism website and a first Wine & Travel Week to be held in Porto, in February 2022.

Growing demand for authentic experiences

Wine tourism is in increasing demand as consumers look for more open-air experiences in rural areas in the post-pandemic era. The conference stressed the importance of developing the whole tourism value chain to complement the activities at the wineries as a means to create more jobs and businesses, promote local products and improve the visitor experience.

Mayor of Reguengos de Monsaraz, José Calixto added: “Local Authorities play a decisive role in enhancing the built and intangible heritage of winegrowing territories. For Reguengos de Monsaraz, this conference was the most important moment of the Vine and Wine history in the largest wine-producing regions in Portugal and will provide a further boost to rural development.”

The Conference was held on 8-10 September 2021, in the village of Monsaraz in the Alentejo region, in collaboration with the Government of Portugal, Turismo de Portugal and the Municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz. The Italian village of Alba in Region Piemonte will host the 2022 edition of the UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism.

The Minister of Tourism of Italy, Massimo Garavaglia, said “The wine and food sector is increasingly proving to be a fundamental lever for Italian tourism. And it will be even more so in the future. For these reasons, the appointment next year in Italy of the sixth edition of the World Conference of Wine Tourism is doubly important.”

Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, September 10, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Golf in Madeira has never looked rosier with the launch of the new ‘Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic’ this autumn and golfers can enjoy outstanding value on accommodation when they take part in the inaugural event – with three-night breaks starting from only €172.5 per person.

• Discover Madeira and the World’s Best Golf Courses at Top 25 Golf Courses.

Palheiro Golf – rated among Europe’s top golf resorts – is serving up a treat for competitors on and off the course at the new event, which will take place from October 1-5 and is being held in aid of the Make A Wish children’s charity. As well as having with the opportunity to enjoy some world-class golf, guests will have the chance to experience a slice of Madeira’s famous culture and history – including the islands’ globally acclaimed annual ‘Festa da Flor’ Flower Festival.

Palheiro’s golf course is situated within the magnificent Palheiro Nature Estate, which is more than 200 years old, and players can choose from an array of five-star hotel and self-catering accommodation.

Bed-and-breakfast breaks in the luxury Casa Velha do Palheiro hotel start from €100 per person per night and include entry to the famous Palheiro Gardens, complimentary use of the spa and the chance to enjoy the luxury hotel’s numerous sports facilities including tennis, table tennis, billiards, croquet, badminton and the gym. A daily courtesy bus to Palheiro Golf and WiFi in public areas and rooms are also included.

Self-catering accommodation in one of Palheiro Village’s choice of well-equipped apartments and villas is bookable from just €57.50 per person per night, with guests also able to enjoy a 10 per cent discount at the Casa Velha do Palheiro hotel and Palheiro Golf clubhouse restaurants, Palheiro Gardens (entry only) and Palheiro Spa (entrance and gym only).

All packages include entry into the 18-hole individual Stableford competition on Palheiro Golf’s acclaimed championship course, a pre-tournament sunset welcome party and a prize-giving ceremony with cocktail at the Palheiro Gardens.

A trip to the island’s capital of Funchal to the Madeira Flower Festival follows the day after the tournament with free golf also included in the event package, while on Monday October 4 there will be a special visit to the famous Blandy’s Madeira Wine Lodge in Funchal including wine tasting.

Palheiro Golf is one of three outstanding golf venues in the archipelago of Madeira. Designed by Cabell B. Robinson, the venue’s par-72, 6,656-yard (6,086m) course is nearly 1,640ft above sea level and enjoys dramatic views of Madeira’s mountainous skyline and the ocean, as well as – nestling below, just 10 minutes away – the island’s capital, Funchal.

Taking place this year from October 1-24, the Madeira Flower Festival offers visitors the unforgettable chance to experience a kaleidoscope of colour and the magic that runs through the municipalities of the Madeira archipelago with an array of unique exhibits made totally from flowers.

Palheiro Golf and the other two-18 hole courses in Madeira and her islands, Clube de Golfe Santo da Serra and Porto Santo Golf, have enjoyed a steady increase in overseas bookings in the last 12 months with growing numbers of European golfers eager to experience the many benefits of playing first-class golf in a safe and secure environment.

• Discover Madeira and the World’s Best Golf Courses at Top 25 Golf Courses.

Located approximately 1,000km from the European mainland – and just 500km from the African continent – the island destination, named as the world and Europe’s leading island destination at the 2020 World Travel Awards, enjoys an amazingly mild climate, ranging from 25°c in the summer to 17°c in the winter, with very mild average temperatures and moderate humidity, making it the perfect year-round location for a golf break.

The best way to enjoy the archipelago’s golf is with a Madeira Golf Passport which, providing holders with an unrivalled golf experience, is available to both individuals and groups and can be booked on a three or five-round basis.

Dhaka, Bangladesh, September 10, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Bangladesh’s national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines will leverage Sabre’s Passenger Service System (PSS) and Global Distribution System (GDS) as well as a broad range of additional Sabre technology solutions to support recovery and future growth in a competitive market. Sabre Corporation, a leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, today announced a new strategic partnership with Bangladesh’s national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines (Biman).

Under the new agreement, Biman will adopt the SabreSonic Passenger Service System (PSS) to power digital transformation, drive revenue growth and improve the passenger experience. Biman has also selected a further set of Sabre solutions as well as renewing its global distribution agreement with Sabre to help meet the demands of modern-day travellers, ensure availability across all points of sale, maximize customer acquisition, leverage its loyalty program and stimulate demand as industry recovery gains momentum.

“We’re thrilled to embark on a new relationship with Sabre during this critical time for the travel industry,” said Dr Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal, Managing Director and CEO, Biman. “It is more important now than ever that we have agile and advanced solutions to empower us to improve operational efficiencies, boost revenue as we move into recovery, and to create a differentiated brand experience in the competitive Bangladeshi market and beyond. We look forward to flying our nation’s bi-coloured flag domestically, regionally and internationally as borders re-open, with support from Sabre’s robust technology.”

The Sabre Commercial Platform, the platform within which SabreSonic PSS is housed, is positioned to help empower airlines to drive revenue maximization and a differentiated brand experience. It meets airlines where they are and takes them where they want to go through flexible, open, and intelligent technology, delivering end-to-end personalized retailing from commercial optimization through order fulfilment; enabling enhanced travel experiences for the airline’s customers and helping the airline to increase revenue opportunities.

SabreSonic PSS is designed to automate and streamline sales and reservations processes, helping airlines maximize revenue opportunities, save costs, enhance inventory revenue optimization, extend their reach through partnerships and maximize efficiency and effectiveness of airline offerings. This latest deal further expands Sabre’s global PSS footprint, with the company having announced SabreSonic PSS wins, during its most recent earnings call, expected to bring more than 40 million incremental passengers boarded to the platform.

As well as Sabre’s comprehensive, passenger-centric PSS, Dhaka-headquartered Biman will also be utilizing Sabre’s:

Global Distribution System (GDS) in a long-term renewal agreement to distribute its fares and offers to hundreds of thousands of travel agents worldwide;

Departure Control Suite to help Biman deliver a seamless and efficient airport experience with a robust solution for passenger reaccommodation. The suite will help in enabling a true walk-through experience at the airport through automation and self-service capabilities.

SabreSonic Digital Experience a highly-extensible user interface framework that provides access to robust, end-to-end retail capabilities, enabling shop and book, ancillaries, payments and fulfilment all through self-service capabilities, helping the airline to develop a fully-responsive and configurable eCommerce website and mobile app in-line with Biman’s digital transformation.

SabreSonic CSS Digital Workspace with flexible mobile-ready workflows designed to improve agent productivity and enable them to deliver personalized customer service at the airport and call centre.

SabreSonic Direct Connect Platform to deliver a suite of shopping, booking, and fulfilment web services as well as a GUI to their travel agency or third-party partners, helping the airline deliver omni-channel travel experiences through capabilities that are built once, deployed many times

Sabre Application Programming Interface (API) Hub which provides a portfolio of comprehensive APIs that support a broad range of the Sabre Commercial Platform functionality, enabling speed-to-market and control over distribution across all channels.

Data and Analytics/ Business Intelligence which delivers a layer of connected enterprise data by providing Biman with meaningful data and actionable intelligence for the entire airline enterprise; and

Loyalty Management System to enable Biman to recognize, track and reward their most loyal customers across all touchpoints during their journeys, providing an improved customer experience and increased customer loyalty that results in repeat revenue and increased share of wallet.

“We know how difficult the current climate continues to be for the airline, and wider travel industry said Rakesh Narayanan, Vice President, Regional General Manager, Asia Pacific, Travel Solutions, Airline Sales. “However, we also know that our travel partners are seizing this opportunity to take a fresh look at their technology strategy to ensure they are in a position of competitive strength going forward. We’re delighted to be partnering Biman on their digital transformation journey with a comprehensive suite of Sabre retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions.”

Mohammed Salahuddin-General Manager-Marketing, Biman Bangladesh Airlines added: “We are delighted to work together with leading global airline solution provider, Sabre, that allow Biman to access all the services we require through one single platform, supporting us on our digital transformation journey and enabling Biman to be more competitive in the local, regional and international airline markets.”

Helsinki, Finland, September 10, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Economic Forum today released Empowered Data Societies: A Human-centric Approach to Data Relationships. The framework put forth in the white paper ensures that data is used in responsible and innovative ways to create progress while respecting, valuing and empowering people and communities.

As part of a year-long partnership with the City of Helsinki, the World Economic Forum convened a global community of technologists, anthropologists and policy and data experts to develop a new way to create data policy oriented around the values, needs and expectations of people.

By leading with the interests of those generating data or most impacted by resulting insights, this approach mitigates the trade-offs between innovation and privacy.

The Forum worked with a dedicated team of data practitioners and policy-makers with the City of Helsinki to apply this new methodology to develop a dedicated anonymization pipeline for complex personal data that will allow for maximal data utilisation anchored in respect for individuals and their privacy. New pathways, processes and tools were also created to document a best practice blueprint for human-centric proactive services, which Helsinki will open-source for future expanded use and improvement.

“Throughout this year-long partnership we were motivated by the principle that human-centricity is neither a ‘nice to have’ nor a ‘deluxe’ approach to data. Human-centricity can and should be the foundation upon which to build empowered data societies. With the release of this paper, we aim to share frameworks, insights and best practices so policy-makers around the world can adopt and build systems that use data in responsible and innovative ways to create progress that legitimately serves people and communities,” said Sheila Warren, Deputy Head of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network, World Economic Forum.

The City of Helsinki created several tools to enable efficient utilization of extremely sensitive data. The main principle behind the blueprint is that the storage, anonymization and processing of data are separated and that different individuals perform each task.

Forging a way to create entirely new data analytics capabilities for Helsinki has resulted in a new technical environment for treating sensitive personal data with the highest ethical, data protection and cybersecurity standards. This environment will be used as the city continues accelerating its use of data to provide more personalized and timely services for its residents and visitors.

“Helsinki’s commitment to serving its citizens requires going beyond traditional service provision and tapping into the full potential of data to deliver the best quality services in the most efficient way possible. Using data responsibly requires the development and implementation of new practices that are human-centric – those that assure citizens’ interests are respected and prioritized at all times, empower citizens to improve their own lives through data, and increase participation in the overall ecosystem by building trustworthy data relationships,” said Jan Vapaavuori, Urban Activist and Mayor of Helsinki (2017-2021).

Much of the data needed to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges is siloed in public and private sources. Even for social good, the various regulatory, commercial and social risks prevent data sharing. The Shaping the Future of Technology Governance: Data Policy Platform works with partners from all sectors, regions and industries to develop agile and innovative approaches to accelerate the responsible use of data and empower stakeholders across the entire data ecosystem.

Sustainable Development Impact Summit 20-23 September The meeting brings together global leaders from business, government, and civil society under the theme Shaping an Equitable, Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery. It will focus on new technologies, policies and partnerships to advance cooperation, accelerate progress, and highlight tangible solutions to our global challenges.

Bangkok, Thailand, September 9, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Amar Lalvani, CEO of Standard International (parent company of The Standard Hotels), presents the case for optimism in the hospitality business amidst the ongoing challenges resulting from Covid-19, along with his company’s navigation of the crisis and continued growth.

The latest additions to the company’s growing portfolio, The Standard, Hua Hin, The Standard’s first resort in Thailand, will open on December 1^st, 2021, followed by The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, the brand’s highly anticipated Asia flagship, which will open in 2022. The Standard is also excited to announce The Standard, Ibiza also slated to open in 2022. These three new properties will kick off a series of 10 additional landmark projects in highly coveted markets around the world, including: Singapore, Melbourne, Lisbon, Dublin, Brussels and Las Vegas.

The Standard brand debut into Thailand will be timely launched as Thailand is gearing towards opening its doors to international travelers amid the flexible travel restrictions and mass inoculation programs.

“We are incredibly proud to announce the openings of The Standard, Hua Hin, which is set for December, our incredible Asia flagship, The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, which will open next year, as well as our second property in Europe, The Standard, Ibiza” said Standard International CEO, Amar Lalvani. “This has been a time of unprecedented crisis for the hospitality industry, and the millions of people around the world who work in the sector. Amidst such challenges, we are incredibly grateful that we continue to be able to delight our guests, serve our communities and create new opportunities for our team members by building landmark hotels around the world.”

Widely recognized as one of the most innovative lifestyle hospitality brands in the industry, The Standard has always set its goal of every project to defy convention, up the aesthetic stakes, and deliver an absolutely one-of-a-kind experience that can only be had at each of its properties.

“Thailand, with its strategic location in Southeast Asia and rich cultural heritage, continues to be a top leading tourism destination in the region. As we look to cement our presence in the Asia, we are offering over 20-years of experience in  boutique hospitality and undeniably playful sensitivity, combined with careful consideration to design, detail and service to Thailand’s dynamic market starting with these two differently distinctive projects,” added Amar.

Having become a top destination in international travelers’ bucket list, Thailand has enjoyed a steady tourism growth for decades prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, with a total number of over 38 million and over 39 million visitors in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Recently, Bangkok and Phuket also reaffirmed its status as preferred ports of call among international tourists after the kingdom’s capital and the largest island have been named among the world’s most popular destinations in Tripadvisers Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best 2021 awards, in the ‘Popular Destinations – World’ category chosen by those who have personally experienced and obviously cherished the cities.

To bring back pre-Covid-19 tourism traffic is a tall order, yet the Tourism Authority of Thailand has begun what it hopes to be an optimistic recovery of the nation’s travel and hospitality industry.  As the vaccine roll-out is underway, the country is slowly and carefully opening its doors to international visitors, with the pioneering ‘Phuket Sandbox’ program allowing vaccinated foreign tourists to enter the island since 1 July 2021, followed by similar initiatives for other holiday destinations including the ‘Hua Hin Recharge’ project which aims to inoculate 70% of its local population in a bid to safely draw local and international visitors to the beach town and to get the local tourism business slowly back on track.

As the tourism high season which normally kicks off early October draws near, Thailand will have five travel destinations (Phuket, Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin which, according to the TAT, accounted for 50% of the total tourism receipts for the country) taking part in reopening schemes, and another two – Krabi and Phang Nga – joining extension programs. Phuket has now opened entirely to vaccinated visitors while the rest offer some routes to a few districts with some mandatory conditions applying. Hua Hin is also being considered to join as a quarantine-free destination where tourists are able to travel freely within an 86-kilometer zone.

Unlike other leisure destinations, Hua Hin, where the first resort of The Standard in Thailand is located, relies heavily on the domestic market with 74% of the total visitors originating domestically, pre-Covid. Average occupancy is 90% and above during the weekends and public holidays. In 2020, the Hua Hin hotel market posted the highest domestic occupancy with 39% surpassing top tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Phuket, and Bangkok.

Pent-up travel demand has been building up from high-income individuals and strong economies less dependent on inbound tourism have a great potential to fast-track recovery and become good demand sources. Thailand can potentially win over a strong demand rebound if other regional destinations are slower to achieve herd immunity and lift border restrictions.

The impact of Covid-19 on the global economy is undeniably huge. The outbreak devastated the hospitality business, but The Standard survived and remains highly optimistic about the future of the travel industry, with it 2021 market share in the US portfolio exceeding 2019 levels, at an average of 134 RGI (revenue generation index) vs 122 in 2019 versus its competitive set.

“Despite the challenges, we managed to maintain profitability and continue growing as we are increasing our market share of new projects and seeing further acceleration in our pipeline,” commented the CEO who attributed the company’s market share numbers to the brand’s strength and their decision to maintain their staff and continue their marketing and programming through the pandemic.

The Standard always had great direct-booking business contribution due to the brand’s strength which has grown from around 45% pre-pandemic to 58% which is huge for an independent brand. The success was a result of inventive packages and experiences responsive to rapidly evolving guest dynamic along with the highly creatively marketing the brand is known for.

Despite the economic conditions, Amar added, The Standard Hotels grew its global pipeline significantly over the past year. “Between The Standard, Bunkhouse and The Peri Hotel brands we now have 17 existing hotels, 15 of which have re-opened post pandemic, and 21 in the secured pipeline, with many more under discussion, making us one of the world’s leading independent lifestyle brands,” said the CEO.

The Standard, Hua Hin, The Standard’s first hotel in Thailand, will open on December 1, 2021. With 178 guest rooms and 21 pool villas with beachfront access, The Standard, Hua Hin will be a timeless destination for the Thai creative set and The Standard’s global network of loyal clientele. A beloved getaway dating back to 1911, Hua Hin emerged as a destination when the construction of the railroad that connects Bangkok with the South first arrived at the pristine little beach town. By the mid-1920s, it became the chosen holiday retreat for the nobility. With time, the sleepy fishing village has transformed into a popular seaside destination without losing its old-world charm. Today, Hua Hin is a favorite weekend escape for residents of Bangkok who have been waiting for exactly what The Standard promises to offer: a stylish and vibrant beachfront resort. One that respects Hua Hin’s understated Thai elegance and appreciation of the history and local setting and combines it with a global sensibility and a bit of fun.

The Standard, Bangkok Mahankhon will be the Asia flagship for the Standard brand. Opening in 2022, the hotel is already a landmark, housed in the King Power Mahanakhon Building, a 78-story mixed use building that is one of the tallest in Thailand. Centrally located in the CBD between Sathorn and Silom, the hotel will reflect the dynamic energy of the Thai capital. With 155 rooms, penthouse, a terrace pool, fitness center, meeting rooms and a dynamic variety of food, drink and nightlife venues, from The Parlor to the Tea Room and renowned Standard Grill, as well as Thailand’s first outpost of the acclaimed Mott 32 restaurant. The property is designed by Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon’s Hayon Studio, in collaboration with The Standard’s award-winning in-house design team, this breath-taking new addition to the Standard portfolio will sit proudly alongside the brand’s award-winning vibrant US and European urban flagships, The Standard, High Line, and Standard, London and in perfect counterpoint to our waterside retreats The Standard, Maldives, The Standard, Miami, and the forthcoming The Standard, Hua Hin and The Standard, Ibiza.

“The metropolitan vibe Bangkok is best known for perfectly matches our proposition as one of the most innovative travel-related brands. With King Power Mahanakhon being one of the most impressive developments in the region, we are honored and extremely excited to partner with the King Power Group to bring The Standard to this incredibly vibrant project in the heart of the City of Angels,” he added.

Learn more about our upcoming expansion into Bangkok and Hua Hin, and plan your visit to The Standard, Hua Hin now, with a special opening offer.  Stay tuned for a special offer for The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon via

About Standard International
Standard International Management, LLC is the company behind The Standard Hotel, Bunkhouse Hotels, and The Peri Hotels with offices in New York, London, Austin, and Bangkok. The company has 16+ hotels and food & beverage properties open with more to come. Standard International is on the forefront of immersive experience creation at its properties and technology driven innovation in the industry, including its spontaneous booking application, One Night.

About The Standard Hotels
Created in 1999, The Standard Hotels are known for their taste-making clientele, their pioneering design, and their unrelenting un-standard-ness. With 7 hotels in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, most recently London and the Maldives, and the upcoming The Standard, Hua Hin and the Asia flagship, The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon slated to open in early 2022, the goal of every Standard project—be it a hotel, a rooftop discothèque, or a magazine—is to defy conventions, up the aesthetic stakes, and deliver an experience that can only be had at The Standard. The Standard’s irreverent and playful sensibility, combined with a careful consideration of design, detail and service, have established its reputation as a pioneer of hospitality, travel, dining, nightlife, and beyond. Sansiri PLC, Thailand’s leading real estate developer made its first investment into Standard International in late November 2017, which increased over time, making Sansiri PLC the majority stakeholder.

Bangkok, Thailand, September 9, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) today announced the winners of the PATA Gold Awards 2021. Proudly supported and sponsored by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) for the last 26 years, this year’s awards recognise the achievements of 20 organisations and individuals.

PATA presented 18 Gold Awards to such organisations as the Catalan Tourist Board, Designated Areas for Sustainable Development Administration (DASTA); Galaxy Entertainment Group, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Korea Tourism Organization, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Meridian Adventure Dive Resort, MGM China, Outrigger Hospitality Group, Plaza Premium Group, SriLankan Airlines Ltd., Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Ayala Land, Inc. – Ten Knots Group, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourism Malaysia, and TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd.

Under the guidance of PATA headquarters, 18 independent judges from around the world selected the winners of the 18 Gold Awards and two Grand Title Winners. The winners were announced during the Online PATA Gold Awards Presentation earlier today.

Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of MGTO, said, “Amid the global disruption we are living due to the pandemic, the outstanding initiatives in tourism marketing and sustainability of this year’s PATA Gold Awards winners are a beacon of light for the industry. Congratulations to all winners for keeping up the spirit of innovation in these trying times. Macao is honored to maintain its long-standing support to this PATA initiative and contribute to help rebuild a more responsible and sustainable tourism industry.”

PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera added, “On behalf of PATA, I would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to all PATA Gold Award winners and Grand Title winners, and I would also like to thank all of this year’s participants. The achievements of this year’s winners will hopefully inspire and encourage our industry to create new responsible and sustainable initiatives as we look towards recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a pleasure to celebrate their accomplishments live during the online PATA Gold Awards Presentation.”

The PATA Grand Title Winners were presented to outstanding entries in two principal categories: Marketing, and Sustainability and Social Responsibility.

The Macao Government Tourism Office USA Representative Office, Macao, China received the PATA Gold Award 2021 Grand Title in Marketing for its “Dream Now and Travel Later” campaign. In response to the global pandemic that caused a -93% of YOY decrease in visitor arrivals to Macao from 2019 to 2020, the Macao Government Tourism Office USA Representative Office (MGTO-USA) launched the “Dream Now and Travel Later” integrated campaign series in the fall of 2020, which consisted of the concepts of East Meets West and Macao Makes it to GIPHY with a goal to inspire consumers to “Dream Now and Travel Later.” The campaigns launched across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, inclusive of influencer partnerships, paid partnership with a third-party media platform, social media sweepstakes, content creation and management, and community engagement. Initially conceptualized in 2019, both campaign concepts required immediate reconsideration and redirection in order to compensate for the changing marketplace.

The Grand Title in Sustainability and Social Responsibility was presented to Cinnamon Hotel Management Ltd, Sri Lanka for its “Cinnamon Travel Pledge”. As a company that has always been guided by the values of caring, trust, and integrity, Cinnamon Hotel Management sought a way to be an effective support for the front-line employees and the country and bring a silver lining to this dark time in history. The Cinnamon Travel Pledge is a way of saying ‘Thank You’ to the brave front line workforce and appreciating their dedication and sacrifice with a getaway that gives them the chance to reconnect with their families and uplift their mindset.

Open to both PATA and non-PATA members, this year’s Awards attracted a total of 113 entries from 51 travel and tourism organisations and individuals.

PATA Grand Title Winner 2021

Marketing
Dream Now and Travel Later
Macao Government Tourism Office USA Representative Office, Macao, China

Sustainability and Social Responsibility
Cinnamon Travel Pledge
Cinnamon Hotel Management Ltd, Sri Lanka

PATA Gold Award Winners 2021

Marketing Campaign (National – Asia)
Special Tourist Visa (STV)
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand

Marketing Campaign (State and City – Global)
360 Hong Kong Moments – Great Outdoors
Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

Marketing – Carrier
#SriLankanPromises
SriLankan Airlines Ltd., Sri Lanka

Marketing – Hospitality
The Outrigger Promise
Outrigger Hospitality Group, USA

Marketing – Industry
Plaza Premium Group – Build Back Better
Plaza Premium Group, Hong Kong SAR

Digital Marketing Campaign
Legends of Catalonia
Catalan Tourist Board, Spain

Printed Marketing Campaign
DIVE INTO YOUR DREAM – MALAYSIA 365 DAYS
Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia

Travel Video
A Glimpse into Meridian Adventure Dive Resort – Raja Ampat
Meridian Adventure Dive Resort, Indonesia

Travel Photograph
The sunset view of Jingzaijiao Tile-paved Salt Fields
Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei

Destination Article
Georgia, queen of the desert
Catherine Marshall, Australia

Business Article
TTG Asia July 2020: Loyalty wars
TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd, Singapore

Climate Change Initiative
Above & Beyond – Melco’s Sustainability Strategy
Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Macao, China

Corporate Social Responsibility
Be GREEN and GREAT in the time of COVID-19
Ayala Land, Inc. – Ten Knots Group, Philippines

Community Based Tourism
Tour Dure
Korea Tourism Organization, Korea (ROK)

Culture
Galaxy Entertainment Group – Promoting Cultural Tourism through our Foundation
Galaxy Entertainment Group, Macao, China

Heritage
THE DIVERSE HERITAGE OF KUBANG BADAK BIOGEOTRAIL
Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Malaysia

PATA Gold Award 2021
Youth Empowerment Initiative
MGM Youth Empowerment and Engagement Initiative
MGM China, Macao, China

PATA Gold Award 2021
Human Capital Development Initiative
DASTA CBT Integrated Curriculum
Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), Thailand

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its more than 650 member organisations, including 82 government, state and city tourism bodies, 14 international airlines and airports, 71 hospitality organisations and 75 educational institutions, as well as thousands of young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 32 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 28 PATA Student Chapters globally. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London.