Category: Latest Travel News | Page 271 | Phuket’s Best Luxury Hotels

December 11, 2019December 17, 2019

Championing Climate Friendly Travel at COP25

Madrid (Spain) – December 05, 2019 (travelindex.com) – This COP25 side-event hosted by WTTC in partnership with UNFCCC focussed on the 2050 Climate Neutral ambitions of the Travel & Tourism industry.

The event was opened by UNFCCC Executive Director Patricia Espinosa and WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara who called for increased Travel & Tourism low carbon ambition with Climate Friendly Travel as the new norm. They pledged intensified cooperation to drive this.

A panel of thought-leaders from across the sector, moderated by Professor Geoffrey Lipman, SUN^x Malta Co-creator, then focussed on the responsibility of the world’s largest industry to meet the 2050 targets agreed at Paris in 2015. The panel covered Aviation, Cruises, Tour Operators, Reservations, and Carbon Trading.

Professor Lipman reviewed the findings from the inaugural Climate Friendly Travel Ambitions Report, produced in partnership with WTTC. Taking 2019 as a benchmark for the state of the industry, the report concluded that Travel & Tourism needs to get more engaged, must increase ambitions to Climate Neutral 2050 and must solve critical challenges around aviation growth and no carbon long term operations.

As part of its response to this SUN^x Malta is developing a 2050 Climate Neutral Ambitions Registry where organisations and coalitions can publish their targets for 2050 and how they will achieve them; coupled with an annual Think Tank to review and update the previous year’s report.

Lipman also referenced development of a SUN^x learning portal to share best practice, a Climate Champions Program to support 100,000 next generation change-markers, and SDG-17 Partnerships to help support the transition towards a Climate Neutral sector.

The event concluded with a commitment to collaboration by UNWTO Executive Director Dr. Manuel Butler Halter.

A full recording of the event can be viewed here.

SustainableFirst.com supports the efforts of SUNx, UNFCCC and WTTC for the 2050 Climate Neutral ambitions of the Travel and Tourism industry. More at www.SustainableFirst.com

May 16, 2019May 19, 2019

Asia’s First BW Signature Collection Hotel Selected to Host Major TAT Event

Prachinburi (Thailand) – May 15, 2019 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts was recently selected to host a major event designed to showcase the natural beauty and authentic culture of Thailand’s exquisite eastern provinces, and to promote the region as a tourism destination.

Organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the “More Fun @ The East” event was held on April 24-25, 2019, at Tawaravadee Resort, BW Signature Collection by Best Western, the group’s exceptional new resort in Prachinburi province. The industry-leading event gathered approximately 300 travel trade delegates for a series of face-to-face buyer-seller meetings.

The event was attended by Piboon Hattakitkosol, Governor of Prachinburi, along with TAT executives including Wiboon Nimitrwanich, Executive Director for the Eastern Region; Auttaphol Wannakij, Deputy Executive Director for the Eastern Region; Sophon Tontayatai, Director of the Eastern Market Division; and Sakol Thongkam, Director of the Nakhon Nayok Office (Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi and Sa Kaeo provinces).

“We are delighted to welcome the TAT’s senior executives, VIPs and our esteemed travel trade partners to Tawaravadee Resort, BW Signature Collection by Best Western for this important regional tourism expo,” said Matthew Horvat, the resort’s General Manager. “Thailand’s eastern provinces, including Prachinburi, hold incredible potential for domestic and international tourism. Our natural beauty, captivating culture and exciting activities are just waiting to be discovered. Resorts like ours are also now proving that the region has the ability to host world-class events and vacations,”

Tawaravadee Resort, BW Signature Collection by Best Western is the perfect venue for out-of-town meetings and conferences, with extensive function space including an 800-guest convention hall and several other meeting rooms that can cater up to 200 delegates. The “More Fun @ The East” event occupied two of the resort’s meeting rooms, while the convention hall was used for a glittering gala dinner on the final evening.

Prachinburi is one of the “secondary destinations” being actively promoted by the TAT, as it works to spread the benefits of tourism to more parts of Thailand. In October 2018, the TAT launched a new campaign inviting tourists to “Visit a Secondary City: Must Try, Must Love and Must Care.” This focuses on promoting low-carbon, eco-friendly tourism in the kingdom’s less-visited destinations.

While it is only 160km from Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport, Prachinburi province shares a border with Cambodia. The province also contains parts of three national parks – Khao Yai, Thap Lan and Pang Sida – which together cover more than 3,000 square kilometers, the largest area of protected land in Thailand. This creates outstanding opportunities for outdoor adventure and cultural exploration.

Nestled in Prachinburi’s verdant countryside, Tawaravadee Resort, BW Signature Collection by Best Western is an idyllic low-rise rural retreat that exudes tropical elegance. Accommodation includes 199 rooms and suites with garden and lake views. Guests can cool off in the tropical outdoor pool, be pampered in the spa, or enjoy a wide range of activities including tennis, badminton, cycling, snooker and a golf driving range. Alternatively, guests can head out and explore the local area, which features forests, waterfalls and ancient ruins.

The opening of this new hotel earlier this year marked the debut of the BW Signature Collection in Asia, a collection of upper midscale hotels and resorts that reflect the unique charm and culture of their destination.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of approximately 4,500 hotels in nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide*. Best Western offers 16 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market. Best Western branded hotels include Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, Vīb®, GLō®, AidenSM, SadieSM, BW Premier Collection®, and BW Signature Collection®. Through recent acquisition, Best Western now also offers WorldHotels® Luxury, WorldHotels Elite and WorldHotels Distinctive brands. Completing its portfolio, Best Western offers SureStay®, SureStay Plus®, and SureStay Collection® franchises**. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 66 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2018, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-midscale and midscale hotel brands respectively for two consecutive years, and Fast Company honoring Best Western Hotels & Resorts with a spot in the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality category. Best Western has also won 10 consecutive AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAA/CAA’s nearly 60 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Best Western-branded hotels were top ranked in breakfast (food and beverage category) by J.D. Power’s 2018 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study – ranking first for midscale; and second for upper midscale. Nearly 40 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western-branded hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Google® Street View provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels.
* Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.
**All Best Western, WorldHotels and SureStay branded hotels are independently owned and operated.

Contact information:
Sirimanas Maungrod (Cake) | Senior Regional Marketing Communications Manager | Asia
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com

Phanintorn Tangtrongjit (Dream) | Assistant Marketing Communications Manager | Asia
Email: phanintorn.tangtrongjit@bestwestern.com

May 16, 2019May 19, 2019

Takeaways from PATA Annual Summit 2019 in Cebu, Philippines

Cebu (Philippines) – May 14, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The sold-out PATA Annual Summit 2019 in Cebu, Philippines officially ended over the weekend. The conference featured opinion leaders from both public and private sectors, including the co-founder of Airbnb and leaders of five tourism boards worldwide, among many other influencers in the travel and tourism industry within Asia Pacific and beyond.

Conference topics included the ‘State of the World Economy’, ‘The Current and Future State of Travel and Tourism in Asia Pacific’, ‘Navigating the Numbers’, ‘Travelling the Unknown to Find Yourself’, ‘Accessible Tourism for All’, ‘Destination Management in Times of Uncertainty’ and ‘Mainstreaming Sustainable Tourism’, ‘The Power of Data and Insights for Responsible Development’, and ‘The Future of Sustainable Destination Branding’.

If you missed it, don’t worry! Here are 10 key things we learnt from the conference:

1. The world economy has been slowing down since 2018 and will continue to slow in 2020, reflecting a trend that The Economist calls ‘slowbalisation’. This does not mean that growth is disappearing: there is slowing global integration on traditional measures but deeper integration elsewhere. Positioning for short-term volatility but longer-term growth is key.

2. Global growth and the ‘center of economic supremacy’ is moving back towards Asia, where it was located before the 1800s industrial revolution. Envisioning the world in 2050, Asian, Middle Eastern and African economies will populate the top 20 economies, led by China and India.

3. Short-term rentals such as Airbnb are here to stay and the accommodations ecosystem will continue to experience fundamental change. Hotels are increasingly seeking to offer unique experiences such as offering apartment-like accommodations, while entrepreneurs are seen scaling up the apartment model and operating it more like a hotel.

4. Data is important but one should never trust data without understanding their source or the context in which they are presented. For example, international tourist arrivals may have risen over the past few years, but a closer look will reveal that spend per visitor has decreased. At the same time, spend per arrival may seem low but it is possible that the impact of that spend could have a bigger impact than that of higher number.

5. In order for the community to become stakeholders of tourism, we must work within our cultural contexts to appropriately engage the locals and provide them with value. One example would be an initiative in the UAE that helped uplift societal perceptions of widows while providing them with livelihood through tourism. By showing how tourism can help create jobs and income, we can demonstrate its value to the community.

6. Public-private partnerships are very important for the future of responsible tourism. Governments can lead in creating sustainable policies but the private sector must help enforce the practices. Sustainability that comes from the top down can guide the responsible actions of future generations, but should also take into account small businesses that may not be able to afford the needed resources.

7. Accessible travel is not just about building infrastructure like wheelchair ramps. It is about integrating universal design to accommodate all forms of disabilities and to include groups such as children and seniors. There are simple solutions that you could implement to attract this rapidly growing yet underserved sector of the market, such as printing out an extra menu with large text.

8. Urbanisation will continue to drive emerging markets over the next few years especially in China and India, which will bolster the new middle class and create new opportunities. It is necessary to invest, build infrastructure, and think about how to anticipate shaping the future.

9. The protectionism trend in our global economy can be attributed to those who feel they have not benefited from globalisation. In order to reverse this trajectory, we must provide opportunities for everyone so the feeling of inequality can shift towards a positive direction.

10. Marketing the destination should be refocused to managing the destination, as more and more destinations face the challenge of over-tourism. Tourism brands must have a strong, authentic story based on the values of the destination, then be able to communicate the story well by creating products that are in line with the brand vision.

May 16, 2019May 19, 2019

X2 Resorts Unveils First All-Pool Villa Retreat in Bang Saray, Pattaya

Pattaya (Thailand) – May 14, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Renowned Southeast Asian boutique hospitality brand, X2 [Cross-To] Resorts, has officially launched its latest boutique resort, X2 Pattaya Oceanphere – a stylish all-pool villa retreat at Bang Saray Beach, a former pirate haven and traditional fishing community on Thailand’s idyllic Eastern Seaboard.

Accessible in just 1.5 hours by car or taxi from Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport, X2 Pattaya Oceanphere is an enchanting destination for weekend breaks and international vacations. Nestled just 450 metres from the shoreline, where crystal clear seas gently lap golden sands, this sleek resort is suitable for couples, friends or families who want to experience design-led luxury in an authentic local ambience.

“X2 Pattaya Oceanphere is an exceptional addition to our portfolio and to Bang Saray, which is one of the most alluring stretches of coast on Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard. This area’s fabled history as a pirate haven is perfectly complemented and contrasted by the cutting-edge chic and upscale amenities of X2. We look forward to welcoming guests to Bang Saray’s first all-pool villa resort and introducing a new era of world-class hospitality to this captivating destination,” commented Steve Lockhart, Cluster General Manager of X2 Pattaya Oceanphere and X2 Vibe Pattaya Seaphere.

“We are thrilled to open X2 Pattaya Oceanphere and bring our vision of a smart, stylish new property to life. Bang Saray is an authentic destination that captures the charm of a Thai coastal community. By blending this traditional ambience with contemporary design and world-class facilities, we are giving our guests exactly what they want – experiential stays that push the boundaries, while also embracing contemporary comfort and reflecting the spirit of the destination,” said Mr. Chanin Vanijwongse, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat Group, the hotel’s owner and developer.

The 59 pool villas at X2 Pattaya Oceanphere include a choice of one-, two- and four-bedroom options, designed in a unique geometric style that resembles rice terraces gently cascading towards the coast. Starting from 137 square metres in size, each villa comes fully equipped with spacious living areas, bathrooms, a kitchen, floor-to-ceiling windows, an outdoor sala, terrace and private pool. The bedding in each room features state-of-the-art 37.5® Technology, which is designed to keep guests cool and comfortable by maintaining the body temperature at 37.5 degree throughout the night. The four-bedroom pool villas are perfectly suited to families and groups of friends.

Days at X2 Pattaya Oceanphere start with the signature X2 free-flow Champagne breakfast at Ocean Bistro, the bright all-day restaurant. This vibrant venue is set to elevate the standard of dining in Bang Saray, with a contemporary Asian and international à la carte menu that focuses on locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients, including the freshest seafood.

The resort’s spectacular rooftop pool is a sublime setting to chill out during the day, while Chili Blue, the pool bar, serves refreshing daytime drinks and stunning sunset cocktails, overseen by our resident mixologist. In-room dining is available and guests can also purchase ready-made dishes that they can reheat in the peace and privacy of their pool villa.

Visitors to Bang Saray can spend their days exploring the surrounding area, which is filled with cultural charm, natural beauty and modern attractions. With its unspoiled stretches of sand, this is an attractive destination for beach lovers. Once home to a legendary band of pirates, descendants of whom still live in the area today, Bang Saray presents an insight into Thailand’s rich coastal heritage. Guests can stroll along the sand and visit beach bars and seafood shacks, or visit Bang Saray Walking Street Market which sells genuine Thai products and handicrafts.

Away from the beach, guests can discover an array of activities including world-class water parks, championship golf courses, vineyards and botanical gardens. The rolling green hills are ideal for cycling, the azure sea is perfect for scuba diving, and the colourful nightlife of Pattaya is just a short drive away.

Part of BHMA Hotels and Resorts, X2 is an international lifestyle brand covering hotels, resorts, villas, branded residences and spas. With an emphasis on design, style and simplicity, the brand is unpretentious and understated, just like its customers. Following the launch of X2 Pattaya Oceanphere, there are now six X2 Resorts operating across Thailand, including X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort, X2 River Kwai Resort, X2 Kui Buri Resort, X2 Koh Samui Resort, and X2 Khao Lak Anda Mani Resort. The brand also operates a collection of five villas and residences in Thailand and Australia.

X2 Resorts’ footprint will continue to expand later this year with the highly-anticipated launch of X2 Breakers Bali, marking the brand’s Indonesian debut. This is one of six projects in the pipeline, as X2 strengthens its portfolio in some of Asia’s most desirable destinations.

As well as being easy to reach from Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bang Saray is accessible via U-Tapao International Airport. Just 20 minutes’ drive from the resort, this rapidly expanding air hub offers direct flights from cities in Thailand, China, Malaysia and further afield. In the coming years, the development of a high-speed rail link along the Eastern Seaboard will further enhance connectivity in this up-and-coming destination.

About Habitat Group
Habitat Group was founded in 2012 and is a leading premium property-for-investment developer in Thailand with extensive experience in developing hotel branded residences and a track record of delivering award-winning resorts with strong ROI for investors. Habitat Group’s portfolio includes upscale branded resort residences in prime locations in Pattaya as well as high-end low rise condominiums in Bangkok’s Central Business District. For more information, please visit www.habitatgroup.co.th.

About X2 [Cross-To] Resorts
X2 [Cross-To] Resorts is part of BHMA Hotels and Resorts’ distinctive portfolio and consists of design-driven luxury properties in unchartered destinations, from lush islands to heritage cities in Thailand and beyond. These stylish and elegant resorts cater to modern travellers with discerning taste, offering them the understated luxury they seek in a relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretence. X2 Resorts artfully provides authentic and anticipatory experiences that are seamlessly integrated with rustic nature and local charm. Currently, there are seven X2 Resorts and three X2 Villas dotted in three countries in the Asia Pacific; future plans call for more than X additional lifestyle and design hotel projects over the next several years.

For further information, please contact:
Steve Lockhart
Cluster General Manager
X2 Pattaya Oceanphere
X2 Vibe Pattaya Seaphere
Tel: +66 8 1438 2183
E-mail: Steve.Lockhart@bhmahotels.com
Website: www.x2lobby.com

May 16, 2019May 19, 2019

Saint Ange Tourism Report – 13th May 2019

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – May 13, 2019 (travelindex.com) – A lot of talk about tourism everywhere. The discussions must always be concentrating at trying to consolidate the industry for all those who invested in the industry or who finding a living in that key industry that is today the pillar of the Seychelles economy. Only last week the President of South Africa said that Tourism is a new gold ready to be explored and that tourism is an industry that has tremendous potential for further growth and job creation. This industry is not an activity, but remains very much an industry that is private sector driven. Seychelles needs to continue respect and to also thrust those who sit on the frontline of the industry because any downward trend affects them first, the their staff. Let us understand the private sector who also leads the island’s Tourism Board.

9th edition Seychelles Guidebook for the year 2019 and 2020 is out and this again is a private sector led venture. We want to take this opportunity to congratulate Daniella Payet and her son Laurent, the producers of this Seychelles guide for this needed working tool for the islands tourism industry.

Nature Conservation Groups is the voice for nature in Seychelles

Great news this week to finally see that Preserve Seychelles has finally been registered as an NGO ready to take on those set to destroy the future of the islands by destroying nature and the natural beauty we have been blessed with. Preserve Seychelles, under the Presidency of Terry Sandapin with Julia Morin as Secretary stood firm when all was seen as a loss cause for the island of Assumption. Standing on the road Saturday after Saturday with only a small group of patriots.

The Assumption Island sitting just next door to Aldabra, the world Heritage Site had been promised to India for use as a Military Base. The fight to retain sovereignty of the Seychelles Islands ended up on the group Preserve Seychelles. The official registration of this NGO comes at the right time.

A local Seychellois hotelier sent me the following:- “I am copying you this mail because I appreciate your interest in everything terrestrial and marine. There are organisations all around the world from the Amazon to the Great Barrier Reef trying to convince politicians to save our planet instead of running after big money…”

The attached document forwarded to me speaks volume:-

Every three years, the NSW Environment Protection Authority releases a report card on the health of our wildlife, forests, rivers, ocean, air and climate. Late yesterday, it released the latest State of the Environment Report, and the results are damning.

In just three years, the number of critically endangered species has jumped 30%, approved land clearing has skyrocketed 244%, and 1025 native species are now threatened with extinction.

We know what the NSW Government needs to do to turn things around – it must end deforestation, protect koala habitat, return water to our rivers and tackle climate change – but they won’t act if we don’t push them.

As I write this email, MPs are setting priorities for this term, so it is the perfect time to tell them to take urgent action to save koalas, forests and our climate.

With a new parliament and a new team of MPs sitting on the benches, we have a fresh chance to push our leaders to act before it’s too late.

Alarm bells have been ringing loud and clear this week, here and around the world. A few days before the EPA released its report, United Nations scientists warned one million species would become extinct if we keep trashing the planet the way we have been, with catastrophic consequences for people everywhere.

Thanks to these two reports and recent opinion polling in the run up to the state and federal elections, MPs know the environment is a top priority for the community……..”.

Can Seychelles not see the need to protect what we have been blessed with and for each and every Seychellois to be seen as good custodians of what we have been blessed with. Any politician who has promised to hand over to India the Seychelles island of Assumption should be ashamed of himself.

Alain St.Ange to speak at the Resilience Council meeting at the 42nd World Tourism Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa

The ATA World Conference will be taking place in South Africa on July 24th as part of the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council forum. The organisers Naledi K. Khabo Executive Director Africa Tourism Association (ATA) and Duncan Horton Chief Executive Officer Jacobs Media Group have invited me in my capacity as the Head of the Saint Ange Tourism Consultancy to the 42nd World Tourism Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa taking place July 22 – 26, 2019 to speak at the Resilience Council meeting on July 24, 2019. This conference, hosted by ATA and supported by the South Africa Convention Bureau, will focus on innovative business models, best practices and strategic partnerships growing the tourism sector. The Conference will bring together government leaders, international investors, industry stakeholders, and travel professionals to discuss how tourism can be utilized as a platform for resiliency, an engine for economic growth.

This year ATA has partnered with Jacobs Media Group through the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council. The Resilience Council, formerly the regional ITCMS, will operate a one-day event as part of the Conference focusing on recovery and resilience initiatives, the critical nature of crisis communications and planning for, during and after a crisis.

May 16, 2019May 19, 2019

SEAHIS Will Tackle Emerging Challenges to Thai & Regional Hotel Markets

Bangkok (Thailand) – May 13, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The South East Asia Hotel Investors’ Summit returns for its third edition in May and will again feature top executives from both hotel owning groups and management companies addressing issues facing the regional hospitality sector.

In Thailand, the past couple of years have seen a big rebound in the results of hotels, hostels and serviced apartments. Can it continue? There are some definite challenges ahead for the Thai owners and developers who build these properties:
• A slowdown in the growth of visitors from China, especially in Phuket
• Occupancy falling in some Thai markets, especially in Samui and Krabi and in the second half of the year across Phuket
• The rapid growth of Vietnam as a competing destination
• Competition from the sharing economy as more and more private homes enter the hospitality market
• The danger of debt costs rising as global easing is reduced
• The increasing cost of acquiring guests
• Possibilities that too many new hotels open, reducing occupancies and average rates – 12,000 new rooms to be absorbed in Bangkok

SEAHIS will examine all of these issues and look for solutions, with contributions from experts from among hotel owners, operators, consultants, law firms and participants in the new economy.

“Many hotel conferences are reluctant to put the real issues up front in order to avoid treading on sensitive ground, but at SEAHIS we believe our attendees want a very honest discussion about the prospects for the hotel sector in South East Asia” said Simon Allison, CEO of HOFTEL. “We have top executives giving real insights into how hotel owners and their key business partners can improve their profits.”

About HOFTEL

HOFTEL is the world’s leading association of hotel property investors. It is specifically designed to represent the disparate owners of hotels and provide them with a voice as a distinct industry sector.

HOFTEL provides an association and a forum for hotel real estate companies which receive rents or pay management fees as well as for hotel franchisees who both own and manage properties, but pay a third party to provide the brand and marketing. Its members range from multinationals to single-hotel companies and include institutional investors, private entrepreneurs and asset managers.

To date, HOFTEL has members and subscribers with hotels and serviced apartments in around 35 countries, which control between them hospitality real estate assets of around US$ 100 billion.

For more information, please visit www.hoftel.com.

May 12, 2019May 19, 2019

Best Western Celebrates Ground-Breaking Ceremony for Bangkok’s Best-Connected New Hotel

Bangkok (Thailand) – May 9, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts has held a ground-breaking ceremony for its latest hotel in Bangkok, Best Western Nada Don Mueang, which is set to become one of the best-connected hotels in Thailand’s thriving capital city.

When it opens its doors in the fourth quarter of 2020, Best Western Nada Don Mueang will be one of the closest internationally-branded hotels to Don Mueang Airport, which handles more than 40 million passengers per year. It will also be connected by two brand new urban rail links, the Pink Line and Green Line, which will provide fast and efficient transport to downtown Bangkok and across the Thai capital. Bangkok’s elevated expressway network is also within easy reach.

Pictured at the ground-breaking ceremony: Rene Jewell, Cluster General Manager, Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel and Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao (far left); Olivier Berrivin, Managing Director of International Operations – Asia, Best Western (2nd left); Mrs. Wanna Thitipoonya, Managing Director, Nuchinporn Co., Ltd. (3rd left); Mr. Krisda Thitipoonya, Managing Director, Nuchinporn Co., Ltd. (4th left), accompanied by members of the Thitipoonya family

Positioned in the up-and-coming north of Bangkok, the new hotel is situated an emerging business and residential area which is also home to the Thai government complex, major universities and hospitals, IT Square, Central Plaza Ramindra, and IMPACT, Bangkok’s largest conference and exhibition center.

Best Western Nada Don Mueang Hotel is being developed by Nuchinporn Co., Ltd, a leading Thai real estate company. This will be the third Bangkok property operated in partnership between Best Western and Nuchinporn Co., Ltd, following Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel and Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao.

The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by senior executives from both companies, including Olivier Berrivin, Managing Director of International Operations – Asia, Best Western; Rene Jewell, Cluster General Manager, Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel and Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao; Wanna Thitipoonya, Managing Director, Nuchinporn Co., Ltd; Krisda Thitipoonya, Managing Director, Nuchinporn Co., Ltd; and other members of the Thitipoonya family.

“This is a key milestone for Best Western Hotels & Resorts, as we continue to expand our collection of hotels in Bangkok. As tourism to Thailand continues to surge, Best Western is excited to provide yet another outstanding hotel that will keep guests completely connected, both in terms of its convenient transport links and state-of-the-art amenities. We are also delighted to strengthen our relationship with Nuchinporn Co., Ltd and the Thitipoonya family, our esteemed partners,” Olivier commented.

Upon opening, Best Western Nada Don Mueang will offer 270 contemporary guest rooms, all equipped modern amenities and complimentary Wi-Fi. The hotel will also feature a restaurant and meeting facilities.

Home to many of the region’s low-cost carriers, Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport offers direct connections to and from many of Asia’s largest cities, including Hong Kong, Jakarta, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. With further expansion planned and the launch of the new urban rail links, the airport will play a key role in the growth of Thailand’s tourism industry and economy in future.

The launch of Best Western Nada Don Mueang marks the latest step in the strategic expansion of Best Western’s Thai portfolio, which now covers key business and leisure destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Buriram and Prachinburi.

Contact information:
Sirimanas Maungrod (Cake) | Senior Regional Marketing Communications Manager | Asia
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com

Phanintorn Tangtrongjit (Dream) | Assistant Marketing Communications Manager | Asia
Email: phanintorn.Tangtrongjit@bestwestern.com

May 12, 2019May 19, 2019

Blue Elephant Phuket Baba Wedding Ceremony

Bangkok (Thailand) – May 9, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Blue Elephant Cooking School and Restaurant in Phuket was recently the venue for a press conference to announce the upcoming, two-day Peranakan inspired “The 9th Phuket Baba Wedding” package which will take the lucky couple to various prominent locations in Phuket between 14-15 June 2019. The Thai-Chinese Peranakan community is predominantly of Hokkien ancestry and has long held on to its unique culture and traditions for over 100 years, remaining a stronghold in the Phuket community. “The 9th Phuket Baba Wedding” offerings which include amongst others accommodation, photoshoot and a bridal luncheon party at the Blue Elephant Restaurant costs @Baht 49,900 per couple.

Pictured (4th from right) is Kawee Tansuktanon Phuket City Deputy Mayor; Kanokitika Kit Vutthikorn (3rd from left) Director/General of Toursim Authority of Thailand in Phuket; Ratanada Shuban (2nd from left) Vice President Phuket Tourist Association; Chef Nooror Somany Steppe (2nd from right), owner of Blue Elephant Cooking School and Restaurant; Doctor Kosol Taenguthai (4th from left) President of the Thai Peranakan Association; and Thanarat Kityakarn (far right) Executive Director of Hivetel.

May 12, 2019May 19, 2019

Chatrium Hotels Appoints Group General Manager

Bangkok (Thailand) – May 9, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Chatrium Hotels and Residences is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Rene Balmer as Group General Manager.

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Mr. Balmer, as Group General Manager, will work closely with the General Managers and leaders of various departments of each of our hotels and residences to maximize their potential. He will also be responsible for launching new properties for Chatrium Hotels and Residences as the group expands, with Chatrium Hotel Siam Bangkok, Maitria Hotel Rama 9 Bangkok – A Chatrium Collection and Maitria Residence Rama 9 Bangkok – A Chatrium Collection all opening soon.

“I am delighted to join the Chatrium family and am thrilled to be given the opportunity to assist in building Chatrium Hotels & Residences into one of the most well-known independent hotel groups internationally in the near future”, said Mr. Rene Balmer.

“I will draw on my experience and leadership to drive Chatrium’s talented teams to achieve even better results in terms of guest experiences and ensure that every person staying with us at Chatrium will truly ‘Feel the Remarkable’”.

Mr. Balmer has widespread and extensive experience in the hospitality industry and started his career in Food & Beverage Culinary Operations in 1986. He worked in this area for 19 years before accepting the role of General Manager Operations at a hotel/resort in Bangkok in 2005.

Prior to joining Chatrium Hotels and Residences, Mr. Balmer was a Senior Vice President Technical Services and Pre-Opening of a Thai-based hotel group. In this pivotal role he was involved in developing and expanding a variety of hotel brands over the past decade throughout Thailand as well as throughout South East Asia, with properties in Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Oman. Under his leadership and direction, over 30 hotels in the group have been successfully opened. Most recently his focus has been on refining and enhancing the processes of hotel development, from the initial conception stage to the final handover of a new property to the operation teams.

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About Chatrium Hotels and Residences:
Chatrium Hotels & Residences is comprised of seven properties across two distinct brands; our signature distinctive brand, Chatrium, and our lifestyle collection, Maitria. Both are born from a passion to provide uncompromising, warm service and a truly captivating experience. Discover 5-star services with a charming personal touch at properties located with comfort, convenience and stunning surroundings in mind. From cosmopolitan city centre living in Bangkok to the breathtaking scenery of Chanthaburi or the relaxing beauty of Royal Lake in Yangon, whether on business or leisure, long stay or short; when you stay with Chatrium or Maitria you are exactly where you want to be. Coming soon are two new Maitria properties; Maitria Hotel Rama 9 Bangkok – A Chatrium Collection and Maitria Residence Rama 9 Bangkok – A Chatrium Collection. Join us today and Feel the Remarkable.

May 12, 2019May 16, 2019

Saint Ange Tourism Report – 6th May 2019

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – May 8, 2019 (travelindex.com) – A recent the quote from President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa during the closing ceremony for the Durban Indaba last week marked many in the tourism industry when he said:- “Tourism is a new gold ready to be explored in Africa. Tourism is an industry that has tremendous potential for further growth and job creation”. The big question do we have the political will in Africa explore fully that new gold.

Encouraging Seychellois Islanders to be part of the tourism industry

Seychelles has some excellent hoteliers and they are shining as they work to claim back their industry that has become the pillar of the island’s economy. Seychellois, our very own islanders must be seen as key assets in the industry that remains their country’s economy. Restrictions and delays to embrace such a notion is detrimental and a real let down. Another carrying capacity study for La Digue has been launched that will bee touching Seychellois entrepreneurship and livelihood. We need instead to work to raise standard, work to better service, work to increase yield from tourism but we must remove obstacles that enable our islanders to reap the benefits from the island’s only economic driver.

Bureaucracy bears little to no direct benefits to the country and working with the private sector trade is the safest approach for long term consolidation of their industry. As La Digue Island is being told that another carrying capacity is needed, Silhouette Island’s second hotel at Grand Barb is again on the table. This one on an island deemed to be a nature park and island after island (from the Seychelles outer island group) has tourism developments going up that is announced only after the project is up and running. Seychellois involvement often ‘Nil By Mouth’ in these projects.

Guests investors will always be welcomed, but islanders and their interests must and should always be first because they alone will be here when and if the going gets tough. It is the Seychellois Islanders who will stand to speak up to defend and protect their industry they have invested in.

Seychellois employees are also the often unseen asset of the industry that has the Government as its biggest and most important shareholder. It continues to collect taxes and other fees as it also benefits from the performing industry with a solid economy. The Government of Jamaica has just announced a tourism industry staff insurance to ensure that employees in their needed industry are safeguarded and protected. Are we doing enough or are we only depending on the smaller partner, the private sector trade?

Human resources key to tourism’ success said the 6th World Tourism Forum Lucerne ended on Friday 3rd May with experts and travel and tourism professionals hailing the role of human capital as essential in the age of disruption in tourism. Over 550 participants from 80 countries took part in the discussion, which clearly demonstrated that digital transformation is leading the tourism industry into the future.

Finding the rightful place for culture

Arterial Network Seychelles has announced that they are presenting to Seychelles the eagerly anticipated solo exhibition of Praslinoise artist Sheila Markham at Eden Art Space Gallery, Eden Island on Friday 17th May at 6 pm. This is indeed good news for the continued cultural development of our islands. Culture in all its form must remain at the centre of our development.

The announcement of Sheila Markham’s solo exhibition arrives as new reaches Seychelles that the island’s pavilion at the Biennale in Venice is taking shape.

Seychellois artists George Camille and Daniel Dodin are presently in Venice creating the national pavilion for Seychelles. The exhibition will open on May 10th in the historic Palazzo Mora in the presence of Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, PS Cecile Kalebi, CEO of CINEA Galen Bresson (who is also the exhibition Commissioner), Curator Martin Kennedy, Administrator Ilaria Isola and the artists themselves. The delegation also includes Johnny Volcere, who is recording every stage of the pavilion’s construction with still and video images. The footage will be edited into a documentary film upon our return from Venice and we hope that this will be broadcast on national television as well as stand as an important archival document of the 2019 exposition.

Spread over two adjacent exhibition spaces the work – entitled DRIFT – explores issues of contemporary life in Seychelles and internationally. The overall Biennale theme, ‘May You Live in Interesting Times’ encourages artists to respond to issues around ‘fake’ news and the power of both social and mass media.

Camille has responded to this theme by creating a tsunami of more than 60 metres of subtly embossed heavy duty watercolour paper. The paper rises and falls dramatically, with the installation requiring visitors to bend and crawl inside the space in order to access the imagery which has been created by impressing the paper with metal forms. Camille’s trademark iconography is present, but here humans, fish, leaves and coco de mer are being relentlessly swept along on 1.5 metre wide channels of paper.

There is a tension between surrender and resistance which mirrors the way in which many of us respond to the tsunami of information which enters our lives through our ‘phones, computers, radios and televisions.

Visitors experience the installation aurally as well as visually and tactilely, as a specially created soundtrack of politicians and news broadcasters plays against a background of crashing waves.

Camille is asking important questions; How do we know what we know? How can we discriminate between the truth and lies? How can we authenticate and validate incoming data on such a huge and relentless scale? The work stands as a provocative instrument, with the artist hoping that viewers will see it as a starting point for reflection and discussion about some of the key issues of our time.

Daniel Dodin’s installation fuses film, sculpture and painting and addresses the lives of ordinary working Seychellois people. As part of this process the artist has focussed upon the bottle collectors – people who many would disregard in terms of contributing within ‘normal’ society, but who Dodin respects and, to an extent, valorises through his work. Young men loaded with gunny bags feature throughout his installation. They are repeating motifs in each of the three films being shown. They populate his painting (the largest canvas ever created by the artist) and they are painted in stylised figurative form on the sides of the three gunny bags which form part of the installation and which respectively contain plastic, salt and rice.

The salt represents the toil and sweat of the young (mostly) men who collect the waste plastic and metal from public refuse bins. In appearance it also resembles heroin, and references the challenges facing many young Seychellois. The rice represents the fruit of labour – basic food. The bottles represent the focus for their work. The Seychelles pavilion is gathering international attention, with interviews lined up with Arabic, British and French media outlets and a visit from the Biennale jury scheduled for the 9th May.

We are also taking the opportunity through the exhibition and related texts and catalogue, to promote our main economic pillar – tourism. The Seychelles Tourism Board has supported CINEA in mounting this pavilion and Eden Island has sponsored our unique catalogue.Both are to be applauded for supporting the promotion of contemporary Seychelles art at the world’s most prestigious exhibition. We hope that visiting the pavilion will encourage some of our visitors to plan trips to Seychelles in the near future.

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