Category: Latest Travel News

Phoenix, Arizona (United States) – February 18, 2019 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts announced today it has acquired renowned global hotel brand WorldHotels™ representing a collection of approximately 300 unique and special hotels and resorts in premier destinations around the world. Best Western now boasts a portfolio of hotel brands in every chain scale segment.

“There is tremendous synergy between Best Western and WorldHotels. By joining forces in this new partnership, we will create competitive advantages for both companies,” said David Kong, President and CEO of Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “I have the utmost respect for WorldHotels and believe in its vast potential.”

The acquisition of WorldHotels was completed last week. The WorldHotels brand will play a critical role in enhancing Best Western’s portfolio of offerings to include the upper upscale and luxury segments.

WorldHotels will maintain its distinctive personality and individuality while benefiting from Best Western’s robust and scalable E-Commerce platform, strong partnerships, award-winning loyalty program, effective sales and marketing support, global distribution network, and powerful revenue engines.

“Best Western is one of the largest, most respected and trusted hotel brands,” said Geoff Andrew, CEO, WorldHotels. “As we join forces, the combined power of our brands sets the stage for a bright future for both Best Western and WorldHotels. Through its established senior leadership team and regional presence in each market, Best Western brings a new level of expertise that will undoubtedly help grow the WorldHotels brand in key markets.”

Best Western has been on a journey of amazing transformation over the past several years. In the last year alone, Best Western was named one of the world’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company, expanded its portfolio to 13 dynamic brands reaching new guests in new segments, and won a record number of industry awards and accolades. The acquisition is a testament to Best Western’s commitment to growth, modernization and continued progression, bolstering the company’s position as a trusted leader in the global hospitality industry.

“In the coming months, our focus will be to unlock WorldHotels’ potential by improving revenue delivery to its hotels while protecting its independent identity. We truly believe our platform and revenue engines will benefit WorldHotels and attract many more independence–minded, quality hotels to join the brand. We are very pleased that Geoff Andrew will continue as CEO of WorldHotels for the foreseeable future,” concluded Kong.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of over 4,200 hotels in nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide*. Best Western offers 13 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, Sadie HotelSM, Aiden HotelSM, BW Premier Collection® by Best Western, and BW Signature Collection® by Best Western, as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection® by Best Western**. 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-mid-price and mid-price 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. Over 37 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 and SureStay branded hotels are independently owned and operated.

About WorldHotels Collection:
The WorldHotels Collection delivers proven soft brand solutions for a curated global offering of 300 of the finest independent hotels and resorts. Founded by hoteliers dedicated to the art of hospitality, only WorldHotels curates the best independent properties around the globe, each reflective of the locale by offering intuitive service, and a refined sense of character. WorldHotels’ proprietary ‘Start With Why’ philosophy helps each hotel identify their unique set of assets that distinguish and elevate their guest experience and revenue generation performance from the competition. Geared to both business and leisure travelers, the WorldHotels Collection is classified into three tiers allowing guests to select the offering that meets their needs: WorldHotels Luxury, WorldHotels Elite and WorldHotels Distinctive.

Contact information:
Kelly Dalton
Senior Director, Communications
602.957.5752
Kelly.Dalton@BestWestern.com

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – February 18, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Last week, Seychelles once again, assumed the Presidency of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands. The significance of this position is often taken for granted. It is not only the honour of being the face for the Indian Ocean Islands, but the President of the Vanilla Islands is expected to be the driving force for tourism, and lead with a vision to help all the islanders of the six islands of the island group.

Islanders need help more than ever before, and it is the sitting President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands who must pan out a vision for his year in office to make the difference for everyone.

Islands often fail to recognise their own islanders, and fail to work with them to ensure they remain the backbone of their island’s economy. This principle is so needed for a healthier island life.

Being appreciated for a job well done shows gratitude and sincerity. The words echoed at last weekend’s Vanilla Islands Ministerial Meeting by Faouzia Vitry, the Vice President of the Regional Council of Reunion Island were appreciated. Madame Vitry reminded the opening ceremony of the Ministerial Meeting that no one could talk about the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands without being reminded of my work as the former Tourism Minister of Seychelles who was not only one of the main personalities who helped create the regional organisation, but was elected its First President.

Madame Vitry, the Vice President of the Regional Council of Reunion went on to qualify that I was the only President of the Vanilla Islands who was invited to serve a second mandate as President of this Indian Ocean Islands grouping called the Vanilla Islands.

French Ambassador in Seychelles creates a unique opportunity for dialogue

The French Ambassador in Seychelles, H.E. Lionel Majesté-Larrouy used the opportunity of the Ministerial Meeting of the Indian Ocean Vanilla islands to host a reception at his residence at La Misere for the important delegations of both Reunion and Mayotte Islands

The evening provided the opportunity for those present to discuss tourism and cooperation. It was for me the opportunity to meet H.E. Ibrahim RAMADANI SOIBAHADINE, the President of Mayotte and his delegation as well as the two Vice Presidents of Reunion, Faouzia Vitry, and Olivier RIVIERE and their delegation, and Pascal Viroleau, the CEO of the Organisation, It was a great opportunity to exchange ideas on Indian Ocean tourism and the work of the Vanilla Islands for the benefit of the islanders of that new tourism region.

Also present was at the evening at the French Ambassador’s Residence was Michele Balourd, the Director of European Affairs and of Regional Cooperation. Madame Balourd is also a sitting elected member of the Mayotte Council.

Abercrombie & Kent to be acquired by founder Geoffrey J.W Kent and Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio of the Heritage Group

Alain St.Ange the former Seychelles Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine has congratulated Geoffrey J.W. Kent and Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio on the move to acquire Abercrombie & Kent (A&K). Alain St.Ange is personal friend of Manfredi Lefebre d’Ovidio from his days as the President of Silversea Cruises saying that this move to consolidate a respected tour and travel brand was a good one. “Both Geoffrey and Manfredi are industry household names and seeing them team up behind A&K can only be music to the ears of the tourism industry” said Alain St.Ange.

It has been confirmed that two heavyweights of the travel industry are banding together to acquire Abercrombie & Kent (A&K), a leading luxury tour operator founded in 1962.

Geoffrey J.W. Kent, Founder, Chairman and CEO of A&K, has formed a strategic partnership with Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman of the Heritage Group, to jointly acquire 100% of Abercrombie & Kent Group of Companies SA from troubled Chinese conglomerate, Zhonghong.

D’Ovidio, who will become Chairman of Abercrombie & Kent Holding, is using Heritage Group as the acquisition vehicle, which will own 85% of A&K, and Kent who will continue as Chairman and CEO of the operating company, will own 15%.

Kent was the man behind the first luxury tented photographic safaris back in 1962 in Kenya, and has since built A&K into one of the world’s leading luxury and adventure travel companies.

D’Ovidio is responsible for turning Silversea Cruises into a leading luxury and expedition cruise line which his father founded in 1994 with the purchase of two ships, the Silver Cloud and Silver Wind. This is the second large deal for D’Ovidio who just last year agreed to sell 66% of Silversea Cruises to Royal Caribbean International.

“Abercrombie & Kent is the finest luxury travel company in the world, and I am honoured to be able to partner with Geoffrey Kent to help this remarkable company continue its record growth,” said d’Ovidio in a statement. Kent added: “I am very excited to be working with Manfredi. I cannot think of a better or more experienced partner for the next phase of A&K’s growth.”

The closing of the deal is expected to be completed later this year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR China) – February 18, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Three days of action brought with them a life’s worth of memories as the curtain came down on the Asian stage of the Longines Masters Paris – Hong Kong – New York intercontinental series today. More than 35,000 people gathered across the three days of this year’s Longines Masters of Hong Kong.

Fittingly, the final day was graced by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who met the riders and presented the Longines Grand Prix of Hong Kong trophy. Longines Ambassador of Elegance, horse lover and entertainment super star Aaron Kwok was also on hand for the final press conference and to share his thoughts on the sport he loves so dearly – and like one of his live shows, the thrills came from start to glorious finish. The action began with The HKJC Asian Junior Grand Prix, excitement rose with the staging of the DBS Trophy, and then came the event everyone had been waiting for all week – the Longines Grand Prix of Hong Kong. And the premier event brought out the very best from Denis Lynch on Chablis as the Irish rider and his stable newcomer flew around the course. It proved a fitting way to end a fabulous week – and now it’s on to American stage in New York, which among other things will feature the rematch of the Riders Masters Cup, from 25 to 28 April 2019.

Denis Lynch claims the Longines Grand Prix of Hong Kong!

The glory on this final day came with the Longines Grand Prix of Hong Kong and a stunning effort from Denis Lynch on Chablis as they finished in front of Simon Delestre on Uccello de Will. But there was so much more also on offer all day.

It began – at 9.30am – with The HKJC Asian Junior Grand Prix, an initiative from partners EEM, The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation that showcased the rising stars of Asian showjumping. It was Hong Kong’s Vincent Zi-Xiang Capol on It’s A Gamble who lit up the main arena on the day, capturing the title after a two-round competition with jump heights raised from 1.00m to 1.10m.

Next – at 12pm – came the DBS Trophy, a one-round competition that set riders a simple task. On paper at least. To win you had to be the fastest from eight riders to complete a clear round – and on this day the fastest was Roger Yves Bost on Castleforbes Talitha.

Then it was time for the ultimate event at the world’s ultimate show jumping series. The Longines Grand Prix tests the world’s best against jumps at Olympic height heights of 1.60m, and it provides a true test of technique, of skill and of bravery from both rider and horse.

In the end it came down to a ride for the ages from Denis Lynch on Chablis, as they cleared all the fences over two rounds. Second place went to Simon Delestre on Uccello de Will – the only other pair to clear all the fences. Along with the US$400,000 in price money the Paris, Hong Kong and New York Longines Grand Prix offers something very special – a Super Grand Slam Bonus of €2,250,000 rewarding a victory in each round of the Series in the same season and a €1,000,000 additional bonus for three successive victories at The Longines Grand Prix straddling two Longines Masters seasons. Irishman Lynch will now head to New York for the next leg in April with that huge bonus in his sights.

While the show jumping action kept fans glued to their seats all day long, there was plenty more to entertain in the main arena. Presented by MGM, equine artists Frédéric Pignon and Magali Delgado and their Iberian horses continued to leave the audience spellbound with dazzling shows combining music, dance and multi-media. Then there was the appearance of the “golden girl” of the HKJC Equestrian Team as Jacqueline Siu celebrated her history making gold medal performance at last year’s Asian Games with a dressage performance the relived the glory.

Reflections on three days of fun and fanfare

Over three days – and nights – the Prestige Village came alive, allowing visitors to indulge and be entertained thanks to fabulous collaborations with the Longines Masters of Hong Kong’s partners and exhibitors.

Among the many and varied highlights were the first staging of the Asian Hobby Horse Competition and the wild after party hosted by DJ Henri PFR, while visitors were able to immerse themselves in luxury offering from a wide array of brands, while being tempted by gastronomic delights. While visitors were treated to the latest from the likes of Title Partner Longines, Kingsland, Fieldstone, Horse Pilot, Equicty, Hermès Sellier, Asia Marine, Baccarat, Lightfoot Travel, Robert Mark Safaris, KEF, La Mod and Maserati. There were also themed gifts and novelties inside the Longines Masters Boutique, one lucky guest walked away with a trip (flight and accommodation) to New York to visit the Macey & Sons Gallery and the Longines Masters of New York in April 2019, courtesy of Macey & Sons Gallery.

Save the Children

Dedicated to promoting equestrian sports on an international scale as well as making a difference by contributing to socially constructive causes, Longines Masters series organizers EEM this year chose to support deprived children around the globe, especially in Hong Kong and China. The Hong Kong leg of the intercontinental show jumping event joined hands with the Sole Beneficiary Charity Partner, Save the Children Hong Kong, with parts of the net proceeds generated from the charity auction lunch, various VIP Hospitality Experiences in a specific period of time and kids’ activities in Prestige Village donated to sustain these marginalized children’s ongoing education, health, protection and emergency relief programs.

“The Longines Masters of Hong Kong delivered its promise and concluded with a spectacular showcase of the best of show jumping with the victory of Denis Lynch. More than ever Hong Kong is confirming its status of Asia’s equestrian capital as more than 35,000 visitors, from Hong Kong, Asia and the rest of world gathered over the last three days in celebration of horses Thanks to all our wonderful partners and the public, our event has become a not-to-be-missed meeting point for corporates, professional, and families alike. Now our Series continues its journey and will settle on the American continent for the Longines Masters of New York, which will take place from 25 to 28 April, 2019” concludes Christophe Ameeuw, CEO of EEM and Founder of the Longines Masters series.

About EEM
With a passion for equestrian sports, Christophe Ameeuw–—CEO of EEM and Founder of the Longines Masters Series Paris-Hong Kong-New York–—created the Ecuriesd’Ecaussinnes in 1997. Based in Belgium, the stables today enjoy an international reputation for trading competition horses, for high-end breeding, and for an academy that provides access to the best in equestrian training. The organization, as well as the reinvention of show jumping competitions, is the challenge that Christophe Ameeuw and his team have set for themselves. The company has developed by creating the “Masters” concept, which brings together under one roof the best of show jumping, entertainment and lifestyle experience. After the successes of the Audi Masters in Brussels and the Gucci Paris Masters, EEM has added to its prestigious profile of events a new iconic competition, one of the most prestigious equestrian events in the world, the Longines Masters series on three continents in Paris, Hong Kong and New York. Inspired by the legendary tournaments of the tennis Grand Slam, EEM has created in a single package the “Grand Slam of Indoor Show Jumping”, recognized by the FEI, which is the ultimate

intercontinental challenge, offered to the world’s elite in show jumping with two levels of prizes: The Super Grand Slam, a bonus of 2.25 million Euros for winning three consecutive Longines Grand Prix in the same season, and the Grand Slam, a bonus of 1 million Euros for three successive victories in the Longines Grand Prix from one season to the next.

In 2017, EEM created a new team competition, the Riders Masters Cup. Presented in collaboration with the EEF (European Equestrian Federation) and taking place alternately in Europe and the United States, this battle will oppose the two world powers of show jumping: Europe and the United States.

On the Asian continent, meanwhile, there is the Asia Horse Week, a real meeting point for the international equestrian community in Asia, which was created during the Longines Masters in Hong Kong, thus demonstrating EEM’s desire to develop the international sector in the Asia-Pacific region.

In September 2018, EEM announced a partnership with the Palm Beach Masters, one of the most prestigious international competitions on the US East Coast. The Palm Beach Masters Series’ partnership with EEM allows it to offer an innovative program in 2019.

With the desire to bring equestrian sports to the forefront and make them accessible to all, EEM in 2017 launched EEM.tv, a new digital TV channel that allows you to follow EEM events worldwide live, free of charge, and in full.

About Longines
Based in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, since 1832, the watchmaking expertise of Longines reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. Longines has generations of experience as the official timekeeper for world championships and as a partner of international sports federations. Over the years, Longines has forged solid and lasting ties with the sports world. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of Swatch Group Ltd., the world’s leading manufacturer of timekeeping products. Featuring the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand operates in more than 150 countries.

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – February 15, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Last weekend’s Vanilla Islands Ministerial Meeting saw Faouzia Vitry, the Vice President of the Regional Council of Reunion Island remind the opening ceremony of the meeting that no one could talk about the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands without being reminded of Alain St.Ange, the former Tourism Minister of Seychelles who was not only one of the main personalities who helped create the regional organisation, but he was elected its First President.

Mrs Vitry went on to qualify that Minister Alain St.Ange was the only President of the Vanilla Islands who was invited to serve a second mandate as President of this Indian Ocean grouping called the Vanilla Islands.

Last weekend it was again Seychelles who took over as President of the Vanilla islands, a position that is now assumed on a rotational basis.

Delegations from the Member States were present in Seychelles for this Ministerial Meeting.

Rishikesh (India) – February 15, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2019 began on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India with 300 delegates from 28 countries in attendance for the three-day niche event, comprising a one-day-travel mart and one-day conference.

The event, which was organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and hosted by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, brought together international experts at the forefront of the adventure travel industry from both the private and public sectors to discuss the issues and opportunities in travel and tourism.

On Thursday, February 14, delegates heard from a diverse line-up of speakers at the one-day conference under the theme ‘‘Rejuvenate Your Soul Through Travel’. The thought leaders, innovators and pioneers, who are shaping the emerging landscape of the adventure travel and responsible tourism industry, examined various conference topics that covered ‘Rejuvenating Your Soul Through Travel’; ‘Storytelling to Sell Travel on Instagram’; ‘Using Sustainability to Future-Proof Our Destination’; ‘Trends to India’; ‘Creating Experiences that are Regenerative’; ‘Marketing to the New Adventure Travellers’; ‘Tourism as a Tool for Rejuvenation’; ‘A Special Story of Indian Rejuvenation’, and ‘Sustaining our Souls: Vision-Driven Leadership in Adventure Tourism’.

The conference was opened by Shri Dilip Jawalkar, IAS, Secretary Tourism, Religious Affairs and Culture Department, Government of Uttarakhand; Shri Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; Shri Yogendra Tripathi, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Shri Satpal Maharaj, Honourable Minister of Tourism, Uttarakhand.

Speakers included Ajay Jain, Speaker, Writer and Owner – Kunzum Travel Cafe; Apoorva Prasad, Editor-in-Chief and Founder – The Outdoor Journal; Choy Teh, Account Manager, Media Relations – Bannikin Asia; Mandip Singh Soin, Founder & Managing Director – Ibex Expeditions; Mariellen Ward, Digital Storyteller, Content Marketer and Traveller – Breathedreamgo; Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO – PATA; Melissa Burckhardt, Director – Membership Relations, PATA; Daw Moe Moe Lwin, Director and Vice Chairperson – Yangon Heritage Trust; Mohan Narayanaswamy, Managing Director – Travel Scope; Paul Brady, Editorial Strategist – Skift; Rajeev Tewari, CEO – Garhwal Himalayan Explorations Pvt. Ltd.; Robin Weber Pollak, President – Journeys International; Rohan Prakash, CEO – Trip 360; Shradha Shrestha, Manager – Brand Promotion and Corporate Marketing, Nepal Tourism Board; Capt. Swadesh Kumar, President – Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI); Trevor Jonas Benson, Director of Food Tourism Innovation – Culinary Tourism Alliance; Vivienne Tang, Founder – Destination Deluxe, and Yosha Gupta, Founder – Meraki.

During the media briefing conference on the morning of Friday, February 15, PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy noted that, “The event aims to be a catalyst for generating new ideas and improving collaboration between public and private sector organisations”.

“By bringing together such a dynamic and diverse group of speakers, we hoped to highlight the need to discuss, analyse and share various ideas with both the public and private sector in planning, building and promoting a responsible travel and tourism industry,” he added.

Today’s B2B mart welcomed 47 seller organisations from 10 destinations (Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand) and 44 buyer organisations from 18 source markets (Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the USA).

About PATA
Founded in 1951, 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 800 member organisations, including 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 20 international airlines and airports, 102 hospitality organisations and 70 educational institutions, as well as over a hundred 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 35 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 22 PATA Student Chapters globally. Their local activities underpins PATA’s membership in Uniting Travel, a coalition of the world’s major Travel & Tourism organisations dedicated to ensuring that the sector speaks with one voice and acts in unison on the major issues and includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. 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.

Contact information:
PATA
Paul Pruangkarn
Director – Communications & External Affairs
+66 (02) 658-2000 | communications@PATA.org | Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok (Thailand) – February 15, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Bangkok is becoming one of the world’s most well-connected mega-cities – a leading example of how infrastructure and innovation can transform people’s lives. The expansion of the city’s MRT subway and BTS skytrain networks, along with new Airport Rail Links and suburban SRT lines, is revolutionising urban transport and making Thailand’s capital city more accessible than ever before.

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Capitalising on these developments, Ananda Development PCL, Bangkok’s number one mass transit condominium developer, is redefining urban living in Bangkok by building world-class properties in close proximity to Bangkok’s mass transit stations. The company now has a portfolio 60 residential projects in Bangkok, which are on average just 76 metres from the nearest mass transport station. These provide local residents, expats and overseas buyers with a choice of 44,200 contemporary, state-of-the-art condo units in all corners of the city, from prime downtown districts to exciting up-and-coming suburbs.

With five distinct condo brands – ASHTON, IDEO Q, IDEO Mobi, IDEO and ELIO – Ananda’s projects promise “Urban Living Solutions” to young professionals who value convenience and connectivity above all else. The company now plans to launch 10 new projects worth THB38 billion, focusing on mass transit stations. Ananda ranked number one in terms of units sold within 300 metres of Bangkok’s mass transit stations in the 2016-2018 period. The company also topped the rankings for units sold overall in Bangkok in 2018.

The company is also generating additional revenue channels by expanding the business into other areas, including serviced apartments. Ananda now partners with The Ascott Limited, the world’s number one luxury serviced residence provider, and is in the process of developing five serviced apartment projects, namely Somerset Rama 9, Ascott Embassy Sathorn, Ascott Thonglor, LYF Sukhumvit 8 and the latest project at Central Pattaya Beach.

Bangkok’s urban transit network is crucial for the city’s estimated 8.3 million residents and hundreds of thousands of tourists with urban transport networks now catering to more than 800,000 passengers per day*, with 126km of track and 90 stations. A further 340km of track and 196 stations are in the pipeline, taking the total length of Bangkok’s mass transit systems to 466km with a grand total of 286 stations by 2030. This will it make it longer than the London Underground or New York Subway.

In 2018 alone, Ananda’s transfers increased 120% year-on-year to THB33 billion – an all-time high. In addition, the company reported record international transfers of THB6.3 billion, an increase of 300% over 2017, and international annual sales of THB10.1 billion, another record total. It also has a large backlog of THB41 billion due to transfer over the next three years.

Ananda and its partner Mitsui Fudosan launched five new condo projects in 2018, including IDEO Sathorn-Wongwian Yai, IDEO Ratchada-Sutthisan, ELIO Sathorn-Wutthakat, and a development at Saphan Khwai. In addition, the two companies entered into their first four serviced apartment projects, valued at THB10 billion. The companies now have 30 projects worth THB128 billion – the largest number of joint venture developments in Thailand. This is expected to grow further to THB157.6 billion in 2019. With strong cash flow of over THB 13 billion which can be used to invest and strengthen the business in future.

“In recent years, Bangkok has been transformed from a captivating but congested Asian city into a smart, forward-thinking global metropolis. Connectivity is at the heart of this regeneration, allowing residents and visitors to travel around this exciting city quickly and easily. At Ananda Development, we understand the impact that accessibility can have on people’s lives – especially younger citizens who lead active, urban lifestyles. Our diverse collection of condo projects, inter-linked with Bangkok’s transport network, is making this dream of modern city life a reality for thousands of people,” said Chanond Ruangkritya, CEO of Ananda Development.

Bangkok has always been a highly appealing destination for leisure travellers and expats, due to its vibrant street life, friendly ambience and plethora of attractions. This is evidenced by the fact that Thailand’s capital is now the world’s most-visited city**, attracting more than 20 million international visitors per year, the majority of whom enter through the city’s two international airports.

The city’s appeal among investors was always tainted however, by the notorious traffic congestion, which made travelling around Bangkok a slow and difficult process. With the expansion of the city’s urban rail network, including airport rail links to Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, Bangkok is now becoming even more liveable and lovable, raising its profile among Thai and international urbanites.

In the years ahead, Ananda’s strategy of developing high-quality residences close to mass transit stations means that more people than ever before will have the opportunity to live, work and play in this vibrant Asian metropolis.

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Bangkok (Thailand) – February 14, 2019 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts has celebrated the opening of its inaugural Vīb Best Western hotel in Asia Pacific, the brand new Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao, Bangkok.

A cutting-edge, tech-savvy midscale hotel for the modern generation, Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao is perfectly positioned in a vibrant part of north-downtown Bangkok, surrounded by shopping malls, corporate offices and local attractions. Sanam Pao BTS skytrain station is just steps from the hotel, putting the entire city within easy reach.

Connectivity is at the core of the Vīb Best Western brand (pronounced “vibe”), which allows guests to feel the beat of the city and stay connected at all times. Sleek and stylish, this innovative concept focuses on integrated technology and social interaction, with communal spaces that allow guests to plug in, sit back and chill out.

The hotel’s 91 contemporary rooms all come equipped with free Wi-Fi, Smart TVs and e-concierge technology, along with comfortable beds, refreshing rain showers and convenient work areas. Guests can grab quick snacks from the café, enjoy invigorating 24-hour workouts in the gym, unwind with a cool drink at Eye Bar, or even stay and play in the gaming pods.

Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao has been developed by Nuchinporn Co., Ltd, which also owns the popular Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel, Bangkok.

“We are delighted to come together with our esteemed partner, Nuchinporn Co., Ltd, to launch Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao, the first Vīb Best Western hotel in Asia Pacific,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western’s Managing Director of International Operations – Asia. “This new concept is perfectly suited to today’s connected travelers. Smart and social, Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao reflects this exciting new era of hospitality.”

“Vīb Best Western is aimed at guests who enjoy a modern, urban and social lifestyle. Our guests expect complete convenience and connectivity at all times. Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao will deliver seamless, hassle-free and stylish stays. This is the new face of midscale hospitality, evolved for the 21st Century. I am confident that all guests will ‘feel the Vīb’ when they stay with us in this dynamic district of Bangkok,” added Berrivin.

Vīb Best Western is a tech-centric global midscale hotel concept created specifically for the needs of today’s ‘always on’ travelers. All hotels will be newly-built in prime urban locations, ensuring complete ease and accessibility for guests.

With its ideal location just steps from the BTS skytrain network, Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao is just a few stops away from the Airport Rail Link to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, while Don Mueang Airport is just a short drive away.

Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao becomes the third of its kind in operation worldwide, following existing locations in Antalya (Turkey) and Springfield, Missouri (U.S.). Best Western plans to introduce the brand to serval other Asian cities in the future, while key U.S. cities including New York, Miami and Chicago already have new hotels in the pipeline.

Following the highly-anticipated launch of Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao, five of Best Western’s distinctive hotel brands will be in operation in Bangkok – more than any other Asian city. Vīb Best Western joins Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, BW Premier CollectionSM by Best Western and SureStay PlusSM Hotel by Best Western in Thailand’s capital, offering a wide choice of world-class hotels for every occasion.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of over 4,200 hotels in nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide*. Best Western offers 13 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, Sadie HotelSM, Aiden HotelSM, BW Premier Collection® by Best Western, and BW Signature Collection® by Best Western, as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection® by Best Western**. 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-mid-price and mid-price 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. Over 37 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 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

Best Western Hotels & Resorts
BWI (Thailand) Co., Ltd.|Unit 5A-2 | 5th Floor Gaysorn Place Office Building
999 Ploenchit Road Lumpini Phatumwan | Bangkok | 10330 | Thailand
Phone: +662.656.1260 | Fax +662.656.1252| www.bestwesternasia.com

Berlin (Germany) – February 13, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Big names and leading international companies focus on forward-looking transportation systems and the shift in customer demands in the luxury travel market – Presentation of the latest results of an exclusive international report by Travelzoo and ITB Berlin – For exhibitors, trade visitors and the media admission to the ITB Berlin Convention 2019 from 6 to 9 March is included in the price of a ticket

Berlin, 12 February 2019 – Besides escalating overtourism conflicts and the impending climate catastrophe, changing transportation systems and the shift in customer demands will be the key topics at the ITB Berlin Convention from 6 to 9 March 2019. This year, the leading think tank of the global travel industry is presenting an outstanding program again. More than 400 leading speakers representing tourism, business and politics will be taking part in discussions at a total of 200 events. They include First Lady of Iceland and United Nations Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals Eliza Jean Reid, Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism the Hon. María Amalia Revelo Raventós, Member of the German Bundestag and Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy and Federal Government Tourism Officer Thomas Bareiß, President of the ifo Institute Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Clemens Fuest, President of Homes Airbnb Greg W. Greeley, CEO Expedia Mark Okerstrom, Head of Alibaba Europe Terry von Bibra, and President of the Alibaba Global Business Group and Alibaba Fliggy Group Angel Zhao.

Mobility: a new era has arrived

Transportation systems are an essential part of the tourism industry. But can today’s systems take on the future? On Wednesday, 6 March 2019, day one of the ITB Destination Days, movers from the world of innovative transport will examine this topic at the ’Future Ground Mobility Panel’. Wolfram Auer, Deputy Director International Business Development Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH, Stephan Pfeiffer, head of Strategic Partnerships & Public Affairs, ioki (Deutsche Bahn), and Christoph Weigler, director general of Uber Germany, will discuss the major changes taking place in transportation with a view to concepts such as driverless vehicles, ride-sharing business models, mobility platforms, electric powertrains, minibuses, bikes for hire, cable cars and other modes of transport. They will also highlight measures for promoting tourist attractions which cities and rural areas could implement now in order to meet the challenges of the future.

’Future Ground Mobility’ will be the focus of the ITB Ministers’ Roundtable as well. Tourism ministers from leading travel destinations, such as Egypt, Costa Rica, Greece, Kenya, Namibia or Sambia will talk about the major transport problems increasingly affecting countries and ways to improve the travel experience.

Shift in customer demands in the luxury travel market

A paradigm shift is taking place in the tourism industry. Customers in the luxury market are now less interested in material wealth and more in non-material values. Nowadays, space, time, seclusion and self-expression are important to them, as well as experience instead of adventure. Today’s luxury market customers are looking for meaning and sense. On 7 March 2019 on Marketing & Distribution Day at the ITB New Luxury Panel, together with Prof. Dr. Monika Imschloß, an expert on sensory marketing, Universität zu Köln, and the starred chef David Kikillus, Marc Aeberhard, the proprietor of Luxury Hotel & Spa Management Ltd., will discuss how changing customer demands are influencing hotel and tourism services and the shape that luxury products will take in the future.

Afterwards, the internationally renowned travel correspondent Doug Lansky will reveal an insider’s view of global concierge and butler services. In his introductory speech on the ’Personality profiles of luxury customers’ he will reveal the travel needs of high-end luxury customers, the experiences they ultimately desire, and how to communicate with them.

On 7 March 2019 the ITB Hospitality Tech Forum will also be discussing the shift in customer demands. In his lecture entitled ’Beyond Unconventional: Keeping up with the Tent Next Door’, Adam Harris, CEO of Cloudbeds, will talk about how the market is changing. More and more tourists will be attracted to unusual forms of accommodation rather than luxury hotels.

Rediscovering the art of travel is the subject of a speech that Ilija Trojanow will hold. On 8 March 2019, day two of the ITB Destination Days, the renowned writer, bestselling author and ITB Book Award winner 2019 will hold a keynote on ’How to travel. A user’s guide’, and offer answers to these questions: ”What do we look for when we travel to other countries?”, “How many new things do we want to discover?”, and “How much are we willing to change?”

Results of the exclusive Overtourism Report by Travelzoo and ITB Berlin

As in every year the results of the market survey carried out by Travelzoo and ITB Berlin will be presented at the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. The international portal for exclusive travel deals was commissioned by ITB Berlin to examine perceptions of overtourism, a topic which to date has received little attention. The report looked at which tourist groups and nationalities thought overcrowded destinations gave a particularly negative impression, what they would do to avoid the problem, and what action they expected travel operators and destinations to take. The global survey provides in-depth information and is an important decision-making tool for industry managers in order to confront one of the biggest challenges facing the international tourism industry, now and in the future. Sharry Sun, Global Head of Brand, Travelzoo, will present the exclusive report at the Deep Dive Session 1 at the City Cube Club on 6 March 2019 at 1 p.m.

On Thursday 7 March, on the eve of International Women’s Day, an ITB Berlin Convention seminar on gender equality in tourism will take place at the Palais am Funkturm at 1 p.m., which will also present the second Global Report on Women in Tourism by UNWTO. This will be followed by the presentation of the Celebrating Her Awards by the International Institute for Peace in Tourism, which honours outstanding achievements by women. International Women’s Day is not the only occasion on which prominent women will be having their say at ITB Berlin. On 7 March at the ITB Tourism for Sustainable Development Day, Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, a member of the German Bundestag and Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety, will talk about ’German Outbound Travel has Impact! What Responsibilities is the German Government bearing?’ On 8 March, which is CSR Day, at a discussion round under the heading ’A tidal wave of plastic – Ocean pollution and the UN Sustainable Development Goals’, three women will host the debate: Dr. Frauke Fischer, founder of Agentur auf! and an author, consultant and technical expert on sustainability; Dr. Monika Griefahn, senior sustainability advisor, Costa Group, a founding member of Greenpeace and former minister; and Joanne Hendricks, formerly global sustainable destinations manager, Thomas Cook Group and founder of Travel Without Plastic.

New: ITB Berlin Convention at the CityCube

In future, the ITB Berlin Convention will take place at the CityCube, the multi-purpose congress and trade fair venue. That means more room for events, improved access and better transport links. Visitors to the CityCube will be directly next door to the fair halls and only a short distance from light rail public transport (S-Bahn) at Messe Süd.

For trade visitors and exhibitors at the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is included in a ticket to ITB.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2019 will be taking place from Wednesday, 6 to Sunday, 10 March, and from Wednesday to Friday will be open to trade visitors only. ITB Berlin is the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. In 2018 a total of 10,000 companies and organisations from 186 countries exhibited their products and services to around 170,000 visitors, including 110.000 trade visitors. Parallel with the show the ITB Berlin Convention, the largest event of its kind, will be held from Wednesday, 6 to Saturday, 9 March 2019. The World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) is Co-Host of the ITB Berlin Convention, Ctrip, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and mc Group are Platinum Sponsors, CLIA – Cruise Lines International Association and Jin Jiang International Hotels Group are Gold Sponsors and euronews is Official Media Partner of the ITB Berlin Convention. Admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is free for trade visitors and exhibitors.

Information about the data protection law:
Under the data protection law the organisation responsible for this email is Messe Berlin GmbH, Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin, represented by its management: Dr. Christian Göke (CEO), Dirk Hoffmann; Chairman of the Supervisory Board Wolf-Dieter Wolf; Data protection officer: postal address as for Messe Berlin GmbH, email: datenschutz@messe-berlin.de. The email address used for the dispatch of this information has been obtained for the purpose of sending press releases. Section 6, Subparagraph 1, Letter f, DSGVO forms the legal basis for this purpose and for the dispatch of press releases to press representatives. The justified interest is that of notifying media representatives about current and future trade fairs and similar events. This email address will not be passed on to third parties.

Bangkok (Thailand) – February 7, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The overall annual growth rate for international visitors into 40 Asia Pacific destinations is estimated to have been around 7.8 percent in 2018, generating an inbound volume of around 688 million for the year – almost 50 million more foreign arrivals than in 2017.

According to the Executive Summary of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) ‘Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2019-2023’ released today, 40 destinations within Asia Pacific collectively are predicted to show an average growth rate of 5.5 percent per annum between 2018 and 2023, to host close to 900 million foreign visitor arrivals in 2023.

Asia will continue its strong growth momentum with an expected annual average growth rate for foreign visitor arrivals of 6.2 percent between 2018 and 2023, while the Pacific and the Americas follow with average growth rates of 4.4 percent and 3.1 percent per year respectively, over the same period.

Driven by its strong average annual growth rate, Asia will receive the bulk of the foreign arrivals between 2018 and 2023. After capturing a relative share of close to 74 percent of foreign arrivals in 2018, the proportion into Asia is expected to increase to over 76 percent by the end of the forecast period (2023). The impact on the Americas and the Pacific is a slight contraction in their respective relative shares from 22.4 percent in 2018 to just under 20 percent in 2023 for the former, and from four percent to 3.8 percent for the latter, even as their respective numbers of foreign arrivals increase.

Asia will also be the strongest generator of foreign arrivals into Asia Pacific over the forecast period, improving its relative share of arrivals from 63.9 percentage points in 2018, to over 66 percentage points in 2023.

Intra-regional travel flows remain important for both the Americas and Asia, with the former destination region seeing over three-quarters of its foreign arrivals originating within that region in both 2018 and 2023.

Similarly, for Asia, where intra-regional travel flows will increase in relative terms, from almost 94% in 2018 to over 94% by 2023.

The Pacific destination region differs, in as much as more than half of its inbound international visitor arrivals originated in Asia in 2018 with that proportion forecast to increase to around 57% by 2023. Even so, the intra-regional flows from the Pacific to the Pacific remain significant at over 30% in 2023.

PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy points out that “Asia continues to be the engine of growth for foreign arrivals into Asia Pacific, with intra-regional flows in particular, remaining important. This intra-regional activity is true for the Americas as well, but less so for the Pacific which is rapidly becoming more popular with Asian markets.”

He further adds, “Once again, we need to be mindful of the fact that in delivering positive and memorable experiences to a rapidly changing inbound market mix, we need to maintain a service ethic and mind-set that is consistently superior and at the same time, tailored to the very different needs of an increasingly diverse range of visitors”.

Furthermore, Dr. Hardy noted that, “In developing a service mindset we need to ask ourselves are we preparing to welcome 898 million foreign arrivals into Asia Pacific in 2023, or should we think of that instead, as one very special visitor, 898 million times. Your perspective on that can make all the difference”.

This report is available now at the PATA Store at

About PATA
Founded in 1951, 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 800 member organisations, including 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 20 international airlines and airports, 102 hospitality organisations and 70 educational institutions, as well as over a hundred 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 35 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 22 PATA Student Chapters globally. Their local activities underpins PATA’s membership in Uniting Travel, a coalition of the world’s major Travel & Tourism organisations dedicated to ensuring that the sector speaks with one voice and acts in unison on the major issues and includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. 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.

Contact information:
PATA
Paul Pruangkarn
Director – Communications & External Affairs
+66 (02) 658-2000 | communications@PATA.org | Bangkok, Thailand

Phuket (Thailand) – February 8, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket awarded “Gold Level” Green Hotel Award at the 12th Anniversary G-Green award ceremony organized by Thailand’s Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. This prestigious award strengthen the resort’s sustainability and environmental policy in Thailand. The event was attended by government and industry leaders, hotels and hospitality organizations, international print and broadcast and is highly regarded among the global travel and tourism communities.

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Aimed to raise awareness on natural resources conservation, to promote people’s participation in environmental protection and to honor role-model individuals and organizations, the Green Hotel Award also celebrates its 12th Anniversary this year. A total of 221 awards were given to organizations, hotels in Thailand ranging from small to large and general to specialty.

“Receiving this green-focused award means a lot to us and this also drives our resort’s sustainability and eco-consciousness. While travelers are looking more for to ensure their personal commitments to living more sustainably, we then aim to set the new benchmark for Phuket’s green initiative and to be the resort of choice to ensure memorable stays yet eco-friendly.,” said Mr Erich Friedl, General Manager of The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket.

“Our commitment to environmental issue counts and in line with our resort’s corporate responsibility policy to reduce environmental impact, our proactive associates are aware of this matter well and they’re very active on participating environmental events with local community to ensure that our ongoing green initiatives are making waves not only in Phuket but Thailand and the whole world.” He added.

Apart from removing plastic straws initiative, The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket’s Green Committees also works hard to enhance the sustainability of the operations, to reduce both plastic consumption, and to reuse/recycle things where possible.

According to Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Green Hotel award is graded by industry experts and honorary judges and is divided into 3 tiers includes bronze level (Score of 60-69% or above), silver level (Score of 70-79% or above) and gold level (Score of 80% or above). Among 6 hotels in Phuket and 23 hotels nationwide, The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket won “Gold Level” Green Hotel Award 2019.

Nestled among stunning beaches, lush coconut groves, with never-ending views of the emerald-green Phang Nga Bay and idyllic landscapes of the Phuket coastline, The Naka Island is an exclusive boutique resort on Naka Yai Island, located just off the Phuket coast. Only 25 minutes from Phuket International Airport and short distances to famous tourist attractions, The Naka Island is accessible only by a short speedboat journey, making it a uniquely private and intimate retreat.

Book your Marriott hotel in Phuket, Thailand and around the world in 99 countries at best rates available. Pay at the hotel and earn HolidayClicks Points. Book now at HotelWorlds.com!

About The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts
The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott International, Inc., is comprised of world-renowned hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA® brand as a collection of Europe’s most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble, recently surpassing 100 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries and territories. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. The Luxury Collection is proud to participate in the company’s award-winning loyalty programs – Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG). The programs, operating under one set of unparalleled benefits, enable members to earn points toward free hotel stays, achieve Elite status faster than ever, and seamlessly book or redeem points for stays throughout our loyalty portfolio of 29 brands and more than 6,700 participating hotels in 130 countries & territories.

About Marriott International, Inc.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,700 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 129 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest.