Category: Latest Travel News

Bangkok (Thailand) – February 11, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided at the 10th edition of the Bangkok Chefs Charity Fundraising Gala Dinner featuring an 11-course gourmet menu crafted by twenty-two top chefs from five-star hotels in Thailand and Thai Airways International using the finest quality imported products, pesticide-free vegetables from ‘Jan-Ka-Pak’, Camellia Seed Oil from ‘PatPat’ amongst others, successfully raising a grand total of 44 million baht during the evening’s highlight fundraising session at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok recently. The amount also includes donations raised from the auction of ‘Pagakayaw Shawls’ from the royally-initiated Phufa Shop.

This culinary charity event of the year is organized by Gourmet One Food Services Co., Ltd., Thailand’s leading importer of premium food products, led by sisters Nuntiya Intralib and Patcharin Hame-ung-gull. The entire amount raised, without any deductions for expenses, will be presented to Her Royal Highness to benefit the Border Patrol Police Schools under the patronage of Her Royal Highness, and located in remote areas of Thailand.

The highest contributor to this year’s fundraising, conducted by emcees Surivipa Kultangwatana and Varin Sachdev, is once again Mr. Prayudh & Mrs. Suvimol Mahagitsiri who pledged 15 million baht.

Other prominent donors are: Ms. Nualphan Lamsam (5 million); Mr. Harald Link of B. Grimm Group (5 million); Mr. Thanawat Trivisvavet, CK Power Co., Ltd. (5 million); Ajarn Wanchai Ruay-are (4 million); Mr. Anun Raweesangsoon (2 million); The White Space Co., Ltd. (2 million); M.R. Sasijuthapa Worrawan (1 million); Mrs. Botan Hame-ung-gull (1 million); Mrs. Benjawan Buhrman (500,000); Ms. Orawan Taechaubol (200,000); Ms. Srisopha Kotkumlue (200,000); and Mr. Noppadol Intralib (100,000).

Auction of the “Pagakayaw Shawls” from Phufa Shop were successfully bid by the following distinguished guests in attendance amongst others: Mr. Chalermchai Mahagitsiri (500,000); Ms. Usanee Mahagitsiri (150,000); Mr. Laurent Leonio (150,000); Ms. Sasiprapa Deerod (250,000); Mrs. Benjawan Buhrman (200,000); Ms. Poramin Netrpukkana (150,000 baht); Mr. Pinit Puapan (120,000); Ms. Piyanuch Raveesangsoon (100,000); Ms. Patcharin Hame-ung-gul (100,000); Ms. Nuchanart Raveesangsoon (100,000); Mr. Boonchai Chokewattna (100,000); Ms. Suthama Gimsong (100,000); Mr. Vikrom Sachdev (100,000); Dr. Somsak Chalachol (50,000); Dr. Alisa Kunchornyakong (50,000); Ms. Srirach Thanarach (50,000); Ms. Racha Sukum (50,000); Ms. Pensiri Na Nakornpanom (50,000).

As this year’s event coincided with Chinese New Year, Her Royal Highness prepared the “Yee Sang” Prosperity Toss Salad and presented a plate each to all the generous participants of the fundraising session for abundance, prosperity and vigour in the year of the Pig.

Krungthep Light Orchestra and solo-pianist Darin Pantoomkomol provided live entertainment throughout the evening. And Central Wine Cellar supported the gala dinner menu with a selection of the finest wines.

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – February 12, 2019 (travelindex.com) – This week, we’ll see the ceremonial handing over ceremony of the Vanilla Islands Flag to Seychelles, as it takes over the Presidency of the Vanilla Islands once again. Delegates arriving in the country are:- Reunion – The Vice President of the Regional Council Faouzia Vitry, IRT – Vice- President of the Regional Council Olivier RIVIERE, IRT – CEO Stephan ULLIAC, Mayotte – President of the Department Ibrahim RAMADANI SOIBAHADINE, Director of the Cabinet Ahamada OUSSENI, Vice President of the Tourism Office Mohamed BACAR, Advisor for International Relations Ahmed Attoumani DOUCHINA, Director of Regional Cooperation & European Matters Michele BALOURD, Comoros – President of the Tourist Office Souef EL HAYIRAT, Director of the Tourist Office Rachid MOHAMED, Mauritius – Minister of Tourism Anil GAYAN, Deputy Permanent Secretary Rechad MOOLYE, MTPA – M. BOODHUN, Seychelles – Minister of Tourism Didier DOGLEY, PS for Tourism Anne LAFORTUNE and CEO of the Tourism Board Sherin FRANCIS are expected to bee present alongside the CEO of the Vanilla Islands Pascal VIROLEAU. (Madagascar is not present for this meeting in Seychelles because the newly elected President is personally chairing a tourism meeting to set the way forward for tourism on the Big Island). As the current Tourism Minister of Seychelles, it is Minister Didier DOGLEY who will take over the Presidency.

Seychelles Tourism in figures at country’s last Cross Sectorial Meeting

Tourism’s private sector trade present at the last Cross Sectorial Meeting in Victoria were presented with interesting figures on “Value Added of Tourism Related Industry at Current Market Prices – in Seychelles Rupees Millions)”. The years of success depicted by the slide, cover the years when I was responsible for Seychelles Tourism and showcases my legacy in a visual format.

As much as I can be proud of these successful years, I remain grateful for the Team who were by my side and this includes the close working cooperation with the Private Sector Trade, the industry’s front line team.

But, as we look at those historical figures, we need to appreciate that Seychelles cannot take its tourism industry for granted. We need to remain on the ball, innovate and be seen to be the leader.

ATC News posted this message last week:- “While Africa’s arrivals in 2018 were up by 7 percent, the entire continent is still only marginally ahead of the Middle East in real numbers … This has to change, and change fast to fully explore the tourism potential Africa has and help create jobs, attract FDI, earn foreign exchange and fight poverty …”

These tourism arrival figures speak volumes and should make us in Seychelles, as well as main land Africa, reflect on tourism and plan tourism as being an industry and not just as an activity. Travel Warnings continue to hurt Africa, as was the case of a cruise ship heading to Mombasa that was diverted to Seychelles, just as the Port Authorities of the island deciding to now give docking facilities to cruise ships to just a day before moving out to anchor and to use ship’s tender boats for passengers to get ashore. Seychelles spent time and money to encourage cruise ships to stay longer in Port Victoria and in so doing encourage the 55+% of passengers who remain on board and do not buy shore excursions, to walk out and take a taxi and buy some local ‘Made in Seychelles’ handicraft. This decision is dealing with the symptoms and not acting on the cause of the problem. Will that decision impact cruise tourism to Seychelles, will the taxi, restaurants and handicrafts, excursion guides and private parks and gardens businesses suffer as a result? Only time will tell.

Mombasa bound cruise liner diverts to Seychelles after US travel warning

MS Nautica, of Oceania Cruises, has reportedly changed course to the Seychelles, after US authorities have issued a stark travel warning to their citizens about the possibility of further terror attacks in Kenya, targeting tourists. While there is consensus among leading tourism figures in Kenya that the US anti travel warning could once again be to establish legal cover – as often seen in the past when such anti travel warnings were in the end unceremoniously withdrawn – has the impact of the warning promptly cost Kenya a major business opportunity.

Kenya, despite recent events, is generally considered safe for visiting tourists and anti travel advisories from the US – Kenya’s largest foreign market segment – the UK and other nations have in the past adversely affected the entire industry and in particular the Kenya coast.
Cruise ship visits to the port of Mombasa bring in multi million Shillings in a day through excursions, air safaris and also ship handling and ship supply services and the cancellation of the port call will leave the tourism handling agents for the ship counting their losses as they had prepared tours for guests who will now go on shore in the Seychelles.

More than 400 tourists and a similar number of crew were on board the MS Nautica.

Praslin Island Business Community coming together strong

Still in Seychelles, this time it is the Chairman of the Praslin Business Association who wrote in to update us on their last General Meeting. Praslin Island, the home of the Unique Coco de Mer Nut has been the centre for tourism for many years, but this is changing fast and the island’s community are moving to take the situation on hand and to work with the Government to mitigate the challenges. The Association’s Chairman said he used the meeting to point out that the year 2019 will not be an easy one for the business community and that the Association will do its utmost to try and address the pertaining issues with respective ministries and other stakeholders.

The Election of the Office Bearers of the Praslin Business Association saw William Rose move in as the Patron, Christopher Gill as Chairman, Paul Rouillon as Vice-Chairman, Adrian Uzice as Secretary, Leroy Lesperance as Treasurer and Nigel Payet as Honorary Member/Consultant.

Rent-an-island’ – one villa on a faraway island – to be part of Seychelles’ expanded offerings

The Islands Development Company, IDC, says it will build new hotels and villas on Seychelles’ outer islands as part of its expanded tourism offerings.

Tourists will soon have the ability to essentially occupy an entire tropical island, one that will have only one villa on it.

IDC sees increased returns. For the period 2017-2018, the company’s total revenue was $33.6 million (SCR458 million) and “80 percent of that amount was from the tourism sector. So there is great potential there,” Patrick Berlouis, the chair of IDC’s board, told SNA.

The Islands Development Company, which is responsible for the sustainable development of the outer islands, manages 14 islands. It has a permanent presence on 12 of them and projects are now on the way to establish various facilities on the last two — Cosmoledo and Providence.

Berlouis said that between now and 2023, major tourism activities will be undertaken on these islands. These will include eco-tourism hotels, eco-lodges, private-owned villas, as well as an exclusive villa to be marketed under the ‘rent an island concept’.

The first project, expected to start later this year, is the construction of a 55-room eco-tourism hotel on Platte, a coralline island which lies 140 kilometres south of the main island of Mahe. An environment impact assessment is presently being carried out on Platte island.

“This project is a good investment because although there is a limited number of rooms, the clients will be paying a substantial amount of money to stay at the hotel. We are talking of a 4 to 5-star establishment. So everything is geared to having a premium product aimed at the high end of the market who can afford these exclusive experience on an outer island,” said Berlouis.

The chairperson said this will be the biggest hotel project so far on outer islands managed by IDC. Four Seasons Desroches Island, which opened its doors in March 2018, is the largest to date with 40 rooms.

IDC has also conceptualised eco-lodges for southern islands, like Astove, Farquhar, Cosmoledo and Providence. Berlouis said it is because these islands are more fragile that IDC will limit the scale of tourism developments there. The management of the six- to eight-room ecolodges on Cosmoledo and Providence will be tendered out.

An ecolodge is a tourism accommodation designed to have the minimum possible impact on the natural environment in which it is situated.

“We want to attract fly fishing enthusiasts, who are willing to pay a top price to have this experience. So the impact on the environment will be minimal but returns to the company will be high,” he said.

Coetivy — renowned for its black tiger prawn farm in the nineties and early 2000 — has also been earmarked for two major tourism projects once the government transfers the lease of the island to IDC.

A boutique hotel of 30 to 40 rooms is planned for Coetivy located 290 kilometres from Mahe and a 4-star hotel with approximately 100-120 rooms. IDC is also looking at making available between 85 to 100 privately-owned luxury villas on the island.

Remire, an island of the Amirantes group, will be marketed as a ‘rent an island concept’.

“Most people would enjoy having an island to themselves and this is what we have in mind with this project. To have an exclusive villa on the island where a group of people can come and spend their holidays in privacy,” said Berlouis.

IDC also plans to have conservation programmes alongside tourism development.

The Marie Louise island which became a bird sanctuary last year has the potential for a small ecotourism project of 4 to 5 bungalows especially for bird watchers or for scientific research.

Another ecotourism project will be on Assumption, the largest outer island of Seychelles after Aldabra. IDC plans to build guesthouse facilities to be used by visitors overnighting on the island on their way to and from Aldabra.

Berlouis said all construction work will be carried out by IDC. “We follow strict guidelines when building on outer islands as we have to take into account the ecological aspects of the islands,” he added.

This is the third islands development plan of IDC which also outlines other projects such as agriculture, aquaculture, conservation and rehabilitation of islands. The company will also be building more facilities to cater to locals who want to visit those islands.

The Islands Development Company is a parastatal company created by government in 1980 and is registered under the Companies Act of 1972. The company is wholly owned by the Seychelles government through Société Seychelloise d’Invéstissement — a government-owned investment holding company.

Singapore (Singapore) – February 6, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Raffles Singapore unveiled today its new line-up of dining experiences, which combine the hotel’s much-loved culinary traditions with contemporary dining concepts by renowned celebrity chefs. Each dining concept promises to tantalise the senses and has been carefully selected to enhance the famed ‘Raffles Experience’ for the local community and the discerning travellers.

Gourmets and gourmands, discover the Best Restaurants for Fine Dining in Singapore only at Top25Restaurants.com/singapore

“For more than 100 years the dining venues at Raffles Singapore have been recognised as an integral part of the vibrant and ever changing local bar and dining scene, exciting the local community as well as city guests alike. Continuing with our tradition and commitment of the highest level of friendly, engaging and anticipatory service, we are more than excited to introduce concepts with partner chefs, who have a reputation of operating successful venues around the world, while at the same time, creating culinary experiences that are new and distinct to Singapore,” said Christian Westbeld, General Manager, Raffles Singapore.

New Celebrity Chefs Dining Concepts
In 1899, Raffles Singapore was the first hotel in the city to hire a French chef, introducing travellers and Singapore to authentic French flavours. Fast-forward almost 120 years, and the Grand Dame is once again at the forefront of a culinary renaissance. The following are a series of culinary ‘firsts’ that Raffles Singapore will be introducing when the iconic hotel reopens.

BBR by Alain Ducasse
Bar & Billiard Room (BBR) continues to evolve with a new chapter by acclaimed Chef Alain Ducasse, who will be presenting his first Mediterranean sharing and grill concept in the world, titled BBR by Alain Ducasse. The unique concept takes customers on a culinary journey along the Mediterranean coast, complemented by a modern and vibrant ambience. In true Bar & Billiard Room fashion, dining at the restaurant will also be accompanied by a lively bar scene that is fun, relaxed and perfect for social gatherings.

Alain Ducasse said, “I could not dream of a better location than the landmark Raffles Singapore to bring the Ducasse restaurant experience for the first time to Singapore. My team and I look forward to adding another culinary destination for Singapore’s varied international clientele.”

Seduced by the flavours of the Mediterranean at a young age, Monsieur Ducasse reveals the essence of Portugal, Spain, Italy and France in BBR by Alain Ducasse. It is a modern, energetic, vibrant and accessible gathering place to meet, exchange and discover the culinary traditions of this region.

With the new concept, the 122-year-old restaurant, which started as a club during British colonial rule, will continue to be the social gathering space of choice for travellers and the local community alike. Serving sharing plates and regular-sized dishes, this bar and restaurant is convivial and cosy – the perfect place to meet with friends. It features a high energy open kitchen with charcoal grills and wood-fired pizza ovens as well as a lively bar and lounge that will serve a selection of spirits, cocktails, beers, wines and wine cocktails. Additionally, the highly anticipated Raffles Sunday Brunch with a reputation of being one of the city’s most indulgent Sunday experiences will be returning when BBR by Alain Ducasse opens.

Gourmets and gourmands, discover the Best Restaurants for Fine Dining in Singapore only at Top25Restaurants.com/singapore

La Dame de Pic
One of the world’s top female chefs with three Michelin stars, Anne-Sophie Pic, will debut her entry into Asia with a remarkable restaurant in Raffles Singapore. The restaurant, La Dame de Pic, Raffles Singapore invites guests to discover the world of Anne-Sophie’s culinary identity, which reflects her search for aromatic complexity, combinations of flavours and powerful tastes that evoke emotions. The restaurant’s drinks menu presents an elaborate and diverse collection of pairings to add both intensity and harmony in the delicate art of tasting; consisting of wines, cocktails, whisky, sake, tea, coffee, dashi, broth and consommés. The wine list in particular offers a wide international base that leans towards the French regions, with a particular focus on Anne-Sophie’s birthplace, the Rhône Valley.

Located in the hotel’s dining room at the Main Building, the contemporary chic restaurant is beautifully designed with a graceful and soft palette that is reminiscent of Anne-Sophie’s favourite colours and materials: pastel shades and natural decorative elements such as leather or wood. The renowned chef is also a third-generation Michelin starred chef, following the footsteps of her grandfather and father, perfectly reflecting Raffles Singapore’s rich heritage.

“Making our debut in Asia at Raffles Singapore is a very natural choice for me. Like Raffles, the Pic family’s culinary heritage spans more than a century. Just like this beautiful hotel that will become one of our overseas residences, we are storytellers and constant seekers of excellence. Together, we share the vision to provide distinctive experiences to our guests, delivered with innovation that combines both tradition and change,” said Anne-Sophie. “It is my personal belief that to ensure our guests are happy, it is essential to be anchored in the present while not forgetting our roots and to be creative in order to imagine.”

yì by Jereme Leung
Helmed by one of the most influential chefs in the modern Chinese culinary movement, celebrity MasterChef Jereme Leung returns home to Singapore with yì by Jereme Leung. The contemporary Chinese restaurant will be located on Level 3 at the newly restored Raffles Arcade. yì, which stands for art in the Chinese language, awakens your appetite and senses. Alluding to the fine art of Chinese dining, it references centuries of culinary mastery woven into the intricacies of Chinese cuisine presented in the restaurant.From Cantonese classics to adaptations of China’s ancient delicacies, Jereme will be using single sourced and seasonal ingredients with a contemporary approach to deliver refinement and sincerity.

The restaurant is designed with modern sophisticated detailing and a soft white palette amidst the colonial architecture. Guests can also explore an immersive multi-sensory dining experience in the Experience Room with poetic dishes curated to evoke all five senses. For the hosting of private affairs, intimate private dining rooms are also available.

Jereme said, “While I have lived abroad for most of my career, the formative years which I spent working in Singapore and Hong Kong were so important to defining my approach and style of cooking. Opening yì by Jereme Leung at Raffles Singapore is an honour and I am excited to be able to work with some of the best minds in the Singapore industry and present my personal take on Chinese cuisine. These dishes reflect what I believe the future of Chinese cuisine should be 20 years from today. It is not fusion, not ‘east-meets-west’; rather, it is about capturing the essence of provincial ethnic Chinese cuisines. With careful focus being placed on healthy and seasonal food produce, it will create authentic taste profiles that are enhanced by modern culinary techniques.”

Butcher’s Block
The refreshed Raffles Arcade will also see an introduction of a vibrant steakhouse, Butcher’s Block. Here, the focus is on the world’s finest cuts of single sourced meats, showcased in The Vault, a glass meat cooler situated next to the Open Kitchen where the chef’s butcher block is and where meats are prepared and cooked to perfection. Guests are given personal recommendations by our resident meat specialists, based on their individual tastes.
Seated amidst a lively ambience set with cobalt blue hues complemented with dark wood panelling, the restaurant features communal tables for exceptional gatherings, complete with a wine library that houses more than 100 different wine labels.

Refreshed Signature Dining Experiences Return to Delight

Signature dining experiences that over the years have come to be synonymous with the hotel make their return to delight, with many of these returning favourites incorporating subtle tributes to the hotel’s 130-year history and heritage.

Tiffin Room
A part of Raffles Singapore’s history since 1892, Tiffin Room continues to celebrate the heritage and flavours of North India with our resident Indian Chef. The restaurant offers an evocative dining journey across the North Indian palate, from Rajasthan to Punjab to Lucknow through a refreshed semi-buffet lunch and ala carte dinner. Authentic specialties served in the eponymous tiffin boxes are prepared with perfectly balanced spices, paired with classic Indian brews and beverages. The restaurant will also present an interactive dining experience with tableside service by chefs, complete with freshly ground spices to elevate the experience.

The restored interior décor of the restaurant includes reinstating the wooden floorboards in Tiffin Room to bring back features from the early 1900s based on research by our heritage consultants. Intricately patterned wood and mirror wall panelling add richness and create a signature visual language while colourful displays of Tiffin boxes are imbued with historical notes but modern in feel.

Long Bar
Home of the Singapore Sling for over a hundred years, the Long Bar’s plantation-inspired décor will be refreshed, and the famous Long Bar counter restored. Long Bar continues to be the heritage bar for visitors to Singapore to enjoy the most iconic cocktail of the city.

The Lobby
The classic Raffles Afternoon Tea experience will be served at a new location – the iconic Grand Lobby of the Raffles Singapore. Guests can indulge in one of the hotel’s great traditions – a truly unique and refined Afternoon Tea with a distinct sense of heritage – in the newly restored lobby. The Raffles Afternoon Tea is perfect for sophisticated and elegant celebrations, serving classic sandwiches, home-baked scones and cakes as well as seasonal indulgences, complemented by a curated collection of exquisite teas and Champagnes.

Writers Bar
Established as a tribute to famous writers that have come through the doors of Raffles Singapore over the years, Writers Bar will be expanded to a full bar with bespoke craft cocktails, wines and spirits. Decked in luxuriously appointed furnishings, lovingly curated mementos and books, referencing the literary legacy of Raffles, the bar will be a sophisticated and serene refuge kept exclusive to residents and restaurant patrons; keeping this a place for discreet elegance and intimate conversations.

Raffles Courtyard
Exuding a garden style and welcoming vibe, Raffles Courtyard is the city’s social space in a lushly landscaped alfresco venue at the Raffles Arcade. This friendly bar and lounge is open all day, offering guests a garden respite against a colonial architectural backdrop, complete with refreshing shared summer drinks and a selection of Southeast Asian small plates, including authentic Singaporean delights.

Ah Teng’s Café
Raffles’ new takeaway café is named after a famous local baker of the same name, who used to own a shop in the neighbourhood back in the 1900s. Ah Teng’s Café serves visitors, the surrounding community and travellers alike with freshly made cold beverages, a selection of premium coffee, tea and homemade bakery, pastries and artisanal ice-creams for takeaway.

Pierre Burgade, Executive Chef, Raffles Singapore, who oversees the Hotel’s culinary landscape portfolio, said, “It is an incredible privilege to be given the opportunity to update these time-honoured Raffles signatures while also curating the stellar line-up of celebrity chefs for this iconic hotel. The deliberate and careful curation of the new dining concepts aims to elevate Singapore’s culinary landscape and makes our hotel an all-in-one gastronomic journey for guests and visitors alike.”

“We are pleased to embark on the meticulous restoration of Raffles Singapore, a distinctive hotel that is emblematic of Katara Hospitality’s commitment to create extraordinary experiences on the backdrop of iconic heritage hotels and provide unsurpassed service to our esteemed guests,” said Mr. Hamad Abdulla Al-Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of Katara Hospitality, a globally recognised hospitality owner, developer and operator who is also the owner of Raffles Singapore.

“Since opening its doors in 1887, Raffles Singapore has maintained a lasting legacy as a landmark hotel, hosting some of the world’s most famous and elite personalities. As a National Monument of Singapore and one of the few remaining 19th century hotels in the world, the hotel’s restoration is a testament to our continued pursuit in preserving portraits of historic charm, while growing Katara Hospitality’s portfolio of iconic properties in key travel destinations. Raffles Singapore is no exception, with its carefully implemented restoration programme that is poised to unveil contemporary charm and elegance; reminiscent of the luxurious splendour of Katara Hospitality hotels,” added Mr. Al-Mulla.

About Raffles Singapore
Opened in 1887, Raffles Singapore is one of the few remaining great 19th century hotels in the world. Till today, its architecture is perfectly preserved both inside and out, giving it an intoxicating blend of luxury, history and classic colonial design. Within its walls are more than a hundred expansive suites, framed by polished teak verandas and white marble colonnades, clustered around lush tropical gardens. Each is serviced by the legendary Raffles butlers and offers every modern convenience necessary.

Raffles Singapore is currently undergoing a careful and sensitive restoration that is being carried out in three phases. The hotel is now fully closed with a grand reopening planned in the first quarter of 2019. The Raffles Gift Shop continues to be in operation at its temporary location on 3 Seah Street, around the corner from the hotel.

The restoration of Raffles Singapore is designed to ensure that we retain what is so special about Raffles – the ambience, the service, the charm and the heritage of the hotel. It is also designed for Raffles Singapore to stay relevant and distinctive by moving with the times and with its guests and adapting to the changing needs of the well-travelled and Singapore’s community

Osaka (Japan) – February 6, 2019 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts has launched its exciting new SureStay Hotel Group concept in Japan with the opening of a brand new hotel in Osaka. SureStay Plus by Best Western Shin-Osaka is a stylish upper-economy hotel developed by Fino Hotels Co., Ltd. Located in downtown Osaka’s Yodogawa district, this modern hotel is perfectly positioned close to Shin-Osaka Station, with bullet train services to and from major cities including Tokyo, Nagoya, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. Meanwhile, the Osaka Metro network makes it quick and easy to travel around Japan’s second largest city, with regular connections to the Shinsaibashi, Namba and Umeda districts.

This newly-constructed hotel features 108 contemporary guestrooms, all equipped with comfortable beds and convenient amenities, including complimentary Wi-Fi. Every morning, guests can start their day with a buffet breakfast.

“SureStay Plus® is an excellent fit for Osaka, and for Japan,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia. “Comfortable, convenient and affordable, this is an ideal concept for guests seeking centrally located, international quality accommodation at a reasonable price point. We are delighted to continue our strong relationship with Fino Hotels Co., Ltd. in Japan, and look forward to welcoming more guests to this exceptional new hotel in future.”

SureStay Hotel Group has expanded rapidly since its launch in late 2016, with notable growth in North America and Europe. The concept made its Asia Pacific debut in October 2017 with the opening of SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Sukhumvit 2 in Bangkok.

SureStay Hotel Group’s three brands – SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western, and SureStay Collection® by Best Western – provide hotel owners with the opportunity to harness Best Western’s extensive global network, in terms of sales, distribution, technology and support, while giving guests the reassurance of staying with a globally recognized hotel group. In addition, members of Best Western Rewards®, the award-winning guest loyalty program, will be able to earn points on their stays.

The launch of SureStay Plus by Best Western Shin-Osaka marks the continuation of Best Western’s expansion strategy in Japan, which has been identified as a key focus market. The company now operates 19 properties in Japan, including four in Osaka.

To find out more and book direct SureStay Plus by Best Western Shin-Osaka, please click here…

About Best Western Hotels and 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:
Marketing Communications Department
Best Western Hotels and Resorts – Asia
Tel: +66 2 656 1260

Sirimanas Maungrod
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com

Singapore (Singapore) – February 5, 2019 (travelindex.com ) – Digital Travel APAC brings together top minds at Asia’s most successful airlines, hotels, OTAs, metasearches, tours and activities, car rentals, cruise lines and tourism boards to plan eCommerce, digital marketing and customer experience strategies for growth in 2019 and beyond. No commercials or egos: just hundreds of strategic takeaways.

From airlines, hotels, OTAs, metasearches, tours and activities, car rentals, cruise lines and tourism boards – Digital Travel is THE destination for digital Marketing, eCommerce and customer experience leaders in APAC’s travel industry. It’s a one of a kind community with the perfect balance of quality, numbers and variety.

Singapore is not only one of Asia’s hottest travel destination, it’s also a hub for travel leaders and is home to many leading global and Asian travel companies. On the 1-3 April 2019, we will be bringing the party to Resorts World Sentosa, transforming the island for 3 days into the digital travel capital of APAC, with all major market participants descending to Singapore to shape the future of travel.

Besides being a leading international convention center, Singapore is also reputed to be a garden city-state with endless sunshine and a fascinating blend of culture.

Just like the weather, competition amongst travel companies in 2016 was hotter than ever. In the information age, the most successful travel companies will be those who use a data-driven mindset to build a customer relationship that guarantees a return trip. In the lead up to Digital Travel Asia 2017, we interviewed 100 senior travel executives, to give you an idea of some of the greatest challenges faced by the online travel industry.

Consumer behavior in Asia Pacific (APAC) is changing rapidly and with that comes the need for eCommerce merchants across all industries to adopt new best practices in order to attract, convert and retain their customers. How can optimized payments drive revenue growth and increase loyalty? Neil Dsouza, Country Manager – SEA, Japan & Australasia with Ingenico writes about payment solutions as a gateway to growth for the market in this white paper. Click on the thumbnail to have a read.

As the leading international conference organizer of over 35 events a year, WBR recognizes that a targeted marketing plan is absolutely crucial to the success of every single event that we organize. We have in place a dedicated in-house B2B marketing department to make this happen, and with the company investing over $600,000 a year on marketing, we can guarantee delivery of the right audience to all of our customers.

Find out more about Digital Travel APAC 2019 and download free reports, click here…

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – February 4, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Welcome to Edition 4 of our Volume 3 series. Today, as we start with the announcement that the French President will be visiting the Vanilla Islands of Reunion and Mayotte in June and appeal for the tourism organisation of the Indian Ocean to be able to benefit from the Presidential visit and the visibility that comes with him.

Emmanuel Macron will be in Réunion & Mayotte Islands this June

The Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands will be in the limelight in June when Mr Emmanuel Macron, the President of the Republic of France will be visiting two of the six islands of the group. The French President confirmed his Indian Ocean visit as he addressed the representatives and elected officials of the Republic’s Overseas Territories within the framework of the Great National Debate. The President of the Republic first said he would go to Mayotte in June. Then, when pressed by the elected officials of Reunion, he assured: “If you have other questions, you can ask me in June.”

Can the Vanilla Islands group benefit from the visibility that this Head of State visit offers when President Macron sets foot in Reunion and Mayotte? We are sure that President Didier Robert will do all what is possible for the Vanilla Islands to be on the agenda and we are all hoping the Pascal Viroleau, the CEO of the Vanilla Islands will be able to place tourism for the islands as the catalyst for development in the Indian Ocean.

Seychelles Tourism should not be taken for granted as we continue reflecting on the tourism sector’s achievements and challenges

Last week in our Edition 4 of Vol 3 of 2019 we said that it was an opportune time to reflect on the Seychelles tourism sector’s achievements and challenges, and for tourism leaders in Seychelles to continue to work together to shape what lies ahead. We discussed the moratorium on hotel construction, the vertical integration regulation, the selective approval where on the island of La Digue leased properties are barred from having a hotel license (even if many leased properties have been granted licences outside of La Digue), the increase in fees, the new introduction of courtesy vehicles for 4 Star Hotels etc. .This last editorial opened a floodgate of feedback and all without exception said Seychelles should stop taking its tourism industry for granted.

We shall today take some of the points raised in the email to help steer tourism back to a safe port. Tourism is an industry and not just an activity. This statement aired in Seychelles many years ago should continue to guide the policy makers today. Chopping and changing is not helping the industry that remains more than ever before the pillar of the Seychelles economy. To build confidence it is essential that the private sector trade feel Government understands the industry and above all believes in the industry that is holding the Seychelles economy.

According to the Central Bank of Seychelles, the island’s tourism is still performing even though the visitor arrival numbers slowed in 2018, the foreign exchange earnings are growing. The reasons given were that visitors spending was making it to local banks where that data is captured. We know that, and the private sector trade have all said this over and over again, that if tourism is to continue to be a viable source of broad-based economic growth, then the industry needs to be consolidated as it evolves and that it should be free of obstacles. The stagnating visitor arrival figures can be seen just as an early warning about the state of the tourism industry and the need, as has been aired before in many a tourism destination, for “innovation, investment, and broad social engagement”.

Seychelles must now move further to empower Seychellois to claim back its tourism industry. This is the time and this is the future for Seychelles. An empowered people in their tourism industry with little red tape and a genuine drive to see businesses grow will make for a solid economy for the islands. What is good for the local entrepreneurs will also be a better business climate for the foreign investors as well. The ‘one stop shop’ concept discussed over and over again is so needed today to kill all the running around the business community have to endure.

The government cannot continue to take tourism’s continuing economic contribution for granted. Seychelles needs to recognise how our tourists are thinking and we need to appreciate that their choice is changing, as we consider how the existing Seychelles product might be encouraged to develop and /or upgrade in different ways.

Although it is unlikely that demand for the sun, sea and sand will subside, there is every indication that other warm water destinations such as in the Caribbean are moving rapidly to upgrade their offering, offer better value for money, and explore how to integrate their industry to guarantee sustainable growth. In this regard Jamaica has emerged as a leading force in trying to change Caribbean thinking about tourism’s future role in development. It has achieved this by focussing not just on increasing visitor arrival numbers, encouraging investment and undertaking product development, but by spending time exploring and delivering programmes that make the sector central to sustainable growth and just as importantly, of wider societal benefit.

To accomplish this Jamaica said that attention is being paid to a much wider number of issues, including some not normally regarded as being with tourism’s purview.

For example Jamaica has included: “exploring how best to attract investments that spread tourism’s dollar into rural areas and local communities; ensuring that small and medium sized service providers benefit from the industry; encouraging foreign chain hotels to support training schemes so that many more Jamaicans can become members of senior management among others”.

The question today is how to link the industry and its success and profitability to being better shared with those who deliver it for Seychelles. Seychelles needs to find ways to ensure that the island’s unique cultural experience is infused into all that is offered to visitors. When that is done our people will be at the centre of development in Seychelles.

If Seychelles is to extract the maximum sustainable value from tourism, Seychelles needs to think in new ways about the industry’s future development, how to spread its benefits in ways other than through additional taxation, and about how to update our visitor offering to meet the changing nature of our discerning visitors. We need to find ways of leveraging our identity to the long-term value of own people. Encouraging Seychellois involvement is essential and any proposed policy that curtails their involvement is sure to impact negatively on the industry that is the pillar of the economy.

Bangkok (Thailand) – February 4, 2019 (travelindex.com) – A sharp resurgence in Chinese visitor arrivals in December helped Thailand close 2018 with a total of 38.27 million arrivals, generating tourism expenditure of just over two trillion Baht.

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The final arrivals count released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports showed that Chinese visitors jumped from 675,129 in November to 838,634 in December, closing the year with a total of 10,535,955, up 7.44% over 2017. Similarly, Chinese visitor expenditure also surged from 36.45 billion Baht in November to 44.42 billion Baht in December, ending the year with 580.69 billion Baht.

In total, Thailand’s international visitors were up by 7.54% over 2017, and the estimated 2.007 trillion Baht in tourism revenue was up by 9.63%. For the first time, ten countries and one SAR territory (China, Malaysia, South Korea, Lao PDR., Japan, India, Russia, USA, Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong SAR) generated more than one million visitor arrivals.

Summary of the key results in 2018:

Overview: All regions grew well except the Middle East and Oceania. Visitors from East Asia totalled 26.06 million (+9.30%), Europe 6.76 million (+3.86%), the Americas 1.60 million (+3.82%), South Asia 1.98 million (+11.82%), Oceania 922,520 (-1.74%), the Middle East 739,494 (-6.39%), and Africa 201,519 (+7.63%).

Announcing the results, the Minister of Tourism and Sports Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat noted that while these record-breaking figures were extremely good news, they had set the stage for Thailand to refocus its future tourism development strategy towards emerging destinations and niche markets with high spending potential.

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Now that travel and tourism is well established as a major contributor to the national economy, it is important to strengthen its foundations to make it “convenient, clean, safe, unique and sustainable”, reduce income disparity, upgrade safety and security, and enhance personnel development.

For 2019, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is forecasting 41.1 million foreign tourists (+ 7.5%) generating an estimated 2.21 trillion Baht in tourism revenue (+ 10%). This is based on a forecast of 11.69 million tourists from China (+11 %), 11.31 million tourists from the ASEAN countries (+ 10%), and 6.90 million visitors from Europe (+ 2%).

Solin (Croatia) – February 1, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The historic and charming city of Solin on Croatia’s Adriatic Coast, build on the location of ancient city of Salona will host of the 26th INTERSTAS, the 22nd ITF’CRO-International Tourism Film Festival and the 17th CEA-CRO 2019, all three international events, already traditional, internationally affirmed multimedia project with a world-renowned reputation, are unique manifestations of this kind in Croatia. Conceived to actively contribute to the stimulation of international integration processes of modern tourism, over the past years has gained the reputation of a very dynamic and important meeting. It is held in a very convenient time, the beginning of active preparation for the next tourist business year.

All three events are members and partners of world associations; travel, tourist film, tourist journalism, landscape, ecology and sustainable development; FIJET, FEST, ITCO, CiB. With the support of these world associations and the host of Hotel President Solin, all three events are held under the patronage of the Split-Dalmatia County, Town of Solin, and with the high patronage of the Croatian Parliament and the President of the Republic of Croatia, Mrs. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.

The event begins on Wednesday, November 13th at 6pm with a commemorative program, at 7pm the ceremony of raising the flag, then a retrospective of the films awarded at the recent Tourfilm Festival – ITF’CRO. On Thursday, November 14th from 10am; continuation of the work of all three events, protocol and work presentation of the Exhibitors / Laureates – winners of International tourist awards and prizes; KEA-CRO, THE FEST AND THE GOLD INTERSTAS ‘2019. The closing ceremony of the entire event is on Friday, November 15th from 7pm, with the award; Certificates for Croatian competitors for INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN FLOWER – CiB, special awards “Dr.Luka Čikeš”, International tourist awards: FEST ‘2019. and GOLD INTERSTAS ‘2019 and the film festival awards, certificate and Grand Prix for 22nd ITF’CRO 2019. Per Programmes.

26th INTERSTAS 2019 is the venue for meeting and presenting the Laureates – prominent individuals and organizations from Croatia and world winners of prestigious international tourist individual and collective prizes. Awards are awarded to them; “For their excellence in and for tourism, contributing to the development of tourism through culture, ecology, sport … and contributing to improving the quality of life, sustainable development and environmental protection”. In the last year 2018, with the explanation of the Committee of Tourism Journalists and Writers, from the 29 countries of the world, there were 141 entries. Reasons for 78 individual and collective candidates were accepted, and 57 were nominated. By decision of the Central Committee of F.E.S.T. and Event Directory, the 35 graduates were selected : 1 Certificate, 21 individual prizes and 13 collective prizes. Here you can apply: 26th INTERSTAS APPLICATION

22nd ITF’CRO 2019 /The International Tourfilm Festival, as an ITCO member, has become a respectable festival in this domain of international action. Every year attracts an increasing number of production companies from around the world that their authors reported tourism, travel, documentary, cultural, environmental films. In the last year 2018, a respectable number of 307 films from as many as 83 countries of the whole world came from all continents. Of the total of films, Selector Festival in the official nomination for one of the International festival awards, national award “Baldo Cupic” and the Grand Prix 21st ITF’CRO ‘in 2018, has included 107 films from 62 countries, 95 films from the world and 12 films from Croatia.The International Jury awarded: 12 Special Awards, 8th Film /Producer Certification and the National Award “Baldo Čupić” and Grand Prix for 2018. Here you can apply: 22ND ITF’CRO APPLICATION

17th KEA-CRO 2019 / presents Croatian cities / towns / centers competing for international prize CROATIA WITH INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN FLOWER AWARD – INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN FLOWER. Under the slogan “PEOPLE, PLANTS AND PRIDE … MULTIPLE GROWTH”, and a special prize “Dr.Lucija Čikeš”. By competing to beautify of their environment, urban or rural, solutions are sought for the best ecological challenges and the improvement of the quality of life. And not only in landscape, horticulture, gardening, but also in the culture of living, tourism, ecology and many others. Development and dissemination of education and awareness of more people about the value, improvement, importance and sustainable development of green areas and the natural environment in each society are the underlying goals of this project. In the context of climate change and environmental concerns, all communities involved in the project can be proud of their efforts to bring about concrete solutions to the environment and contribute to the improvement of the overall society. In the year 2018, the 13 applications were received from Croatia for the Certificate of KEA-CiB and the special “Dr Lucija Čikeš” prize. There were 9 entries from the world for the special prize “Dr. Lucija Čikeš”. For the Certificate of KEA-CiB 2019, from Croatia was nominated 5 cities and from abroad for “dr. Lucija Čikeš “were nominated 3 centers. You can see the winners on the link: Here you can apply:17th KEA-CRO

All three international events, already traditional, internationally affirmed multimedia project with a world-renowned reputation, are unique manifestations of this kind in Croatia. Conceived to actively contribute to the stimulation of international integration processes of modern tourism, over the past years has gained the reputation of a very dynamic and important meeting. It is held in a very convenient time, the beginning of active preparation for the next tourist business year. In the realization of these events, connecting the world’s tourist, film-festivals, cultural and landscape associations, combining culture, tourism, tourism, ecology, strengthen the positions of these three events. This is also actively contributing to the development of environmental awareness, sustainable development, ecology and quality of life. Every year, an increasing number of accredited participants are also very excited, among them, with prominent individuals and organizations – Laureates, authors and producers of tourist films are domestic and foreign tourist journalists.

Through 3 business days (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday), along with exhibitions, the presentation of the Laureates – winners of international tourist awards, projection of tourist films, presentation of this exhibition are organized; an international symposium, a “round table”, film, tourist, educational ecological workshops, special promotions, professional excursions and exploring historical, cultural and other sights in the surroundings. It is an opportunity for meetings and the realization of numerous contacts, business conversations, exchange of international experiences and knowledge with people who make important decisions from the domain of international tourism, environmental protection, sustainable development, production and production of tourist film … With journalists covering these events, and of world media promoters – Travelindex, immeasurable contribution to events promoting tourism Solin / Split, Split-Dalmatia County, and tourism branding of Croatia in the world. This project significantly contributes to the overall development of cultural tourism in the world.

We are also proud of the fact that we have recognized the world and European landscape, film festival and tourist journalists’ associations; FEST, FIJET, ITCO, CiB. The assessment is that this event, by encouraging the international integration of contemporary tourism through the connectivity of the participating entities, contributes jointly to the development of tourism, tourism film, environmental preservation, better quality of life, and overall international tourism exchange, thereby meeting the high demand tourism in all its segments. It significantly contributes to the recognizability of the tourist product of all the local, regional, national participants participating in it, and thus a better understanding between nations and countries, which is also the fundamental objective of this event.

With a welcome to all the participants of the event in Solin / Croatia in 2019, in advance, our sincere congratulations to Laureates, and with that, the entry into the International Club for the Development of Tourism.

Contact information:
INTERSTAS, ITF’CRO, KEA-CRO
c/o FISCALIS d.o.o.
PO Box 270
Vukovarska 6
Croatia – 21000 Split
Tel: 00385/21/344 255
Tel/Fax: 00385/21/344 048
e-mail: fiscalis@st.htnet.hr

Sydney (Australia) – February 1, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The new body will focus on measures to protect and empower host communities who want a long-term ‘sustainable’ relationship with tourism that respects their cultural values. The World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage (WTACH) has been formed to protect local cultures, heritage and historical sites that are in peril from overtourism.

The new association will promote ethical practices and better management relating to culture and heritage destinations that are now buckling due to unrestricted visitor growth. WTACH will also encourage the implementation of sustainable practices at locations that are still in a honeymoon phase of tourism development.

The creation of WTACH comes at a time when the UNWTO reports that international tourism arrivals hit 1.4 billion in 2018, two years ahead of its previous forecast of 2020. The global economy grew 3.7% in 2018, says UNWTO, propelling international tourism arrivals growth to 6% for the year.

To advance its agenda, WTACH has been launched with 15 specialist advisors from diverse backgrounds relating to the culture and heritage tourism sector. They will work with destinations that need help now or want to put plans in place before running into trouble.

Chris Flynn and Carolyn ChildsWTACH is the brainchild of its founder and CEO, Chris Flynn, a former director for the Pacific region at the Pacific Asia Travel Association, a role he held for 15 years.

He says emerging tourism destinations need more help. While there are overtourism abuses in economically developed, highly regulated destinations, Flynn argues that it is in lesser economically developed destinations where overtourism has disproportionately greater negative impact.

Tourism meltdown locations
“WTACH works with destinations to provide development strategies and policy framework recommendations to avoid the kind of tourism meltdown we are seeing at Angkor Wat, Phi Phi Island and Mt Everest,” says Flynn.

WTACH’s position is that tourism needs to respect host communities and their cultural and heritage assets by adhering to a framework that has the host community at its heart.

“It’s time for the tourism industry to take step back and look at the long term impact of its decision making,” says Flynn.

Social media and mobile devices aren’t helping. Carolyn Childs, CEO of MyTravelResearch.com, and a member of the WTACH advisory specialising in analysing data and trends, says it is no coincidence that WTACH is being born at a time when ‘selfie’ culture and the promotion of ‘Instagramable’ travel is sweeping the world.

“A unique image can ‘create’ a destination in moments – often leaving it unprepared or wrong-footed,” says Childs. “This is particularly true if the image runs counter to cultural values. It risks tourism losing its ‘social licence’ with host communities. Ironically, these ‘instadestinations’ risk destroying the very thing travellers are seeking,” she warns.

The desire for ‘authenticity’ in travel is also problematic. Childs cites an AirBnB survey which found that over 80% of millennial travellers (and 93% of Chinese millennials) seek a “unique” experience and want to “live like locals” while on holiday.

Monetising authenticity
“The pressure on destinations and tour operators to find and monetise ‘unique’ and ‘authentic’ experiences will only increase as both millennial and mature travellers work through their ‘been there done that’ bucket lists,” she says.

“Having the right frameworks in place help communities and tourists. They build a more sustainable destination that delivers truly rewarding experiences,” she says.

On the supply side, WTACH believes that destinations should no longer make arrival numbers their holy grail.

The new association is deeply concerned that Turkey, for example, has decided to expand tourism arrivals from 40 million in 2018 to 70 million by 2023 – less than four years away.

“What interpretive and cultural safeguards have been put in place?” asks Flynn. “Have local communities been consulted? Is there an actual plan that involves a holistic government approach and key stakeholder and community engagement?”

Says Flynn: “At WTACH we know there’s a better way. We are now seeking like-minded organisations and individuals to help us advance responsible tourism in culturally sensitive host communities.”

About the World Tourism Association For Culture and Heritage
The World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage (WTACH) was formed to establish clear goals, objectives and strategies for the protection of cultural heritage through responsible and sustainable tourism practices. Working in collaboration with public, private and specialist academic sector organisations, WTACH determines best practice ethical principles and standards in line with the most robust global research available. A community of like-minded organisations and individuals, WTACH seeks to ensure that the unique attributes, history and cultural values of the world’s communities are celebrated and preserved for generations to come.

The WTACH logo: We wanted to create a symbol that represents humanity. An image that characterised unity and togetherness. Although it may look like an ethnic design, the logo is in fact the molecular structure of a human DNA molecule. The colours used are also symbolic as they represent the first known pigments ever used by mankind. Earth pigments born out of rock and soil and used in the earliest known rock paintings. The high level of iron and limonite creating ochres that produced rich umber, sienna and yellows that were the pallet of humanity’s first artists.

Osaka (Japan) – February 1, 2019 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts has celebrated the launch of a brand new hotel in the heart of Osaka, Japan’s second largest city, commercial center and culinary capital. Best Western Plus Hotel Fino Osaka Kitahama is perfectly positioned in the city’s Chuo-ku ward, surrounded by many major business and leisure attractions. It is also just a one-minute walk from Kitahama Station, allowing guests to connect to the entire city and beyond via the Osaka Subway and Keihan Main Line.

This modern upper-midscale hotel becomes Best Western’s 19th property in Japan, underscoring the company’s deep commitment to providing world-class accommodation to domestic and international travelers all across this dynamic Asian country.

“We are delighted to welcome guests to Best Western Plus Hotel Fino Osaka Kitahama, an impressive new hotel located in the center of one of Asia’s most important cities” commented Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia “As Japan’s second largest metropolis and the heart of the thriving Kansai region, Osaka is a key market for business travel and an enticing destination for leisure visitors. This smart and stylish property will serve all guests with a range of international facilities and Best Western’s famously warm and friendly service.”

“Best Western now operates almost 20 hotels in Japan, including four locations in Osaka alone. As visitor numbers to Japan continue to rise and the country prepares to host major global events such as the 2019 Rugby World Cup, 2020 Olympic Games and 2025 World Expo, we will continue to bring high-quality accommodation to guests in destinations across the country,” Olivier added.

Best Western Plus Hotel Fino Osaka Kitahama features 129 comfortable and contemporary rooms, all fully equipped with sleep-inducing beds, refreshing showers, work desks and cutting-edge technology, including high-speed Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Guests will be able to enjoy Japanese and international cuisine at the onsite restaurant or grab 24-hour snacks and drinks from a vending machine. A fitness center and laundry service are also available.

A major commercial and industrial hub, Osaka is home to multinational companies including Panasonic, Sharp and Daihatsu. It is also an exhilarating global city that captivates visitors with its vibrant nightlife and sensational street food. Travelers can explore cultural landmarks such as Osaka Castle or experience the bright lights of Dotonbori, the city’s famous entertainment area.

Located close to the Aji River, Best Western Plus Hotel Fino Osaka Kitahama is surrounded by key business and leisure attractions such as the Osaka Securities Exchange, Nakanoshima Park, Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library and the Museum of Oriental Ceramics. Other major attractions including Osaka City Hall, Goryo Shrine and the Osaka Museum of History are within easy reach.

Japan is now home to 19 Best Western-branded properties, ranging from sleek urban hotels to idyllic beach resorts, convenient airport hotels and more. In Osaka, Best Western now operates four distinct hotels under three of its brands: Best Western, Best Western Plus® and SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western.

To learn more about Best Western Plus Hotel Fino Osaka Kitahama, please click here…

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

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 | www.bestwesternasia.com