Category: Latest Travel News

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – December 24, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Welcome to Edition 51 of the Saint Ange Tourism Report. Tomorrow is Christmas and I wish to take this opportunity to wish all my family, friends and collaborators in the world of tourism and all my dear friend from the Press Fraternity a Merry Christmas. This is a time for giving and everyone will work at this in their own way, at their own pace and according to their own conscience. The important thing is to be yourself and to remain true to who you are. As Christmas approaches, as it does year after year, do you duty sincerely, always do a little more and the future will take care of itself. Merry Christmas to each and everyone.

Every year at Christmas we can see decorations that light up our daily lives. Vesna Rakic posted on Social Media her thoughts about a Christmas Tree in Seychelles. Vesna said:- “When I saw this tree in the window from afar, I was convinced it was made from coconut husks. I stopped by today real quick to take a pic. It’s actually made from wood, but it’s still my favourite Xmas tree in Seychelles so far! We can be so much more creative if we try, and kinder to our planet. Well done Mason’s Air Travel”.

Decorations often showcases the character and style of a person, and their ability to use local and promote cultural artefacts and material. In 2013 at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, a Christmas was erected using coconut leaves decorated with big Christmas Bows. Many appreciated it because it was very much a Seychelles styled Christmas tree.

Coco de Mer Jam hits the market just ahead of Christmas

David Low Yoke and Wilson Nancy have launched their Coco de Mer jam in time for Christmas and they are expected to add a Coco de Mer Brandy to their range of ideal Seychelles unique gifts by January. Coco de Mer is a unique natural treasure of Seychelles and using the bye products locally has always been a call made in Seychelles. The exportation of the dried kernels to China was the lazy approach when work could be provided to Seychellois when working the kernels and creating value added approaches to what we have been blessed with. Congratulations to David and Wilson.

Respecting and understanding the Arts and the island’s culture

Culture would not exist if we did not have people. Placing culture in the centre of what we do is placing people at the centre of our development. Being proud of our culture and all that is culture is the least one can expect from one’s own country. Culture is all its form and diversity is what makes us the unique people we are today.

Seychelles Tourism is worth protecting as an industry that has reached the status of “Pillar of the Economy”

Seychelles is set to end 2019 with an increase in visitor arrival figures of 3%. “This is good news” is the comment echoed by Alain St.Ange, the former Tourism Minister of Seychelles. “Our islands will again experience a good tourism year is indeed good news, but expectations are higher and the need for a buoyant tourism industry needed more than ever before”

Seychelles has been consistently recording impressive growth in tourism, certainly since 2009 when Seychelles moved to reorganise the Seychelles Tourism Board that led to the creation of a Ministry of Tourism once again after an absence of a Tourism Minister for many years.

ATC News, the Aviation, Travel and Conservation News from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands on December 21 wrote:-

Slower Growth In Numbers But Higher Growth In Earnings Make 2018 Another Good Year For The Seychelles

With less than two weeks to go, and the most busy season of the year just opening up ahead of the Festive Season, has Seychelles’ tourism industry reason to celebrate once again.

According to data received from the National Bureau of Statistics there has been 2% increase in visitor’s arrival compared to the same period in 2017 with 325,628 arrivals so far compared to 320,132 last year.

Notably has Switzerland replaced India among the six top best performing markets during 2018.

Arrivals by country of origin of tourist visitors, for the top six markets, were: Germany 53,127
France 40,806
UK /N.Ireland 24,369
UAE 23,259
Italy 22,547
Switzerland 12,081

The advance of German over French visitors has been largely blamed on the lacklustre performance of French airlines JOON which had in collusion with Seychelles government departments pushed Air Seychelles off the route – to only recently announce that their flights will now only be seasonal and not year round.

Germany subsequently remains the main tourist source market for the Seychelles now with a 16% market share and having replaced France as the archipelago’s leading source market for many years.

Data seen also suggests that there has been a decline in the number of visitors from some important markets such as China, Russia and South Africa.

On the upside though, even though the increase in visitor number has slowed down from previous double digit rises year on year, has the Central Bank of Seychelles reported an increase in the tourism earnings for the current years. Consolidated figures released show a 5.1 million USD equivalent tourism related income or in local currency 7.1 billion Seychelles Rupees. In 2017 the comparable tourism earnings were 4.4 million USD equivalent to 5.9 billion Seychelles Rupees. These data suggest that visitors spent more on a per capita basis than last year, rooted in higher accommodation tariffs and greater spending on location” said ACT News

The most current data from the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) shows that the work by their Marketing Department in collaboration with the island’s private sector is paying dividends. That performance was marked by a growth over each quarter of 2018. Overall Seychelles will end the year with a total visitor arrivals increase of 3%. It is not a bad show, but is it enough when one assesses the dependency of Seychelles on tourism.

The Seychelles performance is in step with the growth in global international travel, which the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) published was the strongest result in seven years. According to the UNWTO, international tourist arrivals climbed to 1,323 million in 2017 — an increase of 6.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2016.

Seychelles is known to offer diversity in product from the very high quality to visitors to the Seychellois ‘Home Grown’ block of accommodation network where the Seychellois culture and feeling is the centre point. The wide range of 5 Star Resorts, the One Island – One Hotel group, the smaller island styled hotels, attractions and activities enables Seychelles to be a destination for the discerning travellers looking for a tropical island for their holidays. This diversity on offer has made it easier to deliver on visitor expectations, visitor experiences, and put into perspective the question of value for money.

Has Seychelles as a whole agreed that tourism is the industry worth protecting and that it should take into consideration the fact that year after year income for the island from tourism keeps the Seychelles economy floating nicely. This is over and above the employment positions available to Seychellois. Too often it is heard that each and every family in Seychelles has someone employed in the tourism industry or has invested directly into the tourism industry. This is why every responsible Seychellois must support this vital industry and ensure the National Assembly of the islands ensures adequate funding is available for the continued marketing of Seychelles. The people of the islands on their part have to ensure that Seychelles’ tag line as a safe tourism destination is protected and safeguarded. Seychelles is one of the safest destinations in the world and this we need to ensure we remain so. But we also must double our efforts in ensuring mare is available for our visitors to do. They cannot spend and increase the island’s yield from the industry that has become the pillar of its economy if they do not have things to do. This is why innovations by Destination Management Companies (DMCs) is important and why the Tourism Board must ensure each service provider is well publicised so that visitors are tempted to move out of their hotels to have a better experience of the sights and sounds of the Seychelles.

Bangkok (Thailand) – December 20, 2018 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts announced another successful year in Asia as it introduced innovative new brands and award-winning hospitality to even more guests across the fast-growing region in 2018.

Throughout the year, Best Western continued to expand its footprint in a series of key Asian markets. In Indonesia, the opening of Best Western Senayan Hotel in Jakarta and Best Western Kindai Hotel in Banjarmasin reflect the company’s commitment to serving a wide variety of destinations, from key cities to emerging markets.

In Japan meanwhile, Best Western Plus Hotel Fino Chitose and Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara both opened this year, catering for the rising number of domestic and international travelers as the country prepares to host the 2020 Olympics.

Vietnam is another strategic target market for Best Western. In 2018, the company signed new agreements for Best Western Premier Cam Ranh Seahorse Beach Resort, Best Western Premier Quang Binh, Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long and Best Western Plus Ha Long Bay, all of which are scheduled to welcome guests from 2020 onwards. These spectacular hotels and resorts, featuring a combined total of over 2,200 rooms, will bring high quality international accommodation to a series of rapidly emerging destinations.

Best Western also continued to expand its portfolio in Thailand with this year’s signings of Best Western Plus Speech Pattaya and The Title V Rawai Phuket, BW Premier Collection by Best Western, both of which are on track to open within two years. Finally in the Philippines, Best Western signed its first SureStay® hotel, SureStay Plus by Best Western Regency Angeles City Clark, which is scheduled to open its doors in the second quarter of 2019.

As Best Western looks to the future in Asia, 2019 will bring the debut of Vīb Sanampao in Bangkok, which will be Asia’s first Vīb® hotel; the launch of SureStay Plus by Best Western Shin-Osaka, the first SureStay Hotel in Japan; the opening of Tawaravadee Resort, BW Signature Collection by Best Western, Asia’s first BW Signature Collection® hotel; and the launch of Best Western Plus Osaka Kitahama and Best Western Plus The Beachfront Resort, which will become the first Best Western Plus® hotels in Osaka and Phuket respectively.

Best Western will also return to the popular Thai resort town of Pattaya in 2019 with the opening of Best Western Premier BayPhere Pattaya. This will be complemented by the highly-anticipated debut of BluPhere Pattaya, BW Premier Collection by Best Western in 2020.

The future of Best Western in Asia holds even more promise as the company continues to build its collection of industry-leading brands. In September the company introduced a pair of unique boutique brands, upscale Sadie HotelSM and upper-midscale Aiden HotelSM. Created as conversion brands, these two chic offerings enable developers to reposition existing properties and enhance the value of their assets.¬ The world’s first Aiden Hotel opened last month in Seoul, South Korea, and Sadie Hotel is expected to arrive in Asia in the near future.

“2018 has been a hugely successful and rewarding year for Best Western in Asia,” said Ron Pohl, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “As a company, we are currently undertaking the most exciting period of expansion in our rich 72-year history, following the launch of a series of ground-breaking brand concepts. These include Vīb, our cutting-edge upper midscale concept, which will make its debut in Asia in January 2019, and our two newest brands, Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel.”

Best Western continued to set the standard for international midscale accommodation in Asia in 2018, winning several prestigious industry awards. The company was named as Asia’s “Best Mid-Range Hotel Brand” for an unprecedented twelfth consecutive year at the TTG Asia Travel Awards, and the “Best Midscale Hotel Chain” for the fourth year in a row at the Travel Weekly Asia Readers’ Choice Awards.

“We will now bring our award-winning hospitality to even more guests across the region,” commented Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia. “With our expanded portfolio of industry-leading brands, Best Western is in a position to serve guests and developers in almost every sector of the market. In the coming months and years, we will launch outstanding new hotels and resorts in key strategic markets all across Asia, including Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.”

In total, Best Western now operates a portfolio of 56 hotels and resorts across Southeast Asia and Japan, offering more than 5,000 rooms. This region-wide inventory is set to more than double in the coming years, with over 6,800 comfortable and contemporary rooms set to open across Asia. In total, Best Western has 37 hotels in its Asian pipeline, covering seven of the company’s 13 industry-leading brands.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,200* hotels in more than 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, 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 nine 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 58 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Best Western-branded hotels were top ranked in J.D. Power’s 2017 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study – ranking first in breakfast (food and beverage category) for midscale; and second in overall guest satisfaction. Over 35 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.
* All Best Western and SureStay-branded hotels are independently owned and operated.
* Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

Contact information:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts
BWI (Thailand) Co., Ltd, Gaysorn Place Office Building
999 Ploenchit Road Lumpini Phatumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Phone: +662.656.1260
Fax: +662.656.1252
Web: www.bestwesternasia.com

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

Bangkok (Thailand) – December 19, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Visionary global hospitality brand, Capella Hotel Group is to unveil its first urban resort in Thailand: Capella Bangkok, set to open in the second quarter of 2019. Taking up residence on the east bank of the legendary River of Kings (Chao Phraya River) the new luxury property is the first to open along the waterway in the last two decades.

John Blanco, General Manager of Capella Bangkok comments: “The revival of the riverside has been happening organically for some years now and it’s incredible to experience the enthusiasm everybody has for a return to the city’s original roots. It’s reminiscent of the redevelopment of historic – and often artistic – waterfront locales in other major metropolises such as the Meatpacking District in Manhattan and Belém in Lisbon, and I have every confidence that it will have the same uplifting effect on the city as a whole.”

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Undergoing a major transformation, the surrounding Chao Phraya and Charoenkrung neighbourhood is revelling in the rise of its burgeoning local arts scene and the revival of its provincial culinary landscape. Charoenkrung and Chao Phraya have inevitably moved with the times, but unlike many districts throughout the sprawling metropolis, this specific area retains a strong sense of community identity which puts the riverfront lifestyle centre stage. A contemporary playground is afoot in which heritage will be rediscovered and new stories can be crafted by travellers who want to immerse themselves in one of Bangkok’s oldest neighbourhoods.

John Blanco adds: “I am sure our guests will enjoy exploring the locale and discovering the diverse street food stalls, riverfront seafood markets and decades-old shophouse restaurants including the legendary Thip Volcanic Fried Mussel & Oyster, in addition to the fashionable new eateries celebrating Bangkok’s bygone culinary roots. Guests are also sure to be enamoured by local residents of all ages engaging in their daily riverside regimens.

Capella Bangkok offers 101 suites and the city’s first riverfront villas located within the highly-anticipated Chao Phraya Estate, a more-than-14-acre prime waterfront land development that boasts unprecedented accessibility and 350 metres of riverfront real estate.

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Designed to evoke the feeling of a personal pied-à-terre with unobstructed views of the river from every room, the luxury property features a signature restaurant curated by celebrated Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco, Auriga Wellness with an extensive list of carefully curated Asian therapies combining traditional techniques with contemporary solutions, The Capella Living Room – a light-filled, river-facing lounge that will host local artisans, music and culinary delights to reflect the neighbourhood’s passion for food, wellness and culture.

Crafted local experiences, provided by the Capella Personal Assistant, will offer guests first-hand encounters with resident luminaries and inspire them to create and share their own memories about the city’s most intriguing enclave.

About Capella Hotel Group
Capella Hotel Group, headquartered in Singapore with offices in China, Europe and USA, offers global hospitality management services through two distinct brands. Capella Hotels and Resorts is an ultra-luxury hotel, resort and residential concept designed for the most discerning travellers and offering personalized attention with locations in Düsseldorf, Shanghai, Singapore, Sanya and Ubud as well as hotels planned for Bangkok, Maldives and Sydney.

Solis Hotels and Resorts, is an exclusive collection of resorts, hotels and residences designed for travellers and meeting planners who seek an environment with a global palette of cosmopolitan comfort, inspiring cuisine, world-class spas with locations in Donegal, Ireland, Nanjing, China and Atlanta, USA along with hotels planned for Bali and Guangzhou.

About Chao Phraya Estate
The Chao Phraya Estate enjoys a prime waterfront location in Bangkok’s heritage quarter on an unprecedented 14.2 acres of land. The project is valued at approximately USD 1 billion and development features 3 unique properties – Four Seasons Private Residences Bangkok, Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok and Capella Hotel Bangkok. Construction started in Q3 2014 with expected completion in Q4 2018. The masterplan and design is by Hamiltons International with architecture by Dhevanand Architects Co., Ltd. and interior design by BAMO Inc. and PIA Interior Co., Ltd. The Landscape Designer is P Landscape Co., Ltd.

About Country Group Development
Country Group Development (CGD) is the Thailand-based, international real estate development and investment arm of Country Group. With a proven track record of delivering bold and complex asset transformations including Four Seasons Private Residences Bangkok, Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok and Capella Hotel Bangkok; the company is a unique player in the market with a competitive edge from its diversified real estate strategy and ability to leverage from the Country Group affiliate network of companies.

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Bangkok (Thailand) – December 20, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Borderless Healthcare Group launches Thailand as the first Egg Capital of the world with the establishment of its high-tech IVF clinic franchise in the Kingdom of Thailand. AI-powered high-tech IVF clinic franchise “XY.life” will soon make its debut in Bangkok to democratise women in fertility management.

AI-powered avatar will be made available at www.xy.life in the first half of 2019 to chat with women around the world who are interested to adopt social egg freezing in a pay-as-you-freeze model in any XY.life clinics. Subject to a range of biological, psychological and social data provided by a woman, the avatar can dispense a personalised financing plan for her fertility management. The plan may include social egg freezing cost for as low as USD2.95 per day in Thailand.

“There are 1.8 billion millennials in the world and they have become the new audience of fertility management. In addition to delayed marriage and childbearing, many of the millennials are also facing new infertility threats which include work stress, unbalanced lifestyle, disturbed sleep-wake cycle, etc. Providing them with insights on fertility preservation like fertility functional diet, toxicity avoidance tips and options like social egg freezing before infertility kicks in, will be very helpful. Majority of the fertility clinics are focused only in managing infertility. We aim to transform the infertility industry to be a fertility preservation eco-system which can support millions of women, especially the millennials, to manage fertility before fertility becomes a problem,” says Dr Wei Siang Yu, founder and executive chairman of Borderless Healthcare Group.

Many fertility doctors around the world have already signed up with XY.Life to become an advocate in fertility public health education to promote the new notion of ‘reproductive asset management’. Global experts in technology, fertility and media will be working closely with fertility doctors in Thailand to develop world-class protocols, technology innovations and centres of excellence in cryobanking in the Kingdom.

Thailand, as a major tourism and medical tourism hub, will be positioned as a global player in comprehensive fertility management which is in line with the objective of the Tourism Authority of Thailand to enhance premium and niche tourism next year!

About Borderless Healthcare Group
Borderless Healthcare Group Inc (BHG) is a global leader in healthcare technology, media, telecommunication, service and content (TMTSC), managing more than US$100 million worth of intellectual assets and innovations via its ecosystem of subsidiaries from Smart Health, Smart Ageing, Smart Home to Smart Farm. BHG is positioned to transform traditional healthcare with disruptive innovations in Asia and beyond. The group’s global innovation footprint is supported by its Borderless Investment Alliance and the establishment of the first-of-its-kind Borderless Innovation Centres in China and across the globe.

Male (Maldives) – December 19, 2018 (travelindex.com) – S Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary Thailand’s Singha Estate PCL, will showcase the cultural charm and diversity of the Maldives as part of its most ambitious development to date and the first phase of the Crossroads Maldives integrated leisure and resort destination.

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Scheduled to open in summer 2019, this spectacular project will encompass three independent islands fringing the Emboodhoo Lagoon in the pristine South Malé Atoll, just 15 minutes by speedboat from Malé International Airport. Upon completion, Crossroads will offer two captivating hotels, SAii Lagoon Maldives and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, plus a wide range of facilities centred upon The Marina @Crossroads, an 11,000 square metre lifestyle, retail and dining destination.

Crossroads Maldives is aptly named and specifically master-planned as a global meeting place where travellers from around the world can experience authentic Maldivian culture from the past to the present. While many resorts focus solely on the country’s famous tropical scenery, Crossroads Maldives will also highlight its diverse cultural heritage.

The Maldives enjoys a unique geographical position in an historically significant area of the Indian Ocean. From being a stop-off point for trading ships between Europe, Africa and Asia, to its current status as a global tourism hotspot, the islands of the Maldives have always been a place where different cultures meet. Every nation and civilisation that has touched this isolated archipelago has left its influence, from Islamic traders to European voyagers. This melting pot, combined with local folklore and a unique, laidback way of life, creates the distinctive DNA of Crossroads Maldives and its resorts.

“The Maldives is a truly beautiful destination – a tropical island paradise where guests can fulfil their vacation dreams. But there is more to this enchanting country than just sun, sea and sand. The Maldives has a rich history that has been shaped by its unique maritime location at the crossroads of different cultures. The facilities that make up Phase One of Crossroads Maldives will encourage guests to delve deep into the diversity of the destination, whilst also embracing the country’s exquisite natural beauty,” commented Dirk de Cuyper, Chief Hospitality Officer, S Hotels & Resorts.

The architecture and design of Crossroads Maldives will also reflect the country’s historical influences and the developers will actively engage with local communities to create the win-win combination of authentic guest experiences and empowerment.

Central to this concept will be the Maldives Discovery Centre, a cultural attraction that will showcase Maldivian customs and cultures through interactive displays, video and hands on experiential adventures. The centre will also display and sell handcrafted products created by local people, women in particular. The overall aim is to create mutual and sustainable benefits for long-term prosperity of the entire area.

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Scheduled to open in June 2019, Crossroads Maldives will feature an array of world-class attractions. Hard Rock Hotel Maldives will feature 178 rooms, suites and villas, plus family-friendly experiences and Hard Rock’s branded concepts, including a Hard Rock Cafe®, Rock Spa® and a Rock Shop® selling merchandise and showcasing music memorabilia.

In addition, SAii Lagoon Maldives will offer an original and inspiring new resort concept featuring a range of distinctive rooms, beach villas and overwater villas, as well as extensive water sports, cultural activities, wellness and world-class dining. The resort will be part of the eclectic Curio Collection by Hilton®.

S Hotels & Resorts will play a key role in developing local talent in the hospitality sector, particularly through its two hotels. Overall, Crossroads Maldives will create approximately 1,000 jobs for local islanders, providing genuine benefits to the destination as a whole.

By showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage, engaging with local communities and preserving the pristine environment, Crossroads Maldives is weaving together the past, present and future of the Maldives and ensuring the sustainability of this captivating destination for generations to come.

About S Hotels & Resorts
S Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Singha Estate Public Company Limited, is a new era Thai-inspired personalized hospitality brand that caters to upscale travelers with an independent spirit. The group offers guests a portfolio of 39 properties in 5 countries with a total of 4,647 keys and provides guests with the opportunity to experience the best destinations from a unique perspective while enjoying world class facilities and tailored services. S Hotels & Resorts’ properties are located in attractive, unspoiled locales to provide an exclusive playground built around nature, culture, wellness and adventure, with a generous helping of creature comforts and fine cuisine. Each property boasts its own distinctive, destination sensitive designs and unique signatures while also providing consistency thanks to a well-defined brand philosophy and a service culture that focuses on exceptional guest experiences backed up by Thai-inspired hospitality and global quality standards.

About Crossroads Maldives
Crossroads is the first and largest integrated tourist destination in the Maldives. The development will offer an extensive array of attractions for visitors, including Hard Rock Cafe; Café Del Mar, a 30-berth luxury marina; extensive retail, food and beverage outlets; a Maldives Discovery Centre supporting local arts and crafts, a Marine Discovery Centre, a multi-purpose event venue and a junior beach club.

Basel (Switzerland) – December 18, 2018 (travelindex.com) – From 2020, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva (SIHH) and Baselworld in Basel, the two major events in the watch industry, will synchronise their calendars. In 2020, the SIHH will be held from 26 to 29 April in Geneva, followed immediately by Baselworld from 30 April to 5 May in Basel. The calendars have been synchronised until 2024.

The coinciding of these dates is good news for the whole industry. Until now, the SIHH took place in January, while Baselworld was held in March. This arrangement meant that the professionals, press, and clients shared by large watchmaking brands would have to travel to Switzerland twice in the space of just a few weeks. This calendar now coming closer together will be effective as of 2020 onwards.

Fabienne Lupo, President and Managing Director of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, which organises SIHH, stated: “Our two events have always been different, yet complementary. Resynching with Baselworld will further conf irm Switzerland as the foremost destination for watchmaking in the world. This is something we welcome wholeheartedly, as it is in the interests of all.”

“Baselworld and the SIHH are working for the industry and its clients. We have sought dialogue with t he SIHH and together have found a solution, which benefits visitors, the media, and the entire watchmaking industry enormously”, declared Michel Loris – Melikoff, Managing Director of Baselworld. “This partnership between the two most prominent exhibitions in the industry represents a major breakthrough for the future.”

A partnership that works for the industry
For visitors attending both events, and in particular those from other continents, these agreed dates will make their trips to Switzerland far easier. This important and essential breakthrough for the Swiss watchmaking industry is also welcomed by major players in the sector.

SIHH
Created in 1991, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) focuses on Haute Horlogerie, and now welcomes 35 e xhibiting Maisons, 17 of which are part of the “Carré des Horlogers”. Over time, SIHH has become an unmissable platform for communication and a meeting place for the international watchmaking community: professionals, journalists, the media, collectors, en thusiasts and connoisseurs of fine watchmaking.

Baselworld
For over 100 years, Baselworld has been The World Watch and Jewellery Show. Amongst its exhibitors are Rolex, Patek Philippe, LVMH and Chopard, alongside exhibitors who are world leaders in the do mains of jewellery and precious stones, in addition to those of technical industries.

Bangkok (Thailand) – December 17, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Anantara Siam Bangkok is proud to present Carnival de Venice at Biscotti from 28 January – 11 February 2019. The festivities will unfold every evening with exquisite Italian food inspired by ingredients from Venice, the home of the Carnival.

The carnival is an annual cultural event in Venice, mostly known for the traditional masks worn throughout. This historic event starts in February each year with visitors from all over the world. This year you can celebrate at Anantara Siam Bangkok hotel, bringing an Italian tradition to Thailand.

Chef de Cuisine Andrea Buson at Biscotti will carefully prepare array of delectable dishes such as “Fritto Misto Alla Veneziana” – Venetian deep-fried mixed seafood, calamari, prawns, soft shell crab, fish fillet, vegetable sticks (THB 690++), “Spaghetti Alla Busera” – Traditional spaghetti with langoustine, tomato coulis, cherry tomato, parsley and chilli (THB 1,190++), and “Maialino Alle Mele” – Slow cooked Kurobuta pork belly, apple Sauce, Venetian style braised cabbage and sautéed turnip (THB 1,290++), naming but a few delicacies. (Prices are subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax).

Each evening, dinner will take place at Biscotti, 1st floor, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel (BTS Ratchadamri), open daily from 6.00 pm. – 10.30 pm. Add a fine Italian wine from our extensive cellar to enhance your carnival experience.

For more information or reservations, please contact biscotti.asia@anantara.com or call +66 (0) 2 126 8866 Ext. 1214 Website: www.siam-bangkok.anantara.com

Katowice (Poland) – December 14, 2018 (travelindex.com) – An SDG 17 Partnership, for Climate-Friendly Travel, was announced on 14th December at COP 24 in Katowice, Poland. The partnership between EXO Foundation who support Sustainable Development projects through responsible tourism in South East Asia and SUNx the Strong Universal Network, a legacy program for Maurice Strong responding to eXistential Climate Change.

It focusses on a shared commitment to develop the Maurice Strong Legacy Scholarship Program, under the SUNx “Plan for Our Kids” with EXO Foundation as the first regional sponsor.

Speaking from the COP 24, the UNFCCC Climate Change conference Professor Geoffrey Lipman, co-founder of SUNx said:
“We are delighted to announce our partnership with EXO Foundation as our first regional sponsor of our “ Plan for our Kids” and its Maurice Strong Legacy Scholarship Program. Together we have identified an opportunity to help strengthen education on Climate Resilience for Travel & Tourism in South-East Asia. Through our partnership EXO Foundation is supporting the lifetime learning of 21 graduates committed to Sustainable Tourism Development, with a focus on Climate Friendly Travel.

Our strategy is to create a cadre of 100,000 next generation of “Strong Climate Champions” by 2030, to help to drive the behavioural change and influence the fundamental government and industry actions needed to tackle Climate Change.

Strong Climate Champions will be graduates, who engage in the movement for Climate Friendly Travel, for transformation to the New Climate Economy. They will help to build the thinking; drive the behaviour, identify innovations and influence the fundamental government and industry actions needed.”

Lipman added that “The awardees, based on 1000-word essays on practical aspects of Climate Friendly Travel, will be linked with EXO Foundation through a certificate of excellence and lifetime access to the SUNx learning platform. This includes curated information on Climate Resilience, and a Climate Friendly Travel Course, supporting transformation of the sector to the New Climate Economy.”

Alexandra Michat, EXO Foundation Manager said:
“The vision of EXO Foundation is to use tourism to make destinations better places for people to live in, and for travellers to visit. We aim to be a driving force in actively fostering sustainable development and improving positive societal and environmental changes through the promotion of responsible tourism. Through our partnership with SUNx we want to support the next generation of climate change activists who will help shape the future of the Travel industry in SE Asia. Together we will identify academic partners to promote the call for nominations and support their work on Climate Resilience education to Tourism students.”

About Strong Universal Network SUNx
The Strong Universal Network SUNx, is a program of the EU based, not for profit Green Growth and Travelism Institute, and a legacy to the late Maurice Strong – Sustainable Development Pioneer. Its goal is to promote Climate Friendly Travel with good & bad effects measured and managed coherently: with Green Growth at the core and, 2050-proof in line with the Paris Accords and the W.E.F. 4th Industrial Revolution.

EXO Foundation is an apolitical, secular and not-for-profit organization officially registered under the Ministry of Interior of the Royal Government of Cambodia. It was established in 2011 by EXO Travel, a leading tour operator in Asia operating in 10 different countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore. Although EXO Travel remains our major donor and covers all our operational costs, EXO Foundation acts as a separate and independent non-profit organization.

Bangkok (Thailand) – December 14, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Praya Dining at Praya Palazzo relaunches with an exquisite culinary journey through time. The cuisine at Praya Dining is curated to showcase the history, opulence of ingredients and culture of each Siamese era from the ancient Kingdom of Sukhothai until today’s prosperous Rattanakosin.

With the relaunch of Praya Dining at Praya Palazzo, Montara Hospitality stays true to its mission to re-imagine how lifestyle travelers encounter local heritage. Praya Dining has been reconceptualized to portray Praya Palazzo’s heritage as a century-old Palladian-style river mansion built in the reign of His Majesty King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). Montara’s newest restaurant authentically presents Thai cuisines in manners that enable diners to appreciate the historical context of each dish. By doing so, Praya Dining builds upon the group’s momentum in other culinary destinations.

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Praya Dining guides diners on a culinary journey through Thai history. Each dish highlights how Thai cuisine evolved during each era throughout history. The journey begins with the Thai relish “Lon” (หลน). Pronounced “lohn” (in Thai meaning to simmer), the relish became prominent during the Sukhothai era. As the first Thai Kingdom, Sukhothai was a time when Thailand was self-sufficient in terms of food, which was cooked at its most simplicity. Served with fresh vegetables, variations of Lon include Salty Mackerel relish or Crab relish.
The culinary journey at Praya Dining continues to Ayutthaya era when Thai cuisine was influenced by foreign traders. This era saw the arrival of chili, which has since become the heart of Thai Cuisine, and of exotic spices from which the first curries were born. In addition, during Ayutthaya era, new cooking techniques such as stir-frying, frying and deep frying emerged and are reflected in dishes such as “Koong Sarong” (กุ้งโสร่ง Deep fried prawns wrapped with vermicelli noodles), “Nam Prik Kapi” (น้ำพริกกะปิ Shrimp paste relish with condiments and fresh herbs), “Khanom Jeen Nam Ya Pla” (ขนมจีนน้ำยาปลา Thin rice noodles served with Snake Head fish sauce) or “Massaman Beef curry” (แกงมัสมั่น).

Finally, diners at Praya Dining arrive to Rattanakosin era, the current kingdom which established Bangkok as the capital city of Thailand. This era marks the beginning of the Chakri dynasty leading to today’s modern metropolitan city. The period had great influence on Thai food today, from the emergence of street food which was initially influenced by Chinese settlers, to the creation of Thailand’s world-famous noodle dish, ‘Phad Thai’.

Throughout the culinary journey at Praya Dining, diners will discover rarefied Thai dishes derived from storied Thai poems, and literatures. The culinary team has researched and prepared the dishes derived from the epic love poem, “Kap Heh Chom Khrueang Khao Wan” (กาพย์เห่ชมเครื่องคาวหวาน), composed by King Rama II, “Tam Ra Kub Khao” (ตำรากับเข้า) by Lady Somjeen, “Khuu Meuu Maae Kruaa” (คู่มือแม่ครัว) by Lor. Phaehtraarat and ‘Chivid nai wang’ (Life in the palace) composed by M.L. Nueang Nilrat. The source materials have inspired the creation of Praya Dining’s signature dishes including “La Tiang” (ล่าเตียง Ancient snack of pork, shrimp and peanuts wrapped in egg mesh), “Sang Wa Kung Pla Duk Fu” (แสร้งว่ากุ้งปลาดุกฟู Roasted shrimp dipping with crispy shredded catfish salad), “Ran Juan Curry” : (แกงรัญจวน Traditional beef soup seasoned with shrimp paste), “Mu Pad Som Siew” (หมูผัดส้มเสี้ยว Stir-fried pork with our forgotten yellow chili pastes recipe) to the dessert like “Bua Loy Look Tarn” (บัวลอยลูกตาล Rice flour balls in coconut milk).

Praya Dining is located in the century-old Italian style river mansion Praya Palazzo. Today a luxury boutique hotel, Praya Palazzo is situated directly on Chao Phraya River and is exclusively accessible only by boat. The mansion’s shuttle boat provides a 24-hour service to and from either the Tha Phra Arthit Pier or Rajathiwas Temple Pier where parking is readily available.

Praya Palazzo
Situated on the prominent landmarks along the River of Kings or Chao Phraya River, Praya Palazzo offers guests the opportunity to enjoy history, elegance and river serenity in traditional style all in the heart of Bangkok. Constructed nearly 100 years ago as a private, Thai-Italian style mansion in the reign of His Majesty King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), this boutique hotel, operated by Montara Hospitality Group, provides personalized services to discerning tourists seeking a unique experience in the gentle traditions of a bygone era. Opened since 2012, the recently revamped Praya Palazzo with further extensive renovations along with the relaunch of Praya Dining are done by November 2018.

With legendary heritage and architectural beauty, Praya Palazzo was honored with accolades including Prime Minister’s “2014-2015 Thailand Boutique Awards” under “Luxury Thematic River/Lake Hotel” category, and “2011 Architectural Conservation Award” selected by The Association of Siamese Architects under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King.

About Montara Hospitality Group
As a Thai family, we take pride in sharing our natural and cultural heritage. We want our guests to experience our most sincere and innovative services that will bring them joy. We invest in best-in-class hospitality platforms that connect investors, lifestyle travelers, and innovative hoteliers. Our properties include Phuket’s most exclusive pool villa beach resort Trisara, Bangkok’s only river mansion boutique hotel Praya Palazzo, and the innovative movie house-turn-hotel Prince Theatre Heritage Stay in Bangrak.

We developed, own and manage Phuket Island’s most special resort experience “Trisara”, in Sanskrit “The Garden in The Third Heaven”. Wrapped in a tropical forest and exotic gardens, the 60 spacious ocean facing pool villas and 2-7 bedroom private residences all embrace our own quiet bay on Phuket’s sophisticated and natural north-western coastline, just 15 minutes from Phuket Airport. PRU sources ingredients from PRU’s own farm and local purveyor communities of fishermen and farmers for the long-term sustainability as well as “Seafood at Trisara” inspired by authentic Thai family heirloom recipes passed through the generations in which also received the exciting Michelin Plate designation.

In late 2017, Praya Palazzo has become a family member of Montara Hospitality group, a century-old Italian style mansion directly on Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, with the newly revamped of the interiors and the restaurant in November 2018. We launched Prince Theatre Heritage Stay in early 2018. Prince Theatre is Bangkok’s only movie house turn boutique hotel. The 26-room, 130-bed property is located at the heart of Bangrak, Bangkok’s renowned street food paradise and creative district. Prince Theatre is the showcase property of Heritage Stay Company, which seeks to re-imagine how travelers connect with Thailand’s rich local heritage and to be a part in supporting the local community.

Buenos Aires (Argentina) – December 13, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Unidigital is the result of the collaboration between the public and private sectors to promote innovation in tourism. It will offer services, products and training in digital transformation in order to allow the most disruptive entrepreneurs in tourism in the Americas to develop their projects. The Hub was presented as part of the UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventure Forum, held on 11-13 December 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“Today is a historic day because we have brought together many tourism authorities of the Americas to inaugurate this place, which is open to any entrepreneur, and where together we will do very interesting things and achieve excellent results,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. He added: “We are committed to helping them find investors and give them the opportunity to internationalize not only in the Americas, but also beyond the continent.”

The Minister of Tourism of Argentina and Chair of the UNWTO Executive Council, Gustavo Santos, stressed that “innovation and tourism are allies in generating life opportunities for our people and creating employment”. He added: “This reaffirms our commitment and responsibility towards this sector, which will lead human development in the years to come.”

Unidigital founder and CEO Felipe Durán thanked the authorities for their presence and said: “I am excited for Buenos Aires to be the gateway to the Americas, a place where art, technology and tourism come together; with our projects we are going to get involved in people’s tourism.”

The Unidigital Hub opened in the context of the UNWTO Tourism Adventure Tech Forum, the tourism and technology forum organized by the UNWTO and the Ministry of Tourism of Argentina. The winner of the UNWTO Data Challenge 2018 was also announced at the event, Diego Turconi. This project is organized in collaboration with the ieXL of IE University, whose objective is to demonstrate the ability to generate data-driven solutions.

The regional Startup Competition was won by Eduardo Zenteno del Toro, with his Nenemi project, a platform that seeks to bring Asian travellers to Mexico with potential for expansion in the Americas. He will now have the opportunity to avail Unidigital’s services valued at up to 100,000 dollars.

Participating in the UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventure Forum are leaders in innovation, top-level startups and key actors in the global innovation and digital transformation ecosystem.

It is an unprecedented platform for entrepreneurship and tourism innovation, with the aim of creating synergies between the different actors, exchanging success stories and fostering a venture capital investment culture. Likewise, this space provides solutions to challenges related to digital transformation as a source of employment generation, competitiveness and sustainable development.

In this same context, a seminar aimed at ministers of the Americas and Argentine national ministers was held on how to build successful digitalization strategies. A workshop for startups was also held, addressing the subject of motivation for tourism investors and entrepreneurship.