Category: Latest Travel News

Berlin (Germany) – October 18, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Tourism as a key economic force: Malaysia, the Official Partner Country of ITB Berlin, which will take place from 6 to 10 March 2019 on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, is aiming to strengthen its tourism industry. At present, the tourism industry accounts for around 15 per cent of the economy, a workforce of some 3.2 million people, and 22.7 per cent of Malaysia’s total employment figure. In order to further develop tourism in this country in Southeast Asia, Tourism Malaysia is focusing on improving scheduled air services and chartered flights by partnering with various airlines. “The Malaysian government is offering special incentives to attract international airlines. By June of this year we were able to offer 2.8 million seats monthly, 14 per cent up from the June 2017 figure. Beginning in November Germany’s Condor airline will fly from Frankfurt to Kuala Lumpur“, said Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and CultureYB Tuan Mohamaddin Ketapi.

Speaking at the recent Travel Mart of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in Langkawi, Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said: ”Last year we welcomed a total of 25.9 million tourists and registered RM 82.2 billion in receipts. We are looking to attract 30 million tourists by 2020.” The deputy prime minister emphasised that tourism was a key economic factor and of great importance to the new administration, and assured all its investors that Malaysia would remain a strategic partner for their investment plans. ”We aim to continue maintaining good bilateral ties with all countries and to grow as an international platform for partnerships, trade and investment“, she said.

Value for money, growth in the hotel industry and new attractions

Malaysia’s tourism attractions are as diverse as the country itself. They range from million-year old rainforests, islands and beaches to shopping and luxury holidays. ”Due to the favourable exchange rate Malaysia is a value-for-money destination. Hotels, food, beverages and holiday attractions are among the world’s lowest-priced, while high-quality all the same“, said Dr. Wan Azizah. According to the deputy prime minister, since 2017 the hotel sector has expanded by 250 new hotels, an increase of 8.5 per cent, and a further 130 hotels featuring 26,000 rooms are planned. ”We are pleased that well-known brands such as Westin, Mercure, Sheraton, W, St. Regis, Four Seasons and Hyatt have recognised how valuable Malaysia is for their expansion and investment plans”, she said.

Impressive tourist attractions currently under development include the Desaru Coast resort featuring a water park, golf courses and a conference centre in Johor, an ultra-modern complex in the coastal city of Melaka, and the 20th Century Fox World theme park in Genting Highlands. Dr. Wan Ismail added: ”Malaysia is also an ideal destination for MICE and business events as well as weddings and honeymoons. Malaysia is also drawing attention as a filming location. Over the past few months the box office hit Crazy Rich Asians was shot mainly in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi.“ At the end of her speech Dr. Wan Ismail listed the success factors for tourism in Malaysia: political stability, world-class facilities, the strategic location, diverse attractions, every category of accommodation, a favourable exchange rate, hospitality, excellent cuisine and outstanding service.

Malaysia can boost its international presence as the partner country of ITB Berlin 2019

”We are deeply grateful to receive the title of ’Official Partner Country of ITB Berlin‘. It draws global attention and has the potential to reach out to key decision-makers and leading industry players in the region“, is how Malaysia’s Tourism Minister Tuan Mohamaddin Ketapi valued the significance of the country’s role as partner country of ITB Berlin 2019. “Our advertising and promotional campaigns have been enhanced with digital marketing on social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube in order to boost our international presence and reach out to an increasingly mobile and tech-savvy tourism market”, the minister said. This year, Malaysia was also awarded the title of Preferred Destination Partner of the European Travel Agencies and Tour Operator’s Association (ECTAA), which consists of 32 travel agent and tour operator associations from 30 European countries with 70,000 enterprises.

In order to position Malaysia as a winter holiday destination and further develop the luxury market the tourism authorities are working closely with Thomson Cruises. For the TUI cruise ship Discovery Cruise, for example, Langkawi will be its home port. Around 7,200 cruise passengers are expected to go on board by the year’s end. Another important step is the establishment of a German TUI office in Malaysia, the first in Southeast Asia. “The presence of TUI on our shores is a testament to the organisation’s confidence in Malaysia,” said Tuan Mohamaddin Ketapi.

Digital inspiration for journalists

Before, during and after the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show all information about tourism developments in Malaysia and the official partner country’s activities at ITB Berlin 2019 will be posted at www.TourMAB.com. This is where, every month, journalists and bloggers can find the latest ideas for their stories, photos, ínterviews and first-hand articles free of charge.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2019 will be taking place from Wednesday, 6 to Sunday, 10 March, and from Wednesday to Friday will be open to trade visitors only. ITB Berlin is the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. In 2018 a total of 10,000 companies and organisations from 186 countries exhibited their products and services to around 170,000 visitors, including 110.000 trade visitors. Parallel with the show the ITB Berlin Convention, the largest event of its kind, will be held from Wednesday, 6 to Saturday, 9 March 2019. Admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is free for trade visitors and exhibitors. For more information please visit www.itb-berlin.com, www.itb-convention.com and the ITB Social Media Newsroom.

Singapore (Singapore) – October 17, 2018 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts has continued its winning streak at Travel Weekly Asia’s Reader’s Choice Awards, after it was named “Asia’s Best Midscale Hotel Chain” for a fantastic fourth consecutive year.

The world-renowned hotel group received its latest honor at the 2018 Reader’s Choice Awards, which were voted for by the readers of Travel Weekly Asia – one of the region’s largest and most respected travel trade publications.

The award was presented to Best Western at a glittering award ceremony in Singapore on Monday October 15, 2018.

“It is a great honor to be named as Asia’s Best Midscale Hotel Chain’ once again. Best Western has developed multiple new brands in recent years, catering for exciting new market trends. These include Vīb®, our millennially-minded urban hotel concept, which we believe represents the future of midscale accommodation,” commented Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia.

“We look forward to introducing guests to Asia’s first Vīb hotels later this year. I am confident that the region’s travel trade will love our innovative new midscale products as much as they love our classic midscale Best Western hotels. On behalf of everyone at Best Western, I would like to thank the esteemed readers of Travel Weekly Asia for voting for us once again,” Olivier added.

This year, Travel Weekly Asia handed out a total of 56 Readers’ Choice Awards across 10 different categories. These awards were created to celebrate the hotel industry’s leading stars – brands that push the boundaries and raise the bar for hospitality in the region, earning the respect of customers and travel trade professionals alike.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has now held the title of “Asia’s Best Midscale Hotel Chain” every year since 2015.

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

Sirimanas Maungrod
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com

Orapan Sornnuwat
Email: orapan.sornnuwat@bestwestern.com

Jakarta (Indonesia) – October 17, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Organized by Questex Hospitality Group, the 3rd Hotel Management Indonesia Summit 2018 is returning to Jakarta on November 14. It will be held at DoubleTree by Hilton Jakarta b Diponegoro. HMI Summit will feature all things related to ownership, management, operational, commercial, financial and technological roles to explore the ways forward.

Each year, the event attracts over 120 delegates to strategize in a closed-door environment. This year, more than 20 international and local speakers will share their expertise and insights.

Themed, “Exploring Innovation-Enabled Evolutions and Industry-Wide Collaborations to Support Further Growth,” the topics presented in this latest edition of HMI Summit will include: Reduce labour costs and manpower reliance through technology adoptions; Strategizing on sales, marketing, and pricing approaches to ensure competitiveness; Fortifying industry-wide talent development efforts and collaborations; and, reinvestigating hotel designs to better manage construction and operational costs.

The past few years have been exciting yet challenging for hoteliers in Indonesia. The tremendous growth in the industry has provided vast opportunities for career advancements. However, the supply growth has out-paced demand growth and human resources readiness, resulting in margin compression and talent shortage.

To assist locally-based hoteliers to excel financially in this highly competitive but fragmented market, HMI Summit 2018 brings forth the essentials of managing expenses and manpower. Labour costs, energy and utility costs, distribution costs and construction costs are all set to be scrutinized closely, in order to help hoteliers generate respectable gross operating profit and returns on investment for owners. Similarly, recruiting, retaining and developing quality talents are crucial to consistent delivery of positive guest experiences and will be covered by the industry experts in the summit.

“Good panel discussions with some great speakers who are expert in their fields. I picked up several new points which are beneficial to my company,” proclaimed Martha Christhiana, E-Commerce Manager b OBEROI HOTELS & RESORTS INDONESIA, who attended the 2017 HMI Summit.

HMI is a neutral one-stop strategy platform where Corporate CEOs/ Presidents, COOs and CFOs, VP operations Property GMs, Financial Controllers, Director of operations property owners, and managing directors will directly address all key management, operational, commercial, and financial challenges that impact corporate and property P&L.

HMI Summit 2018 is part of the Hotel Management Asia summit Series, Asia’s only truly regional hotel management conference series. The series rotate through Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia this year by leveraging regional experiences, insights, and innovations to address market-specific challenges.

About Questex Hospitality + Travel
The Questex Hospitality + Travel Group of Questex LLC serves the worldwide hospitality, travel and related industries that together contribute over $6 trillion to the global gross domestic product. Through an innovative platform of targeted solutions, the group serves the sector’s entire ecosystem, from tourism and hotel development and investment to hotel design, purchasing, management and operations.

The Questex Hospitality + Travel Group supports every B2B segment of the industry, from investment and development to management operations, sales and marketing of hospitality and travel products to destination development and marketing, via proven demand generation, learning, loyalty and rewards solutions as well as a network of live events.

This division of Questex is aligned around three broad market segments b hospitality, travel, and meetings b and supported by its digital media staff.

About Hotel Management Indonesia Summit (HMI Summit)
The leading conference in Indonesia that directly addresses all operational/management challenges, the Hotel Management Indonesia Summit provides a platform for hotel executives from both corporate level and property level to discuss key operational, branding and financial issues directly impacting corporate and property P&L.

CEO, COO, CFO, VPs, GMs, Financial Controllers, and executive committee members will gather to strategize and debate on essential topics including brand equity, cash-flow management, cost control, innovation and staff retention and development. Industry leaders will share their best practices and recommendations with their peers.

For further information, please contact:
Jefferson Mendoza
Marketing Executive
Questex Hospitality + Travel
Tel: +852 2589 1331
E-mail: jmendoza@questexasia.com
Website: www.questexevents.net/hmisummit

Madrid (Spain) – October 17, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The UNWTO Conference on City Breaks, Creating Innovative Tourism Experiences (15-16 October 2018) concluded in Valladolid, Spain, with a call for cities to become smart tourism destinations, where tourism governance and the digital economy mesh together to offer travellers diverse and authentic experiences.

The conference brought together tourism leaders from the public and private sectors to analyse how to respond to the growing trend of city breaks as leisure experiences. They concluded that public-private partnerships, the inclusion of local communities and the creation of smart destinations are crucial for urban destinations to gain the knowledge and define the policies they need in order to respond to the new demands of hyper-connected and hyper-informed tourists.

“We must understand the evolution of tourists towards greater sustainability and inclusiveness, using new technological tools,” said Jaime Cabal, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). “Creativity and innovation are needed when designing the experiences they are increasingly demanding.”

The Councillor for Culture and Tourism of Valladolid, Ana Maria Redondo, echoed this call, adding: “We need a better understanding of the fundamentals behind the current demand for city break experiences. Smart destination tools are our means to obtain this knowledge.”

The Deputy Director-General for Tourism Development and Sustainability of the Ministry of Tourism of Spain, Ruben Lopez Pulido, suggested that cities and all destinations change their models of tourism development to respond not only the most demanding tourists, but also to the rise of the digital and knowledge economy. “Being a smart destination is not just a label, but a process towards the comprehensive transformation of destinations, while always aiming at the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.

Speakers at the conference included Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, President of European Cities Marketing and CEO of the Graz Tourism Office in Austria, who described what he considered key challenges for the growth of city breaks: transportation issues, seasonality, and the dispersion of tourism demand within a city and over time. “Our main challenge is to attract visitors to come right at this moment. To overcome it destination managers should focus on parts of the tourism offer that are ‘temporary’,” he concluded.

The main conclusions of the conference referred to urban tourism governance models. Participants highlighted that, with the growth of high-speed, low-cost transportation links that provide more and more visitors with access to city breaks, city destinations must respond by prioritizing investments that benefit residents and tourists alike.

They also concluded that with the technological advances that allow the creation of smart destinations, destination management organizations must shift their focus from only promoting the experiences available for tourists in cities, to managing urban tourism in all its complexity. For their part, tourism policy makers should use smart destination tools to study the impact of tourism on the profitability and sustainability of a city, and place the destination at the centre of policy changes. These conclusions will be taken into account in the UNWTO work plan on urban tourism.

The Conference was organized by the UNWTO in collaboration with the City Council of Valladolid and the marketing agency MADISON, an Affiliate Member of the UNWTO. Other speakers included representatives from Madrid Destino, San Sebastián Turismo & Convention Bureau, Ljubljana Tourist Board, Turin Convention Bureau, Lisbon Tourism Observatory, Municipality of Alba lulia (Romania), Google, TripAdvisor, Basque Culinary Center, World Heritage Cities of Spain, AMFHORT, European Historical Association of Thermal Cities, Innova Tax Free, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Thinking Heads, Segittur, Civitatis, Authenticitys and Amadeus, as well as journalists Xavier Canalis of Hosteltur and Paco Nadal of El Viajero (El País newspaper).

Contacts:
UNWTO Communications Department
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100
Fax: +34 91 567 8218
comm@unwto.org

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations specialized agency, is the leading international organization with the decisive and central role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how. Its membership includes 158 countries, 6 territories, 2 permanent observers and over 500 Affiliate Members. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Flickr.
UNWTO Facebook UNWTO Twitter UNWTO Instagram UNWTO LinkedIn UNWTO YouTube UNWTO Flickr

World Tourism Organization
C/ Poeta Joan Maragall 42
Madrid, 28020
Spain

Tel: (34) 91 567 81 00
Fax: (34) 91 571 37 33
info@UNWTO.org
www.UNWTO.org

Phuket (Thailand) – October 16, 2018 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts has signed a landmark agreement to introduce its prestigious BW Premier Collection by Best Western soft brand to Phuket.

“We are excited to debut The Title V Rawai Phuket, BW Premier Collection by Best Western on Phuket’s up-and-coming central coast in 2020,” said Ron Pohl, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “This hotel will introduce guests to a new era of upscale hospitality at Rawai Beach, and provide travelers with the unique charm and excellent service Best Western hotels are known for.”

The agreement was sealed with a signing ceremony attended by Mr. Dendanai Hutajuta, CEO of Rhom Bho Property PCL, the owner and developer of the new property, and Mr. Cyrill Czerwonka, Regional Director of Development of Best Western Hotels & Resorts-Asia, accompanied by senior executives from both companies.

Upon opening, The Title V Rawai Phuket, BW Premier Collection by Best Western will feature two elegant buildings comprising 122 contemporary rooms and an array of premium facilities. Nestled among landscaped tropical gardens and kissed by the gentle sea breeze, this stunning five-story beachfront hotel will offer a bright restaurant serving Thai and international cuisine, outdoor swimming pools, a pool bar, fitness centre and children’s playground.

“The signing of The Title V Rawai Phuket, BW Premier Collection represents yet another exciting milestone for Best Western in Thailand. This impressive project will become the first BW Premier Collection hotel in Phuket, introducing our newest upscale brand to one of Asia’s most desirable tourism destinations,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia.

“As Phuket’s popularity continues to grow, Best Western will cater for visitors all across the island with a collection of world-class hotels at a choice of different price points. Complementing our existing portfolio of midscale and upscale properties on the island’s west coast, The Title V Rawai Phuket, BW Premier Collection will present guests with a unique opportunity to discover the local charm of southern Phuket. We are delighted to be working with Rhom Bho Property PCL and look forward to welcoming our first guests to this exceptional new hotel in 2020,” Olivier added.

The Title V Rawai Phuket, BW Premier Collection by Best Western, is positioned on Phuket’s southern coastline, approximately 40km from Phuket International Airport. It is just a short distance from Nai Harn Beach and Promthep Cape, while the pristine islands of Koh Lone, Koh He, Koh Racha and Coral Island lie offshore.

Best Western has identified Thailand as one of its key target markets. At present, the company operates nine hotels and resorts across the Kingdom, including three properties in Phuket: Best Western Patong Beach, Best Western Phuket Ocean Resort and Best Western Premier Bangtao Beach Resort & Spa. Approximately 15 more Best Western-branded properties are scheduled to open in destinations across Thailand.

BW Premier Collection by Best Western is the powerhouse brand’s global collection of upscale hotels and resorts.Suited to the world’s most sought-after destinations, including Phuket, this carefully curated collection blends distinctive local experiences and outstanding accommodation with Best Western world-class hospitality and service.

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

Sirimanas Maungrod
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com

Orapan Sornnuwat
Email: orapan.sornnuwat@bestwestern.com

Langkawi, Kedah (Malaysia) – October 12, 2018 (travelindex) – Destination Weddings used to be an expensive affair, however with more couples looking at Asia as a location this has become far more affordable. Couples are now keen on incorporating a mini vacation for their guests as part of the wedding party, as opposed to traditional venues.

Couples are now moving away from popular destinations and searching for more under the radar locations such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Japan. The added variety of cultures, food and cost as opposed to hosting a reception in their own country is an added advantage as their budget stretches further. The increase in low cost carrier flights has opened up greater possibilities in term of destinations.

Langkawi as a Wedding Destination

Langkawi is unique with its natural elements: rainforest, mountains, white sandy beach, fresh water lake as well as exciting tourist attractions, arts and culture. The sustainable development of the island remains appealing as we head towards modern vicinity whilst maintaining the important aspect of eco-tourism.

The island is able to offer world class product and services including Food & Beverage. The many hotels and resorts as well as standalone Food & Beverage establishments are fast becoming ideal venues to hold weddings and receptions for those who are looking for something unique. The Duty Free options specifically alcohol purchase offers huge savings.

The easy connectivity and accessibility from KLIA as well as direct flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and China is an advantage making it an ideal destination wedding getaway. The numerous tourist attractions which are easily accessible create an exciting holiday itinerary for the wedding party which makes an advantage to book longer stays as compared to the trend of 3 days 2 nights in general.

The island deep rooted in Malaysian culture, heritage and history has a huge potential to showcase multi-cultural wedding ceremonies compared to other destinations that are only able to cater to western and one common cultural wedding. This makes Langkawi not only an exciting island getaway but also a rich cultural experience for the wedding party.

Dreams Do Come True…

The first ever Langkawi Amazing Wedding Race scheduled to take place December 8th 2018 allows 50 couples a chance to win a FREE DREAM WEDDING. Meritus Pelangi is giving away RM500,000 worth in savings for wedding and reception for up to 200 invitees per winner including a complimentary wedding and reception as a grand prize. All participants stand a chance to also walk away with great savings from participating vendors.

Couples will have to take part in multiple levels of puzzles, problem solving, physical activities, and challenges that are wedding related which will show case the entire island of Langkawi as a destination and Meritus Pelangi as the ideal wedding venue.

The couples will be given a list of tasks that they need to complete. These tasks will take place all over the island and will also include activities at the tourist attractions and famous spots in Langkawi. The race will kick off at 8am and the participants have up to 7pm to complete their tasks. In light of the road safety, a car and designated driver will be appointed to each couple to assist them with getting around the island.

The finish line would be the wedding arch on the beach in front of the Cba, Meritus Pelangi where guests and family members will be encouraged to cheer the participants on.

Island Collaboration

The Langkawi’s Amazing Wedding Race is a collaborative effort by the key tourist attractions in Langkawi, initiated by Meritus Pelangi. The island has come together to show off the beauty and huge potential Langkawi has as an up and coming destination for Weddings in Asia.

The Race course would take participants across the island showcasing all its natural beauty and tourist spots in directly acquainting the participants on the type of experiences the island has to offer. The initiative is supported by most of the vendors and tourist spots on the island that are eager to showcase their best.

What Can You Win!

1 x GRAND PRIZE
FREE DREAM Wedding & Reception including special rates for up to 200 invitees
(worth RM100,000)

2 X RUNNERS UP
50% OFF Wedding & Reception including special rates for up to 200 invitees
(worth RM70,000 each)

6X CONSOLATION PRIZE
20% OFF Wedding & Reception including special rates for up to 200 invitees
(worth RM50,000 each)

All of the above includes a special give away including:
* 3 Barrels of Beer
* Corkage Fee
* Savings on room rate (up to RM200 per room per night for 2 nights)

To Enter
Please log on to the Langkawi’s Amazing Wedding Race FB page
( and register your details.

Event Details:
7th December 2018, Friday
(Welcome Cocktail, Briefing)

8th December 2018, Saturday
(Race Day, Race Day Award Dinner)

9th December 2018, Sunday
(Departure)

Entry Fee of RM 1,300 is Inclusive of:
• 3D2N stay at Meritus Pelangi, Langkawi inclusive of breakfast for 2
• Welcome cocktail
• Race Day Transport with designated driver
• Race Day Award Dinner

Paradise Island Retreat- Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa
Pelangi, a Malay word, means ‘Rainbow’ and like its many wondrous colours a Colourfully Carefree experience and discovery await. Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi situated on the West Coast of the Legendary Island of Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman, opened on March 16, 1989. Covering an area of 35 acres on a beachfront location, the resort offers a relaxing atmosphere amidst lush tropical environment and award winning landscaped gardens.

In such splendour, lie scattered are 355 rooms including the premier beachfront rooms and suites. All characteristics of an affluent yet rustic architecture, designed on the principle of a leisurely Kampung or Village lifestyle, these chalets come thoughtfully equipped with modern conveniences for your comfort. Befitting those who seek the fun, sun and luxury, Meritus Pelangi offers a fine selection of restaurants, recreation activities, entertainment, and shopping with business facilities, all in a blissful setting.

In the manicured grounds are two open air, free form swimming pools, the Horizon and Cascade, the former with built in whirlpool. Complete with sundecks and snack bars you can pamper yourself to a lazy time soaking up a golden tan.

Its close proximity to all the sights and fascinating excursions not to mention the lively night markets of Cenang, Meritus Pelangi is the ideal location. Nothing provides a more refreshing and colourful getaway in the island of Langkawi for you and your family or a quieter retreat than the Pelangi, your ‘rainbow’ paradise resort.

About Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi
The simple yet stylish feel from the traditional but modern accommodation and finest of Asian hospitality makes this not only a magical place to be but an ideal romantic venue rich in culture and captivating Eastern Traditions! The corner of paradise that is Meritus Pelangi could be the start of your new chapter.

More information on Meritus Pelangi can be found on www.meritushotels.com/pelangi

For further information, please contact:
Priya Maniam
Marketing and Communications Manager
T (604) 952 8888
M (6016) 6841981 priya.maniam@meritushotels.com

Kirin Pancha
Executive Assistant Manager
T (604) 9528888
M (6016) 3226884 kirin.pancha@meritushotels.com

Bangkok (Thailand) – October 12, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bangkok is unveiling an exclusive, riverside auto showcase to create a new touchpoint to further expand the marque’s presence in the western and northwestern provinces, with special promotions on offer from November 9, 2018 through January 20, 2019 at ICONSIAM.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bangkok General Manager Sunthornpan Dhechatech noted that marketing any product in the luxury segment is a delicate combination of showcasing the highest levels of luxury through easily understandable presentation forms.

Given this requirement, more brands place emphasis on choosing the right location in order to reach out to their target group of customers, conveniently and effectively demonstrating brand qualities and products to them as a result.

As luxury car marques follow the trend above, many areas in Thailand have seen a steady increase in automotive-related exhibitions and in-mall showcases. The opening of this showcase is aimed at making the Rolls-Royce brand more conveniently accessible to target segments, whilst also creating brand visibility to further enhance brand recognition by taking advantage of a variety of product displays, media channels and events.

Every luxury retail location has unique factors that contribute to its appeal; the new ICONSIAM has been selected as the location of Rolls-Royce’s latest showcase because it has clearly-defined character and target customer group. With its investment of THB 50 billion, ICONSIAM will certainly redefine Thailand’s lifestyle retail experiences, claimed to be one step ahead of elsewhere in the world.

In line with this is Rolls-Royce’s vision to appeal to a new generation of younger, highly successful self-made individuals, as seen with the South East Asian launch of Black Badge in Bangkok and with its new all-terrain conquering SUV, Cullinan.

Occupying a space accentuated by modern and luxurious touches befitting of the Rolls-Royce brand, the exclusive showcase at ICONSIAM serves primarily as an additional touchpoint to help create brand awareness for Rolls-Royce in the Western and Northwestern provinces.

In addition, the showcase also offers more touches of lifestyle as it is presented as an art gallery with cars on display acting as centerpieces.

In celebration of the opening of this showcase, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bangkok is offering a very special promotion campaign for our valued customers running from November 9, 2018 through to January 20, 2019.

Lopburi (Thailand) – October 12, 2018 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts has continued to spread love and kindness across Asia with another successful charitable initiative to support under-privileged children in rural Thailand.

In the two-day “Share Loving Kindness” CSR event, Best Western’s Asia head office and hotel associates traveled to Thailand’s Lopburi province to deliver much-needed support and supplies, including sports equipment, to two local schools: Wat Dong Sawong School and Lopburi Panyanukun School. This was followed by a visit to Wat Prabatnampu. At all three locations, the team was able to spend time with the children, playing games and learning about their lives, hopes and dreams.

In total, Best Western’s team, friends and family members donated funds and equipment worth THB 120,000 to the community. This will help to improve educational standards and support local families, teachers and carers, whilst bringing smiles to faces of local children.

“CSR is an integral part of Best Western’s activities. As a global company, we aim to make a real and sustainable difference in every destination in which we operate. Our charitable mission to Lopburi province helped to ‘Share Loving Kindness’ by supporting the people who need it most and providing new opportunities for local children. I would like to thank all the Best Western team members who contributed to this occasion, including the volunteers and everyone who made donations,” commented Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia.

This rewarding mission marks the latest in a series of CSR initiatives undertaken by Best Western in Asia. In the future, the company will continue to provide for local communities as part of its global “Best Western For A Better World” program, which supports charitable efforts and worthwhile causes all around the world.

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

Sirimanas Maungrod
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com

Orapan Sornnuwat
Email: orapan.sornnuwat@bestwestern.com

Bangkok (Thailand) – October 12, 2018 (travelindex.com) – H.E. Mr. Staffan Herrstrom (4th from right), Ambassador of Sweden, recently presided at the grand opening of Volvo Witthayu, Thailand’s first Volvo Retail Experience (VRE) Showroom and Service Center operated by GT Auto Co., Ltd. Centrally located at the intersection of Wireless and Sarasin Roads, Volvo Witthayu is designed according to Volvo’s new “Designed Around You” concept and service philosophy as well as equipped with Volvo’s latest state of the art technology and technicians fully-trained by Volvo.

Pictured from left are: Dr. Sribhumi Sukhanetr, Honorary Consul-General of Monaco; M.R. Waranaporn Sukhanetr, Mr. Winn Santipongchai, CEO of GT Auto Co., Ltd.; Mr. Chris Wailes, Managing Director of Volvo Car (Thailand) Ltd.; H.E. Ambassador Staffan Herrstrom; Mrs. Netra Ruthaiyanont; Mrs. Naddawadee Santipongchai; and Mr. Danai Chandrangam, General Manager of GT Auto Co., Ltd.

Bangkok (Thailand) – October 12, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The Culture and Performance Forum is the first event of its kind anywhere in the world dedicated to the hospitality industry and focusing on exploring ground-breaking topics and practices related to the foundation of any organization, its culture, human integration and commercial performance for the purpose of enabling complete organizational greatness.

Conceptualized and organized by Tareq Bagaeen, Founder & CEO of aQedina Hospitality Sales Excellence and Melkart Rouhana, Chief Engagement Officer at MRT Consultants and held at the Okura Prestige Hotel in Bangkok on the 24th of September 2018 for the first edition with the second forum already being planned and to be held in Dubai in late Q1 2019.

The full day event included invigorating keynotes by both Melkart & Tareq along with engaging activates and a top notch panel discussion by senior and distinguished hospitality leaders as listed below:
Mr. Karl Hudson, Area Vice President at Marriott International
Mr. Alejandro Bernabe, Vice President of Operations, Avani Hotels & Resorts
Mrs. Debrah Pascoe, Executive Vice President – Commercial, Onyx Hospitality
Mr. Andrew Turner, Regional Vice President, South East Asia at Rosewood Hotels
Mr. Andrew Langston, Executive Vice President at Jones Lang La Salle
Mr. John Timson, Director of Accor Hotels Academie

All 90 attendees at this event were composed of General Manager’s, commercial leaders and HR/Talent heads of the best hotels in Thailand and they gained value by understanding the unmistakable link between the culture of an organization and its commercial success from a sales perspective rather than the e-commerce or electronic distribution and revenue fronts.

Tareq Bagaeen is a hotelier down to each fibre of his being and a true globally oriented commercial leader. He thrives through client interactions and striking sound business deals. Throughout his career, he has held sales and marketing responsibilities whether on property or from a regional directive covering dozens of hotels and his journey has taken him to lead teams and handle clients in over 100 countries; giving him a pragmatic approach to varied cultures, economic up or downturns, monopolized or aggressively competitive market places and pushing out brands from the budget range right up to the highest spectrums of luxury. Throughout his commercial excellence journey, Tareq has trained senior associates from Rosewood Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, Kerzner International, Rotana, Mövenpick Hotels, Accor and W Hotels to name a few. His philosophy is that no two people are alike, no two business units or their mother companies; as such, every single learning cycle that he has conducted is unique.

Melkart Rouhana is an unshakable pragmatic leader whose Core Purpose is to Enable Greatness everywhere. He is a distinguished inspirational speaker and consultant who enables people and organizations to make sustainable change through the power of culture and human capital. Melkart is a world-renowned culture and engagement expert and named by Porsche Executives “The Rock Star of Customer Service” and top Hoteliers as “the Engagement Magician”. Melkart held previous positions such as Corporate Director of Global Learning at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company; Public Speaker & Consultant for The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, Chief Learning Officer for Emaar Hospitality Group and Armani Hotels & Resorts to name few. He also coaches on the Executive MBA program of London Business School. Melkart’s philosophy has been recognized as foundational and been instrumental for the success of some of the most celebrated companies around the globe.

Website: www.cp-forum.com