Category: Latest Travel News

Bangkok (Thailand) – March 22, 2018 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts has joined hands with the Habitat Group, the leading Thai development company, to celebrate the start of construction work on Thailand’s first BW Premier Collection by Best Western resort.

BluPhere Pattaya, BW Premier Collection by Best Western is an eight-story project in Na Jomtien, a stunning beachfront destination on Thailand’s popular Eastern Seaboard.

Scheduled to welcome its first guests in 2020, the hotel has already attracted considerable attention and praise, having won three honors at the Thailand Property Awards 2017, including “Best Low-Rise Condo Architectural Design (Resort)”.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 19, 2018, and was attended by Olivier Berrivin, Best Western’s Managing Director of International Operations – Asia, and Rodney Simpson, Senior Regional Director of Operations – Asia. They were joined by Habitat Group’s CEO, Chanin Vanijwongse and Chief Operating Officer, Sasivimol Sutthibut.

“We are delighted to come together with our friends at the Habitat Group as we celebrate the start of construction on one of our most exciting hotels for many years: BluPhere Pattaya, BW Premier Collection by Best Western” Olivier commented.

“Habitat Group has a proven track record of creating striking, stylish properties that perfectly complement their natural environment. With its stunning seafront setting, innovative design and upscale facilities, BluPhere Pattaya will become the new Asian flagship hotel in our upscale BW Premier Collection by Best Western,” he added.

Located just 100 meters from the beach, a few minutes from downtown Pattaya and just over a two hour drive from Bangkok, BluPhere Pattaya, BW Premier Collection by Best Western will feature 199 spacious apartment-style units, plus a range of high-end facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi. It will be easily accessible from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and the fast-expanding U-Tapao Airport, which serves Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard, making the hotel ideal for all kinds of beachfront break, including weekend escapes from the city and longer vacations.

This signing marks the latest collaboration between Best Western and Habitat Group, following the Best Western Premier BayPhere Pattaya – another upscale development on this exquisite stretch of golden coastline, overlooking the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand, which is scheduled to open in 2019.

Launched in 2015, BW Premier Collection by Best Western is a selection of independent upscale hotels in key destinations around the world. The brand’s first Asian member, The Hotel Nagasaki, BW Premier Collection by Best Western, was launched in 2017.

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 11 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®, BW Premier Collection®, and BW Signature CollectionSM 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 64 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2017, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands, and Best Western receiving seven consecutive Dynatrace® Best of the Web awards for its leading hotel website. 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 32 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 hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Harley-Davidson® 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

Bangkok (Thailand) – March 24, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Blue Elephant’s Chef Nooror Somany Steppe has created a special heritage menu selected from her ‘treasure trove’ of ancient and tested recipes to pair with the finest Granmonte Thai wines available for lunch and dinner from April onwards.

Legendary dishes from Chef Nooror’s four-course Heritage Menu are guaranteed to be a
perfect match for Granmonte’s finest award-wining red and white wines home-grown from
the country’s wine haven – Khao Yai, Nakornratchasima – where Granmonte Vineyard &
Wine ry is located. Blue Elephant’s own Sommelier Jirakrit Oonjit will be on hand to give tips aswell.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with Granmonte wines who is one of
the leaders of the wine-making community in Thailand and are experts in creati ng Thai winesto  suit Thai food – ancient Thai cuisine in particular – blended with outstanding products fromthe Royal Project, nearby provinces and organic ingredients,” said Chef Nooror.

Chef Nooror’s Heritage Menu features such Thai gastronomic highlights as “Jean Lon” – an
ancient recipe from Chonburi province, grilled Clown Featherback prepared with Chef
Nooror’s famous “homemade” red curry as Amuse Bouche and paired with 2017 Granmonte
Viognier; “Saengwa River Prawn Salad” – salad of char-grilled rice field catfish and river
prawns, lemongrass, ginger, and with tangerine lime dr essing matched with 2 017 GranmonteSa kuna Rose; and “Lamb Massaman” or “Keang Kelek Nua Yang” – an ancient dishcomprising locally-bred Wagyu from Korat, popular during the reign of King Rama V, fittinglypaired with 2014 Heritage Granmonte, to name but a few.

“We couldn’t be more excited for this collaboration with Blue Elephant,” said Oenologist Nik kiLohitnavy of Granmonte Vineyard & Winery. “This new project, built upon Chef Nooror’smeticulous care for history and origins of each dish is a perfect match for some of the best Granmonte’s 100% Thai wines that we have chosen.”

Chef Nooror’s Heritage Menu with Granmonte Wine Pairings is on offer for lunch and dinner at Blue Elephant Bangkok from 1 April 2018 onwards.

Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant Phuket is also launching a special Peranakan
Menu by Chef Nooror paired with Granmonte Wines from 1 April 2018 onwards as well.

Bangkok (Thailand) – March 21, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) proudly marked the 58th anniversary of its founding with traditional Thai ceremonies to commemorate its historic role in the development and promotion of the kingdom’s leading service-sector industry.

The 19 March event at the TAT headquarters, led by Mr. Kalin Sarasin, Chairman of the Board of the TAT, and Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, as well as TAT’s senior executives, was attended by former TAT Governors, TAT staff, representatives from the private sector and members of the media.

The ceremonies to mark the auspicious occasion included a Buddhist monk blessing ceremony; a ritual to worship the Cham Devi Shrine, which houses a statue of Chao Mae Cham Devi; and a ceremony to pay respect to the bronze image of Field Marshall Sarit Thanarat, who established the TAT in 1960.

Taking place in the afternoon was a ceremony to present Buddha image to former TAT Governors for blessing and in recognition for their valued contributions. Meanwhile, TAT also held a ceremony to award senior staff for their long-serving years.

Bangkok (Thailand) – March 21, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Singularity University (SU), the acclaimed collective of thinkers and innovators from Silicon Valley that focuses on empowering leaders to transform industries and solving global challenges through exponential technologies has announced its first summit in Southeast Asia. The SingularityU Thailand Summit 2018 will be held at the InterContinental Bangkok on 19th June and 20th June, 2018.

SingularityU Thailand Summit 2018 will be among the first series of events and initiatives from Exponential Social Enterprise Co., Ltd., an organization that is aiming to accelerate Thailand’s potentials for growth beyond existing economic models and social development.

Dr. John Leslie Millar, the Head of Exponential Social Enterprise Co., Ltd., said: “With success since its launch in 2008, Singularity University has been the staple of the global innovation community. Having its focus on bringing the positive changes to the world through the use of exponential thinking and solving global challenges, SingularityU summits are known for being the main stimuli for real changes and solutions. For almost a decade, SingularityU events have brought together top leaders and experts in a series of events, conferences and education programs, to provoke meaningful discussions, and actions that will make real impacts to businesses, industries, societies and global communities.”

During the two-day summit, the SingularityU Thailand Summit 2018 will tap into how fundamental changes in thinking affect broader implications of technological advancements, and how the combined impact of these transitions will transform everything around daily lives.

Participants can expect topics such as: Disruptive Thinking, The History and Future of Artificial Intelligence, The Future of Digital Health and Medicine, The Future of Energy, Finance of Tomorrow and Global Grand Challenges

During the announcement event at Bangkok’s FYI Center on 20 March 2018, representatives from top Thailand businesses, including Ananda Development, SCB, Deloitte, and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) joined a panel to discuss the exponential growth potential in Thailand and beyond.

Chanond Ruangkritya, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ananda Development PCL, said: “Ananda Development has a vision and commitment towards continuously improving the lives of urban-dwellers. At the transformational age, the real estate sector is also undergoing massive disruption as a result of rapid changes in customer lifestyles and demographic shifts, and the ever-increasing need for better and faster data access to allow for improved products, services and facilities. The ultimate aim is to utilize exponential technologies to further develop this quality of life in all aspects of modern living, covering safety, speed and convenience in the areas of housing, commuting, working, health and personal finance.”

Orapong Thien-ngern, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Ventures – The Fintech Subsidiary of SCB, said, “The financial industry is being rocked by exponential technologies from blockchain, artificial intelligence, big data, quantum computing.” As a fintech arm of SCB, we’ve committed in driving changes in banking industry through innovation, investment and supporting Thai businesses to grow with SCB. Our research and development are based on those key technologies, resulting in the development of new services and enhancement of customer experience for both SCB and its customers. In a world of exponential technology innovation, one of the most pressing questions in the minds of many business executives and entrepreneurs is what’s coming next? For years, Deloitte and Singularity University (SU) have worked together to provide answers and help business leaders prepare for what’s coming next – from idea to execution,” added Dr. Janson Yap, Asia Pacific Leader, Deloitte Global Risk Advisory and Innovation Practice Leader, Deloitte Southeast Asia.

Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, Director of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), said that in an era where innovations are a major driving force for the country’s economy, it is time for the public and private sectors to collaborate and drive Thailand towards exponential growth through technologies.

“It is also necessary to develop a foundation to approach community enterprises and healthcare services, and develop digital human resources at all levels to drive the country with exponential technology,” he added. For Thailand, it is time to leverage Thailand 4.0 from a direction for strategic framework to the real solution for future challenges,” said Dr. Millar. “For Southeast Asia, it is time for us as a community to realize our potential and step away from our position as the regional hub for innovations. However, the first step to be taken is to help leaders and decision-makers in government and private sectors to understand what exponential technology is, how it has been the key catalyst in the global transformation for the past decade, and visualize what the future would look like with the exponential thinking mindset”

Dr. Supachai Parchariyanon of the SingularityU Bangkok Chapter and the founder of RISE, one of Thailand’s largest corporate innovation accelerators were also present at the press event. He said the aim of SingularityU Summits is to inspire changes by exposing new questions about the impact of innovation on productivity, talent, industries and public policy.

“It has been our aim for the Summit to mark the ‘before and after’ picture for the places we visit, and for Thailand. We hope this will spearhead a series of initiatives that will foster innovation in Thailand’s industries,” he added.

SingularityU Thailand Summit is supported by leading Thai and international organizations, including Ananda Development, SCB, Deloitte, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), National Innovation Agency (NIA), Startup Thailand, and Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Thailand chapter.

Examples of speakers include:
– David Roberts, Vice President of Singularity University and one of the world’s top experts on disruptive and exponential technology
– John Hagel, Co-Chair of World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Platforms and Systems and Co-Chairman of the Deloitte Center for the Edge
– Daniel Kraft, Chair of Singularity University’s Exponential Medicine and a Stanford and Harvard trained physician-scientist
– Vivienne Ming, Theoretical Neuroscientist and a Co-Founder of Socos, a company that combines machine learning, cognitive neuroscience and economics to maximize life outcomes in education and the workplace.
– Ramez Naam, Computer Scientist, Futurist, Angel Investor and award-winning Author.
– Mandy Simpson, Chief Executive at Wellington-based consultancy Cyber Toa.
– Nathaniel Calhoun, Managing Director of Singularity University’s Global Solutions Program (GSP) and Vice-Chair of Global Grand Challenges.

For more information and ticket sales, visit the SingularityU Thailand Summit 2018 website at

About SingularityU Summits:
SingularityU Summits are two-day conferences held around the world to help local leaders understand how exponential technologies can be used to create positive change and economic growth in their region. Summits become an annual point of contact and inspiration for the local community, a catalyst to accelerate a local culture of innovation, and an opportunity to highlight breakthrough technologies, startups and ideas. SingularityU Summits are attended by the general public, government officials, entrepreneurs, investors, NGOs, impact partners, and educators, and may include educational tracks for government and youth.

About Singularity University:
Singularity University (“SU”) is a global learning and innovation community using exponential technologies to tackle the world’s biggest challenges and build an abundant future for all.

Our collaborative platform empowers individuals and organizations to learn, connect, and innovate breakthrough solutions using accelerating technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital biology. Our offerings include educational programs, conferences, innovation workshops, corporate and startup accelerators, social impact programs and online news and content.

Our global community spans more than 110 countries, and includes entrepreneurs, corporations, development organizations, governments, investors and academic institutions. With more than 370 impact initiatives, the SU community is driving positive change in the areas of health, environment, security, education, energy, food, prosperity, water, space, disaster resilience, shelter and governance.

A certified benefit corporation, SU was founded in 2008 by renowned innovators Ray Kurzweil and Peter Diamandis, and is partnered with leading organizations such as Google, Deloitte, Genentech, and UNICEF. SU is headquartered at NASA Research Park in Silicon Valley. To learn more, visit SU.org, join us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @SingularityU.

About Exponential Social Enterprise Co., Ltd.:
The SingularityU Thailand Summit is brought to Bangkok, Thailand by Exponential Social Enterprise Co., Ltd. Exponential Social Enterprise Co., Ltd. is an organization aiming to push forward Thailand’s potentials for growth beyond the existing economic models and social development. We want to share our experiences and arrange seminars to prepare for exponential change that will affect all sectors, including business industry, society and the community.

Jakarta (Indonesia) – March 20, 2018 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts is delighted to announce that its stylish city hotel in Jakarta, Best Western Plus Kemayoran, has been selected as an official hotel of the 2018 Asian Games. Nestled in North Jakarta, just a short distance from the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo), which will host several events during this year’s Asian Games, Best Western Plus Kemayoran is the ideal place to accommodate event officials, crew members, spectators and journalists.

It is also just a short distance from the official Athlete’s Village, which makes the hotel perfect for other team members, such as coaches and medical assistants. All official guests will be offered complimentary shuttle bus services between the hotel and Asian Games venues.

“We are happy and proud that Best Western Plus Kemayoran has been named as an official hotel of the 2018 Asian Games – a major international sporting event that will be watched by millions of people all around the world,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western’s Managing Director of International Operations – Asia.

“With our convenient location, international brand reputation, unrivalled service standards and impressive facilities, including ample function space and complimentary Wi-Fi, Best Western will ensure that all Asian Games officials and team members are given the best possible hospitality, allowing them to perform at the peak of their abilities,” he added.

The 18th Asian Games, which will be known as “Jakarta-Palembang 2018”, is scheduled to take place in the two Indonesian cities from August 18 – September 2, 2018. JIExpo, which is located just 2km from Best Western Plus Kemayoran, will host multiple sporting events including taekwondo, weightlifting, boxing and gymnastics. The hotel is also just 6km from the coastal destination of Ancol, which will host the sailing and jet-skiing competitions.

As an official hotel, Best Western Plus Kemayoran will provide accredited Asian Games officials and team members with accommodation at special residential rates, plus additional support in terms of food, organizational facilities, practice places and shuttle services.

All guests will be able to make use of the hotel’s extensive facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool, modern fitness center, restaurants, sky lounge and spacious function rooms, including a large ballroom.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts is one of several prestigious hotel groups that have been selected by the Asian Games organizers, along with other global brands such as AccorHotels, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Alila Hotels & Resorts, and famous local properties such as the Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta.

The opening ceremony of the 18th Asian Games will take place at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta on August 18, 2018.

For more information about Best Western Plus Kemayoran and to discover the latest special offers, please visit bestwesternasia.com.

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 11 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®, BW Premier Collection®, and BW Signature CollectionSM 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 64 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2017, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands, and Best Western receiving seven consecutive Dynatrace® Best of the Web awards for its leading hotel website. 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 32 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 hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Harley-Davidson® 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) – March 18, 2018 (travelindex.com) – University students along with representatives from the travel and tourism industry came together at the Asia-Pacific Youth and Sustainable Tourism Workshop to examine how the industry can help in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Asia-Pacific Youth and Sustainable Tourism Workshop, organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and supported by the Global Peace Foundation and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), took place on Wednesday, March 14 at the United Nations Building in Bangkok, Thailand. Under the theme ‘Setting the Stage for Peace’, the workshop took place in conjunction with the Global Peace Youth Exchange Thailand 2018.

The students, who came from various universities in Macao SAR, Austria and Thailand to name a few, began the day with an introduction to the SDGs by Marco Roncarati, Social Development Division – Social Affairs Officer at UNESCAP. He highlighted that the one of the primary focuses of the SDGs was to address the issue of inequality.

This was followed by round table discussions between the students and the workshop speakers regarding five SDGs: Zero Hunger, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Partnerships for the Goals. The morning session ended with the groups presenting their results and ideas.

The afternoon sessions began with PATA CEO Mario Hardy providing an overview of the travel and tourism industry and the upcoming challenges the industry will face, especially regarding human capital development and the future of jobs. The session, under the title Your Ticket to the Theatre of Sustainable Tourism – Setting the Stage for Peace, closed with Dr. Hardy highlighting the importance of supporting the education and training of youth in travel and tourism.

The remainder of the workshop was divided into three sessions: The Cast: Ambitious World Explorers, where the speakers shared their reasons and passions in supporting local communities; The Directors: Behind the Scenes of Sleeping, Travelling and Flying, which highlighted the current CSR work of various organisations; and The Indie Producers: Let’s Get Techie, Earthy and Artsy, with speakers giving ideas how new technology can support the SDGs, how education and hands on practices can improve Responsible Consumption and Production, and how important it is that everyone is taking part in responsible actions.

Speakers during these sessions included Arrut Navaraj, Managing Director – Sampran Riverside; Gili Back, Sustainability Manager – Khiri Travels; Ivan Cintado, VP Sales and Marketing APAC Region – Smartvel; Kulkanda Pokasem, Director – Alliance Management – Thai Airways International; Madeleine Recknagel, Sustainability Consultant – The Sustainable Self; Mark Wiens, Travel Eater – Migrationology; Michael Biedassek, Explorer/Connector – Bangkok Vanguards; Pai Somsak Boonkam, Founder – Local Alike, and Siradej ‘Champ’ Donavanik, Director – Wonderfruit.

Moderators included Mr Roncarati and two Committee Members of the PATA Thailand Dusit Thani College Student Chapter: AnnMarie Kongglang and Warat ‘Moc’ Dittapongpitch, who also acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the day.

The workshop ended with the launch of the “BUFFET for Youth”, a challenge targeted at the next generation of tourism leaders that builds on the BUFFET Initiative – a PATA food waste campaign. The announcement was made by PATA Young Tourism Professional (YTP) Ambassador, Ms JC Wong, and PATA Sustainability and Social Responsibility Associate, Ms. Veronika Forstmeier.

Photos from the event are available to view and download on the PATA Flickr page, while presentations are available at www.PATA.org/event/asia-pacific-youth-sustainable-tourism-workshop.

About PATA
Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, comprising 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 25 international airlines and airports, 108 hospitality organisations, 72 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 36 local PATA chapters worldwide. The chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism underpins PATA’s membership in Uniting Travel, a coalition of the world’s major Travel & Tourism organisations dedicated to ensuring that the sector speaks with one voice and acts in unison on the major issues and includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing, Sydney and London. Visit www.PATA.org.

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

Phoenix, Arizona (United States) – March 15, 2018 (travelindex) – When Best Western Hotels and Resorts launched a transformative brand refresh in 2015, the primary objective was to signal that Best Western is a contemporary and relevant brand, worthy of today’s travelers. It is also intended to enhance the brand’s image as an innovative, forward-thinking industry leader. Now, with the introduction of a “Today’s Best Western” campaign that will run throughout 2018, including a “Behind the Brands” series, travelers are getting a look at the evolution of this powerhouse hospitality brand.

“Best Western has been undergoing a brand resurgence during the past ten years,” said David Kong, President and CEO of Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “Our brand refresh with new logos showcases our exciting brands and positions Best Western as a leader in its respective chain scale segments. We are proud of our continuous innovation, which has enabled us to achieve record RevPAR Index, unrivaled industry recognition, and unprecedented guest satisfaction.”

Best Western Hotels & Resorts continues to experience tremendous growth in both size and scale, as well as penetration in diverse markets globally. Recent achievements for the company, in large part due to the success of the brand refresh, include:

– Distinctive Brand Portfolio – To add to the iconic brands – Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, and Best Western Premier® – the company has launched eight new global brands since 2015. This includes a series of cutting-edge concepts catering to a new generation of travelers with the new-build Vīb® and GLō® brands, as well as soft brand options for most chain scale segments – upper economy and midscale (SureStay Collection® by Best Western), upper midscale (BW Signature Collection® by Best Western) and upscale and upper upscale (BW Premier Collection®). With a focus on providing unique, dual-branded properties combining the best of the Best Western Plus and Executive Residency by Best Western® brands.

– Growth Around the World – In addition to an impressive pipeline of 296 hotels in North America, Best Western is also growing across the globe. In particular, Best Western opened nine new hotels in Asia in 2017 – with locations in Myanmar, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. These have included two brands that are entirely new to the region – BW Premier Collection and SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western. The company received recognition as the “Best Debut Hotel Chain” at the 2017 India Hospitality Awards, with plans to open six hotels in India and three in Bangladesh in 2018.

– Rising Guest Satisfaction – Best Western has enjoyed significant increases to guest satisfaction ratings in the past 10 years, with scores doubling since 2007. This stems from the award-winning I Care® Every Guest, Every Time hotel staff training program, the $2 billion spent on strategic renovations following the Design Excellence program and the rollout of the descriptor program. In 2017, Best Western announced an impressive 1,956 Best Western-branded hotels globally received the 2017 TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence recognition, yielding the brand’s highest level of guest satisfaction to date.

– Continuous Innovation – With the 2017 global launch of the new Best Western Mobile Guest Engagement Platform – which includes web-based guest communications tools pre-arrival, on property and at check-out – Best Western continues to show its commitment to implementing new technology that enhances the customer journey. Named one of Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in AR/VR for 2017, Best Western’s brand refresh has encompassed a number of technological advancements including the Best Western Virtual Reality Experience (BWVRE), which gives guests an immersive 360-degree look into all of the brand’s North American hotels – making Best Western the first major company of its size and scale to utilize this cutting-edge technology in this way. The reimagined BestWestern.com optimizes customer interactions across all digital channels, while incorporating highly visual, interactive elements.

– Award-Winning Loyalty Program – Best Western has continued to make valuable enhancements to its award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards. By offering more rewards and recognition for Elite members and generous promotions for members of all levels, BWR’s membership has grown to more than 32 million members globally – representing gains of nearly 14 percent annually, since the beginning of the refresh. BWR achieved a top five ranking in U.S. News & World Report’s 2017-2018 Best Hotel Rewards Programs and runner-up status in WalletHub’s 2017 Best Hotel Rewards Program. With a goal to bring real value to today’s travelers with instant rewards and gratification, BWR offers a lower point level threshold relative to other hotel brands, enables members to redeem free nights at any of Best Western’s 4,200+ hotels worldwide, and awards points that don’t expire and don’t have blackout dates. On top of this, the newly unveiled Experiences by Best Western Rewards now provides members with exclusive, one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the most sought-after destinations around the world.

– Awards Across the Board – Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades. Several notable distinctions received in 2017 include: a Top Breakfast Ranking from J.D. Power’s 2017 Guest Survey; Best Western Plus and Best Western ranking number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands respectively by Business Travel News®; 65 Adrian Awards for excellence in digital marketing, advertising and public relations; the company’s ninth consecutive AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year award; and a gold Recommend Readers’ Choice Award in the Hotels/Resorts category.

Today’s Best Western features 11 brands, each with its own logo and distinctive personality. The company’s new “Behind the Brands” series will dive deeper into each individual brand, further illustrating the differences for travelers. Best Western rolls out the “Behind the Brands” series later this month, with a sneak peek into the continued evolution of Best Western Premier.

For more information on Best Western Hotels & Resorts, please visit BestWestern.com

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 11 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®, BW Premier Collection®, and BW Signature CollectionSM 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 64 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2017, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands, and Best Western receiving seven consecutive Dynatrace® Best of the Web awards for its leading hotel website. 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 32 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 hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Harley-Davidson® 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 Asia:
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

Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR) – March 15, 2018 (travelindex.com) – InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced that it has agreed to acquire a 51% stake in Regent Hotels and Resorts (Regent) for $39 million in cash. IHG will have the right to acquire the remaining 49% interest in a phased manner from 2026.

IHG will bring Regent into its brand portfolio at the top end of the luxury segment and will accelerate its growth globally, supported by IHG’s powerful enterprise. IHG’s intention is to grow the brand from six hotels today to over 40 hotels in key global gateway city and resort locations over the long term.

Book your InterContinental hotel in Hong Kong and around the world in 55 countries at best rates available. Pay at the hotel. Book now at HotelWorlds.com!

Synonymous with timeless modernity, understated luxury and intuitive service, the Regent brand has set the benchmark for luxury hotels globally since it was founded in 1970. It has a world-renowned heritage, built around the elegant, timeless design of its hotels and rooted in its focus on delivering a truly unique and superior luxury experience for guests.

IHG is already a global leader in the luxury segment with the world’s largest luxury brand,
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. The acquisition of Regent is part of one of IHG’s new strategic initiatives focused on continuing to expand its footprint in the fast-growing $60 billion luxury segment.This initiative is supported by the creation of a new dedicated division to further enhance our capabilities in this area and will be funded by IHG’s efficiency programme, as outlined at our Full Year Results on 20 February.

IHG also announces today that following an extensive refurbishment due to commence in early 2020, InterContinental Hong Kong will become a Regent Hotel in early 2021. The hotel originally opened its doors in 1980 as one of the most iconic hotels to ever carry the Regent brand.

Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer of IHG, commented: “IHG is already one of the world leaders in luxury with our InterContinental Hotels and Resorts brand, but we see significant potential to further develop our global footprint in the fast-growing luxury segment. As one of the pioneers in defining luxury hotels both in Asia and around the world, Regent is an excellent addition to IHG’s portfolio of brands. We see a real opportunity to unlock Regent’s enormous potential and accelerate its growth globally. In addition, by creating a dedicated luxury division, we will be bringing together some of the most experienced and respected people in the industry who will help drive our luxury offer, ensuring that our existing luxury brands continue to evolve and allowing us to bring in new brands such as Regent to enhance our brand portfolio.”

Steven Pan, Executive Chairman of Formosa International Hotels Corporation commented:
“Regent was founded by legendary hotelier Robert H. Burns, who sought to combine Asian hospitality and Western elegance to create a leading luxury hotel brand. The brand has an unrivalled heritage at the very top end of the luxury segment and the flagship Regent Hong Kong was consistently voted the world’s best hotel in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Returning the property to its original roots as a Regent hotel is symbolic of our ambition to return the brand to its former glory and will go down in history as one of the greatest brand comebacks in the hotel industry. IHG shares our vision for the brand and has the ability to make our ambition a reality. IHG has a deep understanding of how to protect what makes the Regent brand so unique and special, whilst at the same time ensuring that the brand can grow and thrive on a global scale.”

Goodwin Gaw, Chairman of Gaw Capital Partnership, commented: “The InterContinental Hong Kong is internationally acclaimed as one of the world’s best hotels and is prized for its unrivalled views of the Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island. Originally built as The Regent Hong Kong in 1980, the hotel was rebranded to InterContinental Hong Kong in June 2001. The hotel is primed to undergo a spectacular transformation that will position it as one of the top hotels not only in Asia, but also as one of the world’s most iconic hotels. We are absolutely delighted that after the refurbishment, we will be opening our doors once again as The Regent Hong Kong, a flagship property for the Regent brand, returning the property back to its original roots.”

Book your Regent hotel in Hong Kong and around the world in 55 countries at best rates available. Pay at the hotel. Book now at HotelWorlds.com!

Transaction Overview
1. IHG is to acquire a 51% interest in a joint venture with Formosa International Hotels Corporation to acquire the Regent Hotels and Resorts brand and associated management contracts.
2. The 51% interest will be acquired for $39 million in cash, paid in three tranches of $13 million, the first upon the date of completion, the second in 2021 and the third in 2024. These amounts will be funded within IHG’s existing capital expenditure guidance of up to $350 million gross, and $150 million net, per annum into the medium term.
3. IHG has the option to acquire the remaining 49% stake in a phased manner from 2026. This will be via a combination of put and call options, is capped, and is based on a trailing twelve-month multiple of joint venture income, which based on our current projections would result in a payment of less than $100 million.
4. There are currently 6 hotels (2.0k rooms) in the Regent system. The annual fee income of those management contracts acquired by IHG will be offset by costs associated with the JV.
5. There are currently 3 hotels (0.9k rooms) in the Regent pipeline.
6. IHG expects to grow the brand to more than 10,000 rooms (40 hotels) over the long term.
7. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2018 upon satisfaction of certain customary conditions.

About IHG
IHG®(InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo® , EVEN® Hotels, HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® , Holiday Inn Express® , Holiday Inn Club Vacations® , Holiday Inn Resort® , avid™ hotels, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,300 hotels and nearly 800,000 guest rooms in almost 100 countries, with nearly 1,700 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG® Rewards Club, our global loyalty programme, which has more than 100 million enrolled members.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 375,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

Bangkok (Thailand) – March 15, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Questex Hospitality Group, a powerhouse international conference producer, will stage the much anticipated return of Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference (APHIC), on 4-6 Jun 2018. The three-day event will be held at the JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, Thailand.

Set in one of Asia Pacific’s key tourism gateway, APHIC provides hotel investors, owners, operators, and stakeholders with the perfect platform to explore and initiate their next deals.

In the past two years, noticeable changes to the hotel investment landscape in Asia Pacific have been observed. New challenges hindering the industry include scarcity of assets for sale, high land prices in key destinations, industry consolidations, brand proliferation, changes in distribution landscape, and new government policies.

In this challenging pursuit of ROI, APHIC will facilitate dialogues amongst 200 hotel owners/investors, operators, real estate developers, bankers/ financiers, policy makers, designers/architects, and master planners in Asia Pacific.

Gracing this year’s upcoming event are international speakers from key industry players including FICO Corporation, TCC Land Asset World, Royal Group of Companies, Ascendas Hospitality Trust, Ireka Development Management, ARCH Capital Management, Origin, property PCL, Lodgis Hospitality, HKR international, CIMB Investment Bank, Zerin Properties, and Ovolo Group.

These industry leaders will share their expert insights and experiences in driving premium yields across a wide spectrum of risk profiles. The discussion at the three-day Conference will revolve around the themes: Investment Intelligence – overviews on trends & opportunities; Investment Strategies – partnerships, products & positioning; Tactical Investment – all about numbers; and, Market Outlook – Capitalizing on opportunities and overcoming the hurdles.

Gavin Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, said: “APHIC in Bangkok was another successful event and was a great opportunity to meet investors and also other professionals related to the hotel industry. For Swiss-Belhotel International, we made some valuable contacts and we have had a number of leads which will result in profitable business relationships being developed. We could not have done this without APHIC.”

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 – hospitality, travel, and meetings – and supported by its digital media staff.

About Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference (APHIC)
APHIC – together with key partners – will present an opportunity for investors to gain access to new projects and new contacts from hotel owners/ investors, operators, developers, policy makers, design/architect, and master planners in Asia Pacific.

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

Bangkok (Thailand) – March 15, 2018 (travelindex.com) – lebua Hotels and Resorts is hosting a grand event celebrating their 12-year partnership with Pernod Ricard. The event marks Mezzaluna’s Michelin Two Star Award and the anniversary of lebua’s successful collaborations with Pernod Ricard including the creation of Flute – A Perrier-Jouët Bar, which brought lebua exclusive vintages of Perrier-Jouët champagne, and last year’s launch of Alfresco 64 – A Chivas Bar, which marked the creation of lebua’s own exclusive whisky blend by Chivas Regal. The event will close with a preview of lebua’s newest additions to The Dome at lebua – the upcoming Japanese restaurant and bar, Sukai Omakase and Bar Sukai.

The event will be a celebration, ending at midnight, and will traverse The Dome at lebua beginning with a champagne tasting at Flute and ending at the State Room on the 67th floor, the venue for the upcoming Japanese restaurant and bar.

“Pernod Ricard have been amazing partners throughout the years and have been instrumental in building The Dome at lebua into what it is today. We’ve had a number of monumental occasions in collaboration with Pernod Ricard and hope to have many more in the years to come. This event is a celebration of everything we have already accomplished and all we have yet to do,” said Deepak Ohri, CEO of lebua Hotels and Resorts.

Guests will be invited to join lebua and Pernod Ricard at Flute – A Perrier-Jouët Bar to enjoy a champagne tasting featuring exclusive vintages from Perrier-Jouët to mark Flute’s two-year anniversary. From Flute, guests will move to Alfresco 64 – A Chivas Bar to commemorate Alfresco 64’s first anniversary. The evening will feature premium Chivas Regal whisky and whisky cocktails, a gourmet selection of snacks and music from a live DJ.

The piece de resistance of the evening will be the unveiling of the venue for the upcoming Japanese restaurant, Sukai Omakase, the State Room on the 67th floor of lebua’s State Tower. The State Room will be transformed into a nightclub featuring world-class DJs and a premium spirits selection.

“Our strong partnership with lebua has resulted in an amazing business expansion on Pernod Ricard brands with a double digit sales growth every year”, said Quentin Job, Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Thailand. The partnership between lebua Hotels and Resorts has been incredibly successful. In the 12 years since the partnership began, the collaboration has made its mark on the Bangkok skyline and resulted in international acclaim following the launch of Flute – A Perrier-Jouët Bar and Alfresco 64 – A Chivas Bar.

About lebua Hotels and Resorts
lebua Hotels and Resorts is a growing international luxury brand that operates distinctive hotels, fine restaurants and bars. Led by visionary CEO Deepak Ohri, Bangkok-based lebua takes a unique approach to hospitality that aspires to tap into a deeper level of exchange with guests to illicit emotional connections. lebua’s award-wining lodging collection includes Bangkok’s best-performing luxury hotels, four boutique hotels in India and an exclusive property in New Zealand. The Dome at lebua, the group’s collection of restaurants and bars atop its Bangkok hotels, include Breeze, Sirocco, Sky Bar, Flûte – A Perrier- Jouët Bar, the signature Mezzaluna restaurant, which was recently awarded two Michelin stars, and the newly launched Alfresco 64 – A Chivas Bar, the highest whisky bar in the world. lebua is currently exploring hotel management contracts in city and resort destinations worldwide.

About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s No 2 in wines and spirits with net sales of €9,010 million in 2016/17. Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis,Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martellcognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier Jouët champagnes, as well St.Hugo, Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard Thailand is one of 85 market companies globally and was established in 2002. Pernod Ricard Thailand has been the wine andspirits partner of lebua since 2006, collaborating to create the world’s highest al fresco champagne bar, Flûte – A Perrier-Jouët Bar, and now partnering again on the world’s highest outdoor whisky bar: Alfresco 64 – A Chivas Bar.

lebua Hotels & Resorts – Bangkok Team
Rawiwan Boonmaparsit
Public Relations Manager
T: +66 (0) 2624 9999
Email: rawiwan@lebua.com

Pavarin Hotrabhavananda
Public Relations Manager
T: +66 (0) 2624 9999
Email: pavarin@lebua.com