Category: Latest Travel News

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 29, 2017 (travelindex) – Making the invisible visible is a constant desire of human race and appetite of creations and innovations. The invention of X-ray imaging enabled us to see inside our bodies. The invention of thermal infrared imaging enabled us to depict heat.

By capturing and analysing the vision of images which are produced by our brain in the pitch dark room, “What does it look like?”, the project “Intersection” was initiated by recent CommDe*** alumni, artist Pun Pitanpitayarat’s experiment of solitary confinement in which isolate ourselves in a pitch black, soundproofed room. Pitanpitayarat had spent twenty four hours inside the cell to experience and indulge in the silence and darkness, stepping into another state of the mind where the boundary between reality and dream are overlapped.

An Interactive Art Installation by Pun Pitanpitayarat
Curated by Eiji Sumi
Exhibition Date: Oct 3, 2017 – Jan. 7, 2018
Vernissage: Tuesday, 3 October, 4 -9 pm
Artist and Curator talk: 4:30-5:30 pm
Opening reception: 6-9 pm

“Intersection” is a simulation of artist’s contemplation and introspection in the beauty of hallucinated vision which he had encountered in this solitary confinement and his attempt to visualise the phenomenon called “Closed eye visualisation” which brain produce in this dark environment, exploring method using interactive media, programmed laser light and sound through the space.

Curated by Eiji Sumi (Artist and Lecturer from CommDe), Pitanpitayarat’s work “Intersection” will bring audiences in Bangkok immersive experiences and submerged sensations. River City Bangkok is proud to join hands with CommDe, Chulalongkorn University, to encourage people to engage in creative invention of the future.

***CommDe (International Communication Design Programme, Industrial Design Department, Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University)

Pun Pitanpitayarat Biography
Born in 1995 in Bangkok, Thailand, Pun Pitanpitayarat is a new media artist and designer who recently graduated from CommDe, International Communication Design Program at Chulalongkorn University. Currently, he works as a multimedia designer at Eyedropper Fill Co., LTD, and has extensive experiences in creating various installations for music video, event, concert, display design and more.

His work, which focuses on combination of technology and materials, not only explores screen based media, but also expands various forms of installation which stimulate the senses, supported by highly sophisticated visual design and computer languages. The movement of light, motion, generative visuals and sound creates immersive experiences through interactive art.

Pitanpitayarat has held several exhibitions in Bangkok. He also won Bronze Award at Bangkok Illumination 2015. His exhibition includes CommDe creative walk 2017 / Commde, Chulalongkorn University Bangkok, 111 forms of the next 11 years 2017 / Commde Chulalongkorn University Bangkok, ProductMe 2015 / Speedy Grandchild Bangkok, and Obsessive space 2014 / CEO books.

Eiji Sumi Biography
Born in Tokyo in 1970, Eiji Sumi was a graduate of Rikkyo University in Tokyo. Sumi moved to New York in 1994 where he pursued his career in art and design. Sumi’s mix media approach explore research in materials, contextualizing digital media, lighting into various form and ideas. Using combined method in various experience art installation, variety of experiments in environment probing the relationship between art and science, he is also keen on urban landscapes that create both analogue and digital art works with urban environment and issues.

Sumi worked in New York as an artist and was commissioned by various clients in the design industry. During his time in New York, Sumi gained attention with his projects ranging from mixed-media and light installations to painting and drawing. He has held numerous international exhibitions including the Art Festivals and has been curated by Eric Shiner, Helen Homan Wu, Brian Curtin, Gridthiya Gaweewong, Keiichi Miyagawa, Lyno Vuth, Ni-kun, among others. Sumi was also shortlisted for the Sovereign Asian Art Award 2016 in Hong Kong.

Sumi moved to Bangkok in 2012. Currently, he is a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s International Communication Design Program (CommDe), part of the university’s Faculty of Architecture. So far, he has been producing numerous exhibitions within Asian region and elsewhere.

An Interactive Art Installation by Pun Pitanpitayarat
Curated by Eiji Sumi
Exhibition Date: Oct 3, 2017 – Jan. 7, 2018
Vernissage: Tuesday, 3 October, 4 -9 pm
Artist and Curator talk: 4:30-5:30 pm
Opening reception: 6-9 pm

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 29, 2017 (travelindex) -Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ winning streak continued at the 28th Annual Travel Awards, when the brand was named as Asia’s “Best Mid-Range Hotel Brand” for an incredible 11th year in a row!

The global hotel group picked up this prestigious honor in a glittering award ceremony and gala dinner that took place in Bangkok on September 28th, 2017. The winners were voted for by the readers of Travel Trade Asia.

Best Western has now held the title of Asia’s “Best Mid-Range Hotel Brand” every year since 2007, reflecting the quality of the company’s hotels, the strength of its brands, and how well respected they are among the Asian travel trade.

“We are delighted to have been named as Asia’s Best Mid-Range Hotel Brand for an amazing 11th consecutive year,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western’s Managing Director of International Operations – Asia. “At Best Western, we have always had the utmost respect and appreciation for our travel trade partners. They are our best ambassadors; showcasing our properties to their clients and driving significant volumes of business to our hotels.”

“So to receive yet another award, as voted for by professional readers, is a tremendous honor. We look forward to working with our many esteemed travel trade partners in future to ensure the best possible stays for their clients.”

“This award is also a wonderful reflection of the talent and professionalism of our entire Asia-based team. To maintain such consistently high standards is an outstanding achievement, and I would like to thank all of our team members for their hard work and dedication,” Olivier added.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has expanded rapidly in recent years, creating multiple new brand concepts that are perfectly suited to the needs of Asia’s new generation of travelers. These include Vīb® and GLō, two tech-savvy midscale offerings, and SureStay Hotel Group®, which provides fuss-free accommodations in key destinations. Asia’s first SureStay hotel will open in Bangkok before the end of 2017, with Vīb® expected to make its regional debut in 2018.

With these new concepts, alongside the company’s well-loved and established midscale hotel concepts, Best Western is aiming to retain its status as Asia’s most popular mid-range brand for many years to come.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,100* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers 10 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®, and BW Premier Collection®; as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay®, SureStay Plus® and SureStay Signature Collection®. 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 in the top three upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands for three years in a row, and Best Western receiving seven consecutive Dynatrace® Best of the Web awards for its leading hotel website. Best Western has also won eight consecutive AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAA’s 56 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Over 30 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.

– Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

Contact:
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

Doha (Qatar) – September 28, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Celebrated worldwide since 1980, World Tourism Day is commemorated on 27 September. This year, the Official Celebrations are held in Doha, the capital city of Qatar.

To advocate the potential of sustainable tourism as a tool for development. This is one of the goals of the World Tourism Day celebrations that are being conducted throughout the world. The Official Celebrations taking place in Qatar, the second celebrated in the country that hosted the event in 2005, convene tourism ministers, industry entrepreneurs and researchers, among other key actors in the sector. The event was opened by the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism of Qatar, H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, who emphasized the performance of Tourism and the links of the sector with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as well as its potential in economic diversification.

As stated by UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, “as we celebrate World Tourism Day 2017 the question is how we can enable the powerful global transformative force of tourism to contribute to make this world a better place and to advance sustainable development in all its five pillars: Economic, Social, Environmental, Cultural and Peace”.

“Tourism has been recognised by our country’s leadership as a tool for sustainable development, and has been designated one of the priority sectors in the nation’s pursuit of economic diversification. We are particularly honoured to have been joined by high-level members of the international tourism community in Doha for the official celebration of World Tourism Day, which witnessed the launch of the Next Chapter of Qatar’s Tourism Sector Strategy. As we continue on this journey, we look forward to sharing our destination with more visitors, investors and tourism professionals,” said Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer at the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).

The official celebrations of World Tourism Day 2017, the second celebrated in Qatar that hosted the event in 2005, convene tourism ministers, industry entrepreneurs and researchers, among other key actors in the sector.

“For an industry that produces 10% of global GDP and 1 in 10 jobs globally, it is crucial we protect the growth to be sustainable. This International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development should create a legacy based on three key aspects: better management to protect from impacts of T&T, continue working closely together as partners, not just UNWTO and WTTC, but private and public sectors across destinations and countries and to tell the stories, share the inspiration, keep talking about it,” mentioned Helen Marrano, Helen Marano, Senior Vice President at the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), at the Opening of the event.

The Celebrations include a Keynote Speech on ‘Aviation’s Role in Building Sustainable Tourism’ given by Akbar Al Baker, Global CEO of Qatar Airways and a High Level Think Tank on ‘Tourism as a means for creating opportunities, enhancing cultural preservation and mutual understanding’ moderated by Max Forster from CNN International. The session addresses the capacity of tourism to create jobs and bring new opportunities to communities as well as the contribution of the sector to wealth creation, investment and exports.

“Tourism has been recognised by our country’s leadership as a tool for sustainable development, and has been designated one of the priority sectors in the nation’s pursuit of economic diversification,” said Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer of QTA.

The following personalities participate in this debate: Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism of Jamaica, Eugene Lenn Nagbe, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Liberia, Selma Elloumi Rekik, Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts of Tunisia, Avedis Guidanian, Minister of Tourism of Lebanon, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor Khan, Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Frano Matušić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism of Croatia, Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways and Anna Paolini, Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha.

As the role of communications within the tourism sector is of high relevance, a key note speech is offered by Tom Hall, Editorial Director of Lonely Planet on the value of Communicating tourism for Development. This leads to a Special Session on “Tourism and the Planet: committed to a greener future”.

The panel discussion includes Abdulla Hassan Al-Mehshadi, Chief Executive Officer of Msheireb Properties, Fernando Olivera, Minister of the State of Guanajuato in Mexico, Sofia Panayiotaki, Managing Director of PRMediaCo, Maxime Verstraete, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and ADA Compliance at Hilton, Patricio Azcárate Díaz de Losada, Director at the Responsible Tourism Institute and David Ermen, Senior Manager of the Lodging and Tourism Clients Group at PwC.

Contacts:
UNWTO Media Officer
Rut Gomez Sobrino
rgomez@unwto.org
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
comm@UNWTO.org
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100
Fax: +34 91 567 8218

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) – September 27, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Former President James Alix Michel has been invited to address the 6th South China Sea Conference under the theme Forging a shared future in the South China Sea which will be held in conjunction with the Malaysia International Marine Expo (MIMEX) 2017 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur. The conference will deliberate on several complex and multi-layered issues in the South China Sea in an effort to seek to resolve them in a comprehensive, peaceful and enduring manner.

For centuries, the South China Sea has been a strategically significant waterway not only for this region but globally. Its strategic position has given rise to much geopolitical manoeuvrings and led to various territorial and maritime disputes.

The conference will discuss five important topics concerning the area, which is still seeing a number of territorial and maritime disputes. The issues to be focused on would be geopolitical changes and the involvement of major powers in the region, ASEAN regionalism, and the regional security order, Managing the maritime real estate: towards sustainable development in the South China Sea and promoting regional prosperity through appropriate development.

President Michel will deliver a special address during which he is expected to share with the conference the experiences of Seychelles in the management of its maritime assets with special emphasis on the sustainability of the oceans.The sustainability of our oceans will ensure the sustainability of our countries, which, in turn will ensure the sustainability of our planet. We have no other alternative said the former President. President Michel added that he was glad that Seychelles was leading the discourse on sustainability and the Blue Economy and that he was proud and privileged to be part of that process.

President Michel will be accompanied at the Conference by the Chief Executive Officer of the James Michel Foundation, Mr. Jacquelin Dugasse.

The theme of the conference, ‘Forging a Shared Future in the South China Sea’, has attracted experts on the subject from the United States, China, Japan, United Kingdom, ASEAN countries and Seychelles.

Shanghai (China) – September 27, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Interest in the second ITB China, taking place from 16-18 May 2018 in Shanghai, is again very high. ITB China focusses exclusively on professional Chinese travel buyers. Leading Chinese travel industry companies including Caissa, Fliggy, Tuniu, Utour Travel and many others have already confirmed they will be sending their buyers to the second edition of ITB China in May 2018. Exhibitors are also pressing ahead with preparations. Early committed exhibitors who register before the deadline of 30 October will still benefit from an early bird discount of five per cent on their stand rental fees.

David Axiotis, General Manager ITB China: “ITB China not only brings top Chinese travel buyers together with world-class tourism suppliers, but also with innovative technological applications. In 2018 we are increasing our buyers program by inviting some 850 buyers whereas our focus is making sure that the quality and quantity of buyers meets demanding exhibitor needs. All potential buyers will undergo an assessment process and will be evaluated based on their experience and quality to ensure that the quality of attendees remains at the highest possible level.”

Ms. Yan Lin, the Senior Vice President of Utour Travel, one of the top leading companies in China’s tourism industry, said: “We attended the first ITB China this May and really gained enormous benefits! The quality of exhibitors and buyers was as good as its mother show ITB Berlin in Germany. Everyone onsite dealt very professionally with their appointments. Next year we will enhance our support of the ITB China Buyers Program, and will not only send our own top decision makers, but also invite numerous outbound business partners to visit the show as well. I am confident that ITB China will be even more successful next year!”

China’s leading online outbound travel platform – Fliggy, the travel brand of Alibaba Group, will unite its outbound travel agency merchants all over the country as a buyer group to visit ITB China 2018. Mr. Lowden Xiao, vice president of Fliggy, highlights: “We sincerely do welcome that ITB China has finally arrived in China. Building on the reputation and energy of ITB, ITB China is building a high quality platform between Chinese travel practitioners and global tourism resources, which has benefited every participant.

As the leader of China’s outbound travel platform, Fliggy is keenly looking forward to cooperating with ITB China, to satisfy the steadily increasing global travel requirements of the Chinese people in a spirit of professional innovation.”

Some 850 buyers will be invited to attend ITB China next year. This includes 600 top performers from last year and hundreds of new ones, whereas over 250 will represent China’s largest travel agencies. Hosted buyers represent the Chinese Leisure, MICE and Corporate travel markets: 97 per cent of the hosted buyers come from Mainland China and three per cent are from Hongkong, Macau and Taiwan. ITB China has been designed as a pure B2Bplatform professionally matchmaking exhibitors from all over the world with Chinese buyers. More than 17,500 prescheduled appointments will maximise the business opportunities of both the exhibitors and the buyers.

At the inaugural ITB China 2017 some 600 exhibiting companies from nearly 70 countries and regions met with a total of over 10,000 attendees and buyers in the 12,000 sqm area of exhibition space, which had been booked up months in advance.

ITB China 2018 will take place from 16 to 18 May at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Center. The event, an international offshoot of one of Messe Berlin’s most successful trade fairs, will take place annually and focus on the Chinese travel industry. Its co-organiser is TravelDaily China, a leading online news portal and organiser of travel industry conferences in Asia’s largest country.

About ITB Berlin and ITB Asia
First launched 51 years ago, ITB Berlin is recognised as the most successful trade show for the global travel industry. Some 10,000 exhibitors from more than 180 countries regularly attend this event. Every year in October for the last nine years Messe Berlin has successfully organised ITB Asia in Singapore. Boasting 760 exhibitors from 73 countries, ITB Asia in Singapore has established itself as one of the leading travel trade shows in Asia. As the second show in Asia, ITB China will take place in Shanghai, one of the leading industrial cities in the People’s Republic of China, and with a population of around 23 million one of world’s largest cities. In contrast to ITB Asia, which reflects tourism in Asia as a whole, ITB China focuses entirely on the Chinese travel market.

About ITB China and the ITB China Conference
ITB China 2018 will take place from Wednesday to Friday, 16 to 18 May, at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre in hall 1. ITB China is a three-day business to business travel trade fair that focuses exclusively on the Chinese travel industry. The ITB China Conference will take place parallel with the show and is co-organised by the leading conference organiser TravelDaily.

Madrid (Spain) – September 27, 2017 (travelindex.com) – With the aim of promoting responsible travel, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has launched a travellers’ competition ahead of World Tourism Day. The initiative is part of the ‘Travel.Enjoy.Respect’ campaign taking place within the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. A one-month trip across the world visiting sustainable tourism initiatives is the prize that will be awarded to the winner of the competition.

“Every action counts and travellers have a strong role to play in building a more sustainable tourism sector. Imagine the impact of one small action multiplied by millions”, said Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of UNWTO. “We want to inspire all travellers to be the change they want to see in the world.”

Competition entrants are invited to share their travel experiences at www.travelenjoyrespect.org and explain why they should be selected to represent the global “responsible traveller”.

This journey will start at the UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid, with an official ‘designation’ ceremony with the Secretary-General, and will end at the closing ceremony of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland, where stakeholders from the tourism community and the UN family will unite.

The winner’s across the world journey will be supported by Explore WorldWide, an adventure travel group offering a wide range of activities and experiences with a commitment to responsible travel and a pinch of Explore spirit. Destinations including Colombia, Germany, Mexico, the United Arab Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah and the Léman region in Switzerland have offered to host the winner and help them discover responsible and sustainable tourism practices.

The competition is one of the main activities of the ‘Travel.Enjoy.Respect’ campaign that UNWTO launched to raise awareness of the value and contribution that sustainable tourism can make towards development, and to engage tourists in making the sector a catalyst for positive change.

Contacts:
UNWTO Media Officer
Rut Gomez Sobrino
rgomez@unwto.org
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
comm@UNWTO.org
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100
Fax: +34 91 567 8218

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 26, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Thailand will host the leading marketplace for documentary programming, Asian Side of the Doc, for the second year running in Bangkok, from January 30 to February 2, 2018

The Department of International Trade Promotion or DITP is positioning the 8th edition of ASD as a strategic platform to promote the documentary film making industry to achieve the objectives of Thailand 4.0, a new economic model that aims to lift the country out of the middle-income trap and establish it as a player in the smart, innovative, and high value domain.

Considered a vital economic driver to achieve those 4.0 goals, the Thai film industry also seeks to support creativity, enhance culture, and deliver high-value services as well as improve the country’s competitiveness in a regional context.

“The government’s promotion of the film industry focuses on the development of production capacities. The policy encourages a proactive filmmaking business as well as creating opportunities to network in both domestic and international markets,” said MAXIMAGE Company Limited managing director and head of the ASD18 organizing committee, Mrs Viwan Karnasut. “Part of the strategy is to support activities such as international film festivals and marketplaces that create a business platform for filmmakers, distributors, and investors worldwide.”

To back-up government’s efforts, the Thailand Documentary Filmmakers Association, or TDFA, has been established to build competitiveness and promote Thailand as a hub for international and regional documentary filmmakers; a marketplace, and venue to host the industry’s leading events such as ASD.

ASD is presented by the organizers of the Sunny Side of the Doc or SSD, the biggest documentary marketplace in Europe. Founded by Mr. Yves Jeanneau, the Academy Award-winning French film producer, SSD has been organized for 28 years in La Rochelle, France attracting more than 2,000 visitors annually.

Recognizing the potential of the documentary film market in Asia, ASD was established in 2010 as parallel documentary market place for the region.

It has subsequently been hosted annually in different Asian countries; China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. The 7th edition of ASD took place in Thailand last year attracting more than 400 delegates.

Recognized as a major platform to promote Asian documentaries to the world, ASD generated estimated minimum revenue of 160 million baht.

Based on its success, the organizers broke tradition opting to return to Thailand for a second consecutive year.

The decision to return to Thailand for the 8th edition of ASD was based on Thailand’s readiness in terms of supporting facilities, the diversity of travel destinations, and the professionalism of Thai documentary filmmaker industry.

The event will take place, from January 30 to February 2, 2018, at the Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao, Bangkok. Over four days, more than 500 delegates, including producers, directors, distributors, key decision makers, investors, and consultants from 40 countries will meet at ASD18 for sales, networking, pitching sessions with prizes, conferences, and the added value of tailored one-to-one meetings with key buyers from Asia and beyond.

An ASD Documentary Workshop & Master Class featured as part of the pre-event activities, held on September 19-22, where documentary producers and directors gained insights on how to develop documentary projects.

International experts and trainers who shared insights at the Master Class were Christian Popp – co-founder of YUZU Productions in France, Esther van Messel – CEO of First Hand Films Switzerland; and Pailin Wedel, a Thai-American journalist and filmmaker who won the Best ASEAN Prize at ASD16

A total of 38 documentary projects from seven countries were submitted to the ASD selection jury, which selected 10 projects to attend the workshop, of which seven were created by Thai producers. At the workshop, six projects were shortlisted for the final pitch with the winner will go to ASD18 to pitch on the main stage. “The ASD18 will increase the value of documentary filmmaking. Besides the revenue from the trading session, the event is an essential platform for networking, branding, knowledge sharing, and above all, promoting Thailand as a connecting hub for the documentary filmmakers industry across Asia. It is expected that this trade event will generate at least 200 million baht in revenue.” said Mrs. Viwan Karnasut.

Some of the major producers and broadcasters of international documentary and factual programming heading for ASD18 include the National Geographic, Discovery Asia, NHK, CCTV, KBS, ABC, PBS, ThaiPBS, and other Thai broadcasters.

The Asian Side of the Doc Bangkok 2018 is supported by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization). The government agency is tasked with attracting international events to take place in Thailand. For this event, TCEB provides financial support as well as assistance in coordinating with government organizations. The Asian Side of the Doc Bangkok 2018 is recognized as one of the significant events which will enhance the image of Thailand as the leading MICE destination within the region.

For more information please contact:
Ms. Ladawan Sondak (Kung)
Email : ladawan@documaniabangkok.com
Tel 089-200-1918
PR Coordinator
Ms. Arpaporn (A) Tel 089 788 4868
Ms. Thitiya (Jang) 094 323 5641
Email : a.publicist@gmail.com

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 26, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Premier Incoming Group Services (PIGS DMC) has unveiled The Ultimate Champagne Dinner, an exclusive dining experience for 12 to 36 guests. The “Ultimate” dinner experience features seven rare vintage champagnes, imported exclusively for the event and not commercially available. A seven course Michelin inspired menu, that is customisable to client’s dietary preferences, is paired with the seven Champagnes. A carefully curated musical programme of classic vinyl, live jazz vocals and Grand Opera Thailand accompanies the Champagne menu. The entertainment programme also provides every guest with the opportunity to try their hand at the act of Sabrage, where the top of a champagne bottle is sliced off using a sabre, with the expert guidance of Confrérie du Sabre d’Or.

“This is the Rolls Royce of dinners” commented Athikom Jeerapairotekun (AJ), Managing Director of PIGS and mastermind behind the unique dining experience. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event and, due to the scarcity of the vintage Champagnes, this is not for everyone and reserved for a very exclusive and extra special occasion.”

AJ added “This is a dinner for one in a million, as the cost of the event provides a natural selection for only the very privileged few. The Ultimate Champagne Dinner includes seven rare champagnes, a seven course Michelin inspired menu, musical and Sabrage performances, decoration, audio-lighting production and event management.”

Venue for the event is not included in the arrangement as PIGS aims to keep the arrangement open for client preferences. “Our preferred venues would be Nai Lert Heritage House in central Bangkok for a VIP group of 12 to 16. We also have a couple of palaces and historic landmarks that we can open doors to, as venue for the event. For those clients wishing to have the ultimate dinner outside the capital, we would love to arrange this at The Slate in Phuket, going south, or up north at 137 Pillars Chiang Mai or Dhara Dhevi. The venue is complete flexible, but needs to be fabulous” added AJ.

The seven Champagnes comprise of five rare vintages and two rosé – pink Champagnes, all specially imported by special arrangement and six months advance reservation.

Asked about the recent sharp hike in excise tax on alcohol in Thailand, which has come into effect this month, and the impact on the dinner, Athikom replied “The substantial increase in tax will impact the majority of MICE groups, especially those arranged on a low budget. However, The Ultimate Champagne Dinner is targeted at ultra-high net worth executives, where corporates have a seven-digit budget to impress and reward their crème de la crème.” AJ declined to disclose the cost of the dinner, saying that we are discussing arrangements discreetly with serious clients. However, the cost is very close to THB 100,000 per person. “We’ve seen a million Baht dinner staged in Bangkok. Our ultimate dining experience comes in at a fraction of this cost.” disclosed AJ.

The event is presented exclusively by PIGS DMC who are working with Italasia, Lauren-Perrier Group, Michelin starred chef, Grand Opera Thailand, Jazz Overtones, Classic Vinyl Sundays and Confrérie du Sabre d’Or.

For further information, please contact:
Athikom “AJ” Jeerapairotekun
Managing Director
PIGS Co.Ltd.
Tel. +66 819 071 908
Email: aj@pigsdmc.com

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 25, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Royal Thai Government has announced that the Royal Cremation for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is scheduled for 25-29 October, 2017. Thursday, 26 October, will be the royal cremation day, and it has been declared a public holiday by the Cabinet to allow the people to take part in paying a final tribute to the late King.

During the process of the Royal Cremation which will last five days, tourist attractions across Thailand will be open as usual. This is with the exception of Bangkok’s Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which will be closed from 1-29 October, 2017, as they will be the venue of the Royal Cremation. All transport, banks, shopping areas, hospitals and other public services will be operating as usual.

However, the Tourism Authority of Thailand would like to recommend that any visitors with travel or tourism plans reconfirm with agents and check local media regularly as well as follow the advice of the local authorities for announcements and updates. They should also be aware that in some areas transportation could be affected. We also ask tourists and visitors for their understanding and patience should they experience delays or some routes may be closed to traffic.

In this time of great sadness and mourning, we would like to ask that everyone uses their judgment regarding how or should they make arrangements for events planned in Thailand. Also, we would like to ask visitors for their understanding that this is a sensitive time for Thailand, and they should respect the feelings and sensitivities of the Thai people.

Many Thai people will be wearing black clothes as a sign of mourning. This is not required of visitors but if possible, they should wear respectful clothing when in public. We also would like to request that the solemnity of the Royal Cremation is observed, and visitors should refrain from conducting any inappropriate or disrespectful behaviour.

The world is welcome to Thailand during this historic period. Visitors to the kingdom at this time will get to see the great love and reverence that the Thai people have for their beloved King in the way they mourn and pay their respects. And during this time, Thailand is thankful for our friends coming to share their sadness and pass on their condolences. This gesture of empathy and friendship will be remembered by the people of Thailand for decades to come.

For more details on the Royal Cremation, please visit:

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 24, 2017 ( travelindex.com) – Zenith has revealed Defy Lab, the world’s most accurate mechanical watch thanks to a groundbreaking oscillator. The triple certified watch marks a major advance in measuring time, embodying Zenith’s constant drive for innovation and high precision.

Zenith unveiled the Defy Lab and its groundbreaking oscillator during a press conference at the Zenith Manufacture in Le Locle, Switzerland, hosted by Jean-Claude Biver, President of the LVMH Watch Division, Julien Tornare, CEO of Zenith and Guy Semon, CEO of the LVMH Watch Division R&D Institute. Presented as the most accurate mechanical watch in the world, the Defy Lab is both an evolution and an improvement on the balance and hairspring regulator invented in January 1675 by the scientist Christiaan Huygens. This advance constitutes an outright challenge to the fundamental operating principle of mechanical watches.

To achieve this performance, the timepiece is equipped with a single element oscillator that measures just 0.5 mm in thickness, replacing the traditional balance-and-spring assembly. The Defy Lab beats at a frequency of 15 Hz with an amplitude of +/- 6 degrees – three times the frequency of the iconic Zenith El Primero movement. This gives it exceptional accuracy, with a daily rate precise to just 0.3 seconds, and a 60-hour power reserve. Insensitive to temperature gradients, gravity and magnetic fields, the Defy Lab maintains the same degree of precision for 95% of its power reserve. This is also the first watch with a case made from Aeronith, an aluminum composite lighter than titanium, aluminum or carbon fiber.

The accuracy of mechanical watches enters a new dimension with this innovative watch from the Swiss manufacture. The watch has been awarded triple certification: chronometer certification from the Besançon Observatory on behalf of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, displayed in the viper’s head stamp; for thermal behavior, the ISO-3159 standard spectrum has been broadened; and the watch meets ISO-764 magnetic criteria.