Category: Latest Travel News

Bangkok (Thailand) – November 13, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The 10th Anniversary of the annual Thailand International Cricket Sixes gets underway in Bangkok next Friday on the 17th November, with up to fourteen teams competing and continuing to make “Friendships Through Cricket”.

The event organised by the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour (ACST) will see participants from England, Australia, India, Singapore, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Malaysia, UAE and Sri Lanka joining local representation for the three-day event; which is being held at the Thana City Sports Club near Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The partaking teams will be seeded at the completion of the first round of games, to compete for honours in the Cup, Bowl and Shield on Sunday afternoon.

ACST Chairman, Michael Maher is delighted with the line up of teams, as the tournament reaches a momentous milestone.

“We are very proud to be celebrating the tournament’s tenth birthday this year in the wonderful city of Bangkok. Over the years we’ve seen some very special cricket at the event as well as introducing hundreds of cricketers from around the world to each other”.

“The ACST cannot wait for what will be another magnificent festival of cricket and camaraderie. I would like to thank the Tourist Authority of Thailand, Tripathi Group of India, the Windsor Suites Hotel, Thana City Sports Club, and our contacts in Bangkok for their continued support,” added Mr Maher.

Spectators are welcome at the event and admission is free. For further details, please contact Mr Maher at mmaher.padmir@bigpond.com or on (+61) 407 385 481.

www.cricketsixes.com

Doha (Qatar) – November 12, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Qatar Airways are the first Middle East carrier to announce direct flights into Thailand’s third international airport, U Tapao- Rayong Pattaya International Airport (UTP).

Starting with four flights a week from 28th January 2018, the airline will use their new Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 232 seats in economy and 22 seats in business class from Doha.

With more and more flights into U Tapao expected, and a new ferry service close to the airport directly to Koh Chang, this news will have an enormous impact on the region and in particular for the Koh Chang’s Island’s tourist industry.

As Thailand’s second largest island, it has been already experiencing a steady increase in the number of visitors who are taking vacations there.

This is likely to increase dramatically, now that the Thai government has rubber stamped their ambitious plans to spend millions on infrastructure along the Eastern Seaboard Corridor.

This is all great news for Siam Royal View Resort, the largest mixed-use development on Koh Chang, who have recently launched their new Marina Condominiums and Riverside Villas, to keep pace with the island’s popularity.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand have just announced that 28.64 million tourists arrived in Thailand in the first ten months of 2017, an increase of nearly 7% year on year.

Visitor figures have been steadily increasing on the island too. Since 2010 -2015 there has been an increase of over 220% to 1,106,149 hotel registrations, and that does not count the number who stay in non-registered accommodation.

With the recent announcement of a ferry service linking Pattaya to the island, the future looks even brighter.

Hanspeter Siegrist, a Director at Siam Royal View said, ‘One reason that we have not seen more tourists in the past has been the limited number of 3-5 star accommodation options available on Koh Chang. It is with this background that we are now building more villas and condos close to our Marina, and will expand our successful Peninsula Beach Hotel with more capacity.’

Property owners will benefit from the superb facilities at Siam Royal View, one of South East Asia’s largest beach resorts. It has over 2km of sandy beaches, 4km of waterfront, over 100 beach and pool villas, a yacht marina, a pitch & putt golf course, boutique hotels, swimming pools, restaurants, beach bars and wellness facilities.

The Koh Chang archipelago has over 50 islands to explore nearly all year round, making the island one of the top boating areas in the World.

For more information about the Siam Royal View Resort, just visit www.kohchangmarinacondo.com or www.siam-royal-view.com for more information.

Contact:
Mike Bridge
mikebridgeceo@gmail.com

London (United Kingdom) – November 9, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Over 60 ministers of tourism and private sector leaders gathered on 7 November in London for the UNWTO / WTM Ministers’ Summit on ‘overtourism’. Moderated by CNN International’s Max Foster, the Summit concluded on the need for the tourism sector to engage more and better with local communities.

Community engagement, communication, congestion management, adequate planning and product diversification were highlighted as key aspects in dealing with ‘overtourism’.

Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), said opening the Summit: “growth is not the enemy; numbers are not the enemy; the key is to manage the growth sustainably, responsibly and intelligently and use the power of growth to our advantage”.

“We cannot continue to build five-star hotels in three-star communities. Jobs and charity are not enough – we need to diversify visitors’ activities, reduce seasonality and raise awareness of less busy destinations” he added.

Participants agreed on the need to build awareness among communities of the benefits of the sector, improve the use of big data to measure and manage the impact of tourists and tourist flows, and promote the development of tourism experiences that engage and benefit communities directly.

The emergence of new platform tourism services, or the so called sharing-economy, was discussed at length, with participants recognizing that they will continue to expand and need to be understood and managed by destinations on a case-by-case basis.

Speakers in the Summit included:
– H.E. Mr. Mauricio Ventura Aragón, Minister of Tourism, Costa Rica
– H.E. Ms. Elena Kountoura, Minister of Tourism, Greece
– Mr. Ryoichi Matsuyama, President, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
– H.E. Mr. Mohamed Sajid, Minister of Tourism, Air Transport, Handicraft and Social Economy, Morocco
– H.E. Mr. Enrique de la Madrid, Secretary of Tourism, Mexico
– H.E. Mr. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority
(SCTDA), United Arab Emirates
– H.E. Mr. John Glen, Minister of Arts Heritage and Tourism, United Kingdom
– Mr. Istvan Ujhelyi, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, European Parliament
– Ms. Gloria Guevara, President and CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)
– Mr. Patrick Robinson, Head of Policy for EMEA, Airbnb
– Ms. Inge Huijbrechts, Vice-President, Responsible Business, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
– Ms. Kate Gibson, Vice-President, Global Corporate Responsibility, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG)
– Mr. Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman, Silversea Cruises

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) – November 8, 2017 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts today announced that just one year since the launch of its new franchise model – SureStay Hotel Group – the brand has eclipsed 33 properties worldwide with a robust pipeline of 44 additional hotels. Since making its official debut in fall 2016, SureStay has differentiated itself from others in the market focusing on delivering high-quality and outstanding service. As a result, the brand has seen impressive fast-paced growth, emerging as a true leader in the economy segment.

“SureStay Hotel Group is one of the fastest growing hotel brands in North America, and it is garnering the interest of developers overseas,” said David Kong, President and Chief Executive Officer for Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “SureStay was launched to take the leadership position in the economy segment; and with the growing momentum the brand is experiencing, it is evident SureStay’s future is bright.”

Comprised of three distinctive brands – SureStay® Hotel by Best Western (classic economy), SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western (premium economy) and SureStay CollectionSM by Best Western (lower-midscale soft brand) – SureStay’s early success can be credited to its unique quality-centric structure. The brand provides a migration path to hoteliers who are committed to providing a superior guest experience, but wish to avoid the high costs that can come with a redesign program. Properties must maintain a minimum 3.5 TripAdvisor® rating, agree to a satisfaction guarantee and unannounced QA assessment. Its focus is to create consumer relevance and confidence through unprecedented quality and care.

SureStay hotels also receive Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ preferred OTA commission rates, its scale and global distribution, robust global reservation system, award-winning Best Western Rewards® loyalty program, industry-leading desktop and mobile websites and 70 years of industry expertise. And with “by Best Western” featured on SureStay hotel signage, SureStay hotels benefit from significant walk-in business, as customers associate the new brand with Best Western’s trusted name in hospitality. As an added bonus to join SureStay, the royalty fee for the first 200 applications will be waived.

SureStay’s benefits have attracted economy hotels from around the world, with the majority of applicants migrating to the brand as a means of repositioning and strengthening their hotels, often as a result of new ownership or major renovations. Best Western conversions also make up a portion of the applicants.

SureStay hotels have opened in locations throughout North America including Buffalo, Wyoming; Bellevue, Nebraska; Poteau, Oklahoma; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Mission, Texas; Lombard, Illinois; Williamsport, Pennsylvania; and Helen, Georgia.

Additionally, SureStay Hotel Group is experiencing success on a global level. The SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Sukhumvit 2 opened earlier this month, in the heart of downtown Bangkok. The brand has also taken off in Sweden, with seven properties already active, and another four in the pipeline.

“We are thrilled with how positively the market is responding to our SureStay hotel brand,” said Ron Pohl, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “It’s amazing to think that we began this journey just one year ago and we already have properties in 20 states and three countries. It has been quite an experience and we remain inspired to make SureStay the choice for millions of business and leisure travelers as they make their next travel decision.”

For more information on SureStay Hotel Group or to book a reservation, 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 CollectionSM 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) – November 8, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Royal Paragon Hall has been accredited 3 international standards certificates, including; ISO 20121: 2012 Event Sustainability Management System; ISO 22301: 2012 Business Continuity Management System and; TISI 22300: 2550 MICE Security Management System, thus acclaiming and reinforcing the credibility of its status as “The World-Class Venue in the Heart of Bangkok” with a strategic location and premium brand, expecting to continuously grow by 15% in 2018.

Mr. Talun Theng, Managing Director of Royal Paragon Hall, talked about this milestone on the occasion of the honorary certificate ceremony, saying, “The success of Royal Paragon Hall in the past years is highly indicated in the positive feedback from all our clients. The Royal Paragon Hall has been chosen to be the venue for various major events at national and global levels, thanks to our strategically convenient location and our highly experienced team. These 3 ISO and TISI certificates will increase our credibility with both local and international clients, assuring high standards of venues. Furthermore, the Royal Paragon Hall will continue to develop its premium image, which reflects positively on our clients’ images in venues concerning environment, economy and social aspects in every detail of our operation. Sustainability event management is a significant trend at international levels and the Royal Paragon Hall will continue to be committed to the success for all sectors equally.”

The Royal Paragon Hall is a leading venue of international level with a premium image, and a capacity to cater to various types of events. Most of its clients are MICE events, concerts, and other special events. Its marketing strategy has been designed under a framework called MICE3 – in which E3 refers to E = Exhibition, E=Entertainment and E=Event. Over the past decade, the Royal Paragon Hall’s business has had a growth as high as 10%-15% each year on average.

These 3 ISO and TISI certificates will help to maintain the expansion of Royal Paragon Hall’s 70:30 client ratio, locally and globally. It will elevate the standard reputation of Thailand’s MICE industry to the level of other venues around the world. Moreover, Thailand will also receive more opportunities to organize international events, bringing positive elements to the economy and social aspects of Thailand.

Pannee Angsusingha, the President of MASCI in the name of inspector, evaluator and ISO and TISI certificates granter, said, “Fast moving and unpredictable situations are threats that affect business, stakeholders’ profits and even the reputation, image and valuable activity of an organization. Therefore, sustainability is the key to bringing awareness to economy, environment and social aspects, as well as providing credibility and accountability towards clients. These are the current challenges presented to organizations and to which they need to be prepared, to respond and to effectively resolve in crisis. The Royal Paragon Hall has been certified ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management System (BCMS), TISI 22300 MICE Security Management System (MSMS) and ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management System (ESMS) respectively from MASCI with its integrated management for high flexibility of the organization. The Royal Paragon Hall shall be continuing its business smoothly, aptly prepared for the next unconventional challenges in this fast moving and uncertain business environment, ensuring clients and visitors to Thailand. The Royal Paragon Hall demonstrates Thailand’s capacity as a leader of sustainable MICE management at a regional and global level.”

TCEB President Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya said, “Business Administration these days always puts business continuity management on the table, including risk management. Sustainable management, which takes into consideration the impact on the environment and social aspects, is also very important. The MICE industry is one of the business lines that takes this roadmap into account, as it is a key element for consumer decision when procuring an event. This also creates point of purchase for Thailand’s MICE entrepreneurs due to their competitive advantage as Thailand has been further improving as an event destination.

“TCEB encourages Thailand’s MICE entrepreneurs to strive for international standards regarding this roadmap and contributing to set the standards for the MICE industry. We were proud to contribute to the Royal Paragon Hall with budget and knowledge, which led it to receive 3 standard certificates; ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management System (BCMS); ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management System (ESMS) and; TISI 22300 MICE Security Management System (MSMS) . In this regard, TCEB would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Royal Paragon Hall for this milestone. It is a badge of honor for the Thailand MICE industry and it will surely inspire other MICE entrepreneurs to keep stimulating their capacity to achieve these standards too.”

Meanwhile, the Royal Paragon Hall recently took the opportunity to give back to its business partners, contributors, and general public, by setting up a seminar entitled “Sustainable Event Management”, represented by Ms. Janet Salem from UNEP Asia Pacific. The speaker shared her knowledge on event management sustainability, incorporating environmental concerns and efficient resource management, while maintaining the premium standard venue.

For more information, please contact:
Paworawan Chansamut (Tao)
089 109 0807

Singapore – November 8, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Global Hospitality Management Software Company Xn protel Systems today announced the opening of the Valero Grand Suites by Swiss-Belhotel, using its xnPOS F&B Point of Sale system and protel property management software solution. This is the latest addition to the Swiss-Belhotel portfolio that uses Xn protel solutions.

The Valero Grand Suites by Swiss-Belhotel is a 31-storey condominium hotel that has been perfectly designed to exude beauty, elegance and style. It is managed by Swiss-Belhotel International, which was founded in 1987 and has its corporate office in Hong Kong. The company is recognized as one of the world’s fastest-growing hotel management groups, and provides professional expertise and management services for hotels, resorts and serviced residences.

protel PMS is an internationally proven, feature rich hotel property management system that’s trusted worldwide by over 8,000 customers. It seamlessly connects to all the other systems needed and helps enable hotels to empower staff, increase profits and support the growing needs of their business.

xnPOS provides comprehensive functionality and scalability that meets the needs of hotel F&B, table service restaurants and hospitality foodservice operations. It has proven workflow advantages to manage guest check transactions, order-entry operations and remote kitchen/bar orders, while also providing seamless integration with hotel PMS, Loyalty/CRM and ERP systems.

Matthew Faull, Executive Director & Senior Vice President of IT, ECommerce & Distribution, Swiss-Belhotel International said: “Xn protel’s xnPOS and protel software solutions are the preferred choice for our hotels, resorts and serviced residences to easily provide detailed management information and deliver the high standards of guest service, which is the core value of Swiss-Belhotel International.

Matthew Faull continues, “We have been working in partnership with Xn protel for five years since our first deployment of protel PMS and xnPOS in Bahrain, and we continue to deploy these solutions across our properties as we open hotels in both existing and new territories. Xn protel has implemented PMS and POS in properties across Indonesia, Bahrain, Australia and New Zealand, and we are delighted to see the successful implementation at the Valero Grand Suites by Swiss-Belhotel in time for its opening.”

David Lewis, VP Sales – Asia, Xn protel Systems comments: “We congratulate Swiss-Belhotel International on the opening of the Valero Grand Suites by Swiss-Belhotel. We look forward to continuing to extend our relationship, providing open, scalable systems that support the management requirements and customer service focus of Swiss-Belhotel International as they continue to expand into new territories.”

About Swiss-Belhotel International
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Hong Kong, Swiss-Belhotel International is recognized as one of the world’s fastest-growing hotel management groups. Swiss-Belhotel International provides professional expertise and management services for hotels, resorts and serviced residences. Ranked amongst the world’s top 100 international hotel management companies, Swiss-Belhotel International has been awarded six times as Indonesia’s Leading Global Hotel Chain and Favorite 4-Star Hotel.

Swiss-Belhotel International currently manages a portfolio of more than 145* hotels, resorts and projects located in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Georgia, Tanzania and Turkey. Awarded Indonesia’s Leading Global Hotel Chain for six consecutive years, Swiss-Belhotel International is one of the world’s fastest-growing international hotel and hospitality management groups. The Group provides comprehensive and highly professional development and management services in all aspects of hotel, resort and serviced residences. Offices are located in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia, China, Europe, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.

The Group is committed to progressively increasing its worldwide property portfolio and growing its globally recognized brands by leveraging its strong market presence and extensive sales and marketing networks. At present, Swiss-Belhotel International carries 14 brands including Grand Swiss-Belhotel, Grand Swiss-Belresort, Swiss-Belhotel, Swiss-Belboutique, Swiss-Belresort, Swiss-Belsuites, Swiss-Belvillas, Swiss-Belresidences, Swiss-Belinn, Swiss-Belcourt, Swiss-Belexpress, and the latest addition, Zest Plus, Zest, and Zest OK. Each brand offers a unique level of sophistication in its facilities while consistently delivering high levels of genuine, efficient service to its guests.

“Committed to Excellence in Service and Management”, Swiss-Belhotel International builds partnerships with property owners so that their objectives and goals are achieved and the success and growth of Swiss-Belhotel International continues. The Group’s unique fusion of Swiss hospitality professionalism and its Asian-inspired passion and service is what truly sets Swiss-Belhotel International apart from other hotel management companies.

Each of the Group’s properties proudly carries the hallmark of Swiss-Belhotel International, a symbol that guarantees a combination of quality, convenience and dedication to providing excellent value to business and leisure travellers. This commitment is enshrined in Swiss-Belhotel International’s philosophy of “Passion and Professionalism™”. The most treasured reward for Swiss-Belhotel International is that guests return, which is considered the ultimate compliment to the staff, the management, and to the Group as a whole.

Swiss-Belhotel International Contact:
Linie Cortez-Palacio
Senior Vice President – Marketing and Communication
Group Sales, Marketing, IT & E-Commerce Office
Swiss-Belhotel International
The Blugreen Boutique Office, Tower C – D, 2nd Floor
Jl. Lingkar Luar Barat Kav. 88, Puri Kembangan
Kembangan Utara, Jakarta 11610 – Indonesia
Tel: (62 21) 2952 7277, 2952 7278

About Xn protel Systems
Xn protel Systems is a global hospitality management software company specializing in property management, central reservations, point of sale and activity management solutions. Our business-critical, highly functional, cloud-native and open systems provide the latest technology and flexibility. They help world-class hospitality companies in over 50 countries to optimize revenue generation, simplify service operations and enhance the quality of guest communications.

We are committed to:
Creating open systems. Working closely with our customers and partners we adopt industry standard protocols to break down traditional integration barriers. Creating truly open, flexible solutions that support guests’ growing appetite to be more in control of their stay.

Developing cloud-native products. Our newest technologies are born in the cloud. That means our customers benefit from the latest innovations, can take full advantage of mobile and achieve a lower cost of ownership.

Being easy to do business with. We understand the frustration that comes with unresponsive and inflexible suppliers. We’re not like that. And we don’t take our customers for granted. A customer-centric approach is in our DNA, from preparing quotations through to resolving support calls.

Our next generation, global solutions are backed by outstanding customer service and support. Our dedicated team of highly experienced hotel, hospitality and technology experts work hard to understand customers’ needs and the issues they face. Located across our extensive network of offices, our specialists provide the best advice, solutions and support to make sure customers meet the needs of local markets and achieve their business goals.

The Company was formed in the UK in 2002, as Xn Hotel Systems. It was then renamed in 2015 as Xn protel Systems when protel hotelsoftware became a shareholder.

Xn protel Contact:
Terry Osborne
Head of Marketing
Terry.osborne@xnprotel.com
+44 (0) 7788 280434

Xn protel sales Contact:
sales@xnprotel.com
www.xnprotel.com

London (United Kingdom) – November 8, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Minister of Tourism of Madagascar, Roland Ratsiraka, the Minister of Tourism of Mauritius, Anil Kumarsingh Gayan, SC and the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine of the Seychelles, Maurice Loustau-Lalanne met at the sidelines of the World Travel Market in London to express a common message of confidence on the measures being taken by Madagascar to overcome the plague outbreak.

The meeting was convened and chaired by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, in the presence of the Permanent Secretary of Kenya Mrs. Fatuma HirsiI Mohamed, representing the chair of the UNWTO Commission for Africa, Minister Najib Balala.

Ministers recalled that all countries are taking the measures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), and expressed their confidence that these are going on the right direction.

UNWTO Secretary-General recalled that WHO does not recommend any travel bans on Madagascar and that “based on the available information to date, the risk of international spread of plague appears very low”.

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) – November 8, 2017 (travelindex.com) – After the successful launch of Vana Nava Water Jungle in Hua Hin, one of Thailand’s top waterparks which has been in operation for three years, Proud Real Estate has invested a further THB 1.8 billion into building the Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin while also adding Vana Nava Sky, a roof top observation deck, bar and restaurant; and introducing a new children’s zone in the waterpark. The hotel is Phase Two of the almost THB 4 billion development, which sits on a 35-rai plot of land. The third and final phase will be premium residences expected to launch within 2018.

“With the tourist demographics to Hua Hin moving from more traditional European senior couples to younger Asian families, guests are looking for a more adventurous and playful experience while on vacation. On top of beaches and local culture, more and more customers are also in search of memorable, fun activities they can share with their loved ones, bringing a joyful travel experience to everyone. Vana Nava Hua Hin is the first ‘Resort Destination’ project in Thailand developed under a ‘Playcation’ concept, with facilities for all types of customers, including families, couples and corporate groups,” said Proud Real Estate’s Executive Director, Ms. Proudputh Liptapanlop.

The 300-room Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin is a unique 140m-high property, making it the tallest building in Hua Hin and offering guests uninterrupted panoramic views of the ocean. The hotel has three main target segments with families being the most natural clientele based on the popularity of the waterpark. The hotel will also feature one of the largest MICE facilities in Hua Hin with over 1,500 sqm of meeting spaces, along with a wide range of facilities that includes a 24-hour 300 sqm fitness centre, infinity pools on 26th floor, as well as a lobby bar, spa, well-equipped Kids Club and dedicated Kids Suites. All guests are entitled to unlimited access to the water park during their stay at the hotel and innovative technology will also be a feature with a special electronic entrance system to replace queuing and ticketing.

Another key component of the project, “Vana Nava Sky”, an observation deck, restaurant and bar, which Proud has set up to be another landmark for Hua Hin, has been created by Bangkok-based consultant Ashley Sutton, who has created destinations across the world including Maggie Choo’s and Iron Fairies in Bangkok and Ophelia in Hong Kong. The glass bottomed deck sits 110 metres above the ground and offers panoramic views of Hua Hin Bay, Khao Takiab, offshore islands and even the Sam Roi Yot National Park.

“The Playcation concept means more than just putting a hotel next to a waterpark. It is about delivering a seamless customer experience. All 300 rooms will be sold inclusive of unlimited waterpark access for all guests and customers will be given an RFID wristband upon arrival, which not only provides them entry into the waterpark, but also unlocks their hotel room and pays for all their food and other purchases. The wristband can either be post- or pre-paid so parents can top them up for their kids and control how much they can spend. There are also plans to extend the use of this technology to include other services such as in-room services and e-commerce in the future,” said Ms. Liptapanlop.

To enhance the offerings for families even further, the waterpark will also include a new zone for small children. The 600-sqm ‘Vana Wonderland’ features a large splash pool area equipped with spray pads and toy guns, themed with colourful oversized faux fauna and flora. The waterpark will also offer upgraded bathroom facilities, extended seating capacity and shading and new and improved dining concepts, such as dining inside a cave at Vana Cave Café. In addition, the ‘Vana Learning Center’ will provide classroom and learning space for school students on field trips to Hua Hin.

The synergies between the hotel and the waterpark extend well beyond catering to family visitors. Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin will offer unique meeting packages where, for example, a corporate group can finish a long day of meetings with a private dinner and party in the Wave Pool lasting well into the night. A new programme for team building and school visits will also be introduced at the waterpark. These will include games that are uniquely integrated into the exciting rides and slides, problem sheets and challenges that can be completed around the park, and a host of other activities to teach the basics of physics, water management systems, and even to improve English language skills.

Leveraging on the Group’s other properties in Hua Hin, which include BluPort Hua Hin Resort Mall, a 50-50 joint venture with the Mall Group that opened last year, as well as True Arena Hua Hin, which features a wide array of sports facilities, Ms. Liptapanlop is confident that the development will offer a truly unique experience.
“We expect ADR to be at least 20 percent higher than the competitive set and occupancy to run between 60 and 70 percent once stabilized. With this model, we should also be adding at least 100,000 in yearly attendance to the waterpark, bringing the visitation up to at least 350,000 a year,” explained Ms. Liptapanlop.

Because the model is expected to be a huge success, Proud Real Estate already has plans to recreate the concept of ‘Playcation’ elsewhere in Thailand, and potentially other locations in Southeast Asia. The company has recently acquired a large piece of land in Phuket. It also launched a joint venture with Whitewater West Canada to form WhiteWater Southeast Asia last year, with the aim of providing turnkey solutions for developers looking to create waterparks around the region. The joint venture is already involved in 6 projects in 4 different countries within the first year of operations.

The Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin will open its doors for soft opening this month. Opening rates start at THB 2,999++ including waterpark access for stays between 15 December 2017 and 20 April 2018.

Reservations can be made from 9th November on +6632 809 999

About Proud Estate
Proud Real Estate is the real estate development arm of Prayoonwit Group, one of the largest and oldest civil construction companies in Thailand. The company is focused on creating destinations and neighborhoods through visionary real estate projects with a presence across hospitality, entertainment, residential and retail segments. The company’s projects aim to establish new standards in terms of how people live and to exceed industry benchmarks. They not only deliver what is required in terms of quality, but also go beyond that. Limit-pushing concepts, flawless delivery, harmony with nature and the betterment of society are all part of the mission. Proud understands that the company is only as strong as the community it is part of, one of Proud Real Estate’s mandates is therefore to benefit the local community through economic development — directly and indirectly through job opportunities, skills transfer, environmental responsibility and collaborative opportunities for all. Proud Real Estate holds the lead ownership in a line-up of innovative projects including InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, Vana Nava Hua Hin, True Arena Hua Hin, BluPort Resort mall, and other projects planned for the near future.

London (England) – November 8, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand will use the World Travel Market 2017 (WTM), one of the world’s leading travel trade shows, as a platform to launch its new marketing concept, “Open to the New Shades of Thailand”.

Now in its 37th year, the WTM London will attract almost 5,000 exhibiting destinations, technology and private sector companies to network with 51,000 travel professionals, key industry buyers, journalists, digital influencers, students and tourism ministers.

This year, the Thai pavilion at the WTM will have a total of 35 exhibitors including 29 Thai hotels, 4 tour operators, 1 airline and 1 other tourism-related agency. A number of other Thai exhibitors will be participating via independent pavilions. These will include Bangkok Airways and the Sports Authority of Thailand where visitors will be able to find sports tourism products; such as, “Muay Thai Angel” (Thai female boxers) including some information of the MotoGP World Championship in October 2018, at the Buri Ram Circuit.

The WTM is considered as the perfect platform to launch the new TAT campaign, “Open to the New Shades of Thailand”. This will reflect another kind of “Thainess”, which is the unique characteristic of the Thai people to welcome visitors of all “shades” from all around the world.

It will reach specific target segments; such as, Luxury travellers, Weddings and Honeymooners, Female Travellers, Families and Gen Y. Twenty-seven TAT overseas offices have been working with partners and tour operators to convert the campaign into substantial sales targeted at specific customer segments.

The Thai pavilion at the WTM has been elegantly designed to reflect the new campaign, featuring superb handicrafts specially designed by the Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand (SACICT). These include Ko Kret pottery, Benjarong and Sukhothai silverware.

The opening ceremony of the Thai pavilion will be held on 6 November, 2017. The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Royal Thai Ambassador in London, Chairman of the TAT Board, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Thai and foreign media will be attending the event.

At the Thailand Networking Lunch, the TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, Mr. Tanes Petsuwan will address the audience with a comprehensive update of the Thai tourism situation as well as tourism products and services to be included in the “Open to the New Shades of Thailand” marketing theme.

Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi will also confer the Thailand Green Excellence Awards 2017 on six Thai tourism products and attractions at an event on 6 November.

On 7 November, 2017, the Amazing Thailand Happy Hour will be held at the Thai pavilion. This will be a more private opportunity for a select group of Thai tourism exhibitors (Sellers) to meet with 300 specially invited tour operators (Buyers), media and distinguished guests to network and establish business contacts.

Thai food will be served alongside entertainment by the Suanplu Chorus Orchestra, and the function will be opened for agents and media.

The United Kingdom is Thailand’s second most important European market, and many British people know Thailand intimately. From January to September 2017, Thailand welcomed 723,438 visitors from UK. Projected total arrivals from the UK are 990,000.

International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
1600 New Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Ratchathevi
Bangkok 10400
Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2250 0246

Brussels (Belgium) – November 8, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Accepting a 2017 IIPT Peace Ambassador Award, Professor Geoffrey Lipman, Co-founder SUNx said that; “I have been inspired for 25 years by Maurice Strong and the Award is a testimony to his vision, which was a major factor in the evolution of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Accords. It also drove my actions in the first decade as President of WTTC and the next decade at UNWTO.”

He said, “It is why I believe that our sector must fight to strengthen, not weaken, the Paris Climate Accord and why we must transform to Impact-Travel ~ with good and bad impacts measured and managed coherently, with green growth at the core and 2050 proofed to meet the Paris targets, while absorbing the WEF’s 4th Industrial Revolution.

Lipman added that today’s crisis of eXistential Climate Change, needed laser like focus and that is what SUNx will do, with a planned global network of climate learning, innovation and resilience centres,

He concluded that the next generation will make or break community climate resilience, which is why SUNx is spearheading the Maurice Strong Legacy Scholarships. They will be corporate CSR-friendly, encourage lifetime learning for graduates and deliver a cadre of supporting, young climate champions.

The first five MSL Scholarships in 2018 will be for the Caribbean to help rebuild long-term climate resilience, following the recent dramatic hurricane devastation.

For further details please contact: msls@thesunprogram.com