Category: Latest Travel News

Rishikesh (India) – February 15, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2019 began on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India with 300 delegates from 28 countries in attendance for the three-day niche event, comprising a one-day-travel mart and one-day conference.

The event, which was organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and hosted by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, brought together international experts at the forefront of the adventure travel industry from both the private and public sectors to discuss the issues and opportunities in travel and tourism.

On Thursday, February 14, delegates heard from a diverse line-up of speakers at the one-day conference under the theme ‘‘Rejuvenate Your Soul Through Travel’. The thought leaders, innovators and pioneers, who are shaping the emerging landscape of the adventure travel and responsible tourism industry, examined various conference topics that covered ‘Rejuvenating Your Soul Through Travel’; ‘Storytelling to Sell Travel on Instagram’; ‘Using Sustainability to Future-Proof Our Destination’; ‘Trends to India’; ‘Creating Experiences that are Regenerative’; ‘Marketing to the New Adventure Travellers’; ‘Tourism as a Tool for Rejuvenation’; ‘A Special Story of Indian Rejuvenation’, and ‘Sustaining our Souls: Vision-Driven Leadership in Adventure Tourism’.

The conference was opened by Shri Dilip Jawalkar, IAS, Secretary Tourism, Religious Affairs and Culture Department, Government of Uttarakhand; Shri Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; Shri Yogendra Tripathi, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Shri Satpal Maharaj, Honourable Minister of Tourism, Uttarakhand.

Speakers included Ajay Jain, Speaker, Writer and Owner – Kunzum Travel Cafe; Apoorva Prasad, Editor-in-Chief and Founder – The Outdoor Journal; Choy Teh, Account Manager, Media Relations – Bannikin Asia; Mandip Singh Soin, Founder & Managing Director – Ibex Expeditions; Mariellen Ward, Digital Storyteller, Content Marketer and Traveller – Breathedreamgo; Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO – PATA; Melissa Burckhardt, Director – Membership Relations, PATA; Daw Moe Moe Lwin, Director and Vice Chairperson – Yangon Heritage Trust; Mohan Narayanaswamy, Managing Director – Travel Scope; Paul Brady, Editorial Strategist – Skift; Rajeev Tewari, CEO – Garhwal Himalayan Explorations Pvt. Ltd.; Robin Weber Pollak, President – Journeys International; Rohan Prakash, CEO – Trip 360; Shradha Shrestha, Manager – Brand Promotion and Corporate Marketing, Nepal Tourism Board; Capt. Swadesh Kumar, President – Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI); Trevor Jonas Benson, Director of Food Tourism Innovation – Culinary Tourism Alliance; Vivienne Tang, Founder – Destination Deluxe, and Yosha Gupta, Founder – Meraki.

During the media briefing conference on the morning of Friday, February 15, PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy noted that, “The event aims to be a catalyst for generating new ideas and improving collaboration between public and private sector organisations”.

“By bringing together such a dynamic and diverse group of speakers, we hoped to highlight the need to discuss, analyse and share various ideas with both the public and private sector in planning, building and promoting a responsible travel and tourism industry,” he added.

Today’s B2B mart welcomed 47 seller organisations from 10 destinations (Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand) and 44 buyer organisations from 18 source markets (Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the USA).

About PATA
Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as 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 more than 800 member organisations, including 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 20 international airlines and airports, 102 hospitality organisations and 70 educational institutions, as well as over a hundred young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 35 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 22 PATA Student Chapters globally. Their local activities 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 and London.

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

Bangkok (Thailand) – February 15, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Bangkok is becoming one of the world’s most well-connected mega-cities – a leading example of how infrastructure and innovation can transform people’s lives. The expansion of the city’s MRT subway and BTS skytrain networks, along with new Airport Rail Links and suburban SRT lines, is revolutionising urban transport and making Thailand’s capital city more accessible than ever before.

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Capitalising on these developments, Ananda Development PCL, Bangkok’s number one mass transit condominium developer, is redefining urban living in Bangkok by building world-class properties in close proximity to Bangkok’s mass transit stations. The company now has a portfolio 60 residential projects in Bangkok, which are on average just 76 metres from the nearest mass transport station. These provide local residents, expats and overseas buyers with a choice of 44,200 contemporary, state-of-the-art condo units in all corners of the city, from prime downtown districts to exciting up-and-coming suburbs.

With five distinct condo brands – ASHTON, IDEO Q, IDEO Mobi, IDEO and ELIO – Ananda’s projects promise “Urban Living Solutions” to young professionals who value convenience and connectivity above all else. The company now plans to launch 10 new projects worth THB38 billion, focusing on mass transit stations. Ananda ranked number one in terms of units sold within 300 metres of Bangkok’s mass transit stations in the 2016-2018 period. The company also topped the rankings for units sold overall in Bangkok in 2018.

The company is also generating additional revenue channels by expanding the business into other areas, including serviced apartments. Ananda now partners with The Ascott Limited, the world’s number one luxury serviced residence provider, and is in the process of developing five serviced apartment projects, namely Somerset Rama 9, Ascott Embassy Sathorn, Ascott Thonglor, LYF Sukhumvit 8 and the latest project at Central Pattaya Beach.

Bangkok’s urban transit network is crucial for the city’s estimated 8.3 million residents and hundreds of thousands of tourists with urban transport networks now catering to more than 800,000 passengers per day*, with 126km of track and 90 stations. A further 340km of track and 196 stations are in the pipeline, taking the total length of Bangkok’s mass transit systems to 466km with a grand total of 286 stations by 2030. This will it make it longer than the London Underground or New York Subway.

In 2018 alone, Ananda’s transfers increased 120% year-on-year to THB33 billion – an all-time high. In addition, the company reported record international transfers of THB6.3 billion, an increase of 300% over 2017, and international annual sales of THB10.1 billion, another record total. It also has a large backlog of THB41 billion due to transfer over the next three years.

Ananda and its partner Mitsui Fudosan launched five new condo projects in 2018, including IDEO Sathorn-Wongwian Yai, IDEO Ratchada-Sutthisan, ELIO Sathorn-Wutthakat, and a development at Saphan Khwai. In addition, the two companies entered into their first four serviced apartment projects, valued at THB10 billion. The companies now have 30 projects worth THB128 billion – the largest number of joint venture developments in Thailand. This is expected to grow further to THB157.6 billion in 2019. With strong cash flow of over THB 13 billion which can be used to invest and strengthen the business in future.

“In recent years, Bangkok has been transformed from a captivating but congested Asian city into a smart, forward-thinking global metropolis. Connectivity is at the heart of this regeneration, allowing residents and visitors to travel around this exciting city quickly and easily. At Ananda Development, we understand the impact that accessibility can have on people’s lives – especially younger citizens who lead active, urban lifestyles. Our diverse collection of condo projects, inter-linked with Bangkok’s transport network, is making this dream of modern city life a reality for thousands of people,” said Chanond Ruangkritya, CEO of Ananda Development.

Bangkok has always been a highly appealing destination for leisure travellers and expats, due to its vibrant street life, friendly ambience and plethora of attractions. This is evidenced by the fact that Thailand’s capital is now the world’s most-visited city**, attracting more than 20 million international visitors per year, the majority of whom enter through the city’s two international airports.

The city’s appeal among investors was always tainted however, by the notorious traffic congestion, which made travelling around Bangkok a slow and difficult process. With the expansion of the city’s urban rail network, including airport rail links to Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, Bangkok is now becoming even more liveable and lovable, raising its profile among Thai and international urbanites.

In the years ahead, Ananda’s strategy of developing high-quality residences close to mass transit stations means that more people than ever before will have the opportunity to live, work and play in this vibrant Asian metropolis.

Book your hotel in Bangkok, Thailand and around the world in 95 countries at best rates available. Pay at the hotel and earn HolidayClicks Points. Book now at HotelWorlds.com!

Bangkok (Thailand) – February 14, 2019 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts has celebrated the opening of its inaugural Vīb Best Western hotel in Asia Pacific, the brand new Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao, Bangkok.

A cutting-edge, tech-savvy midscale hotel for the modern generation, Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao is perfectly positioned in a vibrant part of north-downtown Bangkok, surrounded by shopping malls, corporate offices and local attractions. Sanam Pao BTS skytrain station is just steps from the hotel, putting the entire city within easy reach.

Connectivity is at the core of the Vīb Best Western brand (pronounced “vibe”), which allows guests to feel the beat of the city and stay connected at all times. Sleek and stylish, this innovative concept focuses on integrated technology and social interaction, with communal spaces that allow guests to plug in, sit back and chill out.

The hotel’s 91 contemporary rooms all come equipped with free Wi-Fi, Smart TVs and e-concierge technology, along with comfortable beds, refreshing rain showers and convenient work areas. Guests can grab quick snacks from the café, enjoy invigorating 24-hour workouts in the gym, unwind with a cool drink at Eye Bar, or even stay and play in the gaming pods.

Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao has been developed by Nuchinporn Co., Ltd, which also owns the popular Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel, Bangkok.

“We are delighted to come together with our esteemed partner, Nuchinporn Co., Ltd, to launch Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao, the first Vīb Best Western hotel in Asia Pacific,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western’s Managing Director of International Operations – Asia. “This new concept is perfectly suited to today’s connected travelers. Smart and social, Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao reflects this exciting new era of hospitality.”

“Vīb Best Western is aimed at guests who enjoy a modern, urban and social lifestyle. Our guests expect complete convenience and connectivity at all times. Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao will deliver seamless, hassle-free and stylish stays. This is the new face of midscale hospitality, evolved for the 21st Century. I am confident that all guests will ‘feel the Vīb’ when they stay with us in this dynamic district of Bangkok,” added Berrivin.

Vīb Best Western is a tech-centric global midscale hotel concept created specifically for the needs of today’s ‘always on’ travelers. All hotels will be newly-built in prime urban locations, ensuring complete ease and accessibility for guests.

With its ideal location just steps from the BTS skytrain network, Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao is just a few stops away from the Airport Rail Link to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, while Don Mueang Airport is just a short drive away.

Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao becomes the third of its kind in operation worldwide, following existing locations in Antalya (Turkey) and Springfield, Missouri (U.S.). Best Western plans to introduce the brand to serval other Asian cities in the future, while key U.S. cities including New York, Miami and Chicago already have new hotels in the pipeline.

Following the highly-anticipated launch of Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao, five of Best Western’s distinctive hotel brands will be in operation in Bangkok – more than any other Asian city. Vīb Best Western joins Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, BW Premier CollectionSM by Best Western and SureStay PlusSM Hotel by Best Western in Thailand’s capital, offering a wide choice of world-class hotels for every occasion.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of over 4,200 hotels in nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide*. Best Western offers 13 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, Sadie HotelSM, Aiden HotelSM, BW Premier Collection® by Best Western, and BW Signature Collection® by Best Western, as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection® by Best Western**. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 66 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2018, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands respectively for two consecutive years, and Fast Company honoring Best Western Hotels & Resorts with a spot in the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality category. Best Western has also won 10 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 60 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Best Western-branded hotels were top ranked in breakfast (food and beverage category) by J.D. Power’s 2018 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study – ranking first for midscale; and second for upper midscale. Over 37 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western-branded hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Google® Street View provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels.

* Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.
**All Best Western and SureStay branded hotels are independently owned and operated.

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

Phanintorn Tangtrongjit (Dream) | Assistant Marketing Communications Manager | Asia
Email: Phanintorn.Tangtrongjit@bestwestern.com

Best Western Hotels & Resorts
BWI (Thailand) Co., Ltd.|Unit 5A-2 | 5th Floor Gaysorn Place Office Building
999 Ploenchit Road Lumpini Phatumwan | Bangkok | 10330 | Thailand
Phone: +662.656.1260 | Fax +662.656.1252| www.bestwesternasia.com

Berlin (Germany) – February 13, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Big names and leading international companies focus on forward-looking transportation systems and the shift in customer demands in the luxury travel market – Presentation of the latest results of an exclusive international report by Travelzoo and ITB Berlin – For exhibitors, trade visitors and the media admission to the ITB Berlin Convention 2019 from 6 to 9 March is included in the price of a ticket

Berlin, 12 February 2019 – Besides escalating overtourism conflicts and the impending climate catastrophe, changing transportation systems and the shift in customer demands will be the key topics at the ITB Berlin Convention from 6 to 9 March 2019. This year, the leading think tank of the global travel industry is presenting an outstanding program again. More than 400 leading speakers representing tourism, business and politics will be taking part in discussions at a total of 200 events. They include First Lady of Iceland and United Nations Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals Eliza Jean Reid, Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism the Hon. María Amalia Revelo Raventós, Member of the German Bundestag and Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy and Federal Government Tourism Officer Thomas Bareiß, President of the ifo Institute Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Clemens Fuest, President of Homes Airbnb Greg W. Greeley, CEO Expedia Mark Okerstrom, Head of Alibaba Europe Terry von Bibra, and President of the Alibaba Global Business Group and Alibaba Fliggy Group Angel Zhao.

Mobility: a new era has arrived

Transportation systems are an essential part of the tourism industry. But can today’s systems take on the future? On Wednesday, 6 March 2019, day one of the ITB Destination Days, movers from the world of innovative transport will examine this topic at the ’Future Ground Mobility Panel’. Wolfram Auer, Deputy Director International Business Development Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH, Stephan Pfeiffer, head of Strategic Partnerships & Public Affairs, ioki (Deutsche Bahn), and Christoph Weigler, director general of Uber Germany, will discuss the major changes taking place in transportation with a view to concepts such as driverless vehicles, ride-sharing business models, mobility platforms, electric powertrains, minibuses, bikes for hire, cable cars and other modes of transport. They will also highlight measures for promoting tourist attractions which cities and rural areas could implement now in order to meet the challenges of the future.

’Future Ground Mobility’ will be the focus of the ITB Ministers’ Roundtable as well. Tourism ministers from leading travel destinations, such as Egypt, Costa Rica, Greece, Kenya, Namibia or Sambia will talk about the major transport problems increasingly affecting countries and ways to improve the travel experience.

Shift in customer demands in the luxury travel market

A paradigm shift is taking place in the tourism industry. Customers in the luxury market are now less interested in material wealth and more in non-material values. Nowadays, space, time, seclusion and self-expression are important to them, as well as experience instead of adventure. Today’s luxury market customers are looking for meaning and sense. On 7 March 2019 on Marketing & Distribution Day at the ITB New Luxury Panel, together with Prof. Dr. Monika Imschloß, an expert on sensory marketing, Universität zu Köln, and the starred chef David Kikillus, Marc Aeberhard, the proprietor of Luxury Hotel & Spa Management Ltd., will discuss how changing customer demands are influencing hotel and tourism services and the shape that luxury products will take in the future.

Afterwards, the internationally renowned travel correspondent Doug Lansky will reveal an insider’s view of global concierge and butler services. In his introductory speech on the ’Personality profiles of luxury customers’ he will reveal the travel needs of high-end luxury customers, the experiences they ultimately desire, and how to communicate with them.

On 7 March 2019 the ITB Hospitality Tech Forum will also be discussing the shift in customer demands. In his lecture entitled ’Beyond Unconventional: Keeping up with the Tent Next Door’, Adam Harris, CEO of Cloudbeds, will talk about how the market is changing. More and more tourists will be attracted to unusual forms of accommodation rather than luxury hotels.

Rediscovering the art of travel is the subject of a speech that Ilija Trojanow will hold. On 8 March 2019, day two of the ITB Destination Days, the renowned writer, bestselling author and ITB Book Award winner 2019 will hold a keynote on ’How to travel. A user’s guide’, and offer answers to these questions: ”What do we look for when we travel to other countries?”, “How many new things do we want to discover?”, and “How much are we willing to change?”

Results of the exclusive Overtourism Report by Travelzoo and ITB Berlin

As in every year the results of the market survey carried out by Travelzoo and ITB Berlin will be presented at the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. The international portal for exclusive travel deals was commissioned by ITB Berlin to examine perceptions of overtourism, a topic which to date has received little attention. The report looked at which tourist groups and nationalities thought overcrowded destinations gave a particularly negative impression, what they would do to avoid the problem, and what action they expected travel operators and destinations to take. The global survey provides in-depth information and is an important decision-making tool for industry managers in order to confront one of the biggest challenges facing the international tourism industry, now and in the future. Sharry Sun, Global Head of Brand, Travelzoo, will present the exclusive report at the Deep Dive Session 1 at the City Cube Club on 6 March 2019 at 1 p.m.

On Thursday 7 March, on the eve of International Women’s Day, an ITB Berlin Convention seminar on gender equality in tourism will take place at the Palais am Funkturm at 1 p.m., which will also present the second Global Report on Women in Tourism by UNWTO. This will be followed by the presentation of the Celebrating Her Awards by the International Institute for Peace in Tourism, which honours outstanding achievements by women. International Women’s Day is not the only occasion on which prominent women will be having their say at ITB Berlin. On 7 March at the ITB Tourism for Sustainable Development Day, Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, a member of the German Bundestag and Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety, will talk about ’German Outbound Travel has Impact! What Responsibilities is the German Government bearing?’ On 8 March, which is CSR Day, at a discussion round under the heading ’A tidal wave of plastic – Ocean pollution and the UN Sustainable Development Goals’, three women will host the debate: Dr. Frauke Fischer, founder of Agentur auf! and an author, consultant and technical expert on sustainability; Dr. Monika Griefahn, senior sustainability advisor, Costa Group, a founding member of Greenpeace and former minister; and Joanne Hendricks, formerly global sustainable destinations manager, Thomas Cook Group and founder of Travel Without Plastic.

New: ITB Berlin Convention at the CityCube

In future, the ITB Berlin Convention will take place at the CityCube, the multi-purpose congress and trade fair venue. That means more room for events, improved access and better transport links. Visitors to the CityCube will be directly next door to the fair halls and only a short distance from light rail public transport (S-Bahn) at Messe Süd.

For trade visitors and exhibitors at the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is included in a ticket to ITB.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2019 will be taking place from Wednesday, 6 to Sunday, 10 March, and from Wednesday to Friday will be open to trade visitors only. ITB Berlin is the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. In 2018 a total of 10,000 companies and organisations from 186 countries exhibited their products and services to around 170,000 visitors, including 110.000 trade visitors. Parallel with the show the ITB Berlin Convention, the largest event of its kind, will be held from Wednesday, 6 to Saturday, 9 March 2019. The World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) is Co-Host of the ITB Berlin Convention, Ctrip, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and mc Group are Platinum Sponsors, CLIA – Cruise Lines International Association and Jin Jiang International Hotels Group are Gold Sponsors and euronews is Official Media Partner of the ITB Berlin Convention. Admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is free for trade visitors and exhibitors.

Information about the data protection law:
Under the data protection law the organisation responsible for this email is Messe Berlin GmbH, Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin, represented by its management: Dr. Christian Göke (CEO), Dirk Hoffmann; Chairman of the Supervisory Board Wolf-Dieter Wolf; Data protection officer: postal address as for Messe Berlin GmbH, email: datenschutz@messe-berlin.de. The email address used for the dispatch of this information has been obtained for the purpose of sending press releases. Section 6, Subparagraph 1, Letter f, DSGVO forms the legal basis for this purpose and for the dispatch of press releases to press representatives. The justified interest is that of notifying media representatives about current and future trade fairs and similar events. This email address will not be passed on to third parties.

Bangkok (Thailand) – February 7, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The overall annual growth rate for international visitors into 40 Asia Pacific destinations is estimated to have been around 7.8 percent in 2018, generating an inbound volume of around 688 million for the year – almost 50 million more foreign arrivals than in 2017.

According to the Executive Summary of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) ‘Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2019-2023’ released today, 40 destinations within Asia Pacific collectively are predicted to show an average growth rate of 5.5 percent per annum between 2018 and 2023, to host close to 900 million foreign visitor arrivals in 2023.

Asia will continue its strong growth momentum with an expected annual average growth rate for foreign visitor arrivals of 6.2 percent between 2018 and 2023, while the Pacific and the Americas follow with average growth rates of 4.4 percent and 3.1 percent per year respectively, over the same period.

Driven by its strong average annual growth rate, Asia will receive the bulk of the foreign arrivals between 2018 and 2023. After capturing a relative share of close to 74 percent of foreign arrivals in 2018, the proportion into Asia is expected to increase to over 76 percent by the end of the forecast period (2023). The impact on the Americas and the Pacific is a slight contraction in their respective relative shares from 22.4 percent in 2018 to just under 20 percent in 2023 for the former, and from four percent to 3.8 percent for the latter, even as their respective numbers of foreign arrivals increase.

Asia will also be the strongest generator of foreign arrivals into Asia Pacific over the forecast period, improving its relative share of arrivals from 63.9 percentage points in 2018, to over 66 percentage points in 2023.

Intra-regional travel flows remain important for both the Americas and Asia, with the former destination region seeing over three-quarters of its foreign arrivals originating within that region in both 2018 and 2023.

Similarly, for Asia, where intra-regional travel flows will increase in relative terms, from almost 94% in 2018 to over 94% by 2023.

The Pacific destination region differs, in as much as more than half of its inbound international visitor arrivals originated in Asia in 2018 with that proportion forecast to increase to around 57% by 2023. Even so, the intra-regional flows from the Pacific to the Pacific remain significant at over 30% in 2023.

PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy points out that “Asia continues to be the engine of growth for foreign arrivals into Asia Pacific, with intra-regional flows in particular, remaining important. This intra-regional activity is true for the Americas as well, but less so for the Pacific which is rapidly becoming more popular with Asian markets.”

He further adds, “Once again, we need to be mindful of the fact that in delivering positive and memorable experiences to a rapidly changing inbound market mix, we need to maintain a service ethic and mind-set that is consistently superior and at the same time, tailored to the very different needs of an increasingly diverse range of visitors”.

Furthermore, Dr. Hardy noted that, “In developing a service mindset we need to ask ourselves are we preparing to welcome 898 million foreign arrivals into Asia Pacific in 2023, or should we think of that instead, as one very special visitor, 898 million times. Your perspective on that can make all the difference”.

This report is available now at the PATA Store at

About PATA
Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as 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 more than 800 member organisations, including 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 20 international airlines and airports, 102 hospitality organisations and 70 educational institutions, as well as over a hundred young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 35 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 22 PATA Student Chapters globally. Their local activities 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 and London.

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

Phuket (Thailand) – February 8, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket awarded “Gold Level” Green Hotel Award at the 12th Anniversary G-Green award ceremony organized by Thailand’s Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. This prestigious award strengthen the resort’s sustainability and environmental policy in Thailand. The event was attended by government and industry leaders, hotels and hospitality organizations, international print and broadcast and is highly regarded among the global travel and tourism communities.

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Aimed to raise awareness on natural resources conservation, to promote people’s participation in environmental protection and to honor role-model individuals and organizations, the Green Hotel Award also celebrates its 12th Anniversary this year. A total of 221 awards were given to organizations, hotels in Thailand ranging from small to large and general to specialty.

“Receiving this green-focused award means a lot to us and this also drives our resort’s sustainability and eco-consciousness. While travelers are looking more for to ensure their personal commitments to living more sustainably, we then aim to set the new benchmark for Phuket’s green initiative and to be the resort of choice to ensure memorable stays yet eco-friendly.,” said Mr Erich Friedl, General Manager of The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket.

“Our commitment to environmental issue counts and in line with our resort’s corporate responsibility policy to reduce environmental impact, our proactive associates are aware of this matter well and they’re very active on participating environmental events with local community to ensure that our ongoing green initiatives are making waves not only in Phuket but Thailand and the whole world.” He added.

Apart from removing plastic straws initiative, The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket’s Green Committees also works hard to enhance the sustainability of the operations, to reduce both plastic consumption, and to reuse/recycle things where possible.

According to Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Green Hotel award is graded by industry experts and honorary judges and is divided into 3 tiers includes bronze level (Score of 60-69% or above), silver level (Score of 70-79% or above) and gold level (Score of 80% or above). Among 6 hotels in Phuket and 23 hotels nationwide, The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket won “Gold Level” Green Hotel Award 2019.

Nestled among stunning beaches, lush coconut groves, with never-ending views of the emerald-green Phang Nga Bay and idyllic landscapes of the Phuket coastline, The Naka Island is an exclusive boutique resort on Naka Yai Island, located just off the Phuket coast. Only 25 minutes from Phuket International Airport and short distances to famous tourist attractions, The Naka Island is accessible only by a short speedboat journey, making it a uniquely private and intimate retreat.

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About The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts
The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott International, Inc., is comprised of world-renowned hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA® brand as a collection of Europe’s most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble, recently surpassing 100 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries and territories. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. The Luxury Collection is proud to participate in the company’s award-winning loyalty programs – Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG). The programs, operating under one set of unparalleled benefits, enable members to earn points toward free hotel stays, achieve Elite status faster than ever, and seamlessly book or redeem points for stays throughout our loyalty portfolio of 29 brands and more than 6,700 participating hotels in 130 countries & territories.

About Marriott International, Inc.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,700 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 129 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest.

Bangkok (Thailand) – February 11, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided at the 10th edition of the Bangkok Chefs Charity Fundraising Gala Dinner featuring an 11-course gourmet menu crafted by twenty-two top chefs from five-star hotels in Thailand and Thai Airways International using the finest quality imported products, pesticide-free vegetables from ‘Jan-Ka-Pak’, Camellia Seed Oil from ‘PatPat’ amongst others, successfully raising a grand total of 44 million baht during the evening’s highlight fundraising session at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok recently. The amount also includes donations raised from the auction of ‘Pagakayaw Shawls’ from the royally-initiated Phufa Shop.

This culinary charity event of the year is organized by Gourmet One Food Services Co., Ltd., Thailand’s leading importer of premium food products, led by sisters Nuntiya Intralib and Patcharin Hame-ung-gull. The entire amount raised, without any deductions for expenses, will be presented to Her Royal Highness to benefit the Border Patrol Police Schools under the patronage of Her Royal Highness, and located in remote areas of Thailand.

The highest contributor to this year’s fundraising, conducted by emcees Surivipa Kultangwatana and Varin Sachdev, is once again Mr. Prayudh & Mrs. Suvimol Mahagitsiri who pledged 15 million baht.

Other prominent donors are: Ms. Nualphan Lamsam (5 million); Mr. Harald Link of B. Grimm Group (5 million); Mr. Thanawat Trivisvavet, CK Power Co., Ltd. (5 million); Ajarn Wanchai Ruay-are (4 million); Mr. Anun Raweesangsoon (2 million); The White Space Co., Ltd. (2 million); M.R. Sasijuthapa Worrawan (1 million); Mrs. Botan Hame-ung-gull (1 million); Mrs. Benjawan Buhrman (500,000); Ms. Orawan Taechaubol (200,000); Ms. Srisopha Kotkumlue (200,000); and Mr. Noppadol Intralib (100,000).

Auction of the “Pagakayaw Shawls” from Phufa Shop were successfully bid by the following distinguished guests in attendance amongst others: Mr. Chalermchai Mahagitsiri (500,000); Ms. Usanee Mahagitsiri (150,000); Mr. Laurent Leonio (150,000); Ms. Sasiprapa Deerod (250,000); Mrs. Benjawan Buhrman (200,000); Ms. Poramin Netrpukkana (150,000 baht); Mr. Pinit Puapan (120,000); Ms. Piyanuch Raveesangsoon (100,000); Ms. Patcharin Hame-ung-gul (100,000); Ms. Nuchanart Raveesangsoon (100,000); Mr. Boonchai Chokewattna (100,000); Ms. Suthama Gimsong (100,000); Mr. Vikrom Sachdev (100,000); Dr. Somsak Chalachol (50,000); Dr. Alisa Kunchornyakong (50,000); Ms. Srirach Thanarach (50,000); Ms. Racha Sukum (50,000); Ms. Pensiri Na Nakornpanom (50,000).

As this year’s event coincided with Chinese New Year, Her Royal Highness prepared the “Yee Sang” Prosperity Toss Salad and presented a plate each to all the generous participants of the fundraising session for abundance, prosperity and vigour in the year of the Pig.

Krungthep Light Orchestra and solo-pianist Darin Pantoomkomol provided live entertainment throughout the evening. And Central Wine Cellar supported the gala dinner menu with a selection of the finest wines.

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – February 12, 2019 (travelindex.com) – This week, we’ll see the ceremonial handing over ceremony of the Vanilla Islands Flag to Seychelles, as it takes over the Presidency of the Vanilla Islands once again. Delegates arriving in the country are:- Reunion – The Vice President of the Regional Council Faouzia Vitry, IRT – Vice- President of the Regional Council Olivier RIVIERE, IRT – CEO Stephan ULLIAC, Mayotte – President of the Department Ibrahim RAMADANI SOIBAHADINE, Director of the Cabinet Ahamada OUSSENI, Vice President of the Tourism Office Mohamed BACAR, Advisor for International Relations Ahmed Attoumani DOUCHINA, Director of Regional Cooperation & European Matters Michele BALOURD, Comoros – President of the Tourist Office Souef EL HAYIRAT, Director of the Tourist Office Rachid MOHAMED, Mauritius – Minister of Tourism Anil GAYAN, Deputy Permanent Secretary Rechad MOOLYE, MTPA – M. BOODHUN, Seychelles – Minister of Tourism Didier DOGLEY, PS for Tourism Anne LAFORTUNE and CEO of the Tourism Board Sherin FRANCIS are expected to bee present alongside the CEO of the Vanilla Islands Pascal VIROLEAU. (Madagascar is not present for this meeting in Seychelles because the newly elected President is personally chairing a tourism meeting to set the way forward for tourism on the Big Island). As the current Tourism Minister of Seychelles, it is Minister Didier DOGLEY who will take over the Presidency.

Seychelles Tourism in figures at country’s last Cross Sectorial Meeting

Tourism’s private sector trade present at the last Cross Sectorial Meeting in Victoria were presented with interesting figures on “Value Added of Tourism Related Industry at Current Market Prices – in Seychelles Rupees Millions)”. The years of success depicted by the slide, cover the years when I was responsible for Seychelles Tourism and showcases my legacy in a visual format.

As much as I can be proud of these successful years, I remain grateful for the Team who were by my side and this includes the close working cooperation with the Private Sector Trade, the industry’s front line team.

But, as we look at those historical figures, we need to appreciate that Seychelles cannot take its tourism industry for granted. We need to remain on the ball, innovate and be seen to be the leader.

ATC News posted this message last week:- “While Africa’s arrivals in 2018 were up by 7 percent, the entire continent is still only marginally ahead of the Middle East in real numbers … This has to change, and change fast to fully explore the tourism potential Africa has and help create jobs, attract FDI, earn foreign exchange and fight poverty …”

These tourism arrival figures speak volumes and should make us in Seychelles, as well as main land Africa, reflect on tourism and plan tourism as being an industry and not just as an activity. Travel Warnings continue to hurt Africa, as was the case of a cruise ship heading to Mombasa that was diverted to Seychelles, just as the Port Authorities of the island deciding to now give docking facilities to cruise ships to just a day before moving out to anchor and to use ship’s tender boats for passengers to get ashore. Seychelles spent time and money to encourage cruise ships to stay longer in Port Victoria and in so doing encourage the 55+% of passengers who remain on board and do not buy shore excursions, to walk out and take a taxi and buy some local ‘Made in Seychelles’ handicraft. This decision is dealing with the symptoms and not acting on the cause of the problem. Will that decision impact cruise tourism to Seychelles, will the taxi, restaurants and handicrafts, excursion guides and private parks and gardens businesses suffer as a result? Only time will tell.

Mombasa bound cruise liner diverts to Seychelles after US travel warning

MS Nautica, of Oceania Cruises, has reportedly changed course to the Seychelles, after US authorities have issued a stark travel warning to their citizens about the possibility of further terror attacks in Kenya, targeting tourists. While there is consensus among leading tourism figures in Kenya that the US anti travel warning could once again be to establish legal cover – as often seen in the past when such anti travel warnings were in the end unceremoniously withdrawn – has the impact of the warning promptly cost Kenya a major business opportunity.

Kenya, despite recent events, is generally considered safe for visiting tourists and anti travel advisories from the US – Kenya’s largest foreign market segment – the UK and other nations have in the past adversely affected the entire industry and in particular the Kenya coast.
Cruise ship visits to the port of Mombasa bring in multi million Shillings in a day through excursions, air safaris and also ship handling and ship supply services and the cancellation of the port call will leave the tourism handling agents for the ship counting their losses as they had prepared tours for guests who will now go on shore in the Seychelles.

More than 400 tourists and a similar number of crew were on board the MS Nautica.

Praslin Island Business Community coming together strong

Still in Seychelles, this time it is the Chairman of the Praslin Business Association who wrote in to update us on their last General Meeting. Praslin Island, the home of the Unique Coco de Mer Nut has been the centre for tourism for many years, but this is changing fast and the island’s community are moving to take the situation on hand and to work with the Government to mitigate the challenges. The Association’s Chairman said he used the meeting to point out that the year 2019 will not be an easy one for the business community and that the Association will do its utmost to try and address the pertaining issues with respective ministries and other stakeholders.

The Election of the Office Bearers of the Praslin Business Association saw William Rose move in as the Patron, Christopher Gill as Chairman, Paul Rouillon as Vice-Chairman, Adrian Uzice as Secretary, Leroy Lesperance as Treasurer and Nigel Payet as Honorary Member/Consultant.

Rent-an-island’ – one villa on a faraway island – to be part of Seychelles’ expanded offerings

The Islands Development Company, IDC, says it will build new hotels and villas on Seychelles’ outer islands as part of its expanded tourism offerings.

Tourists will soon have the ability to essentially occupy an entire tropical island, one that will have only one villa on it.

IDC sees increased returns. For the period 2017-2018, the company’s total revenue was $33.6 million (SCR458 million) and “80 percent of that amount was from the tourism sector. So there is great potential there,” Patrick Berlouis, the chair of IDC’s board, told SNA.

The Islands Development Company, which is responsible for the sustainable development of the outer islands, manages 14 islands. It has a permanent presence on 12 of them and projects are now on the way to establish various facilities on the last two — Cosmoledo and Providence.

Berlouis said that between now and 2023, major tourism activities will be undertaken on these islands. These will include eco-tourism hotels, eco-lodges, private-owned villas, as well as an exclusive villa to be marketed under the ‘rent an island concept’.

The first project, expected to start later this year, is the construction of a 55-room eco-tourism hotel on Platte, a coralline island which lies 140 kilometres south of the main island of Mahe. An environment impact assessment is presently being carried out on Platte island.

“This project is a good investment because although there is a limited number of rooms, the clients will be paying a substantial amount of money to stay at the hotel. We are talking of a 4 to 5-star establishment. So everything is geared to having a premium product aimed at the high end of the market who can afford these exclusive experience on an outer island,” said Berlouis.

The chairperson said this will be the biggest hotel project so far on outer islands managed by IDC. Four Seasons Desroches Island, which opened its doors in March 2018, is the largest to date with 40 rooms.

IDC has also conceptualised eco-lodges for southern islands, like Astove, Farquhar, Cosmoledo and Providence. Berlouis said it is because these islands are more fragile that IDC will limit the scale of tourism developments there. The management of the six- to eight-room ecolodges on Cosmoledo and Providence will be tendered out.

An ecolodge is a tourism accommodation designed to have the minimum possible impact on the natural environment in which it is situated.

“We want to attract fly fishing enthusiasts, who are willing to pay a top price to have this experience. So the impact on the environment will be minimal but returns to the company will be high,” he said.

Coetivy — renowned for its black tiger prawn farm in the nineties and early 2000 — has also been earmarked for two major tourism projects once the government transfers the lease of the island to IDC.

A boutique hotel of 30 to 40 rooms is planned for Coetivy located 290 kilometres from Mahe and a 4-star hotel with approximately 100-120 rooms. IDC is also looking at making available between 85 to 100 privately-owned luxury villas on the island.

Remire, an island of the Amirantes group, will be marketed as a ‘rent an island concept’.

“Most people would enjoy having an island to themselves and this is what we have in mind with this project. To have an exclusive villa on the island where a group of people can come and spend their holidays in privacy,” said Berlouis.

IDC also plans to have conservation programmes alongside tourism development.

The Marie Louise island which became a bird sanctuary last year has the potential for a small ecotourism project of 4 to 5 bungalows especially for bird watchers or for scientific research.

Another ecotourism project will be on Assumption, the largest outer island of Seychelles after Aldabra. IDC plans to build guesthouse facilities to be used by visitors overnighting on the island on their way to and from Aldabra.

Berlouis said all construction work will be carried out by IDC. “We follow strict guidelines when building on outer islands as we have to take into account the ecological aspects of the islands,” he added.

This is the third islands development plan of IDC which also outlines other projects such as agriculture, aquaculture, conservation and rehabilitation of islands. The company will also be building more facilities to cater to locals who want to visit those islands.

The Islands Development Company is a parastatal company created by government in 1980 and is registered under the Companies Act of 1972. The company is wholly owned by the Seychelles government through Société Seychelloise d’Invéstissement — a government-owned investment holding company.

Singapore (Singapore) – February 6, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Raffles Singapore unveiled today its new line-up of dining experiences, which combine the hotel’s much-loved culinary traditions with contemporary dining concepts by renowned celebrity chefs. Each dining concept promises to tantalise the senses and has been carefully selected to enhance the famed ‘Raffles Experience’ for the local community and the discerning travellers.

Gourmets and gourmands, discover the Best Restaurants for Fine Dining in Singapore only at Top25Restaurants.com/singapore

“For more than 100 years the dining venues at Raffles Singapore have been recognised as an integral part of the vibrant and ever changing local bar and dining scene, exciting the local community as well as city guests alike. Continuing with our tradition and commitment of the highest level of friendly, engaging and anticipatory service, we are more than excited to introduce concepts with partner chefs, who have a reputation of operating successful venues around the world, while at the same time, creating culinary experiences that are new and distinct to Singapore,” said Christian Westbeld, General Manager, Raffles Singapore.

New Celebrity Chefs Dining Concepts
In 1899, Raffles Singapore was the first hotel in the city to hire a French chef, introducing travellers and Singapore to authentic French flavours. Fast-forward almost 120 years, and the Grand Dame is once again at the forefront of a culinary renaissance. The following are a series of culinary ‘firsts’ that Raffles Singapore will be introducing when the iconic hotel reopens.

BBR by Alain Ducasse
Bar & Billiard Room (BBR) continues to evolve with a new chapter by acclaimed Chef Alain Ducasse, who will be presenting his first Mediterranean sharing and grill concept in the world, titled BBR by Alain Ducasse. The unique concept takes customers on a culinary journey along the Mediterranean coast, complemented by a modern and vibrant ambience. In true Bar & Billiard Room fashion, dining at the restaurant will also be accompanied by a lively bar scene that is fun, relaxed and perfect for social gatherings.

Alain Ducasse said, “I could not dream of a better location than the landmark Raffles Singapore to bring the Ducasse restaurant experience for the first time to Singapore. My team and I look forward to adding another culinary destination for Singapore’s varied international clientele.”

Seduced by the flavours of the Mediterranean at a young age, Monsieur Ducasse reveals the essence of Portugal, Spain, Italy and France in BBR by Alain Ducasse. It is a modern, energetic, vibrant and accessible gathering place to meet, exchange and discover the culinary traditions of this region.

With the new concept, the 122-year-old restaurant, which started as a club during British colonial rule, will continue to be the social gathering space of choice for travellers and the local community alike. Serving sharing plates and regular-sized dishes, this bar and restaurant is convivial and cosy – the perfect place to meet with friends. It features a high energy open kitchen with charcoal grills and wood-fired pizza ovens as well as a lively bar and lounge that will serve a selection of spirits, cocktails, beers, wines and wine cocktails. Additionally, the highly anticipated Raffles Sunday Brunch with a reputation of being one of the city’s most indulgent Sunday experiences will be returning when BBR by Alain Ducasse opens.

Gourmets and gourmands, discover the Best Restaurants for Fine Dining in Singapore only at Top25Restaurants.com/singapore

La Dame de Pic
One of the world’s top female chefs with three Michelin stars, Anne-Sophie Pic, will debut her entry into Asia with a remarkable restaurant in Raffles Singapore. The restaurant, La Dame de Pic, Raffles Singapore invites guests to discover the world of Anne-Sophie’s culinary identity, which reflects her search for aromatic complexity, combinations of flavours and powerful tastes that evoke emotions. The restaurant’s drinks menu presents an elaborate and diverse collection of pairings to add both intensity and harmony in the delicate art of tasting; consisting of wines, cocktails, whisky, sake, tea, coffee, dashi, broth and consommés. The wine list in particular offers a wide international base that leans towards the French regions, with a particular focus on Anne-Sophie’s birthplace, the Rhône Valley.

Located in the hotel’s dining room at the Main Building, the contemporary chic restaurant is beautifully designed with a graceful and soft palette that is reminiscent of Anne-Sophie’s favourite colours and materials: pastel shades and natural decorative elements such as leather or wood. The renowned chef is also a third-generation Michelin starred chef, following the footsteps of her grandfather and father, perfectly reflecting Raffles Singapore’s rich heritage.

“Making our debut in Asia at Raffles Singapore is a very natural choice for me. Like Raffles, the Pic family’s culinary heritage spans more than a century. Just like this beautiful hotel that will become one of our overseas residences, we are storytellers and constant seekers of excellence. Together, we share the vision to provide distinctive experiences to our guests, delivered with innovation that combines both tradition and change,” said Anne-Sophie. “It is my personal belief that to ensure our guests are happy, it is essential to be anchored in the present while not forgetting our roots and to be creative in order to imagine.”

yì by Jereme Leung
Helmed by one of the most influential chefs in the modern Chinese culinary movement, celebrity MasterChef Jereme Leung returns home to Singapore with yì by Jereme Leung. The contemporary Chinese restaurant will be located on Level 3 at the newly restored Raffles Arcade. yì, which stands for art in the Chinese language, awakens your appetite and senses. Alluding to the fine art of Chinese dining, it references centuries of culinary mastery woven into the intricacies of Chinese cuisine presented in the restaurant.From Cantonese classics to adaptations of China’s ancient delicacies, Jereme will be using single sourced and seasonal ingredients with a contemporary approach to deliver refinement and sincerity.

The restaurant is designed with modern sophisticated detailing and a soft white palette amidst the colonial architecture. Guests can also explore an immersive multi-sensory dining experience in the Experience Room with poetic dishes curated to evoke all five senses. For the hosting of private affairs, intimate private dining rooms are also available.

Jereme said, “While I have lived abroad for most of my career, the formative years which I spent working in Singapore and Hong Kong were so important to defining my approach and style of cooking. Opening yì by Jereme Leung at Raffles Singapore is an honour and I am excited to be able to work with some of the best minds in the Singapore industry and present my personal take on Chinese cuisine. These dishes reflect what I believe the future of Chinese cuisine should be 20 years from today. It is not fusion, not ‘east-meets-west’; rather, it is about capturing the essence of provincial ethnic Chinese cuisines. With careful focus being placed on healthy and seasonal food produce, it will create authentic taste profiles that are enhanced by modern culinary techniques.”

Butcher’s Block
The refreshed Raffles Arcade will also see an introduction of a vibrant steakhouse, Butcher’s Block. Here, the focus is on the world’s finest cuts of single sourced meats, showcased in The Vault, a glass meat cooler situated next to the Open Kitchen where the chef’s butcher block is and where meats are prepared and cooked to perfection. Guests are given personal recommendations by our resident meat specialists, based on their individual tastes.
Seated amidst a lively ambience set with cobalt blue hues complemented with dark wood panelling, the restaurant features communal tables for exceptional gatherings, complete with a wine library that houses more than 100 different wine labels.

Refreshed Signature Dining Experiences Return to Delight

Signature dining experiences that over the years have come to be synonymous with the hotel make their return to delight, with many of these returning favourites incorporating subtle tributes to the hotel’s 130-year history and heritage.

Tiffin Room
A part of Raffles Singapore’s history since 1892, Tiffin Room continues to celebrate the heritage and flavours of North India with our resident Indian Chef. The restaurant offers an evocative dining journey across the North Indian palate, from Rajasthan to Punjab to Lucknow through a refreshed semi-buffet lunch and ala carte dinner. Authentic specialties served in the eponymous tiffin boxes are prepared with perfectly balanced spices, paired with classic Indian brews and beverages. The restaurant will also present an interactive dining experience with tableside service by chefs, complete with freshly ground spices to elevate the experience.

The restored interior décor of the restaurant includes reinstating the wooden floorboards in Tiffin Room to bring back features from the early 1900s based on research by our heritage consultants. Intricately patterned wood and mirror wall panelling add richness and create a signature visual language while colourful displays of Tiffin boxes are imbued with historical notes but modern in feel.

Long Bar
Home of the Singapore Sling for over a hundred years, the Long Bar’s plantation-inspired décor will be refreshed, and the famous Long Bar counter restored. Long Bar continues to be the heritage bar for visitors to Singapore to enjoy the most iconic cocktail of the city.

The Lobby
The classic Raffles Afternoon Tea experience will be served at a new location – the iconic Grand Lobby of the Raffles Singapore. Guests can indulge in one of the hotel’s great traditions – a truly unique and refined Afternoon Tea with a distinct sense of heritage – in the newly restored lobby. The Raffles Afternoon Tea is perfect for sophisticated and elegant celebrations, serving classic sandwiches, home-baked scones and cakes as well as seasonal indulgences, complemented by a curated collection of exquisite teas and Champagnes.

Writers Bar
Established as a tribute to famous writers that have come through the doors of Raffles Singapore over the years, Writers Bar will be expanded to a full bar with bespoke craft cocktails, wines and spirits. Decked in luxuriously appointed furnishings, lovingly curated mementos and books, referencing the literary legacy of Raffles, the bar will be a sophisticated and serene refuge kept exclusive to residents and restaurant patrons; keeping this a place for discreet elegance and intimate conversations.

Raffles Courtyard
Exuding a garden style and welcoming vibe, Raffles Courtyard is the city’s social space in a lushly landscaped alfresco venue at the Raffles Arcade. This friendly bar and lounge is open all day, offering guests a garden respite against a colonial architectural backdrop, complete with refreshing shared summer drinks and a selection of Southeast Asian small plates, including authentic Singaporean delights.

Ah Teng’s Café
Raffles’ new takeaway café is named after a famous local baker of the same name, who used to own a shop in the neighbourhood back in the 1900s. Ah Teng’s Café serves visitors, the surrounding community and travellers alike with freshly made cold beverages, a selection of premium coffee, tea and homemade bakery, pastries and artisanal ice-creams for takeaway.

Pierre Burgade, Executive Chef, Raffles Singapore, who oversees the Hotel’s culinary landscape portfolio, said, “It is an incredible privilege to be given the opportunity to update these time-honoured Raffles signatures while also curating the stellar line-up of celebrity chefs for this iconic hotel. The deliberate and careful curation of the new dining concepts aims to elevate Singapore’s culinary landscape and makes our hotel an all-in-one gastronomic journey for guests and visitors alike.”

“We are pleased to embark on the meticulous restoration of Raffles Singapore, a distinctive hotel that is emblematic of Katara Hospitality’s commitment to create extraordinary experiences on the backdrop of iconic heritage hotels and provide unsurpassed service to our esteemed guests,” said Mr. Hamad Abdulla Al-Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of Katara Hospitality, a globally recognised hospitality owner, developer and operator who is also the owner of Raffles Singapore.

“Since opening its doors in 1887, Raffles Singapore has maintained a lasting legacy as a landmark hotel, hosting some of the world’s most famous and elite personalities. As a National Monument of Singapore and one of the few remaining 19th century hotels in the world, the hotel’s restoration is a testament to our continued pursuit in preserving portraits of historic charm, while growing Katara Hospitality’s portfolio of iconic properties in key travel destinations. Raffles Singapore is no exception, with its carefully implemented restoration programme that is poised to unveil contemporary charm and elegance; reminiscent of the luxurious splendour of Katara Hospitality hotels,” added Mr. Al-Mulla.

About Raffles Singapore
Opened in 1887, Raffles Singapore is one of the few remaining great 19th century hotels in the world. Till today, its architecture is perfectly preserved both inside and out, giving it an intoxicating blend of luxury, history and classic colonial design. Within its walls are more than a hundred expansive suites, framed by polished teak verandas and white marble colonnades, clustered around lush tropical gardens. Each is serviced by the legendary Raffles butlers and offers every modern convenience necessary.

Raffles Singapore is currently undergoing a careful and sensitive restoration that is being carried out in three phases. The hotel is now fully closed with a grand reopening planned in the first quarter of 2019. The Raffles Gift Shop continues to be in operation at its temporary location on 3 Seah Street, around the corner from the hotel.

The restoration of Raffles Singapore is designed to ensure that we retain what is so special about Raffles – the ambience, the service, the charm and the heritage of the hotel. It is also designed for Raffles Singapore to stay relevant and distinctive by moving with the times and with its guests and adapting to the changing needs of the well-travelled and Singapore’s community

Osaka (Japan) – February 6, 2019 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts has launched its exciting new SureStay Hotel Group concept in Japan with the opening of a brand new hotel in Osaka. SureStay Plus by Best Western Shin-Osaka is a stylish upper-economy hotel developed by Fino Hotels Co., Ltd. Located in downtown Osaka’s Yodogawa district, this modern hotel is perfectly positioned close to Shin-Osaka Station, with bullet train services to and from major cities including Tokyo, Nagoya, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. Meanwhile, the Osaka Metro network makes it quick and easy to travel around Japan’s second largest city, with regular connections to the Shinsaibashi, Namba and Umeda districts.

This newly-constructed hotel features 108 contemporary guestrooms, all equipped with comfortable beds and convenient amenities, including complimentary Wi-Fi. Every morning, guests can start their day with a buffet breakfast.

“SureStay Plus® is an excellent fit for Osaka, and for Japan,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia. “Comfortable, convenient and affordable, this is an ideal concept for guests seeking centrally located, international quality accommodation at a reasonable price point. We are delighted to continue our strong relationship with Fino Hotels Co., Ltd. in Japan, and look forward to welcoming more guests to this exceptional new hotel in future.”

SureStay Hotel Group has expanded rapidly since its launch in late 2016, with notable growth in North America and Europe. The concept made its Asia Pacific debut in October 2017 with the opening of SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Sukhumvit 2 in Bangkok.

SureStay Hotel Group’s three brands – SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western, and SureStay Collection® by Best Western – provide hotel owners with the opportunity to harness Best Western’s extensive global network, in terms of sales, distribution, technology and support, while giving guests the reassurance of staying with a globally recognized hotel group. In addition, members of Best Western Rewards®, the award-winning guest loyalty program, will be able to earn points on their stays.

The launch of SureStay Plus by Best Western Shin-Osaka marks the continuation of Best Western’s expansion strategy in Japan, which has been identified as a key focus market. The company now operates 19 properties in Japan, including four in Osaka.

To find out more and book direct SureStay Plus by Best Western Shin-Osaka, please click here…

About Best Western Hotels and Resorts
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of over 4,200 hotels in nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide*. Best Western offers 13 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, Sadie HotelSM, Aiden HotelSM, BW Premier Collection® by Best Western, and BW Signature Collection® by Best Western, as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection® by Best Western**. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 66 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2018, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands respectively for two consecutive years, and Fast Company honoring Best Western Hotels & Resorts with a spot in the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality category. Best Western has also won 10 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 60 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Best Western-branded hotels were top ranked in breakfast (food and beverage category) by J.D. Power’s 2018 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study – ranking first for midscale; and second for upper midscale. Over 37 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western-branded hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Google® Street View provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels.
* Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.
**All Best Western and SureStay branded hotels are independently owned and operated.

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

Sirimanas Maungrod
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com