Category: Latest Travel News

Bangkok (Thailand) – Oct 5, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Bangkok is basking in the limelight of being named this year’s number one city in the world by the Mastercard’s 2018 Global Destination Cities Index, making it the third consecutive year that Thailand’s ‘City of Angels’ has been ranked in the top spot.

With roughly 20 million international overnight visitors, Bangkok retained the top spot again this year. According to the study, the top cities once again underscored the importance of robust infrastructure, both business and leisure attractions plus strong local culture. All are key components highlighted in recent Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) marketing campaigns.

The Mastercard Index predicted a strong annual growth for tourism arrivals of 9.6 percent in 2018 for Bangkok. It also noted the impressive fact that visitors stay in Bangkok for 4.7 nights on average with daily spending of over US$173 per day (5,563 Baht), amounting to US$16.36 billion in total in 2017. This placed the Thai capital in the 5th place of the Top Cities by Dollars Spent.

BANGKOK
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Madeira (Portugal) – October 5, 2018 (travelindex.com) – In a strong keynote address to Tourism Experts, Doctors and Students gathered on the Portuguese Island of Madeira, Professor Geoffrey Lipman Co-Founder of SUNx – the Strong Universal Network said that the industry is running out of time to craft a meaningful response to the existential challenge of Climate Change.

He said that “Health Tourism – nature and medically linked – may well be in a sweet-spot of tourism growth, at more than 10% a year… but without a climate resilience strategy it will be equally vulnerable to the ravages of extreme weather and the consequences in terms of floods, fires, droughts and climate refugees”.

Lipman pointed to the heat patterns in the Northern hemisphere, the droughts in Australia, the typhoons in Japan and Philippines– as well as last year’s devastating Caribbean Hurricanes and this years’ US floods and forest fires.

He noted that “in the past decade more than 20 million climate refugees had already emerged – this is the tip of a humanly tragic and politically disruptive iceberg”. It will only worsen as we head towards 3o – which is where we will be in 2050 if we don’t make radical behavioural changes. As a leading sector Tourism must be in the forefront of those changes.

Lipman profiled the SUNx network to galvanise tourism destinations and to link the enormous body of research being done at Universities around the world, as well as the data and analytics from committed organizations inside and outside the Travel and Tourism sector.

SUNx has developed a framework for Climate Resilience and Innovation Centres in every country by 2030 – supporting Paris Climate Accord targets and linked to SDG 13. They will be pop up SUN Arks, cloud connected and filled with young bright climate champions, talking to each other about “Smart Impact-Travel” solutions. He defined these as “Travel & Tourism planning that’s measured to manage: green to grow: 2050 proof to innovate. Not so much detailed, definition-based programs but more a direction for change that every travel product needs to reflect, and every travel company or community needs to embrace.”

He also outlined SUNx lifetime learning approach with a Dodo cartoon series for kids, online University courses, a universal portal, focusing the most useful climate data analytics, and Strong Legacy Scholarships for graduates. The first of these will launch in 2019 in collaboration with t-Forum and the IRiSS the Italian Services Research Centre. This is complemented by an annual Climate SmART Award for Museums, as the ultimate learning centres.

Finally, he discussed the partnership project with TraNeXus, designed to bring Blockchain solutions to provide carbon accounts for travellers, which he believes will be needed as the Paris Climate Accords bite in the next decade and we will all have to deliver low carbon lifestyles.

SUNx will reach out to Communities and Corporations to help develop its Climate Resilience and Innovation System and build open links with likeminded Travel & Tourism organizations
Quoting Maurice Strong he said “the planet will survive as it has done for billions of years. It’s the people we have to worry about” He concluded with the Club of Rome’s call for action “Come On – It’s almost too late. …. but we can fix the problem if we act together, now.

Professor Geoffrey Lipman is co-founder of SUNx.

The Strong Universal Network SUNx, is a program of the EU based, not for profit Green Growth and Travelism Institute, and a legacy to the late Maurice Strong – Sustainable Development Pioneer.

Its goal is to promote Climate Resilient, Impact-Travel with good & bad effects measured and managed coherently: with Green Growth at the core and, 2050-proof in line with the Paris Accords and the W.E.F. 4th Industrial Revolution.

Tokyo (Japan) – October 3, 2018 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts is celebrating the opening of its latest hotel in one of Tokyo’s trendiest downtown districts, Akihabara, with an exciting new contest! Two lucky Best Western Rewards members will win a two-night stay, including breakfast for two people at the brand new Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara.

Located in the heart of Akihabara, which is famous for its lively, colorful streets and shops specializing in consumer electronics, manga and anime, the hotel located less than 400 meters from Suehirocho Station and Naka-Okachimachi Station on the Tokyo Metro, and just 60 minutes from Haneda Airport or 70 minutes from Narita Airport, making it the perfect choice for travelers seeking a convenient, contemporary and affordable place to stay in the heart of action.

The 80 modern rooms are equipped with cutting-edge facilities such as international power sockets and free Wi-Fi, keeping all guests fully-connected throughout their stay. Guests can start their day with buffet breakfast or enjoy “grab n’ go” snacks and drinks at hotel’s vending machine. A laundry service is also available.

For the chance to WIN a fantastic two-night stay at Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara, enter the contest by visit www.facebook.com/BestWesternAsia and simply tell us what are three things your will do in Akihabara! This contest is open from October 5, 2018 until 4pm (GMT+7) on October 20, 2018. Winner will be announced on October 22, 2018.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,200* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers 13 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, Sadie HotelSM, Aiden HotelSM, BW Premier Collection® by Best Western, and BW Signature Collection® by Best Western, as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection® by Best Western. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 66 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2018, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands, and Fast Company honoring Best Western Hotels & Resorts with a spot in the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality category. Best Western has also won nine consecutive AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAA/CAA’s nearly 58 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Best Western-branded hotels were top ranked in J.D. Power’s 2017 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study – ranking first in breakfast (food and beverage category) for midscale; and second in overall guest satisfaction. Over 35 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western-branded hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Google® Street View provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels.
* All Best Western and SureStay-branded hotels are independently owned and operated.
* Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

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

Sirimanas Maungrod

Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com
Orapan Sornnuwat
Email: orapan.sornnuwat@bestwestern.com

Male (Maldives) – Oct 3, 2018 (travelindex.com) – SAii Lagoon Maldives will open as part of Curio Collection by Hilton, one of Hilton’s 14 market-leading brands in 2019. Curio Collection by Hilton, a global portfolio of more than 55 hotels and resorts around the world, offers travelers unexpected and authentic experiences at more than 55 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts around the world. SAii Lagoon Maldives will be managed by S Hotels & Resorts under a franchise agreement between Hilton and Singha Estate Public Company Limited.

Set to open in 2019, the 198-room resort will be located in Emboodhoo Lagoon – an enchanting natural wonder surrounded by white sands and cerulean seas. The resort will be 15 minutes by boat from Velena International Airport and offer easy access to CROSSROADS, the first and largest integrated tourist destination in the Maldives. SAii Lagoon Maldives offers modern travelers a private sanctuary enhanced by creative art and design, artisanal cuisine, a soundtrack of curated music and heart-made hospitality.

“We are delighted to announce details of the first Curio Collection by Hilton resort in the Maldives, as it truly embodies the spirit and incredible travel destination of this one-of-a-kind island paradise,” said Mark Nogal, global head, Curio Collection by Hilton. “Whether it’s enjoying panoramic sea views and private beach access at Café del Mar beach club or strolling to the nearby marina for an afternoon visiting local attractions, we are confident future guests will enjoy excellent hospitality and unique experiences customized to their travel preferences when staying at SAii Lagoon Maldives or any of our hotels around the world.”

The modern resort will feature spacious deluxe rooms, beach villas and overwater villas with inspired tropical designs created by acclaimed architect Bill Bensley, who has conceptualized some of the world’s most iconic hotels, resorts and spas.

All accommodations feature custom-made furnishings, outdoor decks and a host of playful inclusions, such as handcrafted puzzles and ‘creature comfort’ pillows, complemented by comfortable social spaces, quality restaurants and access to the globally-renowned beach club brand, Café del Mar.

Additional hotel features and amenities include:

Hub
The Hub is a unique gathering and social space that offers countless opportunities for guests to kick back and get creative. Guests can pick out their own treats from the Snack Box, which offers a complimentary collection of healthy, family-friendly refreshments, while an inspiring Aroma Lab will allow guests to create their very own bathroom amenities – selecting a base product, such as shampoo, shower gel or body lotion, and pairing it with one of the Lab’s many scents.

Treat
The spread of creative in-house dining options at SAii Lagoon Maldives extends from an eclectic daily breakfast at Café del Mar, to gourmet coffees, specialty teas and meals on-the-go at the casual resort café, bean/Co. For a more substantial meal, guests have a choice of stylish and uniquely distinctive themed eateries serving a combination of healthy fare, Mediterranean classics, fresh seafood and Thai-inspired creations.

The Marina at Crossroads Maldives
The first and largest integrated tourist destination in the Maldives is an easy stroll across a footbridge from SAii Lagoon Maldives and will offer an extensive array of attractions for visitors, including a 30-berth marina, retail and dining outlets, Maldives Discovery Centre, a marine life protection centre, an event hall and a junior beach club.

“SAii Lagoon Maldives will take visitors on a refreshing journey during their stay,” said Dirk De Cuyper, chief hospitality officer, S Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Singha Estate Public Company Limited. “The resort will offer an engaging array of well-thought-out vacation experiences that immerse guests in the stunning new island location and encourage them to explore and help preserve the colorful natural environment while learning about the local culture.”

About S Hotels & Resorts
S Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Singha Estate Public Company Limited, is a new era Thai-inspired personalized hospitality brand that caters to upscale travelers with an independent spirit. The group offers guests a portfolio of 39 properties in 5 countries with a total of 4,647 keys and provides guests with the opportunity to experience the best destinations from a unique perspective while enjoying world class facilities and tailored services. S Hotels & Resorts’ properties are located in attractive, unspoiled locales to provide an exclusive playground built around nature, culture, wellness and adventure, with a generous helping of creature comforts and fine cuisine. Each property boasts its own distinctive, destination sensitive designs and unique signatures while also providing consistency thanks to a well-defined brand philosophy and a service culture that focuses on exceptional guest experiences backed up by Thai-inspired hospitality and global quality standards.

Book your luxury resort in the Maldives and around the world at best rates available. Pay at the hotel. Book now at HotelWorlds.com and Earn HolidayClicks Points for every dollar spend!

Bangkok (Thailand) – October 1, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Come and feast on great tasting cuisine by legendary Michelin-starred Chef Akira Back who has designed a special menu inspired by his happy childhood memories and life journey. Food lovers will enjoy a long culinary journey to explore and savor Akira’s East-meets-West cuisine that’s cooked using top-quality ingredients. A special night of fine dining is set in an impressive atmosphere at Akira Back Restaurant & Bar, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park.

Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park – the posh, prestigious Marquis-branded hotel that’s Bangkok’s biggest – presents great tasting specially prepared cuisine by Michelin-starred Chef Akira Back. The chef has received widespread international acclaim for his East-meets-West brand of cuisine that is distinctive and unlike any other. Born in South Korea but raised in the United States, Chef Akira has created a new style of food that’s a fusion of fresh and elegant Japanese and Korean cuisines and fun American food. His cuisine reflects his happy childhood memories and his life journey through the passage of time.

In addition, Chef Akira Back owns Akira Back Restaurant & Bar, his first and only restaurant in Thailand, which is located on the 37th floor of Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park. The restaurant presents contemporary cuisine in the style of Chef Akira that is both exciting and colorful. The restaurant is made up of a main dining area, a sushi bar, Omakase Bar and four private dining rooms offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the cityscape through floor-to-ceiling transparent glass window panes. The four private rooms altogether have a seating capacity of 100.

For an impressive night on September 19, 2018, Chef Akira Back made a special appearance at the restaurant to stage a Chef’s Table and present a repertoire of his amazing dishes that are current bestsellers at Akira Back Restaurants & Bars the world over. These included Tuna & Eringi Pizza, which is one of his signature dishes. Presented in Chef Akira’s personal style, the crispy crust – topped with umami aioli, fresh tuna sashimi, micro shiso and white truffle oil – redefines the traditional concept of pizza.

Jeju Domi is a sashimi dish that Chef Akira ate as a child. Back then he didn’t want to try sashimi, so his father gave him a snapper with chojang sauce. This simple dish has been given special treatment with orange-infused tobiko rolled inside the snapper. Another sashimi dish, Salmon Tiradito, blends the style of Peruvian ceviche with a twist of charred mango, yuzu lemon and cilantro oil.

One of Chef Akira’s most famous dishes, AB Tacos, reflects his American heritage. This modern twist on the classic Tex-Mex dish features tacos stuffed with Korean-style wagyu beef bulgogi and topped with roasted tomato ponzu. Meanwhile, Jidori Chicken is his version of teriyaki chicken, cooked sous-vide and served with velvety potato purée.

The special evening also showcased several inventive seafood dishes including Scallop in a Half Shell, sea scallops and their roe cooked under a charcoal robata grill and served with kimchi, bacon and a kochujang butter sauce; Una-Q, kabayaki-style unagi eel with seared foie gras and balsamic soy; King Crab Legs served with Chef Akira’s “Dynamite Sauce” and pickled shimeji; Pan-Seared Halibut; and Butter Poached Lobster with nori butter.

This was followed by Chef Akira’s mouth-watering 48 Hrs Wagyu Short Ribs – an elevated version of his mother’s short rib stew, which sees prime ribs slow-cooked for two days in a traditional Korean kalbi jjim marinade, and served with a sensational sauce made from the cooking process.

This exquisite tasting menu concluded with Chef Akira’s signature Sujeongwa AB Eggs and Chocolate Bonbons, that left a lasting impression on diners.

Akira Back restaurant at the Marriott Marquis Hotel Bangkok is highly rated in the Top25Restaurants in Bangkok by Travelindex and the trusted Restaurant Rating Index.

Akira Back Restaurant & Bar of Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park is open Sunday for lunch from 12.00-14.30, and daily for dinner from 18.00-23.00. For more information and reservations, please call 02 059 5999 or email restaurant-reservations.bkkqp@marriotthotels.com .

About Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park
The largest hotel in Bangkok and the first Marriott Marquis hotel in Asia Pacific, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park is a new landmark in heart of the Thai capital. The resort offers extensive facilities, including more than 1,388 rooms and suites, over 5,000m² of function space across 37 venues, two swimming pools, the Quan Spa and a collection of restaurants and bars. Centrally located on Sukhumvit Road, in Bangkok’s vibrant business and entertainment district, the hotel is the perfect choice for all travelers to this pulsating city.

Contact information:
Variya Lulitanond (Note)
Cluster Director of MarCom & PR
+66 (0) 81 644 9606
variya.l@marriott.com

Nuttinee Payungwong (Tik)
Assistant PR Manager
+66 (0) 89 145 5422
nuttinee.p@marriott.com

Phuket (Thailand) – October 2, 2018 (travelindex) – Stay, play and relax in Patong Beach! Best Western Patong Beach has unveiled a series of amazing deals this autumn, starting from just THB 1,299 per night.

Promotion Details:
Stay Period: Now – 31 October 2018
Room rate: THB 1,299 per night including breakfast for two persons

Stay Period: 1 November – 23 December 2018
Room rate: THB 1,999 per night including breakfast for two persons

These offers are now open for new reservations made by 31 October 2018.

Best Western Patong Beach is perfect for guests seeking a stylish tropical retreat, located in the heart of the action. This cool and contemporary hotel reflects the lively spirit of Phuket, just a short walk from Patong Beach, Jungceylon mall and the colorful nightlife of Bangla Road. With its 136 modern rooms and suites, free wireless internet, upbeat restaurant and stunning rooftop pool and bar, overlooking the Andaman Sea, this is the ideal base for a vibrant break on Phuket’s world-famous west coast.

For reservations or more information, please call 076-360-200 or email reservation@bestwesternpatongbeach.com, quoting the promotion code “BWMEDIA”.

About Best Western® Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,200* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers 13 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, Sadie HotelSM, Aiden HotelSM, BW Premier Collection® by Best Western, and BW Signature Collection® by Best Western, as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection® by Best Western. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 66 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2018, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands, and Fast Company honoring Best Western Hotels & Resorts with a spot in the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality category. Best Western has also won nine consecutive AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAA/CAA’s nearly 58 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Best Western-branded hotels were top ranked in J.D. Power’s 2017 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study – ranking first in breakfast (food and beverage category) for midscale; and second in overall guest satisfaction. Over 35 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western-branded hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Google® Street View provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels.
* All Best Western and SureStay-branded hotels are independently owned and operated.
* Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

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

Sirimanas Maungrod
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com

Orapan Sornnuwat
Email: orapan.sornnuwat@bestwestern.com

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 29, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The South Africa Ball, brings a golden night of South African culture and celebrating 25 Years of Diplomatic Relations with Thailand alongside with the Centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth, will be taking place on Saturday 6th October 2018. Proudly hosted by JABULANI and the South African – Thai Chamber Of Commerce (SATCC).

The South Africa Ball will support and fundraise for two worthwhile charity organisations: The Rice Seeds Child Sponsorship Program and The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (Hesc) Rhino Orphanage.

When: Saturday 6th October 2018 at 6.30pm
Where: Shangri-la Hotel Bangkok
Tickets on sale at: www.satcc.info/events/south-african-ball-2018

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 28, 2018 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts today marked an industry first, introducing a pair of boutique brands – Sadie HotelSM and Aiden HotelSM. Sadie Hotel will compete in the upscale segments, and Aiden Hotel will compete in the upper midscale segment. These conversion brands offer developers an opportunity to reposition existing properties to improve their performance and enhance their asset value. These brands will offer hoteliers a design program with unprecedented flexibility. Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel’s edgy personalities will be reflected across each hotel, starting from the moment travelers enter the colorful, imaginative lobbies. The same charming style will be interwoven throughout other common areas and in unique guestrooms, services and amenities. The appealing brands will allow hoteliers to tap into the local flair of their market, broaden their customer base, and achieve higher RevPAR.

“Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel are chic, sophisticated and unique hotel brands that will reflect the style and pulse of the community they are in – bringing a sense of adventure and fun to guests at each hotel,” said David Kong, President & Chief Executive Officer at Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “We’re thrilled to be the first in the industry to launch a pair of boutique brands – Sadie Hotel for the upscale segments and Aiden Hotel for the upper midscale segment. Both Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel present the opportunity for independent hoteliers or developers with branded hotels to reposition their property in a unique way, taking advantage of our cost-effective, turnkey and customized design and renovation program. A dedicated onboarding team will ensure these repositioned hotels are quickly integrated with Best Western’s powerful revenue engines intended to drive a fast ramp up in business. A marketing and PR playbook for each hotel will drive social media visibility and buzz.”

Innovative Design Elements
Filling a void in the upscale hotel scene, Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel give developers the chance to be creative and incorporate local flair into their designs, retrofitting or rebranding an existing hotel with a modern, spirited aesthetic. The brands creatively use space and technology, while eliminating some typical hotel requirements. At the center of each Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel is a multi-functional public area with either a café or bar; modern signature seating; and mobile check-in for convenient guest check-in. Properties will also have branded Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel items on display and available for purchase so that guests can take a piece of Sadie Hotel or Aiden Hotel home with them.

Integration with a Powerhouse Brand
Every hotel will be provided unparalleled systems and support, and will be on boarded in a rapid ramp-up with near immediate access to Best Western’s award-winning website, global partnerships and sales team, and state-of-the-art revenue management system. Hotels will also have access to a revenue manager to maximize revenue and reduce operating costs. And similar to other Best Western branded hotels, Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel owners will experience the strongest brand support in the industry with attractive fees.

With the launch of Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel, today’s Best Western portfolio includes 13 distinctive brands, continuing the evolution begun by the company’s successful $2 billion brand refresh. Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel will benefit from Best Western’s reputation for providing superior guest service and will have access to the award-winning Best Western Rewards® program, which contributes about 50% of gross room revenue to hotels.

Brand Playbooks to Streamline PR & Social Media Efforts, Creating Local Market Buzz
Each Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel will become one of the most talked about hotels within its community and hoteliers will benefit from Best Western’s robust global influencer programming and PR efforts, as the Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel story is told on both paid and earned channels. Customizable marketing playbooks provided by Best Western will make achieving PR and social media wins easy, including Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel PR and social media campaigns that are unique, full of surprises, and will tap into the flair of the local market. Best Western has the second highest social engagement rankings in the industry and brand-endorsed Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel campaigns will amplify the brand’s media investments and strong storytelling on a local level.

About Best Western® Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,200* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers 13 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, Sadie HotelSM, Aiden HotelSM, BW Premier Collection® by Best Western, and BW Signature Collection® by Best Western, as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection® by Best Western. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 66 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2018, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western number one in upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands, and Fast Company honoring Best Western Hotels & Resorts with a spot in the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality category. Best Western has also won nine consecutive AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAA/CAA’s nearly 58 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Best Western-branded hotels were top ranked in J.D. Power’s 2017 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study – ranking first in breakfast (food and beverage category) for midscale; and second in overall guest satisfaction. Over 35 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western-branded hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Google® Street View provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels.
* All Best Western and SureStay-branded hotels are independently owned and operated.
* Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

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

Sirimanas Maungrod

Email:sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com
Orapan Sornnuwat
Email:orapan.sornnuwat@bestwestern.com

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 26, 2018 (travelindex) – In order to thank members of the website www.tourismthailand.org/newshadeofluxe the Tourism Authority of Thailand together with our leading allied, both in products and tourism services, are offering the members a special luxury traveling experience which includes numerous accommodations, spas, and transportations. They are Pimalai Resort & Spa, The Sukhothai Bangkok, Phu Chaisai Mountain Resort, Rayavadee, Divana Spa, Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Golf Resort & Spa, Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, Silavadee Pool Spa Resort, CELES Beachfront Resort Koh Samui and Thai Airways.

Visit our website www.tourismthailand.org/newshadeofluxe and select your preferred privilege you will then be given the code to redeem the special privilege from our partners.

Reward yourself NOW! until 31st October.

For more information, go to… www.tourismthailand.org/newshadeofluxe

Dubai (United Arab Emirates) – September 25, 2018 (travelindex) – Ethiopian Airlines, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX certified Four Star Global Airline, is pleased to announce that it has been crowned “Best African Airline” at Arabian Travel Awards 2018, the second edition of Arabian Travel Awards, held on September 20, 2018 in Dubai.

The winners of the award were determined based on the votes of travelers.

Regarding the award, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines remarked, “We are honored to have been voted the ‘Best African Airline’ at the Arabian Travel Awards 2018, a testimony that our product and services are meeting the high expectations of customers from the Middle East.

Ethiopian currently flies to 12 destinations in the Middle East and thrice daily from Dubai with ultramodern aircraft, connecting travelers from the Middle East to over 60 destinations in Africa and over 115 worldwide. In line with our long term growth plan, Vision 2025, we will continue to invest in expanding our ultramodern fleet and global destinations ultimately creating even better connectivity options for travellers around the world in general and the Middle East in particular.”

The Arabian Travel Awards recognize and encourage the talent in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors under different categories such as Airlines, Cruise companies, Hotels, Travel Technology Providers, Travel Insurance Facilitators, B2B Travel Portals, Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Holiday companies, among others.

Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.

About Ethiopian
Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 116 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.

Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with Six business centers: Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian ADD Hub Ground Services and Ethiopian Airports Services. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.

For more information, please contact:
Mrs. Aniley Eshetu
A/Manager Corporate Communications
Ethiopian Airlines
Tel 🙁 251-1)517-89-07/656/165/913/529
CorporateCommunication@ethiopianairlines.com
www.ethiopianairlines.com