Category: Latest Travel News

Bangkok (Thailand) – December 11, 2018 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts has launched a brand new website that provides essential information to hotel developers and owners in Asia.

The new website, which is now live at www.bestwesternasiadevelopers.com, is dedicated to hotel developers and owners, offering a complete source of content for any company or individual looking to harness the power of Best Western’s global brands to enhance the value and performance of their property.

The website offers in-depth information to all existing, new and potential development partners. This includes an interactive map that allows users to visualize the company’s existing portfolio of hotels and resorts in Asia, and an overview of Best Western’s regional pipeline of properties. Visitors to the website can also discover the strength of Best Western’s reputation by exploring the company’s many industry awards and extensive media coverage.

The “Why Choose Best Western” page reveals the many advantages of working with Best Western, such as the company’s highly profitable business models, which include management and franchise options with attractive fees. There are also details of the services provided by Best Western’s central support network, including global sales, marketing and distribution, revenue management, professional training, state-of-the-art technology, quality assurance and access to the award-winning loyalty program, Best Western Rewards®.

Developers can learn more about Best Western’s wide-ranging portfolio of brands. With 13 distinctive and innovative concepts to choose from, ranging from economy to upper-upscale, Best Western has an option to suit almost any property type or location.

The most recent of these brands, Sadie HotelSM and Aiden HotelSM, which launched in September 2018, are dedicated to conversion projects. These are now available alongside the timeless trio of classic brands, Best Western®, Best Western Plus® and Best Western Premier®. The brand portfolio also includes Vīb® and GLō®, the cutting-edge midscale concepts that are tailored to new-build projects; and two soft brands, BW Premier Collection® by Best Western and BW Signature Collection® by Best Western, which allow owners to retain their distinctive style and identity. Meanwhile, Executive Resid ency by Best Western® enables developers to tap into the modern trend for extended stays.

Finally, the recently launched franchise offerings, SureStay® Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus® Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection® by Best Western, provide three ideal options for owners and developers who want to avoid high costs, whilst also harnessing the power and support of a global brand.

“Demand for Best Western’s world-class hospitality has never been stronger, so we are delighted to unveil this new dedicated resource for hotel owners and developers in Asia,” commented Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia. “With our expanded portfolio of 13 intuitive brands, we now have a product to suit virtually any hotel, from urban conversion projects to out-of-town new-builds, upscale resort rebrands and many more. With our new website, we are putting our full collection of products and services at the fingertips of our Asian partners.”

Best Western currently operates a portfolio of 56 hotels and resorts across Southeast Asia and Japan, comprising more than 5,000 rooms across five of its brands. This region-wide inventory is set to more than double in the coming years, with over 6,800 comfortable and contemporary rooms expected to open across Asia. In total, Best Western has 37 hotels in its Asian pipeline, covering seven of the company’s 13 brands.

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 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

Macao (Macao SAR) – December 11, 2018 (travelindex.com) – For the sixth year in a row The Venetian Macao’s superlative Indian restaurant The Golden Peacock has again been awarded a Michelin one-star rating as “high quality cooking, worth a stop”.

The Golden Peacock is led by Kerala native and celebrated Senior Chef Justin Paul, who has headed a team of 15 chefs since the restaurant’s opening back in 2013.

“My talented team and I strive to provide an authentic yet innovative Indian culinary experience, and it is extremely rewarding to be recognised for this by Michelin once again, now for the sixth year,” he said. “But it would not be possible without the confidence that has been shown in our abilities and the freedom to take risks and follow our hearts, and for this we are grateful.”

One of the highest-rated Indian restaurants outside India itself, The Golden Peacock prides itself on authenticity throughout, from its chefs, recipes and techniques to its ingredients and kitchenware, all of which are imported directly from India.

The restaurant regularly features special promotions, most recently as part of the Green Cuisine campaign across Sands Resorts Macao’s signature restaurants. The Golden Peacock supplied two unusual dishes for the promotion, Khumb Bajre Ka Soweta, an organic millet and vegetable stew from Delhi incorporating portobello mushrooms, and Vendakka Chorakaa Mathanga, comprising produce from Karnataka including okra, bottle gourd and butter squash, cooked with coconut curry sauce.

Other seasonal menus have focused on the distinctive Indian regional cuisine of Goa, which as a former Portuguese territory like Macao, offers a delicious blend of eastern and western influences.

The Golden Peacock is open daily 11 a.m–3 p.m. for buffet lunch, with newly introduced daily live cooking station featuring regional Indian street food and full à la carte menu available from 6-11 p.m.

Will The Golden Peacock make it into the Top 25 Restaurants in Macao, the Mastercard Affluent Dining Guide by Travelindex and the trusted Restaurant Rating Index?

Sands Dining
Bringing the world to your plate — one dish at a time, Sands Dining highlights the diversity, quality, ingredients, chefs, creativity and ambience at Sands Resorts Macao’s more than 150 restaurants. Offering a world of diverse cuisine prepared by some of the most innovative and skilled chefs, Sands Resorts Macao presents unique dining experiences at each of its distinctive restaurants and outlets. From authentic Chinese delicacies to Macanese favourites and global cuisine from France, Italy, Japan, India, Southeast Asia and more, there’s something special for every palate.

About The Venetian Macao
Opened in 2007, The Venetian® Macao is Macao’s first integrated resort featuring stunning replicas of the famous canals and architectural icons of Venice, Italy. The Venetian Macao features 3,000 suites, 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square metres) of convention and meeting facilities as well as a 15,000-seat Cotai Arena designed for world-class sports events and electrifying entertainment. The Venetian Macao is also home to the unique, 1,800-seat luxury Venetian Theatre, hosting the best in international and Chinese entertainment; more than 30 renowned restaurants; the incredibly fun QUBE indoor playground and more than 350 retailers at Shoppes at Venetian. Outdoor recreation areas include swimming pools and cabanas and a mini-golf course.

Pattaya (Thailand) – December 11, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Thailand’s based hotel management company, Well Hotels & Resorts announces that it has signed a new upscale lifestyle boutique property, Phratamnak Well Resort Pattaya, which is set to open in late 2019. The agreement includes the pre-opening and full operational management.

Phratamnak Well Resort Pattaya is owned by Kasetsinn Co., Ltd. and located in Phratamnak, Pattaya on an 8-Rai piece of land. It consists of 78 rooms and suites. The facilities include spa and fitness centre, recreation room and kids club, an outdoor swimming pool, wellness space, beach house, restaurant and bar, and meeting facilities. The resort adopts modern colonial design giving a classic vintage feels with a touch of modernism. The resort is situated in a strategic location, just a few minute walk to the beach, and surrounded by popular attractions including Royal Varuna Yacht Club and Pattaya Hill Top.

Danai Wansom, President & CEO of Well Hotels & Resorts said, “Our team has been working closely with all parties during the pre-opening including the design, concept, construction and feasibility. The property is located in a beautiful location in Pattaya, facing the Thai Gulf and this is a popular spot among the Thais and foreign vacationers as it gives a serene, peaceful and family friendly vibes.”

“As Thailand is moving forward with developing infrastructure in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), we foresee that tourism and MICE will be on the rise in this region. We have meeting facilities for small and mid-sized events. We will offer wellness facilities such as fully equipped fitness centre, yoga space, a very large free form swimming pool, petanque lawn and a jogging track for the health-loving travelers. We also have a family room aiming at families with young children.” added Danai.

“We are very excited to be a part of this new project. Our team understands the needs of leisure and meeting groups in Pattaya region and is committed to going beyond meeting those needs to provide consistent value added services to this project,” continued Danai.

Pongstorn Sangruchi, Chairman of Kasetsinn group expressed his company’s confidence in Well Hotels & Resorts and said, “Before making the decision, we had actually met with many management companies. With their (Well Hotels & Resorts) positive attitude management style, regional marketing expertise, unique understanding of Thai culture, and very cooperative all needed to the board of directors to the selection.”

Thop Chandraprasert, Managing Director of Kasetsinn group added on, “We visited Well Hotel Bangkok many times and the hotel is rapidly becoming a favorite option of business and leisure travelers in the bustling Sukhumvit area. We sensed a great business synergy. There is no doubt in our mind that with the Well team marketing-driven management style and local and international expertise, our new project is in the right hands.”

Phratamnak Well Resort Pattaya is the fourth property in the portfolio under the management of Well Hotels & Resorts, after debuting the first property Well Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 in 2016, followed by rebranding and taking over the management of Costa Well Resort Pattaya in Bangsaray and White Sand Beach Residences Pattaya in Na Jomtien.

About Well Hotels & Resorts
Well Hotels & Resorts is a Thailand-based hotel management company. The group manages an award-winning Well Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 which was opened in April 2016 and has achieved eight awards and accolades including Customer Review Award and Gold Circle Award from Agoda, Booking.com Guest Review Award, Holiday Check, Hotels.com, TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2017 and 2018, Asia’s Top Emerging Hotel 2016 and Asia’s Top Leisure Hotel 2017 from Now Travel Asia Magazine. Currently the Group manages 3 properties including Well Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, Costa Well Resort Pattaya and White Sand beach Residences Pattaya, and soon Pratamnak Well Resort Pattaya.

Kasetsinn Co., Ltd. was founded in 1952 and the company then owned a vast amount of land in Banglamung, Pattaya with over 1.5 km on the beachfront. In the present days, the company owns approximately 118 Rais and leases out some parts of the land.

Khon Kaen (Thailand) – December 10, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is set to organise the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2019 in Pattaya, Thailand from November 27 – 29. The announcement was made by PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy at the conclusion of the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2018 in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

PDMF 2019 will be hosted by the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) with the support of Pattaya City.

“It is an honour to be working with TCEB and TAT once again to organise the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2019 in Pattaya, which only highlights their commitment to the responsible development of the travel and tourism industry in Thailand. We are also excited to be working with DASTA and Pattaya city as we delve deeper into the issues of marketing and managing tourism growth in a responsible and sustainable manner,” said Dr. Hardy. “With plans for the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), Pattaya is looking to reimagine itself as an international MICE City. Our aim for the event is to help understand their challenges and opportunities in reaching these goals.”

During PDMF 2018, Mr. Sutham Phetchgeat, Deputy Secretary of Pattaya City, stated, “Pattaya City is a unique place. On the seashore you can enjoy sea, sand and sun. I guarantee that the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2019 in Pattaya City will be fruitful. Pattaya City is going to become a regional, national and international MICE City. Special emphasis is placed on environment, security, infrastructure, and up-to-date means of mass communication. Pattaya City is going to become a new world class MICE City for Thailand and the whole world!”

Mrs. Supawan Teerarat, TCEB Senior Vice President – Strategic Business Development & Innovation, stated, “TCEB is proud and delighted to promote and co-organize the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2019, Pattaya City in Thailand. The event, which will serve as a driving force for international MICE events in Thailand, contributes to implementing the government’s policy of stimulating and developing the regional economy. Pattaya City is one of Thailand’s leading MICE cities, with strong potential and readiness to host international conventions to world-class standards. The city has already built a strong track record in hosting numerous high-profile MICE events.”

“The event will contribute greatly to raising visibility and awareness of Pattaya City and other regional MICE cities as international MICE destinations. At TCEB we are committed to supporting responsible, low-impact, sustainable growth in the MICE business, to harness MICE events to benefit local communities, and to drive inclusive economic growth across the country,” she added.

Mrs. Srisuda Wanaphinyosak, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and the Americas), said that the selection of Pattaya as the next year PATA Destination Marketing Forum venue is a great opportunity to enhance its status as MICE city and high-end destination with its convenient accessibility, new luxury accommodations and activities. Also, it supports the TAT Hub and Hook Strategy, with Pattaya as the region’s leading travel hub and hook to lesser known destinations in the East, such as Rayong, Chantaburi, Trat and eastern islands through tourism activities, fruits & foods, as well as, local experiences.

Mr.Taweebhong Wichaidit, Acting Director General of Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) or DASTA, stated that DASTA proudly presents the new tourism perspectives of Pattaya City for MICE Market in the PATA 2019 event. Visitors will experience the hidden authentic charms of Pattaya local livelihood based on its natural & cultural identity managed by participation of community groups. The DASTA team has been working with local stakeholders in Pattaya for several years to gain their participation in learning, thinking, planning, implementing, and obtaining tourism benefits equally to ensure sustainable tourism management. Therefore, Pattaya has become one of our proud destinations for sustainable tourism management based on Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) which help repositioning Pattaya towards a Greenovative city with facilities for Tourism for All. We would like to welcome all delegates to enjoy the new tourism perspectives in Pattaya which you may be surprised and be delighted to experience like never before.

Pattaya is a popular place for both Thais and foreigners because the city has everything tourists need. Traveling there is easy as you can take your own car or ride a bus, a van, or a cab from Bangkok. There is also a ferry service from Hua Hin to Pattaya, which takes about an hour.

The city boasts an incredible variety of accommodations to fit all budgets, a diverse assortment of locations for creative meetings and incentives events, and three convenient and flexible exhibition centers designed with Thailand’s distinctive culture in mind.

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.

Bangkok (Thailand) – December 10, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Issaya Siamese Club is hosting a special charity dinner and auction in collaboration with some of Bangkok’s most talented chefs on 18 December 2018. The dinner and auction will raise funds for underprivileged children and youth in northern Thailand.

The dinner and auction will raise funds for the Chiang Mai-based Child’s Dream Foundation and its Half Day School Programme, which offers vocational and life skills training, medical check-ups, vaccinations, nutritious meals and protection for children and youth who are at risk of trafficking and exploitation.

Participating chefs include: Ian Kittichai, Issaya Siamese Club and Masterchef Thailand; Arnaud Dunand Sauthier, Le Normandie; David Thompson; Prin Polsuk; Francesco Lenzi, Lenzi Tuscan Kitchen; Sujira ‘Aom’ Pongmorn, Saawaan; Andrew Martin, Issaya Siamese Club; and Dan Bark, Upstairs at Mikkeller.

With no less than five Michelin stars between them, the chefs will each present a dish from their childhood memories made specifically for the charity dinner to highlight Child’s Dream Foundation and its work with underprivileged children and youth in northern Thailand.

A fundraising auction will be held during the dinner where guests can place bids on exclusive and bespoke prizes such as a round-trip business class ticket to Paris with Turkish Airlines paired with a lunch at L’Arpege, Alain Passard’s iconic three Michelin-starred restaurant; a picture by Yellow Korner; a Riedel wine decanter; and stays at five-star resorts in Thailand and abroad.

The event will be held on Tuesday 18th December 2018 at Issaya Siamese Club. The price per person is 9,500 net including wines. 100% of ticket sales and auction proceeds will go to Child’s Dream Foundation. Tickets are available for sale by calling 02 672 9040.

About Issaya Siamese Club
Bangkok – Issaya Siamese Club which opened on the 15th, December 2011, is the flagship home for internationally renowned Chef Ian Kittichai. Chef Kittichai teamed with Frederic Meyer, the founder and owner of the international music management firm Avril Production, to create a concept that incorporates Chef Kittichai’s Thai cuisine and style with a relaxed atmosphere of dining and lounge with a stylish garden party vibe – all in an historical 100-year-old Thai villa and its tropical gardens in central Bangkok. The concept and cuisine is certain to excite sensibilities that crave delicious Thai dishes, artful unique ambience, and exceptional experiences. Issaya Siamese Club is honored to featured, and to be highly ranked on the Top 25 Restaurants Bangkok, the Mastercard Affluent Dining Guide.

About Child’s Dream Foundation
Child’s Dream Foundation’s Half Day School Programme. Based in Chiang Rai province, the Half Day School Programme offers vocational and life skills training, medical check-ups, vaccinations, nutritious meals and protection for children who are at risk of child trafficking and exploitation. The main beneficiaries are children and youth aged between 6-18, ethnic minorities, illegal immigrants and stateless persons.

Issaya Siamese Club
4 Soi Sri Aksorn, Chua Ploeng Road, Sathorn, Bangkok. Tel: +66 (2) 672 9040

Kampala (Uganda) – December 7, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Seychelles former Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Alain St. Ange, was invited to deliver the keynote address at yesterday”s Uganda Civil Aviation Authority’s Aviation Stakeholders Breakfast meeting at the Kampala Serena Conference Centre.

Alain St. Ange captured the full house audience’s attention with his off the cuff free flowing address and was applauded when he spoke about the theme for this year’s Aviation week that said : Working together to ensure no country is left behind.

‘Uganda and Ugandans must ensure that Uganda is not left behind’ St.Ange said before he highlighted the need to have aviation and the entire tourism industry work hand in hand. He said that ‘… both industries are closely linked and their mutual success is dependent on each other. Both sectors need to work together to reach national target projections for passengers and visitors‘.

He also underscored that both aviation and tourism need to become sustainable for long term success.

On a different note the Seychelles former Minister made everyone in the packed conference hall take notice when he told them that being one of the world’s best kept secrets no longer cuts it and that Uganda, a country he had visited in similar capacities before, had what it took to shout their attractions from the roof tops and drive the message home on a daily basis. ‘Visibility is a key element to promote a destination, you need to be seen to showcase your attractions every day‘.

St. Ange is of course remembered in the Seychelles as the initiator and driver of a relentless marketing drive and his constant engagement with the global tourism trade and in particular the travel media, which saw the archipelago punch well above its weight as a tourism destination and led to a decade of growth when other competing destinations faltered.

St. Ange’s presentation and added interaction with local media and attendees of the meeting for over an hour after the proceedings had officially concluded once again shows that Africa has some superb talent to call upon when, be it on the continent or beyond, such meetings take place and require specific insights and experience from and about Africa. St. Ange’s deep knowledge from his time in both private sector and in government, besides his speaking eloquence, no doubt will see him called upon as an expert of tourism and Brand Africa.

Uganda’s Works and Transport Minister Hon. Monica Ntege, in turn acknowledged and quoted in her own speech on several occasions St. Ange’s key points and invited him to return to Kampala for the 2019 edition of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo.

Meanwhile did UCAA’s Managing Director Dr. David Mpango Kakuba highlight a number of achievements the authority can look back at during the soon to end year 2018.

International airlines now serve Entebbe with scheduled flights, as do 26 non scheduled airlines. Next on Entebbe’s horizon will be Israel’s El Al, due to launch flights in February 2019, following the conclusion of a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Uganda and Israel.

He also provided passenger numbers for Entebbe, which in 2017 reached 1.620.000 compared to a measly 118.000 in 1991.
During the first 8 months of 2018 did this figure again rise by 120.000 passengers, suggesting that by year’s end passenger throughput will exceed 1.8 million.

Uganda’s CAA also attained the coveted ISO 9001:2015 Quality Standard as only the third regional aviation body after Kenya and Tanzania.

Hanoi (Vietnam) – December 6, 2018 (travelindex.com) – AccorHotels has continued to expand its portfolio in Vietnam with the signing of two new stunning sea-facing properties. Slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2021, the opening of Mövenpick Resort Van Phong and Mövenpick Resort & Spa Halong Bay will add 525 rooms to the growing portfolio in the region.

“The addition of Mövenpick Resort Van Phong and Mövenpick Resort & Spa Halong Bay will bring our total pipeline of Mövenpick properties to nine in Vietnam. AccorHotels currently has 28 properties ranging from economy to luxury brands across Vietnam. We look forward to bringing the brand’s signature Swiss hospitality to a variety of alluring destinations across the region,” said Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer for AccorHotels Upper Northeast & Southeast Asia and the Maldives.

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Vietnam was named among the destinations with the biggest year-over-year increase in international tourist arrivals at 29.1%, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) report. In September, The country was recognised as “Asia’s leading destination” at the 25th annual World Tourism Awards. This year, the number of foreign tourist arrivals to Vietnam in the first six months of 2018 surged 27.2 per cent year-on-year to 7.9 million. On July 1 this year, the Vietnamese government granted visa exemptions for tourists travelling from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy for the next three years until June 2021.

AccorHotels is the biggest international hotel operator in Vietnam with 6,101 rooms across a wide spectrum of brands. The Group will be opening another 13 hotels across the country in the next two years, bringing the total portfolio to 41.

Nestled on a pristine stretch of coast just 130km from Cam Ranh International Airport, Mövenpick Resort Van Phong features 200 rooms and suites plus 100 villas. Overlooking the turquoise sea, the brand beachfront resort features two restaurants, an outdoor pool, spa and fitness centre. For corporate events and weddings, the resort features a 300 seater ballroom and a range of meeting rooms.

Located in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay in Northern Vietnam, the 325 room Mövenpick Resort & Spa Halong Bay offers convenient access to the area’s main tourist attractions and activities on Halong Road and Halong Bay Cruise Port. The resort features two restaurants, a rooftop pool and lounge that overlooks the spectacular views across the iconic, islet-studded bay, a spa and a fitness centre. MICE facility includes a 300 seater ballroom and a selection of meeting rooms.

As part of the brand signature, the hotels also feature the Mӧvenpick Chocolate Hour which allows guests to sample delicious Swiss chocolate daily in the lobby.

Part of AccorHotels, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has more than 80 properties in 24 countries and is the most Green Globe certified hotel brand in the world. Mövenpick Resort Van Phong and Mövenpick Resort & Spa Halong Bay will complement the company’s existing collection of hotels in Vietnam, including Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh and Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi.

AccorHotels is a world-leading travel & lifestyle group and digital innovator offering unique experiences in more than 4,600 hotels, resorts and residences across 100 different countries.

With an unrivaled portfolio of internationally renowned hotel brands encompassing the entire range from luxury to economy, from upscale to lifestyle and midscale brands, AccorHotels has been providing savoir-faire and expertise for more than 50 years.

In addition to its core hospitality business, AccorHotels has successfully expanded its range of services, becoming the world leader in luxury private residence rental with more than 10,000 stunning properties around the world. The Group is also active in the fields of concierge services, co-working, dining, events management and digital solutions.

Relying on its global team of more than 250,000 dedicated staff, AccorHotels is committed to fulfilling its primary mission: to make every guest Feel Welcome. Guests have access to one of the world’s most attractive hotel loyalty programs – Le Club AccorHotels.

AccorHotels plays an active role in its local communities and is committed to promoting sustainable development and solidarity through PLANET 21 Acting Here, a comprehensive program that brings together employees, guests and partners to drive sustainable growth.

From 2008, the AccorHotels Solidarity Endowment Fund has acted as a natural extension of the Group’s activities and values, helping to combat the social and financial exclusion experienced by the most disadvantaged members of society.

Accor SA is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACRFY) in the United States.

For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.Hotelworlds.com

Bangkok (Thailand) – December 6, 2018 (travelindex.com) – A landmark project to improve the ratio of both domestic and foreign visitors between main cities vs secondary cities. The Royal Thai Government has approved a series of tax deduction measures to promote seminars, leisure travel and MICE events in 55 second-tier tourist provinces nationwide all through 2018.

The measures will support the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s latest “Go Local” campaign, a landmark project to promote the kingdom’s emerging generation of secondary destinations, better balance the distribution of tourist arrivals between urban and rural areas, even out the seasonality factor between the months of travel, and encourage more travel during weekdays to reduce pressure on the weekends.

TAT will partner with several corporations and organisations in both the public and private sectors to implement and promote the project all through the year.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said: “When local communities grow, the country grows. With travel and tourism now widely recognised as a major contributor to grassroots economies, job creation and income distribution, we are now taking specific measures to ensure that the benefits are better distributed across the breadth and depth of the entire kingdom.”

The target is to improve the ratio of both domestic and foreign visitors between main cities vs secondary cities from 64:36 to 60:40. The project will target 10 million tourists to travel to secondary cities and communities, generating an estimated 10 billion Baht in tourism revenue in 2018.

The tax deductions will be applicable for domestic travel to the following provinces: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Udon Thani, Chiang Rai, Lop Buri, Phitsanulok, Suphan Buri, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Nayok, Nong Khai, Sa Kaeo, Loei, Tak, Trat, Phetchabun, Chanthaburi, Mukdahan, Nakhon Sawan, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum, Phatthalung, Trang, Si Sa Ket, Prachin Buri, Satun, Chumphon, Sukhothai, Surin, Sakon Nakhon, Lamphun, Nakhon Phanom, Uttaradit, Ranong, Lampang, Roi Et, Mae Hong Son, Phichit, Phrae, Chai Nat, Nan, Ang Thong, Maha Sarakham, Kamphaeng Phet, Uthai Thani, Narathiwat, Yala, Phayao, Bueng Kan, Kalasin, Yasothon, Sing Buri, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Amnat Charoen, and Pattani.

Details of the Go Local campaign are as follows:

Enjoy Local

A TAT Plus online card will be launched specifically for use in local communities and secondary cities in partnership with F&B outlets, souvenir shops, shopping at Pracharath Sookjai shop, petrol stations, car rental companies, etc. Cardholders will get special discounts and mileage accrual for redemption with various domestic airlines.

SET in the Local

Encourage companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) to hold their MICE events; such as, conferences and seminars as well as corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in local communities and secondary cities in the 55 provinces, especially during weekdays. Partners include the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Local Administration Department and various Chambers of Commerce. A corporate tax exemption on income equal to 100% of expenses will be offered for seminars and accommodation rooms, transport and other expenses incurred for conducting staff training seminars in the 55 provinces. This is equal to a 200% corporate tax deduction for such staff training seminar costs.

Local Link

Cooperate with domestic tour operators and travel agents to offer incentives; such as, discounted meals when buying local tour packages covering secondary destinations. An exemption from personal income tax for the amount paid out to tour operators, hotel operators or homestay operators for domestic tours to the 55 provinces, but not in excess of 15,000 Baht in total.

Eat Local

Promote consumption of local food and purchase of local raw materials in cooperation with the Thai Restaurants Association, celebrity chefs, credit card companies, local banks and provincial authorities. Attract food lovers by organising “Eat Local Week” activities under the aegis of different TAT domestic offices all over the country. Offer opportunities to earn points and get privileges; such as, dining at Michelin star restaurants.

Our Local

Partner with the theme and recreational parks, museums and local provincial administrations to organise local community events based on their unique culture and identity. Specific activities will be organised to promote travel to different secondary cities every week, accompanied by rewards schemes for purchase of local arts and craft items and advertising support to promote the events.

Local HeRos

Organise “mobile clinics” to upgrade the quality of human resources at the community level, enhance their knowledge base to boost their competitive advantage and open up opportunities of the Digital Age. Support speakers, academics, artists and celebrities who can create and design locally-oriented products and services and help local communities access funding support.

Local Strong

Strengthen local communities through more integrated public-private sector cooperation, reinforce the supply chain and help improve the quality of products. Develop “Creative Tourism” to enhance the brand image and appeal of tourist attractions, and support new start-up entrepreneurs to promote secondary destinations.

A “Go Local” Directory will be launched to provide specific information on dining, travelling and accommodation for getting tax deductions.

Mr. Yuthasak said, “We want tourism and related activities to really benefit local people and give them a new source of income and pride. This project will allow many local communities off-the-beaten track to show off their unique Thainess while looking forward to a brighter future.”

For more information on the 55 secondary destination cities, please visit: GoThailand.org

Mahe, Victoria (Seychelles) – December 3, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Seychelles makes the Official list of lowest security risk countries falling 9th in the World. The safest countries are listed in that order: Luxembourg, Switzerland, Slovenia, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Seychelles and Cape Verde. This is good news for us as Seychellois and for our tourism industry where Security and Safety are listed as key USPs of the islands. But the challenge is remaining in that list which is why it is more important today than it has ever been for Seychelles to maintain its foreign policy of ‘Friends of All and Enemy of None’ and not to be inviting world super powers to bring their rivalry on the doorstep of our islands.

Blue Economy may bring new Tax for Seychelles Tourism Industry

As the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi was closing, news broke in Seychelles that discussions were taking place for a new tourism tax to sustain the local Blue Economy machinery. The tourism trade were surprised and shocked and called to try and find clarity. Tourism will always try to pass on all its lumbered with, as taxes and fees. The question remains, how far can Seychelles push their luck before a backlash is felt, when Seychelles prices itself out of the market for tourists using the ‘home grown’ establishments? The small hotels are the ones who are caught with increases in taxes and fees that they cannot pass on, and end up having to absorb them.

The Commonwealth has added a new Action Group to its Blue Charter. It will address Marine Protected Areas and will be championed by Seychelles, as the islands are deciding on its Assumption Island Military Base, or Coast Guard partnership with India.

Seychelles will protect 30% of its 1.4-million-square-kilometre exclusive economic zone by 2020, tripling the SDG14 and CBD Aichi targets for MPAs. The 411,000 sq km of Indian Ocean will be protected under a US$21-million debt swap for ocean conservation and ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change. The local Seychellois Blue Economy experts and technicians will need to have the country’s political will to live by words of protection, and safeguarding for future generations, as good custodians.

The Commonwealth’s Blue Charter remains an initiative to protect the oceans, seas and lakes. Nine member countries known as Action Groups will lead on different areas of oceans and its governance. Seychelles will need to walk the talk as the eyes of the world will be on its actions. Protect, must mean protect, and not playing nuclear submarines that is part of the creation of a superpower military base.

Dugong spoted at African Banks in Seychelles

It was just a couple of years ago that the Seychelles News Agency reported “A creature of mystery – rare dugong is sighted in Seychelles at Aldabra”. Today, a boat has confirmed a Dugong was sighted at African Banks. This is good news and reason enough to intensify protection efforts.

Only last week, we wrote about a Whale Shark cruising close to La Digue Island, showing the works and policies of the past are paying off. Let us stay the course and stand firm in saving Seychelles’ fragile ecosystem from super power rivalry.

Workforce challenges persist in tourism industry

The festive season in on our doorstep and the hospitality trade is pulling its hair out, citing shortages in staff. The category of hotels least affected by serious workforce issues are the smaller ‘owner manager’ establishments, but they will also be first to fall prey to continued cost increases by the country. The five start establishments and other high end resorts need staff and good staff, to meet the challenges of hosting the more affluent tourists, who expect value for money. Three months to have approval for Gainful Occupation Permit (GOP) for foreign employees is leaving Seychelles with employers receiving their second and third choices, as the good ones will not be waiting for this length of time for Seychelles Authorities to go through their bureaucratic procedures. The high yield clients have expectations and one key expectation is service; this can only be provided by good and trained staff. Tourism remains the pillar of the island’s economy and if trained staff are required, it should be prioritised.

Seychelles National Museum of History opens its doors

The new Seychelles National Museum of History is in the centre of Victoria in an impressive building that was constructed inn 1885 by the ‘Banque Orientale’. This was the first modern building of the Seychelles which was at that time being administered as part of Mauritius. In 1892 the Bank closed its doors and the land on which stood the city centre building reverted back to the Government and they also bought the building for Rupees 30. The building then became the Supreme Court and the island’s Treasury. The Supreme Court remained in this building until 2013.

In 1984 the building was declared a National Monument.

The National Museum on its part was first created in 1965. It was an annex of the National Archives that was situated in the Carnegie Building. It had two main sections the History and Natural History. In 1992 the National Archives was transferred to new facilities in State House Avenue where the Museum was positioned on the ground floor. In 2004 the National Museum of History was moved to the National Cultural Centre in Francis Rachel Street and has now been relocated in 2018 in this impressive city centre building.

Phuket (Thailand) – December 3, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The 32nd Phuket King’s Cup Regatta was off to a flying start on Monday with a strong breeze of up to 17 knots, allowing race organizers to hold two races in all classes off the southern part of the resort island.

In the top flight IRC Zero Class – for the slick, stripped down racing keelboats – Australian Ray Roberts and his crew on Team Hollywood managed to edge out defending champions Tom and Kevin Whitcraft on their Thai-registered boat THA 72, which was skippered by Don Whitcraft in both races.

In two closely-fought races, Team Hollywood won by narrow margins, and the two boats are expected to be engaged in some close racing right up until the final day on Saturday.

“We had a great competition in the first race, but not so good in the second race,” said defending champion Kevin Whitcraft. “We’ll have to lift our game in the coming races,” he added.

The IRC 1 Class was also a close battle for first place, with Mandrake III coming out on top overall after winning the second race. King’s Cup regulars Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth finished third on Mandrake III in the first race, but came roaring back to take first place in the second race.

Mandrake III leads East Marine Emagine by only half a point after two races, with Loco and Aquarii tied for third place in the IRC 1 Class.

One boat that grabs the spotlight wherever it goes is the 60-foot trimaran SKH Scallywag Fuku Bid, a winner at the recent Raja Muda Regatta in Malaysia, and it did not disappoint on the Andaman Sea off Phuket on Monday.

With one of its hulls completely out of the water as it cut through the sea at high speed, leaving everything in its wake, its only real rival was its handicap. However, despite being about to hit almost 40 knots in a strong breeze, the Scallywag crew had to settle for second place on Monday behind Australian Dan Fidock’s Fugazi in the Racing Multihull Class.

Scallywag was first over the line by a country mile in both races on Monday, but Fugazi also sailed well and once the handicap was deducted from the big boat’s time, the smaller Aussie-helmed boat took the honors.

Closer to the shore, the young sailors in the dinghy classes had practices races and honed their skills on Monday in preparation for the start of their opening races on Wednesday in the waters off Kata Beach.

Youngsters from Phuket as well as Sattahip, Pattaya, Koh Phangan, Songhkla and other parts of Thailand will be contesting the Optimist Boys and Girls, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial, Laser Standard and 420 classes, some of them already champions and representatives of the country at international events.

These up-and-coming youngsters will one day be aboard the bigger boats racing further out to sea.

One of the biggest regatta fleets in Asia will take to the water again on Tuesday morning as the second day of racing gets underway in the Phuket King’s Cup, which finishes on Saturday.

There are 11 classes of keelboats and multihulls competing in this year’s regatta, which is held off its traditional base at the Beyond Resort Kata at Kata Beach.

With the Royal patronage of His Majesty the King of Thailand, the regatta is organized by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Sports Authority of Thailand, the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and the Province of Phuket.

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is organized by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and the Province of Phuket.