Category: Latest Travel News

Bangkok (Thailand) – August 17, 2018 (travelindex) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organizes an activity to invite general public to join TAT Gift (Gives) for Local to create a network of local community lovers as part of TATCSR activity. This activity is sharing the power of giving by voting people favorite community that they want to give an opportunity and support for development on the website.

The five communities consist of
1. Ban Don Kai Dee (Benjarong Village) in Samut Sakhon Province
2. Thale Noi Community in Phatthalung Province
3. Ban Nam Chiao Community in Trat Province
4. Ban Pone Community in Kalasin Province
5. Ban Huai Hee Community in Mae Hong Son Province

In addition, one of the participants will be able to receive a great chance to win the special prize. The communities which receive votes will get the opportunities to develop their areas through the community activities of TAT in the future. Top three winning communities will be on the list of communities that Social Giver will continue to develop their areas.

TAT truly expects that this activity will encourage general public to develop tourism and enhance the value of tourism in the communities in order to generate income for local community economy according to government policies.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand (India) – August 17, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announced that the PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2019 (ATRTCM 2019) will be held in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India from February 13-15. The announcement was made by PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy at Tourism PowerHouse 2018, a PATA India Chapter initiative, held recently in New Delhi, India.

The three-day event, kindly hosted by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, comprises of a one-day travel trade mart and one-day conference that brings together public and private sector tourism professionals involved in adventure travel and responsible tourism.

“The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart has enjoyed outstanding success in recent years in Thimphu, Bhutan; Chiang Rai, Thailand; Luoyang, China, and Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE and we are now delighted to have the opportunity for the first time to focus upon the many opportunities for adventure travel and responsible tourism in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India”, said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “This event provides an exceptional platform for travel trade professionals to learn much more about this captivating destination, gain deeper insights into adventure travel trends, and contribute to creating a more responsible travel and tourism industry.”

Nestled amidst lush greeneries guarded by the breathtaking hills of northern Uttarakhand, the tranquil city of Rishikesh is oft­en claimed as the `Yoga Capital of the World’. It gained instant fame when The Beatles came to stay with their guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, in the 1960’s. Boasting marvellous temples, pilgrimage sites and the magnificent Ganges River, every corner of this legendary place has stories to be told. But Rishikesh is not all spirituality and yoga.

Today, the city attracts tourists from all over the world for its numerous adventure sports such as white-water raft­ing, cliff-jumping, kayaking and camping. Known as the ‘Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas’, Rishikesh is also a designated starting point for treks to numerous Himalayan pilgrimage centres and shrines.

Watersports fans can enjoy raft­ing down the Ganges River amid the rocky mountains and natural wood surroundings. Thrill-seekers can choose to dive off a cliff from a dizzying height of 35 feet­ or face the superb rapids of the Ganges on a kayak. Meanwhile, waterfall trekking offers a gentler opportunity to get close to nature while being accessible to people of all age groups – perfect as a family activity. Explore the destination where excitement meets tranquillity within the backdrop of tall mountains, amidst the gushing sound of crystal clear waters. This is Rishikesh – land of gods, adventure, and peace.

The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart is an annual event that offers a platform for sellers and buyers involved in the world of adventure travel and responsible tourism to secure new business and to consolidate existing contracting relationships via PATA’s well-proven system of pre-matched appointments. It is an excellent opportunity to create new experiences and to share new opportunities with global tourism professionals.

Early bird discounts are available for all registration fees until October 31, 2018, while special rates are available for Uttarakhand delegates.

For more information or to register for the event, please visit www.PATA.org/ATRCM or email ATRTCM@PATA.org.

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 member organisations, comprising 98 government, state and city tourism bodies, 19 international airlines and airports, 91 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 our 36 Chapters and 20 Student Chapters across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 36 local PATA chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 20 PATA student chapters globally. The chapters and student chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism 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
+66 (02) 658-2000
communications@PATA.org
Bangkok, Thailand

Dubai (United Arab Emirates) – August 16, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The Chef’s Table Competition taking place during the Hotel Show Dubai, from 16th to 18th September 2018, will see nine top hotel chefs and respective teams from the Middle East battling it out to offer exceptional guest experience and great taste all while adhering to a stringent set of rules.

Hotels already confirmed for the Challenge are The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Ajman Saray, Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek.

In the timed cooking competition, the ingredients won’t be revealed until the countdown clock starts ticking. The nine competing teams will be judged on hygiene, kitchen skills, creativity in putting the ingredients together, cooking skills, and of course taste.

This exciting Challenge, which has Carrefour as exclusive F&B partner along with Diversey as the hygiene sponsor and 1765 Gemini as the tableware sponsor, will be judged by a panel of four expert Chefs led by Chef Uwe Micheel, President of the Emirates Culinary Guild.

Explaining the details of the contest, Chef Uwe said, “This is a Challenge designed for the competing teams to showcase what a diner can experience from the moment he or she steps into the hotel. So one barman, two service members, and three guys in the kitchen. The team should include one young chef and young waiter. This is to ensure the development of the young staff. What could be a more relevant bout at the Hotel Show?”

The competition will comprise of three-hour battles each that will see three full lunch menus cooked-up. Chef Uwe along with Carrefour is in the midst of developing the mystery boxes containing all ingredients to be used in the cook-off which the teams can unbox only when countdown commences.

Sharing his thoughts on the Instagram age, Chef Uwe said, “Chefs, today, have to focus on taste as well as aesthetics for Instagram. But, to be honest, it is a nightmare because people have to put their food on social media before tasting it. Diners spend a lot of time clicking that perfect picture during which time the food is sitting there getting cold.

“However, the Chef’s Table Challenge will not be limited to focusing on presentation. It will be a true test of creativity, skill and teamwork”, explained the head judge.

Talking about the food sector and evolved cooking talent in the UAE, Chef UWE said, “We now have chefs from all over the world in the UAE. This diversity is not available in many countries. 20 years ago, the norm was to scope out the restaurant scene and food trends in Paris, London and Singapore before starting an outlet in the UAE. Today, the country’s diverse and palatable food scene serves as a reference point for food hubs from around the world”.

“The wide range of food options, available in the UAE, capable of catering to the most distinct and demanding food preferences has contributed to the country’s strong inbound tourism figures”, continued Chef Micheel. However, he also opines that tourists should be open to experience the food of the country that they are visiting instead of limiting themselves to familiar tastes.

So what is the latest trend food trend in the UAE? “Last year, burgers were a big thing. This year, different types of hotdogs are the in thing in Europe, which is catching on in the Middle East. Typically, such trends are around for about six months before something new comes up”, said the President of the Emirates Culinary Guild.

Event Director, Gary Williams said, “I am thrilled about the 19th edition of the Hotel Show Dubai. In addition to bringing key decision makers and suppliers together, and offering a premium platform for networking, I am confident that an electric on-site contest like Chef’s Table will elevate the nature of engagement and interactions at the Show. I wish all the contestants the very best of luck for the competition”.

To find out more about taking part in the competition, visit:

Hotel Show Dubai 2018 will run along with the Leisure Show, INDEX and FIM at Dubai World Trade Center. For more information about the Hotel Show, visit: www.thehotelshow.com

The Middle East Hospitality Awards is organised by dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa and belongs to the dmg events hospitality portfolio which includes: The Hotel Show Dubai, The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia, The Hotel Show Africa, The Hotel Show Philippines, The Leisure Show Dubai, and Middle East Hospitality Awards.

About DMG events
An international exhibition and publishing company, DMG events produces market-leading exhibitions and conferences for the global energy, construction, coatings, hospitality and interior design industries. dmg events is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT) an international portfolio of information, media and events businesses listed on the London stock exchange.

DMG events Middle East, Asia & Africa
Founded in 1989, dmg events has operated in the Middle East since 1995 and owns many leading brands including The Big 5 portfolio of construction events, INDEX – the Middle East’s largest event for the interior design industry and The Hotel Show, the longest running and most important event for the hospitality industry.

Headquartered in Dubai, UAE and with satellite offices in India, South Africa and the UK, dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa organizes over 45 events across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, North America and Europe.

About DMGT
DMGT manages a diverse, multinational portfolio of companies, with total revenues of almost 2bn, that provide businesses and consumers with compelling information, analysis, insight, events, news and entertainment. DMGT is also a founding investor and the largest shareholder of Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC and ZPG Plc.

Langkawi (Malaysia) – August 15, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Fifteen of the most innovative start-ups have been invited to the World Tourism Forum Lucerne (WTFL) Start-Up Innovation Camp 2018 taking place at PATA Travel Mart 2018 (PTM 2018) on September 12 in Langkawi, Malaysia, where they will have a unique opportunity to pitch their business model and convince international investors to help make their vision a reality.

For the third time and the first time in Asia, WTFL is organising the Start-Up Innovation Camp with the aim of promoting new and innovative business models in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Start-ups had the opportunity to apply in five different categories: Transaction, Hospitality, Destination, Mobility, and Impact. With applications from over 200 young entrepreneurs from 54 different countries, the 15 best start-ups of each category were pre-selected by the international jury and have been invited to pitch their business in front of a jury of international investors and industry executives. The winner of each category will be awarded with USD15,000 Start-Up Innovation Award 2018, 2-year coaching programme, and “5 Minutes of Fame” in front of a high-ranking international audience.

“AT PATA, we are always looking at ways to further add value and relevant content to our events. The integration of the WTFL Start-Up Innovation Camp 2018 into the PTM 2018 programme for the first time provides PTM delegates the unique opportunity to be inspired by the game-changing business models of revolutionary start-ups in the travel industry around the world. In addition, it also provides a valuable platform for the start-ups to increase their exposure and build their networks in the industry,” said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “I am truly excited to welcome these 15 entrepreneurs to Langkawi and hear about their innovative businesses.”

WTFL Chairman of the Jury Roland Zeller, a leading entrepreneur and business angel, is positively surprised by the amount of innovation start-ups deliver each year. Overwhelmed by the number of applications and spectrum of nationalities, the jury had a difficult task to select the most promising business models. However, the following 15 start-ips succeeded in convincing the jury the most, above all by their innovative thinking and vision.

“Particularly in these times of structural changes and challenges, innovation is a key factor in the long-term competitiveness of companies,” said Mr. Zeller.

Martin Barth, WTFL President & CEO is convinced that “innovation is very much in evidence in all sectors and niches of the global tourism industry. Although digitalisation has strongly impacted travel and tourism, innovation exists not only online but offline as well. Our finalists operate in online business such as booking platforms and software tools, but also offline as reducing food waste by using smart dustbins in the hospitality industry.”

“WTFL Start-Up Innovation Camp is a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs to establish contacts, receive deep industry know-how and advice from top experts in travel, tourism and hospitality sector. Besides, the Camp offers investors and industry executives the chance to meet the most innovative start-ups from around the world, get an insight into the best ideas of the future and push innovation to the next level.”

The 15 start-up finalists making their final pitches include:

Destination
Cuseum (USA)
Irhal (UAE)
Rainmaker (Namibia)

Hospitality
Contactless (Estonia)
Igloohome (Singapore)
Zeemart (Singapore)

Impact
Good For Food (Singapore)
Red Dot Foundation (India)
The Freebird Club (Ireland)

Mobility
Confirmtkt (India)
Kwikcar (Malaysia)
Wingly (France)

Transaction
Baarb (USA)
Tixget (Thailand)
TripClub (Philippines)

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 member organisations, comprising 98 government, state and city tourism bodies, 19 international airlines and airports, 91 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 our 36 Chapters and 20 Student Chapters across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 36 local PATA chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 20 PATA student chapters globally. The chapters and student chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism 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. Visit www.PATA.org.

About World Tourism Forum Lucerne
World Tourism Forum Lucerne (WTFL) is a unique platform for CEOs, Ministers, Academia, Investors, Start-Ups and representatives of tomorrow’s generation to actively exchange, share, and address the future challenges of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry and to shape a more sustainable future. Want to find out more? Visit our website www.wtflucerne.org.

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

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – August 14, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Hoteliers and Tourism Industry Leaders are never able to get away from their job and to be themselves without feeling the pressure of their staff, guests or the just the compulsive habit of watching over service to ensure it is at the level they set. This is exactly why Club Liberte Casino at Four Seasons moved to invite the tourism trade for what will be a regular night out to meet each other casually and enjoy discovering what is on the market.

Last Friday night at Club Liberte Casino it was new (Bio-organic) wines on the market courtesy of Archipelago Wines & Spirit that was being served as the Casino Chef brought out an array of snacks of what was being referred to as ‘finger foods’. “Hospitality and Tourism leaders work hard and need a place to just relax” was a comment from a hotelier.

Muthuvelan Karunanidhi, the Political Icon in Tamil Nadu will always be remembered

“Living is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist. These words are dedicated today, as a homage to Ex Chief Minister and Doyen of Indian Politics, the late Mr. Karunanithi” said Mr Ramani a member of the Seychelles Indian Community. This highly respected political icon of the State of Tamil Nadu, Mr Muthuvelan Karunanidhi on the 8th June 2016, had welcomed me and my official delegation to his private offices in Chennai.

The world was in shock last week, to hear of the sad loss of the ex. Chief Minister Dr. Muthuvelan Karunanidhi of Tamil Nadu, who passed away at the age of 94 years old. A condolence meeting was held in his honour at the Vivekananda Hall of the High Commission of India in Seychelles premises on the 8th August at 5.30pm.

I was then on a working visit to increase awareness of the Seychelles as a tourism destination, to the Indian holiday makers and to work to develop more trade between Seychellois entrepreneurs and their Indian Counterparts. I was accompanied by Sherin Naiken, the CEO of the Tourism Board, M. S. Sai, the Seychelles Honorary Consul in Chennai, Ramu Pillay, Kannan Pillay, Shanmugam Pillay and Durai Pillay .

Mr Muthuvelan Karunanidhi has been Chief Minister of the Tamil Nadu State for six terms, and still remained a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly after over two decades.

I remember well discussing with Mr Karunanidhi, the closeness of the islands of the Seychelles, the population with its own Indian population with many still having strong links with family in the Tamil Nadu State amongst many other matters. I was in awed by this meeting, not because of politics, but because of his lifelong dedication to his people and country which has earned him the respect to be regarded as a political icon. I was thrilled that Mr Muthuvelan Karunanidhi received us personally to his offices, and said to the army of waiting press outside his offices, that the whole delegation shall cherish this meeting with such a respected personality”.

Respect for culture in Seychelles will again see the 15th August Feast of the Assumption of La Digue Island celebrated by one and all

The annual 15th August Feast of the Assumption of La Digue in the Seychelles, a celebration that falls on the calendar of events of the Roman Catholic Church, will this week bring thousands to La Digue. This year, the celebrations will be extended into two weekends, as the 15th August falls midweek on a Wednesday. This feast brings together the religious procession and mass, as well as mass musical events and a fun fair.

Thousands of Seychellois and tourists alike descend on La Digue for this annual celebration, which over the last couple of years, has grown to become a key event on the country’s calendar of events. Bishop Denis Wiehe of the Catholic Church of Seychelles will again lead the religious side of the celebrations along with Fr. Francis of La Digue

The people of the Seychelles have always been proud of their unique culture, and religious belief is part and parcel of the island’s culture. Happy 15th August to each and every Diguois, and congratulations to the Seychellois people for the respect of the Seychellois Culture, which needs to be nurtured daily to ensure it gets stronger day by day.

“You can change everything, but you cannot change your culture and heritage” were words I echoed at the 2015 La Digue Celebrations when addressing the opening ceremony of the event.

Fruit Bats: A delicacy that is raising some concern

Last week’s editorial spoke about Seychelles moving to be more dog friendly with a new Dog’s Control Act. Many letters of feedback were received from all over the world complementing Seychelles on their move to deal with the stray dog problem of the islands, with a feeling of care and respect to animal welfare.

But some farmers and hoteliers also wrote in about the fruit bats. One such letter said: “It was nice to know that dogs are now being protected. On the other hand I will make a plea to the concerned bodies to look in to the option of controlling the fruit bat colony. Too many disturbances and also infesting all the fruits leaving a tiny % for human consumption”

Operational Costs must be revisited

The article that sparked the most feedback last week, was the point raised about Cost of Operation in Seychelles. The Business Community, inclusive of hotels of all sizes, wrote in appealing to be heard and saying that the cost of doing business in Seychelles needed to be revisited. Over and above the electricity, water, fuel prices and human resources. Comments forwarded to us after last week’s edition centered on points we had not tackled, and they include:-

a). New Progressive Tax which saw the private sector having to readjust salaries of their higher paid staff to ensure they were not disadvantaged by the new tax regime.

b). Company Vehicles are costing more and more in servicing because of the state of the roads.

Many hotels have also proposed that they be allowed to trade in foreign exchange at the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) and save on exchange rate commissions. The recent fluctuations in the value of the Seychelles Rupee is proving to impact negatively the monthly balance sheets and this point could be further discussed at the Inter Ministerial & cross sectorial meeting between the public and private sectors.

Seychelles must realise that its competition is not between one of its hotels against another one, but instead, competition for a Seychelles holiday is in Tour Operator programs with other regions and even between neighbouring states and islands. Comparison will always be made for similar ranked properties and a Seychelles package, though expected to be a bit more expensive, cannot be entertained when the prices are doubled.

Seychelles Visibility Campaign

More and more lists of the best are being issued and Seychelles is missing out these days, not because we are worse off than before, but more so because of the connotation of “out of sight – out of mind”. The Tourism Board’s core function is the promotion of Seychelles for the benefit of the whole country. The upper end sector of the industry will otherwise continue to work well and the authentic Seychellois properties, activities and facilities will suffer. Bureaucracy will not fill hotel beds, but the ability to react fast to press or tour operators’ requests always brings returns for the country.

Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) – August 15, 2018 (travelindex) – Ethiopian Airlines, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX certified Four Star Global Airline, is pleased to announce that, starting from August 1, 2018, it has rolled out stopover packages without any additional airfare that cater for all leisure needs with a view to promote tourism into Ethiopia.

Passengers traveling through Addis Ababa and continuing their journey to one of the destinations on Ethiopian network can now take advantage of stopover offerings from Ethiopian Holidays, the tour operator wing of Ethiopian Airlines, enabling them to discover and experience the many historical, cultural, religious and natural treasures of Ethiopia, Land of Origins. An online e-visa service for processing stopover visa is available for all international visitors to Ethiopia at

The packages range from sightseeing in Addis Ababa, the diplomatic capital of Africa, to visits to the pre-Christian era obelisks of Axum, the stunning medieval rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the amazing 9th century mosques of Harar, the majestic castles of Gondar, the stunning source of the Blue Nile, the jaw-dropping Simien Mountains, the splendor of the lake side resorts of Hawassa and Arba Minch, or the unique coffee farms of Kaffa, birth place of coffee, and much… much more.

Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde Gebremariam, said: “Ethiopian is working with all stakeholders in the tourism chain to make Ethiopia a tourism destination of choice. With its many riches, the world has yet to truly discover Ethiopia and tourism has the potential to become the main foreign currency generator for the country and a mass job creator for the youth. With the stopover packages, we aim to attract a significant portion of our transit customers in Addis as tourists and to considerably enhance the flow of tourism into the country.”

The stopover packages are easily accessible on the airline’s website, www.ethiopianairlines.com , and will pop-up as an option when passengers book flights transiting thru Addis Ababa, or can directly be accessed at Ethiopian Holidays website: www.ethiopianholidays.com.

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 115 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 eight business centers: Ethiopian Regional Services; Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering; Ethiopian 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

Tokyo (Japan) – August 15, 2018 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts has unveiled plans to launch a brand new hotel in the heart of Tokyo’s Akihabara district, the home of Japan’s famous Otaku culture and electronics shops.

Scheduled to open its doors in October 2018, Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara is a stylish, state-of-the-art midscale hotel that puts guests in the center of the action. Located in the Chiyoda ward of downtown Tokyo, Akihabara is the spiritual home of Japanese youth culture, with colorful consumer electronics stores lining the lively streets, alongside shops and cafés specializing in manga and anime.

The new hotel will feature 80 contemporary rooms, all equipped with comfortable beds and cutting-edge facilities. Every morning, guests can start their day with buffet breakfast featuring a selection of Japanese and international dishes plus high quality coffee. Then throughout the day, a hotel vending machine will offer quick snacks and drinks.

The central location and modern facilities of Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara will make it the perfect option for business and leisure travelers seeking a convenient, well-connected and affordable place to stay.

“Buzzing with life day and night, Akihabara is one of Asia’s most exciting and iconic urban areas. Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara is an exceptional new hotel that will provide guests with international accommodation and services in the heart of this dynamic district,” commented Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia.

“This launch marks our latest partnership with Fino Hotels Co., Ltd. in Japan. I am confident that this superb midscale hotel will become extremely popular with all guests, whether they are seeking to soak up the pop culture of Akihabara Electric Town or simply need a convenient base for their next Tokyo business trip,” Olivier added.

Located less than 400 meters from Suehirocho Station and Naka-Okachimachi Station on the Tokyo Metro, and just 17km from Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport, Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara is highly accessible for local and overseas travelers.

The new property will become the fifth Best Western hotel in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, following Best Western Tokyo Nishikasai, Best Western Tokyo Nishikasai Grande, Best Western Rembrandt Hotel Tokyo Machida and Best Western Yokohama. It also joins a growing portfolio of 17 Best Western hotels and resorts located all across Japan.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,200* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers 11 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, BW Premier Collection® 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) – August 9, 2018 (travelindex) – In a nod to the Thai capital taking its rightful place on the international culinary stage with the launch of the first Bangkok edition of the Michelin Guide last year, a stellar line up of thirteen chefs from twelve Michelin-starred restaurants are set to take over one of the city’s most exclusive addresses.

From 3rd – 9th September 2018, acclaimed chefs from nine countries – from Korea to Japan and from the United States to Portugal – will present an international culinary feast at the 19th annual World Gourmet Festival at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel.

This year, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel has partnered with Sanpellegrino and Gastronauts Asia to invite chefs to host two dinners each in the hotel’s award winning Biscotti, Madison, Spice Market and Shintaro restaurants.

Confirmed to participate in the 19th annual World Gourmet Festival are:

– José Avillez: Belcanto in Lisbon, Portugal (2 Michelin stars)
– Bernard Bach: Le Puits Saint-Jacques in Toulouse, France (2 Michelin stars)
– Ryohei Hieda: Shoun RyuGin in Taipei, Taiwan (2 Michelin stars)
– Jeong Ho Kim: Jungsik in Seoul, South Korea (2 Michelin stars)
– Martin Dalsass: Talvo by Dalsass in St. Moritz, Switzerland (1 Michelin star)
– Alessandra del Favero and Oliver Piras: AGA Ristorante in San Vito di Cadore, Italy
(1 Michelin star)
– Srijith Gopinathan: TAJ Campton Place in San Francisco, USA (1 Michelin star)
– Han Li Guang: Labyrinth in Singapore (1 Michelin star)
– Giuseppe Iannotti: Krèsios in Naples, Italy (1 Michelin star)
– Shinji Ishida: Nogizaka Shin in Tokyo, Japan (1 Michelin star)
– Shinya Otsuchihashi: CRAFTALE in Tokyo, Japan (1 Michelin star)
– Luigi Taglienti: LUME in Milan, Italy (1 Michelin star)

Since its inception, the World Gourmet Festival has grown in prominence to feature an extraordinary line up of some of the best chefs, winemakers and food experts from across the globe, all gathered together under one roof for a weeklong celebration of outstanding cuisine and superb wines.

In a first for the annual international culinary event, foodies and budding and professional chefs alike can attend master cooking classes by all the visiting chefs, where they will have the opportunity to see and taste specially prepared dishes from the chefs’ World Gourmet Festival menu repertoire. On Thursday, 6th September, the two visiting Japanese chefs and Japanese born Chef Ryohei Hieda will team up to present a master class of six dishes, each paired with sake by chef and sommelier Seju Yang from S’accapau, Tokyo.

Joining the star studded line up of chefs this year are two other international stars – celebrity chef Bobby Chinn, and famed chocolatier Paul A Young, who is at the forefront of the British chocolate scene and has won numerous international accolades.
Paul A Young will present two chocolate master classes followed by a chocolate inspired afternoon tea. As has become tradition in recent years, the inimitable Bobby Chinn will host the Diageo Night at the Bangkok jet set’s much loved retreat from the capital’s buzz, Aqua Bar, on Saturday, 8th September, during which he will rock the house with his band.

The 19th World Gourmet Festival is a proud supporter of HRH Princess Soamsawali AZT Fund for Pregnant Women of The Thai Red Cross Society. THB 600 per dinner ticket sold and proceeds from the auctions, which take place throughout the Festival, will be donated to the Fund.

Reservations for the 19th World Gourmet Festival at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel are essential and can be made by visiting www.WorldGourmetFestival.asia, where detailed information and prices of all the events are available.

Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel’s Amazing World Gourmet Festival accommodation package offers gourmands a sumptuous opportunity to experience an extraordinary international culinary feast by some of the world’s best chefs and winemakers in the heart of one of the world’s most enigmatic capital cities. Starting from THB 20,000++ per room per night, this special offer includes accommodation, a sumptuous daily buffet breakfast, and a table for two at a guest chef’s dinner each night of the stay period. Guests will also be treated to return airport transfers by the hotel’s limousine service and a fifteen percent discount on treatments at the hotel’s award winning Anantara Spa.

For more information about this special offer or to make a reservation, please visit www.anantara.com/en/siam-bangkok/offers or contact Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel on email wgf.asia@anantara.com or telephone +66 2 126 8866 Ext. 1707.

About Anantara
Anantara is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, connecting them to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the world’s most exciting destinations. The collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts provides a window through which to journey into invigorating new territory, curating personal travel experiences.

From cosmopolitan cities to desert sands to lush islands, Anantara connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds them in authentic luxury, and hosts them with passionate expertise. The portfolio currently boasts over 35 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zambia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Portugal, with a pipeline of future properties across Asia, the Indian Ocean, Middle East and Africa.

For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) – August 10, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Vynn Capital, a South-East Asia-based early-stage venture capital firm, and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) today jointly announced a strategic partnership to promote South-East Asia’s tourism sector by facilitating entrepreneurship and innovation.

Through this strategic partnership, Vynn Capital and UNWTO will collaborate to create a framework and policies to support technology startups that are addressing opportunities and challenges in the region’s tourism sector. Both parties will work together to encourage traditional industry players such as hotel groups, property groups and food companies to adopt digital strategies, as well as to encourage more investment by the private sector into technology companies. Vynn Capital will act as UNWTO’s partner on initiatives to achieve these goals, by supporting tourism entrepreneurs and traditional industry players as the tourism market embraces technology and innovation.

“The tourism sector represents a huge opportunity for South-East Asia, where we see the emergence of a strong middle class. Vynn Capital has identified tourism as a key investment space and we will continue to work with entrepreneurs and industry players to promote the region’s tourism sector. We believe technology companies that focus on the mobility of consumers, such as Indonesia’s Travelio and Carsome, who already has operations in four key countries in South-East Asia, will continue to champion the economic impact of tourism growth. We join hands with UNWTO to foster a new generation of innovative tourism companies in South-East Asia,” said Victor Chua, Founding and Managing Partner of Vynn Capital and Chairman of the Malaysia Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (MVCA).

“UNWTO is proud to partner with Vynn Capital, who will help us to create real solutions for the much-needed digital transformation of tourism. Such partnerships are key to continue generating opportunities all through tourism, and prove that venture capital has a role to play when we want to advance sustainable development,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

According to UNWTO, international arrivals have increased in all regions since the start of 2018, continuing the strong trend of previous years. The strong growth is led by Asia and the Pacific (+8%), especially South-East Asia (+10%) and South Asia (+9%) where growth has already surpassed that of 2017 when Asia saw a 6% increase in international arrivals. This is significant, considering that Asia and the Pacific represents around 29% of international tourism receipts.

About Vynn Capital
Vynn Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm that focuses on opportunities in South-East Asia. The team has experience investing across Asia, with notable past investments in companies such as Triip.me, Carsome, Hermo and others. The firm focuses on bridging the knowledge and experience gap between incumbent industry players and startups, within industries such as travel, property, food & FMCG, female economics, logistics and enablers. Vynn Capital encourages strong partnerships of corporations and families with technology companies, as well as synergy between companies in creating more value for the ecosystem.

Contact information:
UNWTO Communications Department
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100
Fax: +34 91 567 8218
Email: comm@unwto.org

Apia (Samoa) – August 8, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in partnership with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) will organise the second Pacific Tourism Insights Conference (PTIC) in Apia, Samoa on October 3, 2018.

The event, generously hosted by the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA), brings together a dynamic and unique line up of international thought leaders recognised for their success and expertise in innovative and disruptive thinking.

“The first Pacific Tourism Insights Conference yielded a new era in the Pacific tourism conversation by exploring regional opportunities and challenges in line with global trends and influences. That event highlighted the need for both the public and private sectors to embrace change and build a strong foundation that protects the Pacific’s unique culture and heritage,” said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “As we continue to emphasise this particular theme, this year’s event remains focussed on four primary issues: insights, development, expertise, and sustainability.”

Chris Cocker, CEO – South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), said, “Tourism is becoming a rapidly evolving industry where technology and changing mindsets of travellers continuously influence the way host destinations are having to plan, develop, market and manage. In the Pacific Islands, understanding and keeping up with these changes can be challenging, however through platforms such as the Pacific Insights Tourism Conference, we as a region can learn more, assess, and adapt if necessary on key areas of tourism-related insights, development and expertise and importantly sustainability for our Pacific tourism industry.”

Sonja Hunter, CEO – Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) and Chair Lady – South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), added, “This is the Information age and there is so much to collect, analyse, and understand in positioning our destinations to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. The Pacific Insights Tourism Conference will provide more intelligence and dialogue to inspire action for beneficial results.”

Key topics to be analysed and discussed during this insightful event will contribute towards achieving the objectives of the Pacific Tourism Strategy 2015-2019, which provides the strategic framework to support the development of tourism in the Pacific.

The registration fee is US$100 and complimentary for local delegates and students. A 50% discount is available for PATA and SPTO members. For the promotional code, please email pacific@PATA.org.

For more information or to register for the event, please visit www.PATA.org/PTIC.

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 member organisations, comprising 98 government, state and city tourism bodies, 19 international airlines and airports, 91 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 our 36 Chapters and 20 Student Chapters across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 36 local PATA chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 20 PATA student chapters globally. The chapters and student chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism 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. Visit www.PATA.org.

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