Amanresorts founder to get ILTM lifetime award

ADRIAN Zecha, founder and chairman of luxury travel brand Amanresorts, will be presented with the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award at ILTM Asia’s fifth edition in Shanghai in June.

The first Amanresort, Amanpuri (Place of Peace), was opened in Thailand in 1987 by Indonesia-born Zecha, at a time when the concept of small boutique resorts was still in its infancy.

Meanwhile, to help the global luxury travel industry better understand the Asia-Pacific region’s many differing cultures and travel requirements, a new Education Programme will be launched at ILTM Asia.

A number of key travel influencers will give insight into buyer behaviour and values across four outbound Asia-Pacific markets – India, Japan, China and Australia. The programme will also host three supplier-led seminars giving advice on selling spa and wellness programmes, authentic and sustainable travel, and luxury cruises.

The Ultratravel Forum which immediately follows the Education Programme will reveal the findings of ILTM’s global research project, The Future of Luxury Travel – A Global Trends Report, and feature a panel discussion addressing the question, “Is the Asian Luxury Traveller dictated by culture, wealth or both?”

Hosted by ex-CNN Asia anchor Michelle Han, the panel will include hotelier and restaurateur Loh Lik Peng; Paul Dickinson, sales & marketing director of Virgin Atlantic; Steve Odell, senior vice-president of Silversea Cruises; and managing director of Taj Hotels & Resorts, Raymond Bickson.

The award ceremony, Education Programme and Ultratravel Forum will be held at the Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai on June 13. ILTM Asia will take place at the adjacent Shanghai Exhibition Centre from June 14 to 16. For the full programme, visit www.iltm.net/asia/forum.

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