Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, Japan
Housed on the highest floors of a new 39-storey tower in Otemachi, the hotel offers 170 Jean-Michel Gathy-designed guestrooms and 20 suites including the 38th-floor Imperial Suite. Among the four F&B offerings are Italian restaurant Pigneto and Virtu cocktail bar. An on-site spa offers five treatment rooms, alongside additional facilities such as steam rooms, Japanese baths, gym, and a 20m-long indoor pool. Flexible event space spanning 1,370m² across multiple venues include a Grand Ballroom with six-metre-high ceiling, and several function rooms and outdoor terraces. Separately on the 39th floor, the Social Room is a residential-style venue for executive meetings or private cocktail receptions.
Courtyard by Marriott Penang, Malaysia
The first Courtyard in the country stands along Jalan Macalister in the heart of Penang’s UNESCO-listed George Town. It offers 199 keys, with facilities such as a business centre, 24-hour fitness centre, an outdoor infinity pool, the Gin Library bar, and all-day dining restaurant Penang Kitchen. Event planners may avail the pillarless ballroom good for 150 guests, or eight meeting rooms.
Sheraton Kunming and Delta Hotels by Marriott Kunming, China
Marriott has opened the Sheraton Kunming and Delta Hotels by Marriott Kunming, marking the debut of Sheraton Hotels and Delta Hotels by Marriott in the capital city of China’s Yunnan province. Sheraton Kunming offers 427 guestrooms, while Delta Hotels by Marriott Kunming features 639 rooms. Together, the duo boasts 3,000m² of shared conference and banquet spaces, including a 1,352m² pillarless grand ballroom, eight multifunction rooms and a rooftop garden. Recreational facilities include a fitness centre, heated indoor swimming pool and spa, as well as five F&B options ranging from the all-day diner Xiu to Yun Chinese restaurant.
Oval Hotel, Australia
Set to open its doors in September 2020, the boutique hotel located at Adelaide Oval has started accepting bookings. All 138 rooms including two master suites will feature intuitive technology such as keyless entry and electronic room controls for personalisation of climate, lighting and ambiance, curtains, room servicing and privacy settings. Other amenities are the brand’s flagship bar and dining spaces, including the all-new Bespoke Wine Bar & Kitchen.
The live event is expected to welcome over 8,000 attendees, more than 400 exhibitors, over 500 buyers, and an array of over 150 top speakers. The virtual event, which will be hosted on ITB Community in Asia, is set to complement the live event by reuniting a much wider audience accompanied with digital innovations to improve audience engagement and connectivity.
Slated to launch on October 5, the course is the only one of its kind in the Philippines, as most schools’ curriculum and on-the-job training are less focused on tourism (travel agencies, tour operators), and more on hospitality (hotels, culinary, cruise ships, etc.), Clemente claimed.
Planeterra Foundation has launched its first annual Planeterra Trek Challenge and is inviting the travel industry to join a virtual trek to Everest Base Camp to help rebuild community tourism ravaged by the coronavirus.
This year’s trek spotlights the work of Planeterra’s partners in South Asia, including Nepal, with the challenge being for participants to walk the 65km, or 85,000 steps, it takes to climb to Everest Base Camp. The challenge takes place from September 21-27, with participants ‘reaching the top’ on World Tourism Day, September 27.
Planeterra’s founder, Bruce Poon Tip, has already built his own team, and pledged to match donations from participating teams, and donors, up to CAD$25,000 (US$19,085).
Bruce is inviting agency partners, suppliers, and the wider tourism industry to join the foundation in raising awareness and much-needed funds.
“The Planeterra Trek Challenge is an opportunity for us to come together virtually and create a sense of connection at a time where people are feeling distanced, not just from travel, but from other countries and cultures,” he said. “Most of us are missing travelling and many are looking for a way to give back to the people and communities who have given us life-changing travel experiences in the past.”
Bruce added: “We also want to spotlight this iconic region for travel that is currently void of tourists. These communities need our help, so let’s get away from our home offices for a bit, maybe tackle a personal fitness challenge at the same time, and do what we can to make a difference.”
Funds raised through Planeterra’s initiative will go towards helping its network of 85 community projects around the world rebuild, after the pandemic-induced travel standstill left them without any source of income.
“We are preparing a series of unique content and stories online that will celebrate and highlight community tourism. This includes interviews with travellers who have summited Everest, interviews with community tourism leaders and cooking demonstrations. Anyone who loves travel is going to want to get involved,” added Alanna Wallace, Planeterra’s program and communications manager.
The Planeterra Trek Challenge will be supported across Planeterra’s social media channels and agents can learn more about the campaign and how to sell trips to Everest Base Camp via the Agents of Change Facebook group.
Throughout September, Planeterra will be posting videos, blogs, webinars with special guests, and other information about their work in the region, as well as tips for trekking in Nepal and the unique and inspiring aspects about travel in South Asia.
Donations collected will provide kickstarter funding for communities around the world that need to invest in new health and safety measures, contribute to training for safe reopening, and help to ensure communities remain resilient and safe for years to come.
Register your team to join the Planeterra Trek challenge here.