Meliá Chiang Mai in Thailand is taking in culinary students from Suan Dusit University in Lampang, Chiang Mai University, and Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Tak to provide education on sustainable farming, culinary and waste management practices.
Through this partnership with the three Thai universities, the hotel invites participating students to experience its 360° Cuisine programme, which works towards carbon reduction and food resilience through local farmers. The hotel sources vegetables, fruit, herbs, cage-free eggs, sterilised fresh milk, artisanal cheese, honey and more from a network of nearby ethical and chemical-free suppliers, such as gourmet organic farms Seed and Rong Khum as well as Jartisann Cheeserie and Supha Bee Farm.
The 360° Cuisine programme is spearheaded by Meliá Chiang Mai’s executive chef Suksant (Billy) Chutinthratip. Suksant and his team abide by a farm-to-plate approach to food preparation, where a “thoughtful cooking process” is carried out to use as much of their harvest as possible before food waste is returned to the farms as fertiliser.
Since the 360° Cuisine programme’s inception in 2022 until July this year, the hotel has processed more than 5,590kg of leftover food as compost and fertiliser and more than 1,820kg of cooking oil as biodiesel fuel.
To understand the 360° Cuisine programme, students visit Seed and Rong Khum organic farms to learn about sustainable agriculture, spend time in the hotel’s kitchens to see sustainable practices in action, and reference case studies prepared by Suksant.
Each batch of interns are expected to spend three to five months with the hotel, with the duration dependent on their course requirements.
Commenting on the educational initiative, Suksant said it was “incredibly rewarding” to see the students learn and appreciate the hotel’s sustainability efforts.
“Students hold the key to long-term changes benefitting the health of our guests, community and environment,” he said.
In response to TTG Asia’s query on employment opportunities with the hotel upon completion of the training programme, Suksant said: “Currently, we are open to all candidates interested in joining our team. Our selection process prioritises those who demonstrate a sustainability mindset.”
He added that the hotel had previously hired some interns “who shared our passion for sustainability” upon graduation. These students took up earlier internship opportunities that Meliá Chiang Mai established with universities and colleges in Northern Thailand since June 2023.
“We started the graduates in casual kitchen-hand positions, as they graduated right as we experienced more demand for kitchen staff on the back of (increased) occupancy and our F&B requirements. The timing was perfect,” he added.
Hot on the heels of the collaboration with the three Thai universities, the hotel signed a Memoranda of Understanding with Ayutthaya Vocational College and Bungphra Phitsanulok Commercial College on September 18. This will see the hotel furthering its investment in talent development, especially in the area of sustainable culinary practices.
Top-tier loyalty members of Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) had the opportunity to catch the Formula 1 (F1) Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024 as part of the Ascott Privilege Signatures programme launched earlier this year by Ascott to reward its top-spending guests.
The programme leverages high profile sports events and offers exclusive experiences in destinations where Ascott is present. The inaugural event was held in London where members had VIP access to the The Championships, Wimbledon 2024 for a day.
“With sports tourism gaining significant mass appeal as travellers prioritise experiential travel, the Singapore Night Race is one significant event that blends a love for sports with travel adventures. By inviting our loyalty members to attend this premier sporting and entertainment event, we hope to reward them with the exclusive experiences that they seek,” said Tan Gan Hup, vice president, loyalty and partnerships, Ascott.
For this year’s Night Race event, members were hosted at Ascott Privilege Signatures Lounge at the Singapore Flyer. Located on the second floor of the Singapore Flyer building, members were treated to a bird’s eye view of the race track below from the balcony of the Signatures Lounge, as well as iconic landmarks of Singapore including Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands in the background. A selection of complimentary gourmet food featuring local flavours and beverages was provided as well.
Apart from the Ascott Privilege Signatures Lounge, members had access to the entire F1 race circuit, which included access to the concerts and F1 Village, as well as complimentary rides on the Singapore Flyer.
While only the second event, feedback has been positive.
“We have received very positive feedback from members on the enhanced benefits of the Ascott Star Rewards programme, especially with the introduction of these experiences as part of Ascott Privilege Signatures. Members acknowledge and appreciate the effort that Ascott has made to not just celebrate loyalty, but also connect with members on a much deeper level through these events,” shared Tan.
Ascott has also announced its next Signatures event – exclusive experiences with Chelsea Football Club, following its appointment as official Global Hotels Partner of Chelsea Football Club.
Ascott will bring The Famous CFC and Chelsea football legend Gianfranco Zola to Singapore at the end of this year. The Famous CFC is a global fan experience created by Chelsea to strengthen connections with its fans around the world, and to help connect partners and brands within international markets.
“Since becoming Chelsea’s Official Global Hotels Partner in July, Ascott has been dedicated to bringing Chelsea fans closer to their beloved football heroes, such as through exclusive hospitality packages at the Ascott Privilege Signatures Stadium Lounge at Stamford Bridge and creative social media content,” said Tan Bee Leng, chief commercial officer, Ascott.
ASR members will get the opportunity to attend a watch party of a match between Chelsea and Aston Villa on December 1, football coaching clinics, a meet-and-greet with Zola, and chances to win prizes and merchandise.
Other plans in the pipeline of the Ascott Privilege Signatures programme include events around gourmet and entertainment.