Uncover the wonders of Thailand with BWH Hotels

June 3, 2024

Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Hua Hin,Room_Deluxe Pool Access — Get direct pool access from your room at the Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Hua Hin

Brought to you by BWH Hotels

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With a bustling capital, stunning beaches and islands, delicious cuisine, vibrant culture and warm hospitality that has earned it the name of The Land of Smiles, Thailand remains as one of the most popular travel destinations in the world.

The country has a wealth of treasures to offer, from city life to beachfront bliss, as it targets to receive 40 million visitors in 2024.

Enticing travellers to discover more of Thailand is BWH Hotels, with its expanding collection of hotels and resorts across the country.

In Bangkok, a haven of world-class shopping, cuisine and culture, BWH Hotels offers a choice of 10 hotels.

The Best Western Sukhumvit 20; Best Western Plus Sukhumvit 1, and SureStay Plus by Best Western Sukhumvit 2, place guests right in the heart of downtown Bangkok, while those who want to stay in trendy districts can opt for the Best Western Ratchada Hotel; Best Western Click Sathorn 11; Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel; Vīb Best Western Sanam Pao, and Seekers Finders Rama IV Hotel, SureStay Collection by Best Western.

Travellers who need to be near Bangkok’s major transport hubs have the options of Best Western Nada Don Mueang Airport Hotel and Best Western Chatuchak, which is near the Mo Chit Bus Terminal.

For those who want a beachside escape, Hua Hin and Pattaya, are approximately two-and-a-half-hours drive away from the Thai capital.

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Nestled on the golden gulf coast, the Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Hua Hin is an aquatic oasis with a lagoon pool, beachfront pool and the Aqua Play Zone with multiple water slides for all in the family to enjoy.

On Thailand’s eastern coast are the Best Western Plus Nexen Pattaya and The Sanctuary Resort Pattaya, BW Signature Collection, that let guests experience the serene side of this dynamic destination, as well as indulge in some leisure time at nearby retail complexes, water parks, golf courses and more.

In tropical Phuket, BWH Hotels boasts a trio of properties that overlook the island’s stunning sunset coast.

Be in the thick of action at Best Western Patong Beach

Ideal for couples and friends seeking a lively getaway in a popular tourist hub is Best Western Patong Beach. For those who want a relaxing holiday, the Best Western Phuket Ocean Resort on the tranquil Karon beach, and Best Western Premier Bangtao Beach Resort & Spa, a full-service beach resort, offer sea views with all the facilities one could need.

Travellers who want to experience the kingdom’s rich history and lush scenery inland can head to two emerging, heritage-rich destinations and stay at the Best Western Royal Buriram Hotel, in Buri Ram, north east of the capital, or Tawa Ravadee Resort in Prachinburi, a member of WorldHotels Distinctive.

Whether for a weekend getaway or extended holiday break across the country, BWH Hotels offers a range of accommodation with facilities and accessibility catered to the varying needs of travellers.

Start planning your next stay now with BWH Hotels.

Dusit strengthens development team with two appointments

By TTG Asia

May 31, 2024

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Dusit International has made two key appointments to strengthen its global development team.

In the Middle East, Rami Massoud has joined the company as vice president of development (EMEA) based in Dusit’s regional office in Dubai. He will be responsible for the growth of Dusit’s portfolio of Dusit Hotels and Resorts across key existing and emerging destinations in the EMEA region.

With over 25 years of experience in hotel development, real estate investment, and asset management, Massoud most recently served as the managing director of Hotel Assets Acquisition Consultants.

Pornpim Hiranpradit has been named director of development (Global), based in Bangkok, where she will spearhead Dusit’s development efforts across Asia-Pacific and support Dusit’s regional development offices worldwide.

She brings extensive experience in real estate and hospitality, having worked for real estate brokerage and management firms in New York as well as in hotel operations in Thailand.

South Korea kicks off a month of wellness activities

By TTG Asia

May 31, 2024

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Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has flagged off a full month of health and wellness festivities around Seoul that promise to introduce visitors to both traditional treatments as well as medical techniques.

From May 31 to June 2, visitors can experience medical tourism, wellness, and K-culture all at once through various programmes at the Korea Health & Wellness Festival held at Gwanghwamun Plaza – there are a total of 112 medical facilities participating in the festival.

The Korea Health & Wellness Festival will be held at Gwanghwamun Plaza from May 31 to June 2

Activities are offered across the Health Zone, Wellness Zone, K-Wave Zone, K-Beauty Zone, and K-Gourmet Zone, and visitors have the chance to learn how to destress and pick up make-up tips that Korean celebrities hold dear.

Additionally, KTO and haebom, a K-beauty experience platform, will conduct various beauty experiences at their joint booth on site.

The Wellness Tourism Experience Week follows on with thematic promotions throughout June – Beauty & Spa Week (June 1 to 7), Slow Trekking Week (June 8 to 14), Healing Yoga Week (June 15 to 21), Wellness Lifestyle Week (June 22 to 30).

A 50 and Fabulous Special: ibis

By S Puvaneswary

May 31, 2024

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ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong - South Korea(1)_640 — ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong, South Korea

ibis is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a big milestone: opening its doors in its 80th country by the end of this year, with the exciting launch of ibis Styles Reykjavik Muli in Iceland.

It was back in the early 1970s that Accor’s co-founders, Paul Dubrule and Gérard Pélisson created the ibis brand. After the successful launch of Novotel in 1967, Dubrule and Pelisson realised they had to stay close to a young and modest clientele. Travel had become more affordable to a wider demographic in the late 60s, so the co-founders agreed that Accor should offer pleasant hotels within everyone’s reach – these hotels would be simple yet equipped with every comfort. The first ibis hotel opened in 1974, in Bordeaux, France.

ibis

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Fast forward to 1976, and ibis was already spreading its wings to 15 properties across France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Since then, it has been a whirlwind journey of growth and expansion, turning ibis into one of the go-to names in the world of economy hotels.

Today, ibis proudly boasts a whopping 2,500 hotels under its belt across three fantastic brands – ibis, ibis Styles, and ibis budget.

Throughout its 50 years of hospitality, ibis has racked up some pretty cool milestones. Remember the 15-minute guarantee programme they rolled out in 1997? If something wasn’t quite right with the room and it wasn’t fixed within 15 minutes, the room fee was waived. Talk about service with a smile.

Then, there was that genius campaign in the early 2000s where guests got to name their price for the second night’s stay. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of that sweet deal? And let’s not forget about Sweet Bed by ibis, introduced in 2012. With a bed so comfy, it’s practically like sleeping on a cloud – ibis knows the importance of a good night’s sleep for every traveller’s journey.

Simmons: each ibis hotel delivers the same high level of hospitality and efficiency

In 2H2024, ibis is rolling out a whole new brand culture programme, global employee ambassadorship, and brand campaign. They are doubling down on what makes them so special: their people. After all, ibis isn’t just a hotel chain – it is a community of Heartists (Heart + Artist) who pour their hearts into making every guest’s stay memorable.

Garth Simmons, chief operating officer of Accor’s premium, midscale & economy division in Asia, shared: “When I joined Accor in 2007, I vividly remember being impressed by ibis’ commitment to delivering both comfort and value, which is exactly what today’s savvy travellers are looking for.

“From the first moment I stepped into an ibis hotel, the vibrancy and energy were palpable. The design was modern and inviting, underscoring our commitment to innovation in the economy segment.

“No matter the location, each ibis hotel delivers the same high level of hospitality and efficiency, ensuring a seamless experience. This consistency is something we pride ourselves on and is a testament to our dedicated teams who work tirelessly to maintain these standards.”

He added: “Our ambition is to continue leading the economy segment by offering high-quality, affordable hotels across the world. To do this, we must continue responding to the evolving needs of consumers.”

Living Tours joins ITB China to promote new tourist experiences in Portugal, Spain

By TTG Asia

May 31, 2024

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Living Tours, a Portuguese tour operator, participated for the first time in ITB China (May 27 to 29) in Shanghai, joining the delegation of Portuguese companies in the China Roadshow (May 29 to 31), with stops in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Macau.

The leading tour operator in Portugal and Spain kicked off a week entirely dedicated to major industry events in China to promote new tours and activities in Portugal and Spain, with updates for those planning to travel to cities like Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid, Ibiza, or Palma de Mallorca.

Living Tours hopes to attract more Chinese visitors to Portugal and Spain with new tours and activities

While this debut at ITB China marks a new phase, the connection to the Asian market had already been established via a partnership with Trip.com earlier this year to enhance the range of activities and experiences available in Portuguese territory for Chinese travellers.

For Rui Terroso, CEO of Living Tours, visiting the major industry events in China is “essential for the strategy of promoting the destinations we represent, especially due to the opportunity to strengthen our proximity with local partners and customers”.

The partnership with Trip.com helped to make Living Tours’ presence in China even more indispensable, he added.

For ITB China, Living Tours shared updates on new routes and private activities in Portuguese territories, where the company now offers its own resources, fleets and teams in cities like Lisboa, Fátima, Nazaré, Óbidos, Arrábida or Comporta to provide experiences focused on gastronomic and wine tours.

Additionally, turn-key tours can be experienced in Spain’s cities – Barcelona, Madrid or Andaluzia, while in the Balearic Islands region, specifically in Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca, the focus is on the nature and adventure tourism with activities like hot air balloon flights, visits to sea caves and coasteering. Also available are boat parties with international DJs, entertainment teams and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea.

Vietjet adds four new international routes in June

By TTG Asia

May 31, 2024

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Vietjet is set to launch four new non-stop services from Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island to Taichung and Kaohsiung, and from Hanoi to Melbourne and Sydney in June.

The Phu Quoc-Taichung route will commence operations on June 13, offering thrice weekly service on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while the Kaohsiung-Phu Quoc route will be launched on June 14, operating four return flights per week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Vietjet will commence four new non-stop services from Vietnam to Taiwan and Australia in June

Offering flights linking Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc in Vietnam with major cities in Taiwan including Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, this brings the total of the airline’s Vietnam-Taiwan flight network to nine direct services.

Vietjet also bolsters connectivity between Vietnam and Australia with the launch of twice-weekly service from Hanoi to Melbourne, as well as the Hanoi-Sydney route, beginning in the first week of June.

Tickets for these routes are now available across all official Vietjet booking channels.

Explore more of Japan with Princess Cruises

By TTG Asia

May 31, 2024

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Princess Cruises will be extending its number of itineraries in Japan during the 2025-26 season, and will feature an expanded Japan season showcasing the region’s fall foliage, Mount Fuji, Kyoto and more before continuing to Singapore and South-east Asia.

From ancient temples and castles, to markets and gardens, cruisers experience the best way to see Japan aboard Diamond Princess with a new fall 2025 season offering 11 new voyages in addition, ranging in length from nine to 22 days, visiting 25 destinations throughout the Land of the Rising Sun, as well as stops in South Korea and Taiwan.

*Diamond Princess will offer* 11 new voyages in 2025, visiting 25 destinations throughout Japan

Following her extended Japan season, Diamond Princess will sail to Singapore on a 12-day South-east Asia and Japan cruise featuring Taipei (Keelung) and Hong Kong to kick off three roundtrip Singapore sailings from December 2025 to February 2026 including a 14-day Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam cruise; a 16-day Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam sailing; and a 14-day South-east Asia and Japan voyage from Singapore back to Tokyo (Yokohama) with late night More Ashore stays in both Hong Kong and Shimizu (for Mount Fuji).

For more information, visit Princess Cruises.

Glamp in style at Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort

By TTG Asia

May 31, 2024

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Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort has unveiled its new luxury glamping suite experience, offering urban dwellers a unique opportunity to reconnect with nature and escape the hustle and bustle of city life, while immersing themselves in nature.

Located on the western shores of Tioman Island in Malaysia and overlooking Mount Kajang, this immersive glamping experience is set to open in September this year.

Artist’s impression of the new glamping suite at Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort (Photo: Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort)

Each suite provides a modern glamping experience for up to six people, with features like an ensuite pool, a relaxing hammock, and a toilet furnished with a smart mirror – blending modern comfort with nature.

Guests can also enjoy a wide range of amenities at Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort, such as snorkelling and diving, sipping cocktails by the poolside, complimentary morning yoga sessions by the beach, a trekking experience through Tioman’s tropical rainforest, and even kayaking in the South China Sea.

The glamping suite experience will be available for booking starting September on the resort’s website.

For more information, visit Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort.

Forward as one

By Mimi Hudoyo

May 31, 2024

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You have been with ASEAN Secretariat and are now with ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA). What have the organisations achieved?
The establishment of the ASEAN Open Skies in 2010 is one key milestone, as it changed the landscape of South-east Asian aviation. I was involved in the process. Before, such matters were governed by bilateral agreements. With the new policy, it became easier for airlines to begin operations and ask for certain routes. It also led to the rise of LCCs, which encouraged regional travel.

The second milestone is the visa facilitation signed in 2002. It started with a framework that required ASEAN member states to push for visa facilitation based on bilateral agreements. Today, all member states are visa-free (for nationals), with the exception of between Malaysia and Myanmar.

These policies contribute massively to travel within South-east Asia, which was crucial during the pandemic. In 2022, intra-ASEAN travel rose to 50 per cent of total arrivals; usually it was 38 to 40 per cent.

I would also count the ASEAN Tourism Agreement as a third achievement. It pushes all member states to facilitate travel and undertake joint marketing. Along with this come the ASEAN tourism standard and mutual recognition arrangement for tourism professionals. However, the agreement may need another look, as an article within calls for no levies on travel within the region. Now, for different reasons, Bali and Malaysia have applied tourist taxes. I have raised this issue (at ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024) and asked that the agreement be revisited.

Has ASEAN reached its goal to be a single destination?
I think not quite. Joint marketing efforts are done from time to time, driven only by events or country-specific aims. Efforts are neither continuous nor periodically implemented and organised by the ASEAN Secretariat or the ASEAN marketing coordinator.

Yes, we see member states taking single country pavilions at international tradeshows, pitting against each other. How can the region do better?
One challenge is the lack of a single coordinator undertaking (full participation of ASEAN member states) in certain events, (resulting in) member states joining individually instead of as one ASEAN.

Another challenge is that each member state has a different capacity for participation.

There is actually (potential) to pool resources and establish a common area with a coordinator. When I was with the ASEAN Secretariat, we had a project from South Korea (that led all) 10 member states to participate in a travel fair as one ASEAN village, but each country was able to design their own booths.

As president of ASEANTA, what are your priorities now?
Firstly, we want to grow both inbound and outbound traffic. Secondly, apart from intra-ASEAN travel, we also need our neighbours, like India, China, Japan, South Korea and Australia, as source markets.

India has become a new big market for ASEAN, with recovery at 120 per cent (compared to pre-pandemic). However, seat capacity is an issue. Connectivity among member states with India is governed by bilateral agreements. Some, like Thailand, are running out of capacity. We are asking ASEAN to negotiate for ASEAN-India open skies.

With China, an ASEAN open skies policy exists, but recovery is slow. Besides being the last country to open after Covid, domestic travel has remained strong due to the government’s domestic promotions, easy access, language ease, and a familiar payment system. A way to speed up Chinese inbound recovery is for ASEAN to bring Chinese payment mechanisms into our region.

How would you like travel and tourism to look in the future?
Many rank-and-file jobs may be taken over by AI and robots in the future; driver-less buses and robot chefs, perhaps. However, human interaction will still be important and people will continue to travel. Tourism activities will accelerate, thanks to tech advancements, but people will no longer want to visit common places. New and unique destinations will be king.

Big plans for Bintan

By Mimi Hudoyo

May 30, 2024

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How has the recovery of tourism been doing so far this year?
We did slightly better in 2023 than 2022. Total arrivals in 2023 was 500,000, almost 60 per cent compared to pre-pandemic.

While arrivals are improving this year, it is not what we have expected. Many markets are still not fully revived. This year, we hope to close with a minimum of 700,000 arrivals.

What is hampering recovery?
The implementation of visa-on-arrival is an issue. Indonesia offered the visa-free facility for 169 countries pre-pandemic, but suspended this during the pandemic. Currently, travellers, other than those from South-east Asian countries, need to apply for a 30-day visa-on-arrival, which costs 500,000 rupiah (US$31) per person.

This is challenging, especially for travellers on chartered flights from China, as they tend to pair Singapore with Bintan. These travellers have to pay another 500,000 rupiah to re-enter Bintan from Singapore to catch their flights home.

This is also an issue for travellers who arrive through Singapore – the main international gateway to Bintan. A family of four, for example, would have to pay an additional two million rupiah on top of a ferry ride.

Our (Riau Islands) governor has requested that the central government reinstates the visa-free policy or come up with a shorter visa and cheaper tariff – he suggested US$10. While the Directorate General of Immigration has approved the shorter visa period, implementation is pending the Ministry of Finance’s approval for the proposed tariff.

However, we see potential in the Chinese travel market as its economy this year (is expected) to improve by 5.6 per cent. As such, there is likelihood that a lot (more) people from China will travel. Even if only one per cent of Chinese travel, that translates to over 10 million people.

If Bintan can get 150,000 from China, that is already (an improvement from) last year, which welcomed less than 10,000 Chinese travellers.‌

What about the other markets?
We saw fewer guests from Europe and Japan (compared to pre-pandemic), while arrivals from South Korea are slowly improving.

What are you doing to boost arrivals to Bintan Resorts?
We set up a representative office in Seoul, South Korea last October, and in Shanghai, China last November. Now, we are embarking on having a representative in India. (Based on) a survey we conducted with VFS Global, there are many enquiries (from India), so we are confident that the market will return.

We appointed Avia Tour early this year to represent us in Indonesia, particularly to (attract travellers from) Jakarta and the surrounding areas. We lack domestic branding. We know Indonesians like to go to Bali, but Bintan offers a different aura. Bintan may be perceived as a pricey destination, but we offer quality. Bintan may not have the shopping facilities that people like, but it does not lose out in terms of hospitality, tourism – especially if travellers are looking for a tranquil beach resort – and safety. I’m sure that out of 270 million Indonesian people, there are many who want places that are not as busy as Bali.

On top of opening representative offices, we are now aggressively attending all the trade shows to reintroduce Bintan to the international market.

What new product developments are taking place in Bintan?
Together with some investors, we are setting up a polo club with race tracks, equestrian and polo facilities, as well as international stable management. Currently, we are looking at between 200 and 300 horses in the stable, and we expect this to be ready by 1Q2025. We feel that this sport will attract travellers, especially those from Asia-Pacific.

Beside that, once Mövenpick is ready by the end of this year, we hope to also organise MICE activities. Even though (the property) can only accommodate up to 1,000 people, it is a good start.

We are also setting up our own exhibition centre, a standalone convention facility with a capacity of up to 10,000 people. We have already allocated five hectares of land for the development. This is (scheduled) to be ready by 2026, (along with) the opening of our airport.

This year, four hotels are entering the market: Four Points by Sheraton Bintan, Lagoi Bay opened last February; Indigo and Holiday Inn will be ready in July and August; Mövenpick will open by end of the year.

Uncover the wonders of Thailand with BWH Hotels

Dusit strengthens development team with two appointments

South Korea kicks off a month of wellness activities

A 50 and Fabulous Special: ibis

Living Tours joins ITB China to promote new tourist experiences in Portugal, Spain

Vietjet adds four new international routes in June

Explore more of Japan with Princess Cruises

Glamp in style at Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort

Forward as one

Big plans for Bintan

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