Best Western sharpens wellness offering with GOCO Hospitality

February 25, 2022

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has brought in renowned wellness company, GOCO Hospitality, to curate exclusive wellness experiences for its guests at two upcoming hotels within Charm Resort Ho Tram in Ho Chi Minh City.

The partnership between the two companies will see GOCO managing a spa and wellness centre, staffed by GOCO’s team of health professionals. Hotel guests will be offered a wide range of natural therapies complemented by advanced technology within an oasis of landscaped gardens and waterways, just steps from the beach.

GOCO Hospitality will lead a holistic health and wellness centre within the two Best Western hotels set within the upcoming Charm Resort Ho Tram

The wellness facility will be part of the 470-key Charm Resort Ho Tram, BW Signature Collection by Best Western and the 548-key Charm Resort Ho Tram, BW Premier Collection by Best Western.

Erwann Mahe, managing director, international operations – Asia, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, said: “Wellness has become a key component of the hotel and resort industry, especially in Asia, and we are delighted to work with GOCO Hospitality and Charm Group on this impressive new project. This soothing sanctuary will become one of the key selling points at Charm Resort Ho Tram, BW Premier Collection by Best Western and Charm Resort Ho Tram, BW Signature Collection by Best Western.”

Accor expands network in Cambodia with first ibis address

By TTG Asia

February 25, 2022

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Accor will open its first ibis budget hotel in Cambodia this July with the signing of ibis budget Phnom Penh Riverside.

The 322-key hotel will incorporate the signature ibis budget concept and offer Sweet Bed by ibis budget in all its rooms, while amenities will include a grab-and-go breakfast outlet and four meeting rooms.

ibis budget Phnom Penh Riverside will pack in a grab-and-go breakfast outlet and four meeting rooms

ibis budget Phnom Penh Riverside will sit in Chamkar Mon district, one of the prime business and entertainment neighbourhoods of Cambodia’s capital. Within the hotel’s vicinity are attractions such as the Independence Monument, the National Museum of Cambodia, the Royal Palace, and the Central Market.

Andrei Shmakov cooks up a storm at Sheraton Maldives this March

By TTG Asia

February 25, 2022

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Michelin-star chef Andrei Shmakov will take over the Sea Salt at Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, where he will present a series of exclusive, multi-course dinners from March 20-27.

Shmakov will surprise guests at Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa with a limited-time dinner menu

While the actual menu is a surprise, Shmakov has previously served up dishes such as tartlets with pumpkin cream, yuzu and marinated tomato; seared salmon with seaweed, pickles and horseradish sour cream; baked scallops with morel fricassee, as well as a fish coulibiac with champagne sauce and caviar.

Originally from Tallinn, Shmakov joined Hotel Metropol in Moscow as executive chef in 2013 after working in some of the best kitchens in Europe, including previous training at Noma in Copenhagen. His award-winning restaurant Savva in Moscow offers modern Russian cuisine that interprets classic dishes in a contemporary way.

Marriott Bonvoy members will also have the chance to bid loyalty points for a Marriott Bonvoy Moment, which includes a sandbank picnic for two hosted by Shmakov, a private dolphin cruise with champagne and canapés, a snorkelling excursion, spa treatments and more.

Hong Kong’s Covid surge overshadows new travel lane with Singapore

By Prudence Lui

February 24, 2022

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Hong Kong’s tourism players are reserved about tourism recovery potential on the back of the Singapore-Hong Kong Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL), which will come into effect on February 25.

Inbound agents told TTG Asia that Hong Kong’s current battle with Covid-19 infections and medical facility overload as well as a quarantine-on-arrival for travellers coming into Hong Kong could diminish the value of the new VTL.

Hong Kong inbound travel agents doubt the Singapore-Hong Kong Vaccinated Travel Lane would see immediate demand while Hong Kong deals with another Covid surge

Wing Wong, managing director of W Travel, which specialised in South-east Asian markets prior to the pandemic, retains a bleak outlook.

He said: “With the Hong Kong government and citizens fighting the outbreak now, I wonder if the Singapore government would reassess the viability of the Singapore-Hong Kong VTL. Unless Singapore residents need to visit relatives here in Hong Kong, I doubt they would make the trip now.”

Wong added that interest and enquiries from Singapore travellers in December were snuffed out by the latest outbreak.

Ronald Wu, executive director of Hong Kong’s Gray Line Tours, said that even though Hong Kong residents could enter Singapore quarantine-free, they would have to pay for a seven- to 14-day quarantine on return.

“Not everyone can afford that. Therefore, I don’t expect to see any travel demand (for the VTL) in next six months,” said Wu.

Offering an alternative optimistic view, Pinky Lee, general manager of KKday, told TTG Asia that the Singapore-Hong Kong VTL would pave the way for future tourism recovery between the two lands. For now, it would benefit business travellers who would not have to personally shoulder the cost of returning quarantine in Hong Kong.

Thai hospitality players move in on cannabis tourism

By Duncan Forgan

February 24, 2022

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Cannabis tourism is poised to become a growth market in Thailand as the Kingdom’s relationship with marijuana goes back overground.

Thailand was the first South-east Asian country to legalise the production, import, and export of cannabis for medical purposes in 2018. This year, Thai authorities approved the de facto decriminalisation of marijuana but left a grey area around its recreational use.

De Cuyper: Thailand’s medical and wellness tourism sector can benefit from the rise of cannabis tourism

These moves, say observers, are fostering an environment where cannabis tourism can help resuscitate an industry that has been badly battered by the global pandemic. Indeed, many feel Thailand’s relaxed regulations could lead to a surge in medical and wellness tourism where marijuana is utilised as a key component.

“Thailand is well known as a destination for medical tourism and wellness travel. So, these sectors will surely benefit from the latest developments,” opined Dirk De Cuyper, CEO of S Hotels and Resorts.

Cannabis proponents say the plant can help relieve stress, reduce fatigue, increase appetite, and encourage deeper sleep. It can also stimulate the intestines and soothe inflamed skin.

Given these benefits, it is no surprise that numerous hospitality and wellness brands have latched onto the cannabis trend in Thailand.

Luxury spa facility Panpuri Wellness has put together a Holistic Cannabis Wellness Experience that includes onsen services, spa treatments using cannabis leaves, and cannabis-infused food and beverages.

Anantara is another major hospitality name going big on cannabis tourism. Anantara spas have created three “journeys” that utilise CBD (cannabidiol) oil – the second most active ingredient in cannabis. Over at Anantara Chiang Mai Resort, “healthy and nutrition-rich” cannabis-infused dishes have debuted on the menu at Service 1921 restaurant.

“There is growing interest in the therapeutic benefits of CBD,” said Chunxia Gao, group sirector of spa & wellness at MSpa International for the Asia region.

“With CBD safety guidelines ensuring the quality of the products, we can only foresee great success in CBD infused products, superfood choices, and CBD spa and wellness experiences.”

Costsaver rings up new itineraries across Australia, NZ

By TTG Asia

February 24, 2022

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Costsaver, part of The Travel Corporation family, has expanded to Australia and New Zealand with the launch of three new itineraries that take travellers through vibrant cities and scenic nature.

Travellers can discover Australia’s urban landscape on the Cosmopolitan Sydney and Melbourne itinerary, where they will spend nine days exploring the Blue Mountains National Park in Sydney, checking out cafes in Canberra, and embarking on a street art tour in Melbourne and more.

Costsaver’s new itineraries take travellers through vibrant cities and the great outdoors; Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand pictured

For more adventurous travellers, the Tropical Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef trek takes guests through the tropical Daintree Rainforest, into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, and on an Aboriginal tour to Cooya Beach. Treating Cairns as home base during this six-day adventure, travellers will indulge in the tastes of the Outback with fresh seafood and exciting nightlife.

The Essence of Southern New Zealand tour offers travellers a chance to explore the South Island. The seven-day tour begins in Christchurch before heading down to Lake Pukaki and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. After a day of hikes and breathtaking views, travellers will journey to the fast-paced capital city of Queenstown for wine tasting and more. Travellers will then spend a day in the glacial village of Franz Josef before returning to Christchurch.

The new itineraries come with 40 optional experiences, ranging from surf lessons on Bondi Beach to spa treatments at Te Waonui Forest Retreat in New Zealand.

The programmes are open for bookings now for travel through 2023.

“We see a promising return to travel this year with more vaccinated travel lanes announced and consumer confidence returning. We believe Australia and New Zealand are a natural fit, offering unpackaged and personalised experiences for travellers to get the most out of their holidays,” said Mae Cheah, president of Trafalgar and Costsaver.

Thailand eases Covid-19 requirements for international arrivals

By TTG Asia

February 24, 2022

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International travellers to Thailand will face simpler requirements from March 1, according to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Fully vaccinated travellers will only be required to undergo one PCR test on arrival, followed by a self-administered antigen rapid test after five days.

Thailand simplifies testing requirements on arrival and reduces travel insurance coverage for fully vaccinated international travellers

All arrivals will still need to take an RT-PCR test within 72 hours before travelling to Thailand and spend their first night in hotel quarantine or at other approved quarantine facilities.

Tracing app MorChana will still need to be installed, and the self-test result submitted.

Additionally, the amount of travel insurance coverage will be reduced from US$50,000 to US$20,000 starting from March 1.

Earlier this month on February 1, Thailand resumed its Test & Go tourism scheme after suspending it over December 2021 and January 2022 due to Omicron. Under the scheme, overseas travellers who have been vaccinated against or have recovered from Covid-19 are allowed to enter Thailand and travel freely if they test negative on arrival.

However, they are required to stay at a pre-paid accommodation on their fifth day of stay in order to undergo a second PCR test. Travellers must remain in their rooms while awaiting test results.

CCSA data revealed that more than 300,000 travellers have applied for entry to Thailand and 80 per cent of the applications have been approved.

The majority of travellers are from Russia, Germany, France, the UK and Singapore, and the top three destinations are Bangkok, Phuket and Chon Buri.

Something Else will join Kuala Lumpur’s skyline this July

By TTG Asia

February 24, 2022

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A brand new hotel group based in Kuala Lumpur, Else Retreats, will be opening its inaugural property in the Malaysian capital this July.

Housed in the 1930s Lee Rubber Building, the hotel will offer 49 keys ranging from the Mantra standard rooms to the Else Suite, all designed with soft palettes and natural tropical textures.

Else Retreats’ first property will be a 49-key hotel in Kuala Lumpur

Wellness facilities include a gym, a gratitude space with floating meditation pods, and a pool house with cabanas that open out to Kuala Lumpur’s skyline.

For those who have to work, there will also be a Business Den comprising a private meeting room, a communal co-working space, as well as a sunken living room, drawing room and library.

There will also be two F&B concepts – The Raw Kitchen Hall, a casual-chic gathering place with Asian and Mediterranean flavours; and The Yellow Fin Horse, a restaurant that will serve both international cuisine and authentic Malaysian flavours.

Science, tourism reap Great Barrier Reef recovery

By TTG Asia

February 24, 2022

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An underwater brigade of ecologists, biologists and tourism operators donned their neoprene “uniforms” and united off the coast of Cairns to check the results of a four-year Coral Nurture Program that aims to protect high-value Great Barrier Reef sites against future extreme weather events.

Coral Nurture Program relies on staff from reef tourism boats who tend to coral nurseries while tourists enjoy the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef nearby

Funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the programme is a joint partnership between University of Technology Sydney (UTS) scientists and the Port Douglas-based Wavelength Reef Cruises.

Lead UTS researcher and coral scientist, David Suggett, said the Coral Nurture Program was “an unprecedented success”.

Two years of “great growing conditions” have enabled recovering reef sites.

He added: “The collective action of operators planting tens of thousands of corals means we can now start to understand how, when and why coral replanting is successful. That is now feeding forward to new stewardship-based management for the Great Barrier Reef.”

Under the management of scientists, staff from reef tourism boats maximise their reef visits and tend to coral nurseries while tourists enjoy the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef nearby. They utilise a specially designed Coralclip device to attach corals to the reef without the need for chemical bonding agents. The Coralclip method is faster and cheaper than traditional out-planting methods and has contributed to high survival rates.

The Program has delivered coral restoration at a scale never seen before on the Great Barrier Reef, with more than 70,000 coral fragments planted across 27 sites and an average 85 per cent survival rate. Almost 50,000 of these fragments were planted by the crew from Wavelength Reef Cruises.

Craig Bond named MD of La Vie Hotels & Resorts

By TTG Asia

February 24, 2022

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La Vie Hotels & Resorts, an independent hotel operator in the Asia Pacific region, has appointed Craig Bond to the role of Managing Director.

Based out of the group’s head office in Sydney, Bond will lead the company as it heads into a period of exponential growth, and will build the group’s reputation as an independent hotel operator of choice in the region.

Bond is an award-winning hotelier with a large portfolio of successfully developed and branded hotels, resorts, spas and restaurant concepts throughout the Asia Pacific region under his belt.

He joins the team from ONYX Hospitality Group in Bangkok, Thailand, where he was most recently executive vice president – COO.

Previously, Bond served as vice president, operations at Oakwood Worldwide Singapore and has also held roles across Australia as area general manager Oceania with Pan Pacific Hotels Group in Sydney, and area general manager with Mirvac Hotels and Resorts in Melbourne.

Best Western sharpens wellness offering with GOCO Hospitality

Accor expands network in Cambodia with first ibis address

Andrei Shmakov cooks up a storm at Sheraton Maldives this March

Hong Kong’s Covid surge overshadows new travel lane with Singapore

Thai hospitality players move in on cannabis tourism

Costsaver rings up new itineraries across Australia, NZ

Thailand eases Covid-19 requirements for international arrivals

Something Else will join Kuala Lumpur’s skyline this July

Science, tourism reap Great Barrier Reef recovery

Craig Bond named MD of La Vie Hotels & Resorts

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