Quality list aids travel

BANGKOK, 7 August 2017: Thailand’s Department of Tourism reports 673 establishments in 2016 passed evaluation and were accredited under the Thailand Tourism Standard scheme.

Released last week on the department’s website, the list identified establishments that had achieved the standard in the categories of accommodation, services, activities, attractions, tour business and tour guiding.

The scheme’s list, written in Thai, was introduced to raise standards and upgrade the country’s tourism businesses. It is geared to assisting domestic tourists to identify quality services, while building their travel confidence. Read more

Outrigger brings Campbell back

PHUKET, 5 July 2017: Outrigger Enterprises Group has appointed Rory Campbell as area director of sales and marketing, responsible for the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort and the Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort, both in Thailand.

The appointment, effective 1 July, 2017, is Campbell’s second stint with Outrigger in Thailand.

He was director of sales and marketing for the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort for two years 2013 to 2015 and general manager of the Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort until 2016. Read more

Chinese cash revives Club Med

NICE, FRANCE, 28 June 2017: Club Med has embarked on global expansion with eight resorts having opened during the last two year and at least 20 more planned for China according to Club Med president Henri Giscard d’Estaing.

He made the comments on the sidelines of celebrations to mark the opening of Club Med’s Opio Resort in Nice, last week.

In the past 10 years, the Club Med president admitted the company had opened “very few resorts.” Read more

BW wins TripAdvisor recognition

BANGKOK, 28 June 2017: Best Western Hotels & Resorts is celebrating after 13 of its Asian hotels achieved the 2017 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

Reflecting the company’s proud commitment to guest satisfaction and service excellence, Best Western hotels in Thailand, Japan, The Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar all achieved the Certificate of Excellence.

The award recognises hotels that consistently earn great reviews and ratings from travellers on TripAdvisor. Read more

Centara offers 40% off

BANGKOK, 26 June 2017: Centara Hotels & Resorts is offering “Summer Holidays in Exotic Destinations” a promotion that covers its hotels in Thailand and offers a  discount up to 40%.

The promotion is available for bookings before 31 July for stays at Centara’s participating hotels and resorts until 30 September this year.

Offering discounts of up to 40% the low-season offers covers a mix of hotels and resorts at all major tourist destinations plus stays at the group’s Bangkok properties. Read more

Best Western opens in Ubud

BANGKOK, 16 June 2017:  Best Western Hotels & Resorts has opened a new upscale resort in Ubud, Bali’s cultural heart and an increasingly popular tourist destination.

Located in a quiet forest, yet close to the main attractions of Ubud, Best Western Premier Agung Resort Ubud reflects the classical charm and beauty of the island captured in the resort’s interior and exterior design.

The open-plan features offer traditional touches, such as wooden floors and Balinese furnishings. These are complemented by modern amenities, including complimentary Wi-Fi, ensuring that guests at Best Western Premier Agung Resort Ubud have the best of both worlds. Read more

Bintan tie up with CresentRating

SINGAPORE, 9 June 2017: Bintan Resorts rolls out a series of initiatives in collaboration with CrescentRating and Halaltrip, to increase its appeal to Muslim travellers across the world with a focus on the neighbouring ASEAN region, China and the Middle East.

Indonesia recently climbed one position to take the third spot as the top performing destination in the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2017.

The new initiative includes the Muslim Visitor Guide to Bintan Resorts that will be available in English and subsequently translated to Arabic and Chinese. The guide highlights Muslim friendly resorts, attractions and Halal friendly restaurants, providing visitors with a high level of assurance. Read more

Burasari Group expands in South Thailand

BANGKOK, 22 May 2017: Bangkok-based Burasari Group has taken over the management of Twin Lotus Koh Lanta adding it to a growing portfolio of boutique resorts and hotels.

It is best known for its property in Bangkok’s Chinatown and another in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang.

Its latest addition is located at the southern tip of Lanta island in Thailand’s Krabi Province. Read more

New look resort on Phi Phi

PHI PHI, SOUTH THAILAND, 12 May 2017: Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort has completed a THB160 million (USD4.5 million) refurbishment that firmly places the bungalow, suite and villa resort on the luxury travel map.

The resort’s new beachfront junior suites, sit on an 800-metre stretch of beach. The 14 suites offer guests 79 square metres of private holiday space with balconies looking out over the Andaman Sea.

For those in search of an even more secluded island experience, Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort has 12 hillside pool villas, situated on a gentle tropical rainforest slope with sweeping views of Loh Ba Gao Bay. The villas come with their own 6 x 4 metre private pools and offer 110 sqm of accommodation. Read more

Poshtel beach clubs expands

JAKARTA, 8 May 2017: Indonesia’s beach club brand Le Pirate, a pioneer of the ‘poshtel’ trend has announced plans to expand its footprint within the country and throughout Asia.

In the span of just three years the father and son team of Fredo and Louka Taffin has created a blueprint for fast-paced growth with their social beach club and hotel concept.

Long-time Bali resident and architect, Fredo Taffin, developed the concept of Le Pirate after facing the challenge of building resort hotels in remote tropical locations. Read more

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