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

Mövenpick signs first hotel in Maldives

BANGKOK, 28 April 2017: Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement to manage its first resort in the Maldives.

The planned 105-unit resort, Mӧvenpick Resort & Spa Kuredhivaru Maldives, will be situated on the remote Kuredhivaru Island in Noonu Atoll in the northern part of the Maldives. It is scheduled to open during the second quarter of 2018.

The contemporary tropical resort will have 33 beach villas and 72 over water villas. Read more

Best Western dives into Manado

BANGKOK, 24 April 2017: Best Western Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its first property in Manado, the scuba diving and snorkelling destination on the northern tip of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The new Best Western The Lagoon Hotel opened its doors 1 April. The hotel overlooks the Bay of Manado and island of Manado Tua.

It is also close to Manado’s main commercial and entertainment areas and a 45-minute drive from the city’s Sam Ratulangi International Airport. Read more

Sun Resorts takes a shine to Maldives luxury

LHAVIYANI ATOLL, MALDIVES, 12 April 2017: Sun Resorts owned and managed, Kanuhura Maldives, has undergone a USD42 million  overhaul that includes the purchase of Masleggihura island.

Consisting of three islands in the northern quadrant of the Lhaviyani Atoll the original property opened almost two decades ago.

A reimagining of the resort positions it for the latest trending, travellers identified as Gypset; part gypsy in their drive for freedom and  jetset, reflected in their wealth and craving for luxury living. Read more

Centara inks Maldives contract

BANGKOK, 7 April 2017: Centara Hotels & Resorts signed   a new hotel management agreement for its fourth beach resort under the Centara umbrella in the Maldives – Centara Grand Muthaafushi Resort & Spa Maldives.

The signing ceremony took place between Centara Hotels & Resorts and Muthaafushi Orient Investments Limited, and Well Land Investment PVT LTD.

Under the agreement, Centara Hotels & Resorts will manage and operate Centara Grand Muthaafushi Resort & Spa Maldives, a new five-star resort in the Southwest portion of Baa Atoll. Read more

Cyclone ravages north Australia

AYR, AUSTRALIA, 29 March 2017: Towns were cut off and without power in northern Australia Wednesday after being pummelled by a powerful cyclone that washed battered yachts ashore and ripped roofs off houses in scenes compared to “a war zone”.

The category four storm slammed into the coast of Queensland state between Bowen and Airlie Beach on Tuesday afternoon, packing destructive winds and devastating some of the region’s tourist hotspots.

It has since been downgraded to a tropical low but the Bureau of Meteorology still warned of damaging wind gusts with “intense” rain. Read more

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