Laguna Resorts & Hotels Public Company Limited, owner of the Laguna Phuket destination resort, has announced that operations of the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket, one of Phuket’s longest-established luxury hotels, will transfer on 30 June 2011 from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. to Angsana Hotels & Resorts, a division of Singapore-based Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts.
The 419-room hotel, part of the Laguna Phuket destination resort on Bang Tao beach, will be closed from 1 July 2011 for extensive renovation and refurbishment works to the sum of THB 500 million that will cover all rooms and public areas of the main hotel, and reopen as the Angsana Laguna Phuket on 1 Dec 2011.
The hotel has been operating under the Sheraton and Luxury Collection brands of Starwood Hotels & Resorts since 1992, in an operations agreement between Starwood and hotel owner Laguna Resorts & Hotels.
Upon approaching the management contract renewal date, the owner and operator mutually agreed to end their operations agreement on 30 June, after discussion and re-evaluation of their strategies for the future. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on February 7th, 2011
The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union today announced the 24 international teams taking part in the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2011.
This year the iconic Hong Kong Sevens march past will feature some south of the border flair as the Hong Kong Sevens welcomes Mexico to the fiesta. Mexico is the first new competing team for the Hong Kong Sevens since Madagascar appeared in 2006.
Invited by the International Rugby Board to compete in Hong Kong, Mexico becomes the 49th country to compete at the Hong Kong Sevens in the 35 years since the inception of the event. The Hong Kong leg will be Mexico Sevens’ only participation on the IRB World Sevens Series 2010/2011.
This year’s Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens also sees the return of Spain for the first time since 1998, while Malaysia returns for the first time since 2003.
The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, organisers of the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens, are excited to again welcome the 12 core teams participating in the IRB Sevens World Series 2010/11: Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, USA and Wales. Seven other teams from outside the region will join the Core teams: Canada, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Tonga and Zimbabwe. Closer to home, the Hong Kong Sevens continues its traditional role supporting the development of Asian rugby hosting five teams from around the region: China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on January 28th, 2011
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will launch its “E-Marketing Campaign for Medical Tourism in Thailand” and website www.ThailandMedTourism.com at the Emerald Hotel on Friday, October 15, 2010.
The event will kick off three marketing campaigns that will run through to April 2011 to enhance Thailand’s reputation as the “Global Centre of Excellence For Medical Tourism”.
The website collects and provides information on medical tourism providers in Thailand, including hospitals, clinics, spas, and Thai traditional medicine practitioners and their level of accreditation and standards. So far, more than 340 medical tourism providers are listed on the website. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on October 15th, 2010
Qatar Airways today announced a huge expansion in Thailand with the introduction of a third daily flight to Bangkok, effective November 1st.
The increase in capacity comes just three weeks after the airline launches scheduled flights to the popular Thai resort of Phuket.
The Bangkok service will facilitate increasing demand from many parts of the world, particularly European and North and South American customers for travel to Thailand. Qatar Airways’ Northern Winter schedule upgrades offer convenient connections for travellers both in and out of the Thai capital.
The additional Bangkok service will continue to Vietnam with four of the flights heading onwards to the capital Hanoi and three onto Ho Chi Minh City.
Passengers originating in Thailand or Vietnam can also purchase tickets to fly between Bangkok and both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on Qatar Airways.
Beginning October 12, Qatar Airways introduces six-flights-a-week to Phuket via Kuala Lumpur. With the Bangkok flights, the airline’s Thai operations will step up from 21 to 27 flights a week across two destinations.
The airline’s upcoming Phuket flights have drawn positive response from businesses across the island eager to capitalise on an increase in tourism numbers. Similarly, Qatar Airways has seen huge bookings from holidaymakers, particularly from across its European markets for the new route.
Qatar Airways has brought its Asian expansion plan into focus this year, adding three new destinations to its network in 2010 and boosting capacity and frequency across the entire region. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on October 5th, 2010
Centara Karon Resort Phuket invites all children and parents to spend their leisure time in a wonderful water world with the two amazing new waterslides that have been created at the Lagoon pool area. This is the way to keep the youngsters excited and happy, having the time of their lives in complete safety.
The slides are 15 metres in length, and they have been designed to bend and wind around the pool. Big coconut trees have been planted around the poolside to enhance the tropical resort ambience and to provide shade for those swimmers who like to spend the entire day in the water.
Apart from riding the water slides, youngsters can enjoy another fun-filled water world adventure that takes them wandering through an artificial cave with waterfalls cascading down around them. Waterproof cameras are recommended for capturing those special moments!
The new water slides are a special addition to the resort’s already popular pool and sunbathing area, adding to the fun and unique entertainment facilities for the enjoyment in complete safety of your entire family.
Centara Hotels & Resorts believes that if the kids are enjoying their holiday, their parents will too! Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on September 20th, 2010
Visa and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) have released findings from their latest Travel Intentions survey. The 2010 survey shows Australia and Japan have cemented their status as the most sought-after holiday destinations for the next two years, with 40% of the 6,714-respondents surveyed in this year’s research saying they would consider travelling to Australia or Japan in the next two years.
The survey asked respondents from 13-key Asia Pacific travel source markets (Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States) about past and future travel plans.
The survey indicated that most travellers prefer organising their own trips by booking their own airlines and accommodation. However, travellers from Mainland China, which is fast becoming a major generator of tourism revenues for the region, still prefer packaged group tours. Travellers from Australia tend to take the longest breaks – nearly one quarter intend to spend more than 20-nights whereas the average traveller is happy with three-to-five nights. Australia was the favourite destination for vacationers from New Zealand, UK, US, and Japan, while Japan won out with travellers from South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Said Greg Duffell, chief executive officer, PATA: “One of the most heartening features from this year’s report is the relatively wide spread of Asia Pacific destinations under consideration by the 13-source markets studied, including the long-haul sources of the UK and the USA.”
Originally published by http://www.pata.org
Posted on August 26th, 2010
Amara Holdings Limited’s hospitality arm, Amara Hotels & Resorts continues its regional expansion with the upcoming development of a new 272-room hotel in central Bangkok, Thailand.
This marks the Group’s first entry into the “Land of Smiles”.
In conjunction with this hotel development, an agreement was signed today with Thailand Crown Property Bureau, a quasi-government agency, through the Group’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Amara Hospitality (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Amara Bangkok will be located in the choice Surawong Road, which is parallel to Silom and Sathorn Roads. Together, they form one of the most exciting areas in Bangkok, an area known for its rich and colourful local entertainment and shopping activities, as well as the financial district of Bangkok. The location was also chosen for its convenient access to and from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and its proximity to the other commercial and shopping centres of Bangkok. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on July 21st, 2010
At present the impact from the global warming is of extensive interest, therefore there is a tendency that people are paying more attention to the natural resources and environment which brings about the trend of the eco tourism and additional natural adventure activities.
Thus Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has organized Thailand Eco & Adventure travel Mart 2010 between 25th – 27thJune, 2010 at Nakhonnayok province which is the hub for those who admire the fascinating nature and thrilling adventure.
The objective of the event is to provide the buyer both internal and external to meet and discuss business potential with the seller from every province nationwide. In addition it is an opportunity to compile tourism products and services from various sources for the consumer to choose which is also stimulate the travelling between the regions.
Within the travel mart the customer will get a special offer on the related products and services on eco-tourism and other various adventures in almost 100 booths from varying 5 regions in Thailand. There are as well the performances on provincial culture to enjoy, different local food to taste, and interesting adventures to partake such as Artificial Rock Climbing, BB gun shooting, canoeing, balloon flying, ATV riding, and numerous fascinating activities for all to join in. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on June 25th, 2010
Qatar Airways today announced its expansion programme was continuing with vigour with plans to launch six new routes in Europe and Asia from October 2010.
The Doha-based airline will phase in the route expansion over a four-month period with daily flights to Phuket – after Bangkok, its second destination in Thailand – kicking off the growth drive on October 11. The new flights will operate via Kuala Lumpur.
Three weeks later, beginning November 1, Qatar Airways adds the Vietnamese capital Hanoi to its network with four flights a week via Bangkok. The new route will support existing services to Vietnam’s commercial centre and largest city of Ho Chi Minh City, where flights will also be stepped up from four-a-week to daily.
November 24 marks the launch of the carrier’s European expansion drive with thrice-weekly flights to the French Mediterranean city of Nice. Operating via Milan, the Nice operation will strengthen Qatar Airways’ services to France, where it already operates to the capital Paris.
The New Year sees Qatar Airways’ entry into eastern Europe with the launch of four flights a week to the Romanian capital of Bucharest, starting on January 17. The services continue on to Budapest, capital city of Hungary.
And with five flights a week from January 31, the Belgian capital of Brussels, home of the European Parliament, rounds off an impressive list of destinations for the airline, which has maintained its strategy of opening exciting new routes around the world since launching just 13 years ago.
Announcing the expansion at the airline’s annual commercial conference in the Qatari capital Doha today, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker spoke of the carrier’s commitment to develop its route network far and wide from its hub. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on June 22nd, 2010
Thailand’s world-class luxury lifestyle community Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) was the recipient of another prestigious regional award for its unique waterfront properties, and in particular, the new ‘Aquaminium’ apartments.
RPM was voted ‘Best Developer – Waterfront Development’ at the 2010 Cityscape Awards for Real Estate in Asia.
The annual awards, presented in Singapore on May 19, recognise outstanding real estate development in Asia. RPM’s luxury Aquaminiums are a new concept in marina living, uniquely featuring private ‘drive-in’ boat berths, as well as sumptuously designed and appointed interiors.
They have been snapped up by investors, setting a record price for condominium sales in Phuket.
Royal Phuket Marina’s Luxury Waterfront Villas were also honored at the awards for showing strong architectural design, coupled with the unique ability to moor ones yacht at the foot of your garden. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on June 2nd, 2010
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