World Hotel Travel News

Jonathan Wigley, CEO of Absolute Hotel Services Co., Ltd. together with Kavin Kanjanapas, Managing Director of Tanayong Pcl announce the second hotel under the U Hotels & Resorts brand, U Khao Yai which is due to open in late 2010. U Chiang Mai recently opened its doors in June 2008 as the first hotel of the U brand. More Details...

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited will begin to standardize the taste and quality of its inflight Thai meals on all flights, effective 1 September, 2009.

THAI's inflight meals will be based on the same standards for incoming and outgoing flights from 40 different cities, besides its home base of Bangkok.

As of 1 September, inflight meals on every flight departing from European and Australian destinations will feature a different dish in each month. Yellow curry (Massaman), spicy salmon, and chicken stir fry with basil will be served on board during the months of September, October, and November, respectively. During those months, spicy duck curry, panang curry, and green curry will be served on flight departing from Europe (Stockholm, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Copenhagen) as well as the Bangkok-Narita route. All meals will be served with jasmine rice. More Details...

Best Western International has announced the opening of Best Western Premier Amaranth Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, a newly-built high-end hotel catering to the needs of upscale business and leisure travelers while also serving the residential and commercial community surrounding Bangkok's international airport. More Details...

Marriott International today announced the signing of 21 management contracts for hotels and resorts in its Asia-Pacific Region.

The 21 hotels are scheduled to open through the end of 2013, represent four of the company's lodging brands and will add nearly 7,000 rooms to Marriott's previously-announced Asia-Pacific pipeline of 37 hotels and 9,400 rooms now under construction. They are part of the company's global development pipeline of 110,000 rooms. More Details...

Compass Hospitality continues to expand its portfolio in Thailand, announcing the launch the new President Palace as its latest property in Thailand. The property is now open and is taking reservations. Located in the trendy Sukhumvit Soi 11 of downtown Sukhumvit Road - home to some of Bangkok's best shopping, dining, entertainment, leisure and business offices. The property is just a short stroll away from Nana BTS Skytrain Station and Asoke-Sukhumvit Interchange MRT Station, offering fast and comfortable train rides to all major destinations in this vibrant capital city. Nearby expressways link to airports, industrial areas, world class golf courses, and onwards to outlying hill retreats and getaway seaside resorts. More Details...

Chaophya Park Hotel, Bangkok adds to its MICE facilities and will soft open its brand new 'mansion hall' styled venue, Tarathep Hall. The new MICE facility is an elegant stand-alone hall with an impressive faade of columns and a white dome. With its own driveway and grand entrance, guests will first glimpse a stunning new water feature at its entrance.

Located close to the main hotel entrance within the hotel's famous gardens, which include space for 900 cars, Tarathep Hall can accommodate upwards of 600 people for cocktails and up to 450 people for a sit down dinner. Designed with a duplex mezzanine floor, the Tarathep Hall can be used for exclusive private parties, exhibitions or the most unique product launches in Bangkok. More Details...

The luxury Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort Phuket has launched a "Festive Early-Bird" promotion offering internet users 15% off its best available rates for Christmas and New Year.

"Early-Bird Promotion" reservations are available now online at www.outrigger.com until 30 September 2009. Bookings are valid for stays anytime 20 December 2009 until 10 January 2010. More Details...

Australia's new international airline V Australia today announced Phuket and Johannesburg as its next two destinations along with a strengthened focus on Melbourne just six months after launch. Four new V Australia routes to commence from December onwards include:
- Brisbane to Phuket, Thailand direct twice weekly from 22 November 2009
- Melbourne to Phuket, Thailand direct flights 1 a week from 3 December 2009
- Melbourne to Los Angeles, USA direct flights twice weekly from 1 December 2009
- Melbourne to Johannesburg, South Africa direct flights from 13 March 2010
More Details...

The newly-opened 580-square-metre Snow Dome is the latest attraction in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Soon to be the new home and play pen for Chiang Mai's famous panda family - Chuang Chuang (the male panda), Lin Hui (the mother), and their cub born on 27 May, the Snow Dome also features a separate area where visitors to the zoo will be able to see, touch and feel, and even frolic in the 'snow'.

The Chiang Mai Zoo Snow Dome is set to be very popular with children and families. For visitors from Thailand, the countries of Southeast Asia and the Middle East, the mention of snow generates great excitement as it conjures up images of a picture-perfect wintery landscape they have yet to experience. More Details...

Dusit International celebrates the success of its two distinguished hotels, dusitD2 chiang mai and Dusit Thani Bangkok, as they have been listed in the Asia's Top 40 City Hotels by Travel + Leisure Magazine, one of the world's leading publications for elite travellers.

The award is bestowed to the most outstanding Asia's Top 40 City Hotel. This marks the first time that the award has been repeated by the name of Dusit. Among the top hotels in Asia, DusitD2 Chiang Mai ranked number 18 on the scale following by number 34 for Dusit Thani Bangkok. More Details...