Travel News – November 2012

[wptabs type=”accordion” effect=”fade” mode=”horizontal”] [wptabtitle] Centara upgrades, rebrands Koh Chang resort [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Koh Chang – Koh Chang Tropicana Beach Resort & Spa Managed by Centara is undergoing a multi-million baht upgrade prior to being rebranded as Centara Koh Chang Tropicana Resort. Rebranding begins in November when the renovation program is expected to be complete.

Centara Hotels & Resorts acquired the management contract for the property, set on Klong Prao Beach on the island’s west coast, in April. The upgrade will see renovations and re-modellng undertaken to the entrance, lobby and reception, and the creation of a new lobby bar.

The resort’s 157 spacious rooms and suites are designed to enhance the sensation of living in a tropical setting and are contained in two wings, Superior and Deluxe, spread throughout landscaped gardens.
[/wptabcontent] [wptabtitle] Sheraton hotels celebrate 75th anniversary [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Bangkok – Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the 75thanniversary celebration of its iconic brand. The celebration of this milestone will coincide with the opening of the Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central – the largest hotel in Macau and Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ largest hotel in the world.

Following the launch of the 75th Anniversary at the Sheraton Macao Hotel, a series of celebratory activities will take place at Sheraton hotels across the Asia Pacific division. Participating hotels will roll out two special anniversary offers including: “75 Free Room Nights” and “Pay for Breakfast at 1937 price.” For more information on the 75th Anniversary offers, visit www.sheraton75.com
[/wptabcontent] [wptabtitle] Hotel de la Paix unveils dream weddings with a difference [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Hua Hin – Hotel de la Paix Cha Am Beach, Hua Hin’s ‘Peace of Cake’ Dream Wedding package offers couples their choice of a seamless Thai or Western wedding ceremony with maximum style and minimum fuss, with all the details taken care of by the resort’s meticulous planners and a host of pampered pleasures and privileges thrown in as part of the deal.

The Thai ‘Peace of Cake’ Ceremony and the Western ‘Peace of Cake’ Ceremony, packages also offer the happy couple two nights of complimentary accommodation in a Horizon Room, including breakfast for two and other privileges. Other perks include a first wedding anniversary voucher worth Bt3,000, a wedding anniversary cake, and Champagne canapés for the bride and groom. Hotel de la Paix Cha Am Beach ‘Peace of Cake’ Dream Weddings begin from just Bt95,000++ per couple.

[/wptabcontent] [wptabtitle] Minor Food Group holds ‘Manager Confab’ at PEACH [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Pattaya – Minor Food Group Public Company Limited recently held their Manager Conference 2012 – “Driving…To Unlock the Impossibilities” at Pattaya’s largest and best convention venue, Pattaya Exhibition And Convention Hall (PEACH).

Some 850 managers of their restaurant outlets from four regions of Thailand attended the three-day event, which consisted of a conference with invited keynote speaker Choak Bulakul, Farm Chokchai Group’s managing director & CEO, team building activities, performance show by attendee and gala dinner with various entertainments.

Minor Food Group Public Company Limited is one of the largest quick service restaurant operations in Asia, with over 1,100 restaurant outlets in Thailand, the Middle East, Singapore and Australia.

PEACH is the largest and best MICE venue outside of Bangkok
[/wptabcontent] [wptabtitle] Le Méridien Koh Samui marks 1st year with return of introductory offer [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Samui – Le Méridien Koh Samui Resort & Spa is marking its 1st Year Anniversary with an invite for guests to return; or explore the resort for the first time, with its “Discovery Awaits … Opening Offer Returns.”

“From the success of Le Méridien Koh Samui Resort & Spa during the past year, we would like to thank all of our new guests and loyal travelers for their support and feedback that has helped us to deliver the limitless experiences and services that will continue for many more years, and celebrations to come,” said Tina Liu, general manager of Le Méridien Koh Samui Resort & Spa.

Le Méridien Koh Samui prides itself as the 99th Le Méridien in the world having successfully provided unique and interactive experiences to guests for the past year. Opened on Sept.30, 2011, the resort is part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts’s growing footprint in Thailand.
[/wptabcontent] [wptabtitle] Royal Cliff Group’s restaurants recommended on TripAdvisor [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Pattaya – The multi award-winning Royal Cliff Hotels Group has gained another exceptional honor. Four of the property’s 11 restaurants were declared “Recommended on TripAdvisor”: Rossini- Godfather’s Favorite, Larn Thong- Authentic Thai Tradition, Maharani- Queen of Indian Flavors and Grill Room & Wine Cellar- Excellence & Heritage.

The ‘Recommended on TripAdvisor’ sticker is given to restaurants that have secured a significant number of positive reviews about business and service standards by travelers and diners alike.

Vitanart Vathanakul, executive director of Royal Cliff Hotels Group, along with members of the management proudly displayed the awards at the new Sunset Lobby Bar at the Beach Terrace Hotel.
[/wptabcontent] [wptabtitle] Hilton Pattaya joins Coastal Cleanup [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Pattaya – The team members of Hilton Pattaya recently participated in the ‘International Coastal Cleanup 2012’ organized by the Coca-Cola system in Thailand, inclusive of Coca-Cola (Thailand) LTD, ThaiNamthip LTD, Haad Thip PLC. There were more than 1,000 Thai volunteers and NGO inclusive of representatives from Pattaya city, Department of Marine and Coastal Resource, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Under the hotel’s commitment to make a difference through community service in Pattaya, Hilton Pattaya’s Blue Energy team will continue to work closely with other organizations to take the lead in implementing sustainable activities.
[/wptabcontent] [wptabtitle] Oasis launches first spa resort [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Chiang Mai – Oasis Spa announces its expansion into a corresponding hospitality industry, boutique spa hotels, with the opening of a spa resort in Chiang Mai. Oasis spa is an acknowledged leader in Thailand’s day spa business with nine branches in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket. Today, founders Pakin Ployphicha and Toby Allen are expanding the brand with their first “secret destination,” a sweet boutique retreat in Chiang Mai called Oasis Baan Saen Doi Spa Resort. The unique congratulatory event was recently organized in a stylish travel theme and attended by 80 guests of honor.
[/wptabcontent] [wptabtitle] Cape Panwa Hotel welcomes VIPs [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Phuket – Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai (middle) and Thanpuying Suthawan Sathirathai (right) were warmly welcomed by Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket general manager, Philipp S. Frickhinger (left), when they stayed at the hotel recently.
[/wptabcontent] [wptabtitle] Oktoberfest Celebration [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Bangkok – Bernd Hildenbrand, MD of Lufthansa Services (Thailand), recently presided over the opening ceremony of “Taste of Oktoberfest” at the Grand Fourwings Convention Hotel Bangkok’s Srinakarin Grand Café Restaurant. Hildenbrand received a warm welcome from Prakit Chinamourphong, honorary advisor of the Thai Hotels Association and Surat Kaewdee, general manager of the hotel.
[/wptabcontent] [wptabtitle] World Luxury Hotel Awards honors Indigo Pearl [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Phuket – Indigo Pearl has just won as Thailand’s “Best Luxury Beach Resort” at the recent 2012 World Luxury Hotel Awards.Indigo Pearl – a Bill Bensley design masterpiece — is located on Phuket’s sheltered northern shore, an easy 10 minutes from Phuket International Airport.
[/wptabcontent] [wptabtitle] Ramada Plaza Menam Charity Jazz Concert [/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent] Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside Bangkok recently welcomed M.R. Priyangsri Wattanakun. director of Fund Raising Bureau, Thai Read Cross Society; Asso. Prof. Prasert Trivijitsilp. deputy director of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital; and Asso. Prof. Somchai Tanawattanacharoen. asst. dean for Student Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; as the guests of honor to the “Charity Jazz duet Concert by the River of Kings” where Viyada Komarakul Na Nakorn and Nareekrajang Kanthamas performed. Photo shows (from left): Asso. Prof. Somchai Tanawattanacharoen, Vilai Vitayathanagorn (the hotel’s Vice President), Klaus Sennik (Hotel Manager), M.R. Priyangsri Wattanakun, Dr. Pichai Tangsin (the hotel’s Managing Director) with Chairlady, Malee Tangsin and Asso. Prof. Prasert Trivijitsilp with his wife Kwanta.
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