Travel News – February 2015

Chiang Mai — The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai (www.dharadhevi.com) has been recently named on the prestigious ‘Gold List 2015: The Top Hotels in the World.’ The luxury hotel, set on 60 acres of beautiful northern Thai countryside just 10 minutes from the city center, is one of four hotels in Thailand, and the only one in Chiang Mai, to appear on Conde Nast Traveler’s list of 100 properties from around the world. The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai’s rating of 84.82 placed it among the top luxury hotels in the country, along with the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle Chiang Rai, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, and the Trisara Phuket.

Bangkok — Minor Hotel Group (MHG), operator of 120 hotels and resorts across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean, and Africa, is set to reflag one of its owned properties, the Four Seasons Bangkok, to its luxury Anantara brand. Located in the prestigious Rajdamri area in central Bangkok’s Siam district, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel & Spa will join the brand’s Thailand portfolio on March 1. MHG will make a significant investment to enhance the hotel. Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel & Spa’s General Manager (GM) will be Ms Titiya Chooto, who is currently the GM at the Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, and before that she was hotel manager at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok.

Bangkok — Dusit International is opening Thailand’s first hospitality school based on ASEAN Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals this year, another first for the local hospitality field, it was announced recently. The group’s pioneering education division is responsible for Thailand’s first hospitality school, the Dusit Thani College, and a first-of-its-kind joint venture with Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School. The new Dusit Thani Hotel School will be launched in late 2015. It will offer a complete curriculum at both certificate and diploma levels, covering all areas of hotel operations. The Dusit Thani Hotel School will be located in central Bangkok.

Khao Yai — The Unique Collection of Hotels and Resorts (www.uniquecollection.com) has announced the addition of an all-villa resort called Private Pool Villas at Civilai Hill Khao Yai to their portfolio. The Private Pool Villas at Civilai Hill Khao Yai, which had a soft opening in December, is the latest exclusive hideaway in Khao Yai promising guests the ultimate relaxation experience. The property overlooks the fertile hills and peaceful surroundings of Khao Yai’s landscape, and offers 11 extremely generously sized private pool villas, split among one and two-bedroom units, starting from 214sqm. The Private Pool Villas at Civilai Hill Khao Yai is located within the Pakchong district, Nakon Ratchasima province, just a two-hour drive from Bangkok.

Mango Tree Worldwide’s first flagship restaurant, Mango Tree On The River, is now open. Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Mango Tree on The River is the company’s first lifestyle concept restaurant. The restaurant has a contemporary vibe, offering a gorgeous dining area where you can dine on comfort foods, both healthy and decadent, and enjoy a gentle river breeze. The grand opening, attended by around 300 celebrities and VIP guests, was hosted by Mango Tree Worldwide’s Bangkok-based CEO and entrepreneur, Pitaya Phanphensophon, who surprised the crowd with special performances from Thailand’s best xylophone teacher and DJ Silly B of Seed 97.5 FM. The event was dubbed as one of the most notable kick-off events for 2015.

Martin Raich has been appointed as complex general manager for three leading Starwood Hotels & Resorts properties in Thailand: The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa and Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas. Raich, who has just turned 47-years-old when he assumed his new role, is married and has two daughters. He was born in the Austrian province Tirol and has been traveling the globe since he was 18. Prior to this promotion, Raich was general manager (GM) of two properties – Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa from August 2008 as well as Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas since August 2013. Before transferring to Hua Hin, Raich was GM at Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort. He has been a Starwood man for the past 20 years. He holds several E Cornell degrees including the Master Certificate in Essentials of Hospitality Management and Harvard ManageMentor Essentials.

Amari Pattaya has recently appointed Richard Gamlin from New Zealand to the position of resident manager. Gamlin boasts 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry before joining Amari Pattaya. He has worked with Hilton in China for eight years and he most recently held the position of director of operations at Hilton Wuhan Optics Valley. He brings with him a strong background in food & beverage as well as operational and administrative areas.

Pullman Bangkok Hotel G will hold the “Wedding Fair 2015” on March 28-29, with a theme inspired by its signature “G Bride and Mr. Tuxedo living in a life-sized doll house.” The hotel has assembled some of the best wedding events in Thailand to help create memorable weddings. Exclusive offers, tailored-made for each soon-to-be bride and groom, will be available. There will also be a parade of selected pop-up showcases of wedding gowns and exclusive fashion shows by Myriad Grand Monde, gorgeous wedding shoes by Sirena, special invitation cards by Anya Wedding, digital blessing books by I-Pen Plus, wedding photography by Pro Master Creation and a sanctuary spa offer from Anne Semonin. As an added bonus, the hotel will offer prospective couples a chance to participate in a lucky draw with amazing prizes, including a 3-night stay with breakfast at Pullman Shanghai Skyway and Pullman Pattaya Hotel G as well as roundtrip tickets from Bangkok Airways to Luang Prabang, Laos, and Chiangrai. For more information, contact 02 238 1991 or email: wedding@pullmanbangkokhotelg.com.

Dusit Thani Hua Hin recently celebrated its silver jubilee year with a staff part that made its entire workforce a star. The annual staff party also marks yet another successful 12 months of the hotel. The extravagant bash was held in the resort’s Royal Dusit Hall under the banner “A Quarter of a Century Makes us all Stars.” The night of spectacular fun and stunning prizes, was highlighted by special congratulations to Anan Suthiganon, a hotel driver, who was selected “Employee of the Year.” He received Thai Airways return tickets for 2 and an all-inclusive complimentary 3-day, 2-night stay at any domestic Dusit International property, together with THB 20,000 spending money. The award was sponsored by Knud Mohr, who for a decade has been a staunch supporter of the Dusit Thani Hua Hin “Employee-of-the-Month and Employee-of-the-Year awards, in memory of the many happy days he has spent at the resort with his late wife, Kirsten.