Bangkok – Continuing its aggressive expansion in the Asian region, Dusit International has announced the addition of a new property in Cebu, set to join in the company’s Philippines flagship Dusit Thani Manila in 2018. In a signing ceremony recently held at the City Sports Club in Cebu Business Park, representatives from Dusit International and Cebu-based developer Grand Land, Inc. (GLI), formalized an agreement to bring a DusitPrincess hotel to the Philippines’ ‘Queen City of the South.’ Strategically located in the upbeat side of the North Reclamation area of Metro Cebu, the high-rise DusitPrincess Cebu will offer 295 guest rooms with fantastic views of the city and the ocean.
Bangkok — Absolute Hotel Services Group CEO, Jonathan Wigley, has announced the latest addition to its portfolio, the 180-room Eastin Easy Nha Trang in Vietnam making a total of 830 rooms in AHS-managed properties so far for this destination. The hotel is targeted to open in 2017. Eastin Easy Nha Trang’s facilities will include an all day dining restaurant, pool bar, gym, large outdoor swimming pool and conference and meeting rooms. Nha Trang is a coastal city and the capital of Khánh Hòa Province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. The town is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists as well as locals.
Khao Yai — Escape Khao Yai Hotel of the Sansiri Hotel Collection, a boutique resort catering to the modern lifestyle, has unveiled its “Grand Two-Bedroom Sunken Heated Pool Villa,” which has been designed to comfortably accommodate families and groups of friends who need the additional space.
The villa, which boasts a whopping 263sqm-area is designed with some truly distinctive details, including a soothing fragrance and thematic music selection. The private outdoor Sunken Heated Pool is ideal for relaxation and the perfect way for guests to enjoy Khao Yai’s mountainous surroundings and fresh air.
Escape’s Grand Two-Bedroom Sunken Heated Pool Villa can accommodate a maximum of five guests with the option of extra beds.
Bangkok — The Thai tourism industry recently welcomed the country’ 17th millionth visitor, AL Shaqsi Yaqdhan Hamad Khalifa from Oman. The lucky visitor arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 28 to a surprise welcome by the executives and representatives of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thai Airways International, the Immigration Bureau, Airports of Thailand. and True Corporation, led by TAT deputy governor for marketing communications, Sugree Sithivanich.
As part of the “Green Season” marketing strategy, every millionth visitor to the country will be welcomed at Thailand’s international aviation gateways until Sept. 30.The lucky visitors receive two economy-class return air tickets from their international port of origin to Thailand along with a five-night accommodation voucher, a “Thailand’s Luckiest Visitor” certificate as well as other prizes from TAT’s project partners. The trips have a validity period of one year. TAT is projecting 28.8 million visitors in 2015.
Bangkok – Chef Nooror Somany Steppe, founder and creative chef of Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant, was invited — the first Thai chef ever — tto promote Thai cuisine and culture at the recent “Discover Thainess 2015” extravaganza at the UN Headquarters in New York City. Chef Nooror conducted a full-house cooking demonstration daily for five consecutive days at the Delegates Dining Room in New York where she shared precious recipes of some of Blue Elephant’s signature dishes widely raved by the restaurant’s “fans” and a huge following from around the world.
Pratarnporn Phornprapha, managing director of Siam@Siam Co., Ltd., recently hosted the ‘Journey of the Giant – an Exclusive Artful Dinner” at La Vue, Siam@Siam Design Hotel & Spa, Bangkok. The dinner featured 2-Star Michelin chef Jonay Armas, who flew from Hong Kong to Bangkok to present his exquisite 7-course menu. Among those who attended the dinner were (from left): Pranai Phornprapha, Rinrata Intamara, Chef Jonay, Pratarnporn Phornprapha, Nattarinee Jiarawanon and Krerkpol Masayawanit.
Amari Phuket recently organized its annual second-hand market, a charity event to raise funds for “The Baht for a Better Life Project.”
The charity event was such a success and on behalf of the management, Tipaporn Koonphol (3rd from left), deputy general manager, expressed the hotel’s appreciation to all team members who participated in the event.
The funds will be used to support students in the local community.
Jan Weisheit (1st, right), executive assistant manager food & beverage of Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas Hua Hin recently hosted the “Jazz Night” featuring Aude Lhotelais (center), a well-known French vocalist, with piano and bass played by the “Wine N Roses” band at the hotel’s Elephant Bar.
The event also featured a handcrafted canapés menu exquisitely prepared by the hotel’s talented culinary team, and paired with a premium selection of French wines.
Appointments
Chris Bailey is new Centara COO
Bangkok – Centara Hotels & Resorts has recently announced the promotion of Chris Bailey to chief operating officer (COO) from senior vice president of sales and marketing.
Since joining Centara in 2004, Bailey has played a significant role in the formulation of the effective growth strategy that has propelled the company to the pre-eminent position in the industry it enjoys today.
With only eight properties in 2004, Bailey will help to oversee a current portfolio of 70 properties and still growing. Bailey will oversee Centara operations, sales and marketing, and the organization’s various corporate entities vital to the company’s rapid and continuing expansion locally and internationally.
Hotel Muse Bangkok has a new director of food & beverage: Bernardo de la Garza. Mexican-born and Swiss-educated, Bernardo gained his Bachelors of Arts in Hospitality Marketing from the Glion Institute of Higher Education in Bulle, Switzerland.
Prior to joining the team at the award-winning Hotel Muse Bangkok, Bernardo was director of F&B at the Holiday Inn Pattaya, and F&B manager at Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park.
Bernardo also has extensive experience working in prestigious properties in Oman, Qatar, and Vietnam. As the hotel’s new director of F&B, Bernardo will oversee operations at The Speakeasy, Babette’s – The Steakhouse, and Medici Kitchen & Bar.
Thomas Hain has been recently appointed general manager of Cape Panwa Hotel, Phuket. Thomas began his career in the hotel and hospitality industry in 1995. His internship at the Hotel Ibis Dresden Lilienstein provided him with an introduction to the intricacies of the smooth and seamless functioning of a hotel.
After graduating from the Staatliche Studienakaclemie Breitenbrunn with a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Business Management, Thomas proceeded to work as a front desk agent at the Arabella Sheraton Atlantis Hotel Zuerich, a 5-star, 224-room hotel, and continued to grow his expertise and experience in hotels in many parts of the world.
In October 2014 Thomas became hotel manager of Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket, his previous job before this promotion.
