Global Travel News

Exploring Louisiana’s Highlights & Hidden Gems

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There’s no better way to explore all Louisiana has to offer than by taking a road trip! Along the way, you’ll experience Louisiana’s most popular attractions along with quirky marvels.

Louisiana has 19 trails & byways, each telling their own unique stories. Variety spices up the Louisiana Great River Road Byway along the Mississippi River for more than 700 miles – stretching from Poverty Point World Heritage Site in northeast Louisiana, through Baton Rouge, down to New Orleans and beyond. Throughout your trip, lay your head in fascinating accommodations like the Inn at the Old Jail, built as a New Orleans police jail and patrol station in 1901.

The Creole Nature Trail Byway lies on one of North America’s largest bird migration routes. You’ll find attractions from the Charpentier Historic District and prime gaming at several popular casinos in Lake Charles, to Holly and Cameron beaches for ideal relaxation and sunset-watching.

Discover the Atchafalaya Basin’s bayous and cypress forests along the Bayou Teche Byway. Take a swamp tour, visit the TABASCO Factory and the onsite Museum, Country Store and Restaurant 1868. Plus History buffs will love the Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum in Patterson and the Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site in St. Martinville.

How about a road trip to explore Louisiana’s state parks? With 21 total, there are plenty of opportunities for adventure. Check out the recently renovated Sam Houston Jones State Park, paddling at Chemin-a-Haut, glamping at Grand Isle, horseback riding at Bogue Chitto or fishing and watersports at North & South Toledo Bend State Parks.

And of course, Louisiana has plenty of small town charm nestled in Main Street Communities throughout every corner of the state. Downtown Hammond won the 2022 Great American Main Street Award. Focal points include Railroad Park, Jacmel Inn’s southern cuisine and the Tangipahoa African American Heritage Museum & Veterans Archives. The Louisiana Renaissance Festival is a big deal, with hundreds of artisans, entertainers, demonstrations, food vendors and more.

Several Louisiana communities have earned Main Street America’s top level of recognition—Nationally Accredited status! Among them are Monroe and West Monroe. Dine at popular area restaurants like Restaurant Cotton or Parish Restaurant, shop along Antique Alley, visit the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens and end the night with live music at Enoch’s Irish Pub & Cafe.

Biedenharn Museum

 

Nearby, start your day in Ruston at Railway Coffee, then partake in retail therapy at Dussé Boutique or Ivy & Stone and peruse local art at Ruston Artisans. Sundown Tavern provides an inviting pub-style experience with live music, and Heard Freighthouse Food Truck Park features a variety of cuisines. A visit here wouldn’t be complete without attending the Louisiana Peach Festival, celebrating the local bounty in many forms.

Check out the Denham Springs Historic District & Antique Village where there’s a lot more than antiques. The Historic District fills with hundreds of vendors, games, rides, food booths and more at the area’s Spring and Fall Festivals. You won’t have to stray far to visit the Old City Hall Museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For a great bite to eat, head over to Randazzo’s Italian Market and for drinks – Le Chien Brewing is a family-and-pet-friendly microbrewery serving up quality beers and sodas.

Minden Main Street had the honor of appearing on HGTV’s “Home Town Kickstart.” Included was Geaux Fresh Bistro & Bakery, offering fresh and healthy meals plus sinful desserts, and the Miller Quarters Community Park spanning plenty of space to enjoy. Learn the story of Webster Parish at the Dorcheat Historical Museum and the Germantown Colony Museum before winding down at the Huffman House Bed & Breakfast, a Queen Anne Revival home built in 1918 offering modern amenities.

Plan a visit to Crowley – the Rice Capital of the World – for the International Rice Festival and stay to explore the area. The Grand Opera House of the South is a beautifully restored historic theater that hosts shows and events, and the Crowley City Hall, Historic Ford Building is comprised of four interesting museums. Dine and drink at Reggie’s Downtown, a restaurant and microbrewery using Crowley rice and other locally-soured ingredients.

Where will you road trip? Start planning today at LouisianaTravel.com.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Louisiana’s Unique History & Influences

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Louisiana is where Jazz and zydeco music originated, Cajun cuisine was concocted, where industries flourished and where the Civil Rights Movement made an impact. Learn about Louisiana’s unique and storied history told at countless historic sites, museums and venues around the state.

You can’t find another U.S. state that can say it’s the birthplace of multiple musical genres that still thrive today. Hear the sounds of Cajun music at famous venues like Buck and Johnny’s, Fred’s Lounge and Mulate’s, dedicated to preserving Cajun culture. Over in Mandeville, the Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall is the oldest Jazz Social Hall in America, built in 1895 and hosting many famed performers over the years. Also located in Mandeville, Ruby’s Roadhouse turns out tunes in a building more than 100 years old, and has been known as a popular venue since the 1930’s. For jazz enthusiasts, a trip to New Orleans would not be complete without experiencing live music at Tipitina’s – founded in 1977 and inspired by the song “Tipitina” by Professor Longhair, who played at the venue until his passing in 1980. And there is no more traditional a jazz haunt than Preservation Hall in the French Quarter, offering true New Orleans jazz since 1961.

Cabildo in New Orleans

Delve into Louisiana’s history at museums across the state covering topics for every interest. The Cabildo, the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies in 1803, features the three floors of exhibitions covering the history of Louisiana through rare artifacts, documents, paintings and more. Visitors can check out the “From ‘Dirty Shirts’ to Buccaneers: the Battle of New Orleans in American Culture” exhibit or peruse the works of famed artist, Clementine Hunter. On the opposite side of St. Louis Cathedral, The Presbytère  became part of the Louisiana State Museum in 1911. Its “Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana” exhibit features parade floats, costumes and historical throws as well as rare glimpses into the secretive social club society from which modern-day Mardi Gras krewes evolved. The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame honors household-name inductees such as Archie Manning and Shaquille O’Neal, plus other notable athletes like New Orleans-born Audrey “Mickey” Patterson, the first African-American woman to win an Olympic medal. A Super Bowl XLIV commemorative football signed by the Saints after their 2010 victory, the fastest car in the world in 1963 (a souped-up Ford Thunderbird), and vintage jerseys and cheerleading uniforms are just a few artifacts that make the museum a prime fan experience. Upstairs, the Northwest Louisiana History Museum tells the story of how Caddo Indians, French and Spanish settlers, free and enslaved Africans and rural southern whites created the region’s distinctive culture through displays of artifacts dating from the 1700s. In Baton Rouge, the Capitol Park Museum showcases two permanent exhibits: “Grounds for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation” and “Experiencing Louisiana: Discovering the Soul of America.” A 48-foot wooden shrimp trawler and a sugar cane harvester give a glimpse into the state’s aquatic and agricultural assets, while an oil-well head and a scale model of a drilling are an example of Louisiana’s energy industry. And learn more about the state’s iconic music history, featuring Pete Fountain’s clarinet, Buddy Guy’s polka dot Stratocaster guitar, Clifton Chenier’s Grammy award and an expansive Louis Armstrong exhibit.

And learn the stories and contributions of varied cultures whose influence made Louisiana what it is today. Louisiana’s African American Heritage Trail features historic homes, state historic sites, museums and more noteworthy spots honoring their profound contributions to the cultural fabric of the state. Laura Plantation’s award-winning tour transports visitors into the Creole world of Laura Locoul, exploring the complex relationships of four generations of one family, both free and enslaved. View a permanent exhibit dedicated to telling the story of the enslaved population specific to Laura Plantation. Houmas House Estate and Gardens is a Greek Revival home that features The Great River Road Museum onsite. For those intrigued by the paranormal, Myrtles Plantation is considered one of the most haunted homes in the country where ghosts of former residents have been documented in photos, featured on national TV shows and witnessed by residents and tourists alike. Take a mystery tour or even stay the night.

Learn more and plan your trip at LouisianaTravel.com.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

BEAUTIFUL. AFFORDABLE. DELICIOUS: Malta has lots to offer

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I knew nothing about Malta when I decided to go last May. Friends were renting an 11-bedroom/11 bath Airbnb with a pool just outside the capital, Valletta. They were going for SIETAR, a conference on intercultural education. I went because, well, I had never been to Malta – and, at US $350 for 7 nights, housing was very “cost-effective.”

Google revealed Malta is a collection of three islands – Malta, Gozo and Comino. Until 1964, Malta was a British territory, serving as a critical supply transfer point between Western Europe and Northern Africa during World War II. Red English-style telephone booths now serve as decorative reminders, as does the mammoth statue of Queen Victoria that commands Republic Square. Malta is also the only place the late Queen Elizabeth has lived outside the UK – while Prince Phillip was posted there in 1949-1951.

Due to its colonial history, English is universally spoken in Malta. The public health system reflects the British model and is considered among the best in the world, according to WHO ratings of public healthcare. With approximately half a million residents, Malta is both the smallest and the most densely populated member of the European Union. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank categorize Malta as an “advanced economy” and “high wealth” nation. Tourism is one of the country’s top income-generating activities.

Like a kaleidoscope, what you experience in Malta depends on the lens you use.

For sun-worshippers, Malta’s tourism department promises 360 days of blue skies and a Mediterranean Sea coast that alternates between sandy beaches and picturesque limestone cliffs. I took a 7-hour Viator tour to the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Cove, and the islands of Gozo and Comino for €30. You can add land tours on Gozo for about €70 or drive yourself around the island for €115 at the time of this writing.

Another day I took the Gozo Fast Ferry for €7.5 each way between Valletta to Mgarr, Gozo’s main terminal. I used public transport to the main town, Victoria, as well as Gharb (pronounced “arb”) to visit newly-met expat friends. Public transport is €2 for a bus pass that includes transfers within a 2-hour window. Busses are air-conditioned and riders included an interesting mix of locals and tourists. There is a tourist hop-on-hop-off bus for €20, too.

History hounds can explore UNESCO Cultural sites like the Ggantija Temples on Gozo Island that predate the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge by 1,000 years. The archeological digs were extensively documented but couldn’t explain how the inhabitants created such mammoth structures. On the main island, Mdina and Rabatt are adjoining cities with historic buildings and views. Walking through them without a tour guide wasn’t very educational; my fault for not doing more homework.

Food is my personal travel priority as a way to get to know a country’s culture. The 3½ -hour food and walking tour of Valletta led by Christian of Viator Tours (€45) was among the best I’ve experienced anywhere. Bring a robust appetite – and/or a take-away bag! We started with an empanada-like pastizzi filled with ricotta cheese, as well as the British-inspired mushy peas version. Mushy peas, accented with curry, got my vote. Maltese date paste flash-fried in phyllo came next; think fig newtons in an off-the-charts incarnation. Lunch included tuna-stuffed olives, sausages, goat cheese and ftira biz-zejt sandwiches of meat and sundried tomatoes. Cisk beer is a local mainstay but Ulysses wine is a worthy alternative, especially the white. Twistees may be the Cheetos-like national snack, but it was the 4th-generation family-owned Chocolate District shop that made me want to declare dual citizenship. The goat cheese and olive oil chocolate was shockingly good, even while their Maltese coffee brew, heavy on clove, anise and chicory, was not to my taste.

There are several Michelin-starred restaurants in Valletta, all of which require reservations … unless you make friends with those who already have them. AJ and Freddy, from the morning tour, had planned ahead and booked Legligin, which offers an eight-course tasting menu built around what is available on that day’s local market. Each course excellent, served stylishly on mismatched plates in a genial ambiance. The pumpkin soup, rabbit stew and quail were the most memorable for me as we spent three hours eating, talking and drinking Ulysses white wine. The cost struck me as a bargain at €38.5 each, plus wine.

Like every 7,000-year old culture, Malta has scores of ornate cathedrals, monuments and statues. Malta also boasts three signature buildings in Valletta by Italian architect Renzo Piano. The city entrance gate, completed in 2014, is a stark departure from the previous four versions. Piano’s gate consists of stainless steel “spears” positioned to represent soldiers at “present arms,” welcoming all who cross a wide esplanade into the heart of Valletta.

Piano’s Parliament House is a boxy office building of limestone set upon thin columns. Fossils embedded in the Maltese stone add an iridescent sheen. The imposing offices and slender columns are said to reflect Piano’s vision of democracy as a heavy responsibility that rests on the support of individual voters.

Valletta’s classically-designed Royal Opera House was almost completely destroyed during World War II. Piano’s design, completed in 2013, is open-air. Instead of a roof, curved wood panels are suspended above the stage for acoustics. The building looks incomplete, especially since a chain-link barrier surrounds the rear of the theater. Local sentiment does not favor such a drastic revisioning, and there are rumors that the space will be enclosed and roofed, obliterating Piano’s version.

A little-known aspect of Malta’s appeal is medical tourism. According to Health-Tourism.com, 15% of the annual GDP (gross domestic product) flows from visitors who recover from low-cost cosmetic surgeries in a high-enjoyment atmosphere. Health-tourism.com also cites posts charts comparing fees for surgeries like tummy tucks, eyelid lifts, dental implants and breast augmentations with the cost in other countries. None of the hospitals in Malta are accredited by the Joint Commission International, a US-based nonprofit that offers voluntary evaluations. Approximately 1,000 hospitals are JHI accredited worldwide, in addition to 22,000 US-based facilities. The Maltese government has identified medical tourism as a strategic priority as part of its campaign to increase tourism-based revenue.

Would I return to Malta? Perhaps.

The harbors are beautiful, and I loved the Mediterranean cuisine. I felt safe walking alone during the day and appreciated the range of things to do without “breaking the bank.” Uber-like Bolt taxis made it easy to get around when public transport wasn’t efficient, like at night. Temperatures were significantly hotter than what Googling led me to expect, but packing to “layer” made the adjustment easy. In 2023, Carnevale will be held in February, the traditional timing. If I lived in a cold climate, the promise of warm temperatures and vibrant celebrations might well bring me back!

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: Sky’s the limit at Thai rooftop bar

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The first five-star hotel to open in Chiang Mai, Thailand, since the global pandemic’s onset has launched a 360-degree rooftop bar affording awe-inspiring views of the Ping River to the city’s east and famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountaintop to the west.

The highest bar in Chiang Mai, aptly named Mai The Sky Bar, is perched on Meliá Chiang Mai’s 22nd floor.

The happening venue serves an array of authentic Spanish tapas and pinchos including Galician-style octopus with smoked paprika, fried creamy house-made ham croquettes, smoked salmon on crusty baguette slices, and skewers with pickled pepper, anchovies, and green olives. Fluffy fried fish cake with cucumber and mint salsa, grilled prawns with smokey green chili relish and grilled pineapple, and desserts such as a seasonal fruit platter with Thai-style spicy-salty sugar, wild honey and lime are among menu items.

The bar offers a vast selection of beverages, including imaginative cocktails that reference Chiang Mai’s forests and mountains such as ‘Bosque de Chiang Mai’ comprising whisky, cinnamon, cranberry juice, lime, honey and pasteurized white egg, and ‘Misty Hill’ with Irish whisky, Triple Sec, pineapple juice, basil leaves, lime juice and sugar.

Thai and international DJs spin Spanish and Latin music from 8 p.m. Thursday to Sunday. The bar will also host monthly themed parties throughout 2023 featuring guest artist line-ups.

In a nod to Chiang Mai’s rich culture, bamboo throughout the venue pays homage to the region’s hill tribes.

As the hotel’s main attraction, a significant amount of the rooftop bar’s business so far has been local, making it a prime place where the Meliá brand interacts with the local community.

Open daily from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Mai The Sky Bar is a prime vantage point from which to take in Chiang Mai’s sunsets. Dishes are priced from THB 120 ($5) and drinks from THB70 ($2.75). Daily and monthly food and beverage promotions will are on offer.

In-house guests receive complimentary access to the bar, situated above the hotel’s executive lounge and signature restaurant. Tickets for outside guests are THB250 ($10) p.p., which can be used as a credit towards food and drinks during a visit.

Melia Chiang Mai

Opened on April 10, 2022, Meliá Chiang Mai draws on Meliá’s Spanish origins and celebrates Spain’s famed gastronomy. The hotel’s dining landscape encompasses Mai The Sky Bar and Tien Pool Bar, Mai Restaurant & Bar and Laan Na Kitchen, and Ruen Kaew and The Level Lounge.

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

LISTENING IN: Amy Winehouse, Back to Black

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It’s hard to believe that its been over a decade (almost a dozen years to be precise) since the death of Amy Winehouse, the troubled troubadour who struggled with substance abuse and addiction and who, at the tender age of 27, died of alcohol poisoning.

The British siren’s recorded output was minimal (only two albums, a third released posthumously), but utterly outsized in talent and promise. Eclectically crossing and mixing genres – largely jazz, blues, and blue-eyed soul – she channelled the girl groups of the ‘60s, at least in looks, but with tattoos and a punk snarl.

By age 24, she had racked up six Grammy nominations, but that wasn’t enough to assuage personal demons or a drug habit, which effectively ended her recording career after the monster album “Back to Black” in 2006, which perhaps fittingly produced the top song “Rehab.”

Unfortunately, the breakthrough album’s promise, like her own, was never fully realized and she became another member the infamous “27 Club” (among them Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones, Kurt Cobain…) of rock stars who left in that oddly despondent year of life. Here’s the title song of that album, performed in 2008.

Lyrics

He left no time to regret
Kept his dick wet
With his same old safe bet
Me and my head high
And my tears dry
Get on without my guy

You went back to what you knew
So far removed from all that we went through
And I tread a troubled track
My odds are stacked
I’ll go back to black

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to…

I go back to us

I love you much
It’s not enough
You love blow and I love puff
And life is like a pipe
And I’m a tiny penny rolling up the walls inside

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to…

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to…

Black, black, black, black, black, black, black
I go back to…
I go back to…

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to…

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to black

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

MOTTO MAKES ITS MARK: Hilton brand debuts in Mexico, Europe

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Motto by Hilton has marked a major milestone with its international debut in the Caribbean and Europe with the openings of Motto by Hilton Tulum and Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak. The US urban, lifestyle hotel brand is designed to offer guests the flexibility to create their own experiences and live like a local in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations.

“This is an exciting chapter for Motto by Hilton as it expands globally, underscoring the strength of the brand and its appeal to today’s travellers,” says Matt Schuyler, chief brand officer, Hilton. “We look forward to offering even more reliable and friendly travel experiences in these prime locales, and delivering truly local stays through flexible and modern design, the best of the neighboruhood food and beverage offerings, and a local vibe that reflects the destination of each hotel.”

Tulum, Mexico

Motto by Hilton opens to guests inside the Hunab mixed-used lifestyle centre, the first mall in the Mexican resort town anticipated to soon become a focal point for locals and travellers in Quintana Roo. With a premier location, guests at the 115-room lifestyle hotel are surrounded by a jungle with ancient ruins and pristine beaches and are placed within steps of restaurants, retail shops and nightlife.

The property features two rooftop infinity pools with private cabanas and jungle views that capture the essence of the Riviera Maya. It also boasts a fitness centre with indoor and outdoor workout areas.

Diners will find curated food and drink selections at Motto by Hilton Tulum. Guests can start the day at Bistro Coba with a regionally inspired menu and fresh-pressed beverage offerings, sample mixology and snacks at the rooftop pool bar, enjoy a modern twist on comfort food at the rooftop restaurant bar, and relax downstairs at the casual Coba Bar.

Rotterdam, Holland

Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak

Meanwhile, Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak is located in an iconic preserved bank building that has undergone extensive refurbishment to create a welcoming and modern environment inspired by Rotterdam’s stunning architecture. The 108-room property is within walking distance of the Maritime Museum Rotterdam, Cube Houses and the striking Markthal, where visitors can shop, eat, and drink at nearly 100 food stalls and restaurants.

The hotel’s design has retained features of its bank origins, including the original staircases and wooden panelling, ensuring guests feel the legacy of the building throughout their stay. Red, yellow, and blue themes highlight the influence of iconic modernist art, which has long been synonymous with the city.

With a continuously evolving menu, minimal waste, and the best selection of fresh fish available daily, Pesca at Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak constantly invents dishes to give guests a unique experience each time they dine at the restaurant.

Motto by Hilton

Across the brand, Motto by Hilton offers travel-sized guest rooms with sleek, modern design that reflects the local destination. Each room is equipped with everything guests need for an enjoyable and restful night’s sleep, including top-notch mattresses, with sound-absorbing surroundings and smart technology for the ultimate in convenience.

Guests can fully customize each stay with flexible sleeping setups, including standard, Flex beds that stow into the wall, The Bunkie (bunk bed) and more. Motto by Hilton also simplifies coordinating travel for larger friend and family groups by offering a number of varying connecting room configurations to accommodate groups of all sizes. For instance, Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak offers guests the ability to connect up to nine rooms, while Motto by Hilton Tulum offers up to five rooms connecting.

Local design is also reflected across these international properties in distinct ways.

A distinguishing feature of Motto by Hilton hotels is their versatile, open common space, Motto Commons. Serving as a neighbourhood gathering space, Motto Commons provides a central place for guests and locals alike to grab a coffee, catch up on work or have a cocktail before heading out to explore.

At Motto by Hilton Tulum, hotel team members known as Motto Hosts are available to specifically curate experiences for guests, such as a sunset rooftop dinner with a Mayan ceremony, a premium mezcal tasting at Ancestral, or a sustainable mobility E-scooter or E-bike for getting around town. Motto by Hilton Tulum also has partnered with the area’s two biggest beach clubs, Bagatelle and Vagalume, to provide guaranteed access and sunbed service for hotel guests.

At Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak, the glass ceiling of Motto Commons is a centre point where work and play converge. Located in the heart of the hotel, light bites, drinks and freshly brewed teas and coffees are available at the bar or in the Commons. Grab & Go options are available for the explorer on the move.

Global growth

Motto by Hilton Tulum and Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak join the brand’s open properties in the US, including Motto by Hilton New York City Chelsea, Motto by Hilton Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square and Motto by Hilton Washington DC City Center.

More than 20 properties are in the pipeline, including Cusco, Peru, as well as São Paulo Ibirapuera and Recife in Brazil.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

The Anam Mui Ne Debuts on Vietnam’s South Coast

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Mui Ne, Vietnam, January 11, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Crafted by age-old artisans from across Vietnam, The Anam Mui Ne celebrates its grand opening on January 11 with a design redolent of the Indochine period.

Perched on 1.2 hectares of spectacular oceanfront, the independently owned and operated resort is blazing new ground in Mui Ne, a popular beach town within an easy commute from Ho Chi Minh City.

With 127 elegant rooms and suites, two restaurants and a bar, a five-treatment-room spa, two spacious swimming pools – one freshwater and the other saltwater – a ballroom, conference rooms, water sports center, fitness center, yoga room, kid’s club, gift shop and more, The Anam Mui Ne is poised to redefine the benchmarks of an upscale experience at Mui Ne.

Borrowing deeply from the templates of architecture inspired by the grand old French villas in Hanoi, and the garden homes of Central Vietnam, the new resort pays homage to both colonial-era and classic Vietnamese aesthetics. To wit, the customized encaustic mosaic tiles, Cham decorative vases and statues on plinths, teak furniture crafted from sustainable forests, stone from Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, and authentic thatched roofs from Binh Thuan.

Vietnamese artists were commissioned to create 250 original oil paintings for each room and suite, as well as the lobby, restaurants and hallways. The artists include painters Bui Van Quang, who is renowned for his paintings portraying daily Vietnamese life, and Vu Trong Anh, who’s won acclaim for his modern, abstract interpretations of Vietnamese scenery.

The Anam Mui Ne is preceded by the 2017 launch of The Anam Cam Ranh, that’s been lauded by some of the industry’s highest accolades including placement among Asia’s top resorts in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in 2021 and 2020.

Situated on Mui Ne’s beach strip Nguyen Dinh Chieu, the resort overlooks one of southern Vietnam’s most inspiring white sand beaches and affords sweeping East Sea vistas. Mui Ne’s attractions include its beach, sand dunes, fishing village, Cham towers and “Fairy Stream” – a shallow stream that flows through vivid orange and white limestone formations. An expressway due to open shortly will cut the drive from Ho Chi Minh City to two hours. An international airport is set to open in Mui Ne in 2025.

For Vietnam-born founder and owner Pham Van Hien, the resort makes for a significant expansion of the brand that references another name “An Nam”, which was the name of Central Vietnam during the French Indochina era. He has played a hands-on role in the design of the resort, applying valuable lessons he learnt from bringing The Anam Cam Ranh to fruition.

“My ambition for The Anam has always been to create, through and through, an intimate, classic and distinctly Vietnamese hotel brand that is a welcome counterpoint to the industrialised hotel chains that are increasingly targeting Vietnam with properties that, quite frankly, you could find anywhere,” Mr Hien said.

The resort’s 127 rooms and suites across six accommodation categories form a loose rectangular U-shaped configuration that opens up views of the ocean, lush gardens, the resort’s swimming pools and Mui Ne town. The Private Pool Suites and Presidential Suite are the resort’s leading accommodation categories. The 142sqm Private Pool Suites have their own 22sqm private pools complemented with terraces decked with sun loungers. The 122sqm Presidential Suite features an indoor dining area, lounge and kitchenette, as well as a separate room for security personnel.

Comprising an all-day dining restaurant and grill called The Indochine, beachside restaurant and bar Lang Viet Restaurant and Bar, elegant Saigon Bar in the lobby and 24-7 in-room dining, the resort’s dining landscape’s offerings range from gourmet delicacies to traditional home style cooking and street food-inspired classics.

The Anam Spa has five treatment rooms, including three VIP rooms designed for couples – each equipped with two massage beds and a deep-soaking bathtub – as well as two single rooms, two steam rooms, saunas, indoor Jacuzzis and a beauty salon.

The resort leverages its natural surrounds as opportunities for kitesurfing, jet skiing, sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, bodyboarding, Kymera body boarding and surfing at Mui Ne beach.

The resort will open with a ban on single-use plastics and has implemented an array of measures to reduce its carbon footprint ranging from solar power and locally sourced ingredients. Laundry water is recycled to water the gardens. Straws, bags and bathroom amenities are biodegradable. The resort’s eco-friendly key cards are also made from wood that’s been sourced from sustainably managed forests.

About The Anam Group
After the auspicious debut of The Anam Cam Ranh in 2017, the independently owned and operated The Anam Group will celebrate the grand opening of its second property, The Anam Mui Ne, in January 2023.

With “Indochine Charm” and “Modern Luxury” as its watchwords, the group blends colonial-era aesthetics and attentive Vietnamese service with modern comforts and convenience. “The Anam” today is a reference to another name, “An Nam”, which was the name of Central Vietnam during the French Indochina era.

The Anam Cam Ranh overlooks 300 metres of beachfront on Vietnam’s scenic Cam Ranh peninsula, which averages more than 300 sunny days per year. The luxurious five-star resort boasts 77 villas and 136 rooms and suites. The Anam features a French-inspired fine dining restaurant, all-day dining restaurant, a Vietnamese restaurant and bar, a classical bar, a beach club, in-room dining, a 10 treatment-room spa, indoor and outdoor movie theatres, three capacious swimming pools, ballroom, conference rooms, recreation and fitness centre, a tennis court, yoga room and deck, kids club, putting green, gift shop and more.

Like its predecessor The Anam Cam Ranh, The Anam Mui Ne’s design is also an echo out of Vietnam’s Indochine era. Situated in southern Vietnam’s popular beach town Mui Ne, the 1.2 hectare beachfront resort affords spectacular ocean vistas and features 127 elegant rooms and suites, including seven 142sqm suites with private pools and a 122sqm presidential suite with an extra room for the bodyguards. Its dining landscape comprises an all-day dining restaurant and grill, beachside restaurant and bar, and lobby bar. A five-treatment room spa, two vast swimming pools, a ballroom, conference rooms, water sports center, fitness center, yoga room, kid’s club and gift shop are among the resort’s host of world-class facilities.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor Appoints Joseph Colina as New General Manager

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Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor Appoints Joseph Colina as New General ManagerSiem Reap, Cambodia, January 11, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, the iconic 90-year-old luxury hotel on the doorstep of the ancient Khmer archeological sites of Angkor, has appointed Joseph Colina as its new General Manager.

The American national brings nearly two decades of experience with Accor to his new posting in Siem Reap. Colina most recently served as General Manager of MGallery Sapa in northern Vietnam. He also previously worked as Hotel Manager for Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, after launching his career in the U.S. with positions in Washington, D.C., Chicago and elsewhere.

“This is an exciting moment in Siem Reap not only as international travelers flock back to one of the world’s most extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Sites but also as Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor writes the next chapter in its own legendary history, after celebrating its 90-year anniversary last year as a landmark heritage hotel in Southeast Asia,” Colina said.

The hotel reopened its doors in June 2022 following a major restoration project and pandemic-related closure that shut the hotel for nearly three years. Under the guidance of the Raffles Hotels group, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor is once again at the forefront of travel to Southeast Asia. The hotel was recognized last year by the U.S.-based publication Travel + Leisure as one of the world’s top 500 hotels.

Nearly all of the hotel’s 119 guest rooms and suites were fully refurbished in the restoration, including with all-new Italian tiling and fixtures in the bathrooms. One of the hotel’s most distinctive attributes—its classic metal and timber elevator in the lobby—remains, as does the vintage ambience of The Elephant Bar.

Colina takes the reins amid other significant changes at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, including the launch of the Khmer fine-dining restaurant 1932 and the addition of the Raffles Marquee, an elegant events space overlooking a lush green lawn.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor originally opened in 1932 and is a national treasure whose storied history is a testament to Cambodia’s colorful past. The hotel was originally built as a rest stop for archeologists and adventurers seeking to explore the ancient kingdom of Angkor Wat.

For more information on Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, or for bookings, please call +855 23 982 598

ABOUT RAFFLES
Raffles Hotels & Resorts boasts an illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. In 1887, Raffles Singapore set the standard for luxury hospitality, introducing the world to private butlers, the Singapore Sling and its enduring, legendary service. Today, Raffles continues this tradition in leading cities and lavish resort locales, enchanting travellers with meaningful experiences and service that is both gracious and intuitive. Connoisseurs of life choose Raffles, not merely for its aura of culture, beauty and gentility, but for the extraordinary way they feel when in residence with Raffles. Each Raffles, be it Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Warsaw, Jakarta or the Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where travellers arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family. Raffles is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,100 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Aloft Bangkok Announces a Special Lunar New Year Package

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Aloft Bangkok Announces a Special Lunar New Year Package - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, January 11, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11, Marriott Bonvoy’s bright and bold hotel in the beating heart of Bangkok, is announcing its newest room promotion ‘Lunar New Year Package’ in time for Chinese New Year, offering special rates and a variety of free gifts so that travelers can spend more time exploring Bangkok.

Starting at THB 3,799++ per room per night in a Chic room, guests can enjoy perks like free breakfast, an 11 AM early check-in (based on availability), an afternoon tea set with a Thai twist, 20% off food and beverage, and more. Guests must make a reservation by February 28, 2023, for arrivals no later than April 30, 2023, other terms and conditions may apply.

Experience a whole new vibe with loft-inspired design, totally tech-savvy rooms with free Wi-Fi and a great social scene, Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 is a distinctive select, modern, fresh and fun hotel. With savvy design and free-flowing energy, guests can celebrate in style in the unique openness of a no-walls, no-limits space. An easy breezy adventure awaits all guests in Thailand’s hippest hotspot, Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 is just steps from the best shopping, nightlife, and dining destinations, and a quick 5-minute stroll to Nana BTS Skytrain and MRT Subway stations for easy access to Bangkok’s biggest attractions.

To book, please email BKKALReservations@marriott.com, or call 02 207 7000

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

NORMAL AIR TRAFFIC OPERATIONS RESUMING GRADUALLY

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The latest statement from the FAA at 08:50 EST said, “Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the United States following an overnight outage to the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system that provides safety information to flight crews. The ground stop has been lifted. The agency continues to look into the cause of the initial problem.”

All flights across the US were grounded due to an issue with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) computer system. At around 6:30 Eastern, there were 760 delays within, into or out of the United States, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. The FAA said in a tweet that it was working on restoring its Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) System.

The New York Times posted the following update at 08:45 EST

Here’s what to know:

  • The F.A.A. expected departures to resume at 9 a.m. Eastern time at most airports. More than 3,700 flights within, into and out of the United States had been delayed on Wednesday, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service.
  • Departures resumed at airports in Newark and Atlanta “due to air traffic congestion in those areas,” the F.A.A. said in a statement.
  • The delays were spread across the country and affected multiple carriers. United Airlines said in a statement that it had temporarily delayed all domestic flights and that it would issue an update when it learned more from the F.A.A. American Airlines said the situation “impacts all airlines” and that it was “working with the F.A.A. to minimize disruption to our operation and customers.”
  • President Biden said he had spoken with Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, and asked him to report back when a cause for the failure was identified.

.NOTAMs used to be available through a hotline which was subsequently  phased out with the internet. The alerts span from general information about construction, runway closures, general bird hazard warnings, or low-altitude construction obstacles to urgent flight restrictions or broken equipment.

‘The FAA said earlier it was working to restore its Notice to Air Missions System.  “We are performing final validation checks and repopulating the system now. Operations across the National Airspace System are affected.

“We will provide frequent updates as we make progress.”

Federal officials said Tuesday they will require charter airlines, air-tour operators and plane manufacturers to develop detailed systems for identifying potential safety problems before accidents occur.

The Federal Aviation Administration said safety-management systems have made travel on large airlines safer since their adoption was required in 2018.

 

 

We will continue to update this story during the day.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News