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Santa Claus is Coming to Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort

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Ho Tram, Vietnam, November 30, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / A Christmas tree lighting ceremony, a beach bonfire and marshmallow roast, ‘lobster, prawn and steak’ nights and photos with Santa Claus are among Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort’s array of celebrations this festive season.

Poised on Ho Tram Beach within an easy commute from Ho Chi Minh City, the resort’s festive program kicks off on December 18 with a tree lighting ceremony accompanied by cocktails and canapes, a choir performance, and a visit from Santa Claus.

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve buffets anchored with fresh seafood, Asian specialties and traditional Christmas favourites will be served at Sasa restaurant from 6.30-11pm.

The resort’s Breeza Beach Club will host its vibrant ‘Ho Tram Seafood Market’ on Christmas Eve from 6.30-11pm. Brimming with crabs, squid, fish such as grouper and snapper, shrimp, mussels, snails, clams and scallops caught from local waters that day, large bamboo baskets are assembled on bamboo stalls at the beach club’s outdoor terrace to a backdrop of live chill-out music. Diners determine if their seafood and meats are grilled, wok-fried or steamed, and choose from sauces and popular Vietnamese accompaniments.

Santa Claus will visit the resort’s various dining outlets from 6.30-8pm on Christmas Eve, before the bonfire and marshmallow roast on Ho Tram beach gets underway from 8.30pm.

Breeza Beach Club will also host the lobster, prawn and steak night on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and a steak night on December 30, all from 6.30-11pm. A countdown party on New Year’s Eve from 11pm until 2am the following morning will be staged at Breeza and on the beach, with a DJ spinning the decks.

Workshops such as Christmas biscuit making, ornament colouring, postcard decoration, balloon twisting with a clown, will be held throughout the program.

A 152-room and 83-villa property, five-star Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort’s features a host of world-class facilities such as three restaurants including the beach club, a swim-up bar, coffee shop, 20-treatment room spa, an executive lounge The Level Lounge, ballroom and conference facilities, kids club, gymnasium, gift shop and more. The contemporary rooms, suites and villas afford unencumbered views of the ocean, lush gardens, lakes and swimming pools.

Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort is offering a ‘Christmas Experience’ for two nights from December 23-25, 2022 that includes a stay in a Deluxe Ocean View Room, daily buffet breakfast for two, the Christmas Eve buffet for two with free-flow water, soft drink, juice, beer and in-house wine, and other activities including the bonfire and marshmallow roast, surprise Christmas gift, visit from Santa Claus, arts and crafts workshops and more. The Christmas Experience is priced at VND 6,500,000++ per night for two people, with a booking window until December 20, 2022.

About Meliá Hotels & Resorts
Meliá Hotels & Resorts is the most well-known brand within Meliá Hotels International; it has more than 100 city and resort hotels in the main leisure and business destinations of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Meliá Hotels & Resorts instinctively understands the guests’ needs and lifestyle expectations and caters to every aspect of guests’ wellbeing. It offers exemplary meetings and events facilities in all key business cities and exotic locations, serving the ever-expanding conference and incentive travel market.

About Meliá Hotels International
Founded in 1956 in Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International operates more than 380 hotels (portfolio and pipeline) throughout more than 40 countries, under the brands Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Paradisus by Meliá, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, The Meliá Collection, INNSiDE by Meliá, Sol by Meliá and Falcon’s Resorts by Meliá, plus a wide portfolio of affiliated hotels under the “Affiliated by Meliá” network. The Group is one of the leading companies in resort hotels worldwide, while also leveraging its experience to consolidate the growing segment of the leisure-inspired urban market. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led the Group to become the most sustainable hotel company in Spain and Europe, according to the last S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (Silver Class). It also has ranked seventh in the Wall Street Journal’s list of the 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world (and the leading travel company) and is the only Spanish travel company included in the list of “Europe’s Climate Leaders 2021” by Financial Times. Meliá Hotels International is also included in the IBEX 35 Spanish stock market.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Celebrate the Festive Season at Tuxedo Espresso Bar

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Tuxedo Espresso Bar at Carlton Bangkok Sukhumvit welcomes the festive season with a selection of Christmas desserts for you to enjoy.

Tuxedo Festive Afternoon Tea
Share a special Festive Afternoon Tea with friends at Tuxedo Espresso Bar. Each set includes sweet treats of a Santa Hat, Pina Colada Boule De Noel, Caramel Log Cake and Christmas Stollen. Savoury highlights are Foie Gras Pie and Pulled Pork Mille-feuille.

THB 1,380++ for two persons including a pot of TWG Loose Tea or Coffee of your choice
THB 1,680++ for two persons including a pot of TWG Loose Tea or Coffee of your choice and 2 glasses of bubbles

Available daily at Tuxedo Espresso Bar from 15 November 2022 to 3 January 2023 from 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm.

Tanqueray Festive Tower Set
Celebrate the festive season with a set of Tanqueray beverage menus specially crafted for you by our mixologist, Supharat (Junip) Thongmeesuk. Enjoy it with Tuxedo Festive Desserts.

Each set includes 3 glasses of Tanqueray Beverage perfectly paired with our Festive Desserts

THB 1,099++ per set

Available from 15 November – 3 January, 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Christmas Goodies at Tuxedo
A selection of festive treats are also available for a la carte purchase from 15 November 2022. Pack them as gifts and make Christmas extra special for friends, family and colleagues.

● Christmas Santa Hat Pudding (THB 250++)
● Tuxedo Chocolate Stollen (THB 260++)
● Christmas Fruit Cake (THB 280++)
● Tuxedo Boules De Noel Pina Colada (THB 280++)
● Chocolate Caramel Log Cake (THB 280++)
● Tuxedo Stollen (THB 350++)

For more information or to make reservations, please contact 02 090 7888

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Marine Biologist Dives into Hotel’s Sustainability Effort

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Krabi, Thailand, November 30, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Ms Tipwimon Rattanawongwan, a marine scientist from Kanchanaburi in Thailand, has joined Banyan Tree Krabi as Sustainability Coordinator.

Tipwimon, formerly a Marine Biologist at Four Seasons Koh Samui, brings a wealth of experience to the team, including a spell at Phuket Marine Biological Center and as a Foundation Coordinator at the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation Phuket.

Banyan Tree Krabi, which opened in 2020 with 72 pool suites and villas, continues to embrace and expand its commitment to sustainability, headed by Sustainability Manager Thepsuda Loyjiw, who oversees projects at both the Andaman beachfront hotel and its sister resort Banyan Tree Samui.

Banyan Tree Samui won international plaudits in 2020 when Thepsuda and her team successfully protected and nurtured the nests and eggs of a rare green turtle on the resort’s beach, resulting in the birth and survival of more than 200 hatchlings.

“Ms Tipwimon will be a valuable addition to our team as we work continuously to create a carbon-free footprint at each of our resorts,” said Thepsuda. “Among her targets will be a focus on resource conservation, recycling and upcycling, pollution reduction, waste elimination, and limiting energy consumption.”

The Banyan Tree Hotels group is renowned as a wellness brand with strong eco-friendly policies. Among Banyan Tree Krabi’s industry-recognized awards is a “Green Hotel Award – Gold Certification,” presented by Thailand’s Department of Environmental Quality Promotion in recognition of the resort’s ongoing efforts to efficiently manage energy, waste and natural resources.

The 5-star property, located on tranquil Tubkaek Beach facing the uninhabited limestone islands of Than Bok Khorani Marine National Park, looks to follow in the gentle footprints of Banyan Tree Samui which in 2018 became the first hotel in Thailand to be awarded “Gold Certification” at a single-property level by Earthcheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism.

Banyan Tree Krabi’s recent sustainability initiatives include an Earth Day beach clean-up, and the introduction of Forest Bathing, a nature-based educational tour for guests, including children, to help raise awareness about environmental conservation and protecting local flora and fauna.

ABOUT BANYAN TREE HOLDINGS LIMITED

Banyan Tree Holdings Limited (“Banyan Tree” or the “Group”) is a leading international operator and developer of premium resorts, hotels, residences and spas, with 47 hotels and resorts, 63 spas, 72 retail galleries, and three golf courses in 24 countries. Each resort typically has between 75 to 300 rooms and commands room rates at the higher end of each property’s particular market.

The Group’s primary business is centred on four brands: the award-winning Banyan Tree and Angsana, as well as newly established Cassia and Dhawa. Banyan Tree also operates the leading integrated resort in Thailand – Laguna Phuket — through the Group’s subsidiary, Laguna Resorts & Hotels Public Company Limited. Two other integrated resorts – Laguna Bintan in Indonesia and Laguna Lăng Cô in Central Vietnam – complete the status of the Group as the leading operator of integrated resorts in Asia.

As a leading operator of spas in Asia, Banyan Tree’s spas are one of the key features in their resorts and hotels. Its retail arm Banyan Tree Gallery complements and reinforces the branding of the resort, hotel and spa operations.

Since the launch of the first Banyan Tree resort, Banyan Tree Phuket, in 1994, Banyan Tree has received over 2,600 awards and accolades for the resorts, hotels and spas that the Group manages. The Group has also received recognition for its commitment to sustainability for environmental protection and emphasis on corporate social responsibility.

In addition to its currently operating hotels, resorts, spas and golf courses, the Group currently has 21 hotels and resorts under construction, and another 25 under development.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Staycationers Behaving Badly

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COVID-19 has changed how we holiday: out with crowding into airports to fly to distant resorts; in with staying close to home. Although this might seem an effective way to support local tourism while containing the virus, research by Ph.D. student Mr Wilson Au, Dr Nelson Tsang and Dr Clare Fung of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University reveals a downside of “staycationing”. In Hong Kong, many holidaymakers confined to local hotels during the pandemic have begun to behave badly, taking a toll on staff’s mental health. This timely study highlights the need for hotels to remove incentives for staycationers to cause trouble and create an environment that brings out the best in guests.

Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, staycationing was a growing trend. “Since the early 1900s,” the authors note, “many Americans have taken short trips to enjoy summer vacations within their usual place of residence”. Once ignored by tourism researchers, staycationing is now recognised as an important market segment. Framing a short-distance trip as a special kind of vacation can help people see familiar places in a new light. Moreover, in uncertain times, holidaying in your hometown is less vulnerable to disruption and more environmentally sustainable than travelling abroad.

As in the West, staycationing has surged in Hong Kong since 2020 because of pandemic-related restrictions on travel and leisure. However, the researchers warn of a dark side to the tourism industry’s home-grown pandemic solution. Focusing on the Hong Kong hotel sector, they explored the interaction between the recent staycation boom and an old problem in hospitality: “jaycustomer” behaviour.

“The term ‘jaycustomer’ is a customer-specific form of ‘jaywalker’”, the researchers explain. It refers to customers who act antisocially in service settings such as hotels, bars, and airports, making life difficult for staff. Jaycustomer behaviour ranges from the boorish to the criminal, encompassing everything from breaking rules, rudeness to staff, and refusing to settle the bill to theft and even vandalism. Hotels are especially vulnerable to jaycustomer behaviour, say the researchers, because they are “characterised by a close but short-term service provider–customer relationship”.

Combine a jaycustomer and a staycationer and you get a toxic visitor whom the researchers dub a “jaystaycationer”. While staying at hotels in their own cities, jaystaycationers abuse the hospitality of their hosts and cause physical and/or emotional damage. The SHTM team was inspired by a local example of disorderly guests in 2020. “One large group of staycationers held what was described as ‘a wild birthday party’ at the Peninsula Hong Kong,” report the researchers, “with stains on every electric device in the room”.

Jaycustomer issues have intensified during the pandemic, partly because travel restrictions have put businesses in a perilous position. Those who continue to patronise local establishments may feel like saviours, giving them the sense of a licence to misbehave. “With such strong perceived bargaining power in the marketplace,” say the researchers, “individuals are less likely to comply with organisational regulations and social norms, which stimulates their jaycustomer behaviors”. Recognising the harm that such hotel guests can cause to other customers, staff and business operations, the researchers set out to classify jaystaycationer problems and identify their causes and how staff react.

The authors conducted individual telephone interviews with 10 staff members from four- and five-star hotels in Hong Kong. Had they experienced trouble with staycationers? Under COVID-19 restrictions, the city’s luxury hotels have seen a surge in bookings from Hong Kongers unable or unwilling to travel abroad. However, whilst a foreign guest in normal times would spend most of their time roaming the city, pandemic staycationers are confined to their hotels almost 24/7. Had staff noticed anything unusually demanding about these guests, the researchers asked, and if so, what did they think of it?

Staff responses to guest behaviours are subjective and dependent on the individual. Hence, the authors were concerned with capturing both their interviewees’ unique personal experiences and the broader context of social disruption in which these events occurred. Their approach needed to be objective and rooted in established theory. To meet these demands, they settled on constructivist grounded theory, a popular framework for obtaining qualitative insights in tourism studies. This approach enabled them to “highlight the existence of multiple realities and elicit the views of each participant’s ‘subjective world’”.

Analysis of the interviews revealed four types of jaystaycationer. “Attention seekers” and “benefit seekers” were defined by their underlying need to get something from hotel staff. Attention seekers attempted to meet intangible emotional needs by, for example, emphasising how virtuous it was for them to support local hotels despite the risk of catching COVID-19. Benefit seekers, taking things further, sought tangible rewards by exploiting hotels’ weak position during the pandemic to demand free upgrades and special services. A similar distinction between tangible and intangible separated “rule breakers”, who transgressed when the opportunity arose, e.g. by holding large parties, and “property abusers”, who progressed to physically damaging property by, for example, cooking in their rooms and setting off the sprinkler system.

Predictably, the spread of COVID-19 was a recurring theme of the interviews. Hotel guests found ways to belittle staff through both under- and over-compliance with safety rules. One interviewee – a housekeeper at a five-star hotel – was made to fear for their safety by the carelessness of jaystaycationers around face masks: “Staycationers refused to follow our hotel’s policies. They did not wear masks and argued with me without their masks on.” In contrast, a front desk officer at another hotel felt dehumanised by the hygiene obsessions of guests checking in: “Jaystaycationers kept using disinfectant spray to clean everything on my desk, such as my pen. It’s so disrespectful; I am not the virus.”

The staff responded to these unpleasant guests in several ways, which the researchers categorised as practical and psychological. In practical terms, they could either stand up to the jaystaycationers or acquiesce, while their emotional reactions ranged from trying to thoughtfully understand their guests’ positions to simply giving up hope or avoiding contact. These findings offer novel insights into the psychological effects of dealing with jaystaycationers. “Three emotional responses (i.e. sense of thoughtfulness, sense of powerlessness, and self-isolation)”, the researchers report, “may bridge the relationship between jaycustomer behaviors and hotel workers’ negative responses”.

Finally, the interviews revealed two types of causes of jaystaycationer behaviour: personal and environmental. Jaystaycationers could be motivated by a triad of negative emotions: fear of COVID-19, arrogance and greed. Conflict could also arise from three environmental causes: the nature of staycationing (confinement in a hotel almost 24/7), the rules around infection safety (which were new to both guests and staff), and the ambiguity and complexity of the holiday packages offered to staycationers, which jaystaycationers tried to take advantage of.

This last point suggests a possible way to combat the problem. “Instead of just recording staycationers’ dining credits internally,” the researchers suggest, “hotel operators could consider making them transparent for staycationers to monitor on the hotel’s website”.

Although irresponsible customers are nothing new, this is the first study to analyse the jaycustomer problem in the specific context of staycationing. The findings offer actionable insights for hotels into avoiding environmental triggers of jaystaycationer behaviour. By paying attention, for the first time, to the psychological as well as practical strategies that beleaguered staff use to cope with this problem, the study may also help hotel owners take better care of their employees during stressful periods such as pandemics. This preliminary study points the way to a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of a crucial emerging problem in hospitality.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO at WTTC SUMMIT: We Are Your Voice at Global Governance Level

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UNWTO at WTTC SUMMIT We Are Your Voice at Global Governance Level - TRAVELINDEXRiyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 30, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has returned to Riyadh to serve as a bridge between public and private leaders as tourism faces up to big challenges of today: high inflation, geopolitical insecurity and the climate emergency.

At the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit, taking place this week in the Saudi capital, UNWTO stressed the vital importance of education and investments as twin factors in ensuring tourism fulfils its enormous potential as a driver of sustainable and inclusive development. The high-level participation of UNWTO in this leading private sector forum further highlighted the Organization’s unique and natural ability to connect political ambitions and private sector capacity.

Education: An Investment in Tourism’s Future

This year, we brought tourism to the UN General Assembly for the first time and we have also put tourism on the G20 agenda

Speaking before the Summit’s two main events, the Global Leaders’ Dialogue and the Summit’s Opening Panel, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “This year, we brought tourism to the UN General Assembly for the first time and we have also put tourism on the G20 agenda”, adding “that is why I am here: UNWTO can be your voice at the global governance level”.

Carrying forward the momentum of key events held during 2022, including World Tourism Day in Bali, the Ministers’ Summit at World Travel Market in London and, most recently, the UNWTO Executive Council meeting in Marrakesh, the WTTC Summit provided the latest high-level platform for UNWTO to advance its priorities of growing investments in tourism and promoting tourism education and training. As Mr Pololikasvili told participants, skills development is “an investment in the future, to build the tourism sector we need.”

A Vision for Tourism

Against the backdrop of the WTTC Summit, UNWTO invited all high-level delegates to return to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2023 for the official World Tourism Day celebrations (27 September), to be held around the theme of ‘Green Investments’. The hosting of the international day for the sector will further advance the Kingdom’s ambition to become a top emerging destination.

The Kingdom is a strong supporter of UNWTO’s mission to make tourism a driver of sustainable and inclusive development. UNWTO opened its first Regional Office for the Middle East in May 2021 in Riyadh. Built in record time and during a pandemic, the office is set to become a regional and global hub of tourism education and training as well as of tourism for rural development.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Signature Restaurant Bangkok Awarded One Michelin Star

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Signature Restaurant Bangkok Awarded One Michelin Star - TOP25RESTAURANTS-BANGKOK-TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, November 29, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Signature Bangkok announced its 1-Michelin Star, awarded by Michelin Guide. Lead by former 2-Michelin star Chef Thierry Drapeau, Signature Bangkok presents innovative modern French and “floral cuisine”. Delicate flowers, herbs and exceptionally fresh, seasonal ingredients from land and sea are hallmarks of Chef Thierry’s floral tasting menu.

• Discover gastronomy destination Bangkok and World’s Best Restaurants for Fine Dining at TOP25Restaurants.com

Signature Bangkok is located on the 11th floor of VIE Hotel Bangkok – MGallery, a cosmopolitan 5-star luxury hotel in the heart of the city. The dining room soars above Bangkok skyline, offering panoramic views of one of Asia’s most exciting cities. Art deco interiors, plush velvet textiles, luxe carpets and a bold colour palette evoke classic elegance, while the floor to ceiling glass windows and burnished bronze fittings keep the mood hip and modern.

Signature Bangkok’s current Winter Menu features 5- and 8-course options, and a 5-course vegetarian menu is available. Serves dinner from Tuesday to Sunday and is limited to 30 guests per evening.

Signature Bangkok is the only modern French and “floral cuisine” restaurant in Bangkok. Edible flowers and herbs are used both artistically and to add flavour dimensions. Floral cuisine is a creative extension of Chef Thierry’s “cuisine of the soil” approach, wherein each ingredient is sourced with integrity and reflects “terroir”, or a sense of place.

Chef Thierry follows a jus-based approach which highlights the natural flavours of poultry, meats and fish. Preferring to avoid excessive use of butter and spices, Chef Thierry relies on Thailand’s bounty of rare, beautiful edible flowers and delicate herbs to enhance flavour. The result is creative, beautiful French cuisine that is light, expressive and approachable.

Chef Thierry is deeply committed to sourcing from farmers, fishermen and purveyors he knows and who share his philosophy. For instance, guests will consistently see mention of Laurent Daniel, a long-time friend of the Chef and a trusted source for the freshest fish and langoustines from the Atlantic.

Signature Bangkok and Chef Thierry are committed to demystifying the formality of French and Michelin dining by keeping the experience approachable and in-step with Thai culture of enjoying relaxed meals in beautiful settings.

Taking cue from the theatre, where stories are told before a live audience, Signature Bangkok’s kitchen opens out to the dining room, much like a stage in a theatre. Guests are encouraged to engage with the culinary team and to witness epicurean craftsmanship taking shape.

Guests begin their culinary journey in Signature Bangkok’s plush, velvet draped, live piano lounge where they are greeted with appetisers paired with aperitifs, champagne and sparkling wines. The main meal unfolds in the restaurant’s dining room overlooking the Bangkok skyline, with a choice of a 5- or 8-course Chef’s Menu.

Signature Bangkok’s cellar features wines from around the world, including Bangkok’s best collection of biodynamic wines handpicked from boutique vintners.

Signature Bangkok is currently offering its seasonal winter menu. Available in 5- and 8-course options, the Winter Menu is inspired by the season’s festive spirit. Cosy, chilling nights around the fire, nostalgic memories and the gathering of families and friends inform the choice of ingredients.

Presentations feature fresh flowers and herbs from the restaurant’s on-site garden, as well as seasonal delicacies imported from artisanal suppliers in France’s Loire Valley and Chiang Mai contribute seasonal flavours and dimension. Flowers and herbs like marguerite or the daisy, coriander, fennel and cosmos make unexpected and charming appearances throughout the meal.

A native of the Loire Valley, Chef Thierry has established strong relationships with farmers, fishermen and vineyards in the region. Additionally, he works closely with Jacques Cavin, an organic farmer in Chiang Mai northern hills. The high elevation and low temperatures at Jacques Cavin’s farm are ideal for growing winter vegetables and flowers, many of which are cultivated specially for Signature Bangkok.

Highlights include ‘La Mer’, wherein Chef Thierry serves fresh Loire River fish from Laurent Daniel, his preferred fishing supplier in northern France. Steamed “en papillote”, the fish is incredibly moist and flavourful. Fennel flowers contribute mild anise and licorice notes. The course is presented tableside, where it is unwrapped like a Christmas present.

In ‘Le Pigeon’, Chef Thierry showcases young squab roasted en jus with spelt and black sesame sauce. The preparation is finished with ‘red shiso’ leaves which contribute mild citrusy flavour, with hints of cinnamon, cloves, and mint.

‘Le Fromage’ includes an array of goat cheeses like Crottin de Chavignol Les, Pouligny Saint Pierre, Valencay, each with distinctive terroirs and AOC appellations. The cheeses are sourced from Les Freres Marchand, one the Loire Valley’s most respected artisanal cheesemakers.

For the dessert course, Chef Thierry presents Mille Feuille, a classic French dessert. Served warm, it is made from a recipe Chef Thierry learned 30+ years ago at Restaurant Gilles. Chef Thierry will adjust the dessert course each evening, to suit the mood and availability of herbs and spices. Surprise and playfulness are integral to the Chef’s approach!

The 8-course menu begins with an Amuse Bouche, followed by Le Ferme, La Mer (fish), Le Pigeon), Le Fromage (cheese) & Plaisairs Sucré (dessert), along with amuse bouche and palette cleansing courses. The 5-course menu is similar, although guests can select either the La Mer or Le Pigeon course. Vegetarian options are available

• Discover gastronomy destination Bangkok and World’s Best Restaurants for Fine Dining at TOP25Restaurants.com

About Signature Bangkok
Signature Bangkok presents the city’s first modern French and floral cuisine. Under the direction of Executive Chef former 2-Michelin star Chef Thierry Drapeau, Signature Bangkok elevates French and Michelin-calibre gastronomy while keeping it approachable and in-step with Thai culinary culture of enjoying relaxed meals in beautiful settings. The meal unfolds in an open kitchen, where guests can interact with the Chef as he prepares the meal, adding an element of theatre to the experience. Signature Bangkok is located on the 11th floor of 5-star VIE Hotel Bangkok next to the BTS SkyTrain Ratchathewi station.

About Executive Chef Thierry Drapeau
Prior to opening Signature Bangkok, Chef Thierry helmed the 2-Michelin star Thierry Drapeau Logis de la Chabotterie in Saint-Sulpice-le-Verdon, Loire Valley. Presenting “cuisine of the soil” with floral elements, the restaurant held on to its 2-Michelin star status for nine consecutive years, an outstanding achievement that is claimed by only a few chefs in the world. After 15 years of perfecting and evolving his craft, Chef Thierry set his eyes east towards Asia for his next culinary undertaking.

Originally from Nantes in the Loire Valley, a region renowned for its cuisine and its wines, Chef Thierry was inspired by the French tradition of home-cooked Sunday meals. Chef Thierry understood early on that the best meals are built around the art and joy of cooking, selecting the finest ingredients and sharing a meal with family and friends. This understanding guides Signature Bangkok’s dining experience, at once rare and beautiful yet absolutely relaxed and approachable.

About MGallery Hotel Collection
The MGallery Hotel Collection brand thoughtfully selects and curates unique properties around the world, forming a storied collection of boutique hotels with true soul where captivating stories are lived and shared. With more than 100 properties, each MGallery tells a unique story inspired by its own remarkable past or the destination it calls home. From bespoke design and sensorial mixology to well-being dedicated to everyday self-care, MGallery hotels are places where guests can enjoy an exquisite travel experience. MGallery Hotel Collection guests live a distinctive story through their delightful visits to these stylish, thoughtful and decidedly singular hotels. Well-known properties in the MGallery Hotel Collection include Hotel Molitor Paris, INK Hotel Amsterdam, Santa Teresa Hotel Rio de Janeiro, Hotel Lindrum Melbourne in Australia, Muse Bangkok Langsuan in Thailand, and Hotel des Arts Saigon in Vietnam. MGallery Hotel Collection is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,300 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL – Accor Live Limitless – a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO and Madrid First Experts Meeting on Cultural Tourism

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UNWTO and Madrid First Experts Meeting on Cultural Tourism - TRAVELINDEXMadrid, Spain, November 29, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO and the Comunidad de Madrid have teamed up to bring together the world’s leading experts in cultural tourism.

Around 20 international professionals will meet in Madrid between 30 November-2 December to share ideas, debate and explore the challenges and trends to boost cultural tourism. They will also draw up conclusions and set out their recommendations for cultural and tourism destination managers, all of which will be presented in a report next January at the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR).

The rise of cultural tourism has led to a number of challenges for destinations, all of which will be addressed in the Madrid meeting. Experts will also examine the growing importance of a holistic tourist-cultural experience, recognizing that a visit to a museum, monument or show does not begin at the entrance door, but is the responsibility of a destination’s entire tourism system. The role of tourism promotion, cooperation with the private sector, the appropriation of cultural resources and the fragility of the intangible will also be discussed.

Recognizing tangible and intangible values

Ion Vilcu, Director of the UNWTO Affiliate Members Department, stresses the importance of this conversation because “the focus is often placed on tangible cultural heritage, and intangible cultural values remain in the background, even when they inherent to the tangible ones. However, the intangible is an important attraction for visitors, precisely because of its unique, exotic, intangible and, in many cases, ephemeral nature.”

As such, aspects such as gastronomy, handicrafts, forms of production, folklore, linguistic heritage, among others, are important cultural resources for destinations, which, without sustainable management, can easily become blurred or even distorted.

Madrid tourism returns

The Comunidad de Madrid formalized its accession to the UNWTO as an Affiliate Member in 2021, through the public entity for the management and promotion of Madrid’s tourism sector Madrid Cultura y Turismo SAU. This global meeting, in addition to deepening the needs of cultural tourism, will help to project the region internationally as a tourist destination, recognizing the specific weight that Madrid’s culture represents in attracting tourists from all corners of the planet. It will also strengthen the image of the Community of Madrid and contribute to consolidating the recovery of the tourism sector which, according to the latest official data, by July of this year had recovered 100% of international visitors compared to the same period in 2019.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Le Bernardin New York Named Top Restaurant in the World

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Le Bernardin New York Named Top Restaurant in the World - TOP25RESTAURANTS.com - TRAVELINDEXNew York, United States, November 28, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Le Bernardin was named the number one restaurant in the world by La Liste, the global restaurant guide and ranking system of the world’s top 1,000 restaurants.

• Discover the World’s Best Restaurants for Fine Dining at TOP25Restaurants.com

The top ranking, which Le Bernardin shares with Paris’ Restaurant Guy Savoy and Frantzén of Stockholm, comes on the heels of the New York seafood temple’s 50th anniversary this fall.

Le Bernardin is the only New York City restaurant among the top 10, and one of 101 United States restaurants, including San Francisco’s Atelier Crenn, Addison in San Diego and New York’s Atomix, featured throughout the entire list.

“To see our team’s dedication recognized by La Liste is incredibly rewarding,” said chef and co-owner, Eric Ripert. “It pushes us to keep striving for excellence everyday, even 50 years in.”

This is the sixth consecutive year La Liste has named Le Bernardin the number one restaurant in the U.S., and the third time it has placed it at the top spot globally. Le Bernardin continues to hold three stars from the Michelin Guide and a four-star rating from The New York Times, which it has maintained across each of its five reviews since opening in New York in 1986. Le Bernardin is also ranked number 44 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List.

La Liste debuted in Paris in 2015, providing an objective and democratic ranking of the world’s most outstanding restaurants powered by a proprietary algorithm that gathers information from hundreds of reviews from such global publications as The New York Times, Michelin Guide and TripAdvisor, and thousands of consumer ratings from all over the world.

• Discover the World’s Best Restaurants for Fine Dining at TOP25Restaurants.com

About Le Bernardin
A fine dining icon for 50 years, Le Bernardin is the internationally acclaimed seafood restaurant from chef Eric Ripert and co-owner Maguy Le Coze. Opened in 1986 in New York by Maguy and her brother Gilbert after the siblings helmed its beloved Paris location for 14 years, the restaurant has held three Michelin stars since the guide’s 2005 New York launch, five consecutive four-star reviews from The New York Times, and is currently ranked number 44 on World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, a testament to its timeless appeal.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

BEEN THERE. DONE THAT.: MSC offers travellers something different

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Travellers looking to check off “bucket list” destinations on their world map need look no further than MSC Cruises to do so, especially with their newer Gulf Region and Red Sea itineraries. As the world’s third-largest cruise brand, Geneva-based MSC has a fleet of 19 vessels, projected to grow to 23 by 2025 with options for another six ship orders in place through 2030. Cruise itineraries are available around the world – in Europe, South America, Southern Africa, the Caribbean, North America, as well as the Far East and Gulf regions.

For “been there, done that” travellers looking for something a little different, MSC’s seasonal cruises in the Middle East offer options to set sail from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha. Other Gulf and Far East destinations include calls in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan. On a Red Sea cruise, guests can visit Yanbu, a desert port known for its white sugar beaches and turquoise waters. From Aqaba, guests can discover the UNESCO city of Petra.

Speaking with Travel Industry Today during the recent christening of MSC’s new flagship, the 6,762-passenger MSC World Europa, in Doha, Qatar, Ian Patterson, MSC’s country manager for Canada, said the unique itineraries resonate with the North American market and especially with Canadians.

“We (Canadians) are curious travellers,” he said. “We like to go and see things. We recognize Canadians cruisers are experienced travellers who welcome innovation and new destinations. We encourage them to experience our expanding programs in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar with MSC World Europa and MSC Opera, along with our new program onboard MSC Splendida in the Red Sea, which are quickly booking up.”

He added, “Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE are ports rich in tradition and culture, which allows our cruises to offer a wide variety of experiences, including visiting Sir Bani Yas, a private island off the UAE, Doha (Qatar), Muscat (Oman) and Dammam (Saudi Arabia). Our “Fly & Cruise” packages with Emirates and Qatar Airways on MSC World Europa this winter are proving to be highly very popular.”

MSC Splendida offers an itinerary that gives guests an opportunity to visit four UNESCO sites in a week. Departing from Sokhna (Cairo/Egypt), guests can discover the Luxor Temple (Safaga/Egypt), the walled city of Al-Ula (Jedda/Saudi Arabia), the holy city of Medina (Yanbu/Saudi Arabia) and the historical city of Petra (Aqaba/Jordan). Also available, a tour of Cairo to see the Giza Pyramid complex, the Sphinx and more. A “Stay & Cruise” package for these sailings includes two night’s hotel accommodation.

For agents, booking a MSC cruise can be lucrative. Patterson described the company’s growing “Stay & Cruise” program – featuring pre- and/or post-cruise hotel stays – as a “one-stop shop” for agents and their clients. All elements of the booking are commissionable to agents, including the cruise, hotels, transfers and even air.

Coming in the new year is a new MSC agent incentive program for Canadian agents. As well, MSC offers a complimentary Status Match program to travellers who are members of hotel or other cruise line loyalty programs. Those taking advantage will become MSC Voyagers Club members, from Classic to Gold, guaranteeing a 5% discount on future cruise bookings, as well as other perks, and a similar or higher privilege status offered by their current loyalty program.

For more, visit www.msccruises.ca.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

BC FIRST NATION, KAMLOOPS WANT TO HOST 2027 NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GAMES

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Tk’emlups te Secwepemc (formerly the Kamloops Indian Band) and the city of Kamloops have announced their intention to bid to host the 2027 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). At a press conference last Friday, (Nov. 25), it was announced that the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and area bid has been selected in BC to be put to NAIG organizers. Tk’emlups te Secwepemc/Kamloops is the first of eligible groups to announce a bid intention.

The move was endorsed by the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I-SPARC), the provincial governing body of Indigenous sports in B.C.

I-SPARC CEO Rick Brant said the NAIG Council, which traditionally awards the hosting rights for the Games, established a new hosting rotation a few years ago.

The 2023 NAIG will be held next July in Nova Scotia. Events will be staged in Halifax, Dartmouth and Millbrook First Nation.

Brant said those from Canada’s three western provinces_B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan_as well as Yukon and Northwest Territories, are eligible to submit hosting proposals for the 2027 NAIG.

It is believed that neither Yukon nor Northwest Territories will submit bids, since they do not have sufficient suitable venues to host the multi-sport Games, expected to attract about 6,000 competitors in 16 different sports.

Brant said I-SPARC reps were extremely impressed with the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc/Kamloops bid.

“Frankly it blew our socks off,” he said.

“As Canada’s tournament capital, you need no reminder of the extraordinary, world-class facilities that you possess,” he told organizers of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc/Kamloops bid, “but hosting a unique, one-of-a-kind event like the North American Indigenous Games requires more than just exceptional venues.”

Brant said officials demonstrated they have compiled a list of leaders to assist with the bid and have also shown strength with their partnerships and an ability to host a large multi-sport event.

As a result, Brant said I-SPARC was keen to become a bid partner. The organization announced $75,000 in funding to support the bid process.

“These Games are unlike any other international multi-sport Games,” Brant said. “They are about reducing barriers for Indigenous youth, families and communities. They are a gathering place for First Nations, Metis, Inuit, Native American peoples from across Turtle Island for the purpose of lifting up our youth and celebrating Indigenous excellence in sport in a culturally rich and a culturally safe environment.”

Though there have been no other public announcements from other bidders, Jason Peters, the president of the 2027 Tk’emlups te Secwepemc/Kamloops NAIG bid committee, said he anticipates both Alberta and Saskatchewan will reveal their preferred host bids in the near future.

Rosanne Casimir, the chief of Tk’emlups te Secwepemc, is pleased the first step of securing the B.C. nomination for the Kamloops bid is now complete.

“This means that we will be advancing forward as British Columbia’s host community representative to compete against provinces and territories in western Canada to host the 2027 North American Indigenous Games,” she said.

Casimir realizes there is still a lot of work ahead for local bid officials.

“There is a clear submission process,” she said. “The first part of that process was to compete on a provincial level. We did that. We did that with our partners. We created a solid first bid.”

The next step is to submit a bid to NAIG Council host selection officials. That bid is due March 10 of next year.

After NAIG Council reps have site tours of all that have submitted hosting bids, they are expected to announce next July 22 which bid has been awarded the 2027 NAIG.

If successful, Casimir said the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc/Kamloops bid would be noteworthy.

“This event would be the largest hosted in the history in this area,” she said. “Welcoming up to 6,000 participants from across Turtle Island, across Canada coast-to-coast and to the territories and to the United States.”

Mike O’Reilly, the deputy mayor for the city of Kamloops, is among those hoping to see the local bid chosen.

“This is an exciting first step,” he said. “It’s going to be a very long wait for July 22nd for the announcement and I think we’ll all have that date marked in our calendar.”

O’Reilly said the city has invested more than $60 million into its facilities in recent years in order to be able to host large events such as the NAIG.

“Most importantly is the opportunity to expand our long-lasting relationship with Tk’emlups and other surrounding Indigenous nations and communities we are near,” he said. “And also bringing our communities together in sport and culture celebration and reconciliation.”

Another politician keen to see the 2027 NAIG come to Tk’emlups/Kamloops is Lisa Beare, the minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport.

“It would be an honour to welcome the Games in British Columbia,” Beare said. “And I look forward to the next steps in the selection process.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News