BHMAsia proudly announces its new property in Phuket

The Asia-Pacific hotel management, development and consulting group, BHMAsia has added Rawai Grand House to its property management portfolio. 

BHMAsia will fully manage the property including the resort operation, sales and marketing, accounting and human resources management starting July 2013 onwards.

Rawai Grand House is located in Rawai - Nai Harn area in the most southern part of the island, best known for the breath taking viewpoint, Prom Thep Cape. The property consists of 12 Superior rooms, 4 Grand Superior rooms, 4 Deluxe Suites, 4 Grand Suites Three Bedrooms and 3 Luxury Three Bedroom Pool Villas. Each of which features a spacious balcony, a mini-bar, living area etc. It offers an exclusive accommodation for those seeking privacy, personalized service and a restful time in Phuket. The resort houses an all day poolside dining, Turquoise Restaurant & Bar which offers Russian, Thai and Western menu. Other facilities include Finnish/Russian sauna, fully equipped pool view gym room, a 25-meter outdoor swimming pool and in room spa/massage service on demand.

“Phuket is the world’s popular holiday destination. We see a lot of opportunity there and I am very happy to welcome Rawai Grand House on board. We work closely with the owner and general manager, and the immediate plan is to give the resort a revamp for the fresh look to be ready for the high season coming,” said Mr. Anthony McDonald, CEO of BHMAsia.

“I am glad to be working with BHMAsia. This will give me a lot of flexibility and freedom and I can put my time and effort fully in the resort operation while the BHMAsia head office in Bangkok will take care of sales and marketing, human resources and business development for us. The resort itself is located in the southern part of the island which is ideal for those who seek a peaceful holiday experience. The surrounding is beautiful and you can still see the lifestyle of the locals in the neighborhood. If you want something more vibrant, Patong and Old Town Phuket is just 25 minutes away by car,” added Mr. Juhani Sotka, General Manager of Rawai Grand House.

For reservation and more information about Rawai Grand House, please visit www.RawaiGrandHouse.com or call Bangkok sales office at +66 2168 7533 ext. 305.

Labrador's Red Bay Given UNESCO World Heritage Status

The United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) honoured the Basque Whaling Station of Red Bay in the Atlantic Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, naming it Canada’s 17th World Heritage Site at the UNESCO annual meeting, held in Cambodia.

The little-known chapter in Canada’s history began 450 years ago, with the pioneering whaling station being the largest and most important port associated with the beginning of the global whaling industry. 

Gran Baya, as it was called by the Basque fishermen who established the operation, holds the most complete archaeological record of the industry’s beginnings, including 15 whale oil rendering ovens, cooperages where the barrels were made and a cemetery with the remains of 140 Basque whalers.

The station, used for more than 70 years as a base for coastal hunting, fuelled a thriving industry for whale oil, a commodity considered as valuable as gold in Europe, used as fuel for lamps, for paints, varnishes and soaps.

Artifacts from the work stations, including the whalers’ personal items, form a collection of 16^th century Basque material culture unequalled even in the Basque Country.

The shallow waters off Red Bay also harbour precious archaeological remains, being home to the oldest shipwreck found in Canada, the 450 year-old San Juan, a 250-ton galleon sunk in a storm in the Strait of Belle Isle in the autumn of 1565.

A perfect reflection of the arrival of Europeans to the New World, the wreck reveals the most complete vessel excavated to date and represents the evolution of ship design and construction for that period.

The city of San Sebastian in the Spanish Basque Country will unveil a full-scale, seaworthy replica of the three-masted, 52-foot vessel in 2016.

Wine Tourism Could Create 50,000 Jobs in Spain

Wine tourism is becoming a key sector when talking about job opportunities in Spain. This is the conclusion reached by a study carried out by http://www.winetourismspain.com, the number one portal in wine tourism distribution in Spain, which claims 50,000 jobs could be created in the next few years.

According to the study, in the USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium alone, 14 million people define themselves as wine tourists and another 82 million plan to do some activity related to the wine sector during their travel, thus opening a potential market of over 100 million people from those countries alone.

Winery in San Lucar de Barrameda, Jerez region, South of Spain

The numbers and forecast for growth in Spain are more than encouraging. According to official data, the number of foreign visitors to Spanish wineries is only 250,000 per year, which represents only 17% of the total number of visits to Spanish wineries. This basically shows that, until now, wine tourism in Spain has been mainly a product for Spanish people.

According to the founder ofhttp://www.winetourismspain.com, Luis Lechuga Núñez, “the growth potential is enormous if we bear in mind that the 250,000 foreign visitors only account for 0.4% of the total number of tourists visiting Spain, which ranks as the third country in the world with more tourists.”

Luis goes further and points out that “7% of tourists coming to Spain claim they would like to visit a winery. This means there are over 3.6 million foreign tourists interested in wine tourism, which is almost 15 times more than the current 250,000.”

For http://www.winetourismspain.com, the key is in designing inland tourism packages and wine tours for foreign visitors which include gastronomic and cultural proposals as well as a variety of options provided by the wine sector.

“If we compare ourselves with competitors such as France, we realize that a great part of their tourism is inland, and France hosts over 60 million tourists a year. If we consider the infrastructure of airports, hotels, the cultural and gastronomic offer Spain has to offer, we should be able to attract 3 million more wine tourists per year. In order to reach this number, we should broaden the horizons of wine tourism by including gastronomy, culture and wine. This should be our objective for the next 10 years,” the portal explains, and this increase in the number of wine tourists could generate 50,000 new jobs.

Another interesting conclusion reached by the study is that it is not necessary to make great economic investments in order to attract these 3 million tourists, because the inland hotel infrastructure in Spain is well developed. Moreover, we must not forget that at present there are over 150,000 rooms in rural tourism, which means 52 million rooms per year, a big part of which are located in wine-producing areas.

Finally, the founder of winetourism.com points that “ the real challenge is in the distribution of the wine tour offer in Spain and the creation of touristic products. Lack of training and the need to change mentalities regarding ways of selling wine and tourism are often given as obstacles, but the truth is there is a lot of qualified and competent staff within the sector”.

“Last but not least, we must keep in mind the significant role of the internet in the booking of trips, which clearly shows the importance of bringing technology to the sectors of inland tourism and wine tourism,” he concludes.

Sofitel So Bangkok offering So Mini chauffered transfers

 

 

Sofitel So Bangkok is offering guests a stylish way to explore the city, introducing a custom-designed, 4-door MINI Cooper Countryman amongst its fleet of luxurious limousines.

 

In addition to airport transfers, guests can book the So MINI for a chauffeured sightseeing trip, travel to and from business meetings, or visit a string of shopping and leisure destinations around the capital.

 

"As the city's first truly urban lifestyle hotel, we wanted to showcase the Sofitel So signature 'playful luxury' concept in our limo fleet as well. The So MINI Cooper Countryman is unconventional yet practical, with sufficient space to comfortably fit two guests and their luggage. Along with the convenience of being chauffeured by an experienced auto-pilot who is well-versed in navigating the roads of Bangkok, we offer our guests a stylish, pleasurable way to travel from point A to point B. Time is a luxury that we can help optimise by allowing our guests to make the best use of theirs while on the road," says General Manager Gilles Cretallaz.

 

The hood of the So MINI is emblazoned with graphic representations of the five elements – water, earth, wood, metal, and fire – from which the hotel drew its design inspirations. The iconic Tree of Life emblem, designed exclusively for Sofitel So Bangkok by Monsieur Christian Lacroix and representing the ancient symbol of immortality, embellishes the side of the crystal silver-coloured cars.

 

On the journey, guests can enjoy best Chocolates from Chocolab, light snacks, and refreshing cold towels. They can also sink into the plush bucket seats and enjoy the complimentary use of a 3G-enabled iPad, pre-loaded with the Sofitel So Bangkok app [so they can get a head start in exploring the city and hotel facilities]. Providing the perfect audio ambiance for the urban travel experience, carefully curated music playlists are also available for guest enjoyment using the So MINI.

 

The passenger capacity for a chauffeur-driven So MINI Cooper Countryman is two guests plus one medium-size suitcase, and there is a three hour minimum for the booking.

 

Sofitel So Bangkok hotel's fleet of stylish limousines also include BMW 5- and 7-Series, Benz Vito Van, and Toyota Commuter Van. Together they offer an ideal choice, whether for the business traveller going to a meeting, or for a party of passengers getting around town, or to and from the airport.

 

Like Sofitel So Bangkok itself, the city's first truly urban designed hotel, the limo fleet is a seamless experience of luxury. For more information, prices and reservations please call the hotel direct on +66 (0) 26240000 or e-mail H6835-RE@SOFITEL.COM.

 

 

Celebrating 25 years and Best Superior Regional Accommodation Win, Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains

Dr Jerry Schwartz centre, with Bernie Boller GM to his right, along with team from Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains

For the second year in a row, the Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains has taken out the Best Superior Regional Accommodation award at the Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) NSW Awards which was held at a gala event in front of 600 people on 24th July 2013 in Sydney. Andrea Donaghy who is the resort's Front Office Manager, took out Front of House Employee of the Year.

Upon accepting the Best Superior Regional Accommodation award, the team went on stage and the award was accepted by the resort's new general manager, Bernie Boller.

"While I have only been at the resort for 6-weeks, it is easy to see why the Fairmont Resort has taken out this prestigious award. It's not only its location which makes the resort so magnificent, it's the staff and their passion for ensuring a memorable Blue Mountains experience which see our guests coming back for more," said Bernie.

"The Fairmont is celebrating its 25th birthday next month, so winning this award is a real coup for the resort and our owner, Dr Jerry Schwartz, who has been tireless in his pursuit of restoring and renovating the resort and making it into what it is today. I thank the team for their dedication and enthusiasm and I accept this award on behalf of them".

The TAA (NSW) Awards for Excellence are recognised as one of the most prestigious hospitality awards, honouring the achievement of excellence in a wide range of categories across the accommodation industry. In its 16th year, the awards aim to increase public awareness of the hotel industry while celebrating the achievements of its peers.

With an unrivalled location overlooking the Jamison Valley, the Fairmont Resort which is part of Accor's MGallery Collection of hotels attracts guests from all over the world seeking refined accommodation in the heart of a World Heritage location and is proud to be celebrating its 25th anniversary.

After completing a $10 million refurbishment in 2012 which saw the sprawling 210-room resort brought into line with the demands of the savvy traveller, the resort has been restored to its former glory and has become the place to stay for romantic weekends away and families looking for space to run wild.

Boasting two restaurants, a lounge and bar, two swimming pools - one heated and one outdoor with spa, a fully equipped gymnasium, day spa treatment room, kids magic games room, tennis and squash courts, Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains has come a long way since 1988 and continues to be awarded for excellence.

For further information on the resort, head to www.fairmontresort.com.au

www.accorhotels.com

South African Airways takes delivery of first two new Airbus A320 aircraft

South African Airways (SAA) has taken delivery of the first two (of a total of 20) A320 aircraft ordered from Airbus in 2010. A handover ceremony took place in Toulouse, France this week.

According to Tim Clyde-Smith, SAA’s Country Manager for Australasia, the new aircraft will deliver cost efficiencies and allow the airline to expand its regional route network in Africa while boosting revenue in this rapidly-growing market.

“This is great news for SAA as we continue to drive efficiency while increasing the quality of our product and service offering on the African continent,” Tim said.

“Our passengers from Australia and New Zealand want the same standard and quality of aircraft they receive on international sectors. The new A320’s will help deliver that demand,” he said.

“The new A320’s seat a total of 138 passengers, 24 in business and 114 in economy class.”

“All aircraft will be delivered over the next two years, with the first two deliveries received this week. SAA has earmarked the first two aircraft for domestic operations within South Africa, while the rest will be deployed on both domestic and regional routes. The first two aircraft will go into service around the second week of August 2013.”

“Our acquisition of the new aircraft is welcome news as we continue to build our reputation as Africa’s leading airline.” Tim concluded.

Note for editor: SAA has daily non-stop flights between Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg, with direct connections to the largest network in Africa including 26 destinations on the continent. SAA is the most awarded airline in Africa with recognition and achievements from major airline and travel industry bodies and from recognised passenger and industry surveys. SAA is a member of STAR, the world’s largest airline alliance which offers more than 21,500 daily flights to 1,356 airports in 194 countries.

For more information on SAA flights and reservations please call 1300 435 972 or see www.flysaa.com.au

PATA Announces Grand and Gold Award Winners

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 PATA Gold Awards. Proudly supported and sponsored by the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), for the last 18 years, this year's awards recognise the achievements of 22 separate organisations and individuals.

PATA will present 26 Grand and Gold Awards, with awards going to Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority, Rottnest Island Authority, Korea Tourism Organization and Travel+Leisure magazine to name a few. The awards ceremony will take place at the Jinjiang Hotel, on Sunday, September 15 during the PATA Board and Committee meetings, just prior to the PATA Travel Mart on September 16-17.    

Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, MGTO said, "Our hearty congratulations go out to all PATA Gold Awards 2013 winners. The list of PATA Gold Awards 2013 winners fully reveals the great dynamism of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. The innovation and excellence brought by the winners will inspire the rest of the region to do more and better through this meaningful PATA awards programme."

"The award winners have demonstrated a high degree of creativity and excellence," said Mr. Martin J. Craigs, CEO PATA. "We would like to extend our warmest congratulations and we are delighted to recognise these achievements at the PATA Gold Awards Luncheon in Chengdu. All winners will be invited to be our guest at the PATA Travel Mart."

The PATA Grand Awards are presented to outstanding entries in four principal categories: Marketing; Education and Training; Environment; and Heritage and Culture.

The Central Plaza Hotel will receive the 2013 PATA Grand Award for Education and Training for its "4 Cs: Centara Career Creation for Children" campaign. The programme has provided career development opportunities to underprivileged students through a five-month training programme intended to enhance their knowledge and skills in hospitality services. The initiative aims to expand the workforce base, targeting Thai juveniles who have the potential to become new workers within the hospitality industry. 

The Environmental award will be presented to Jetwing Hotels, Sri Lanka for its "A Heartfelt Commitment" project. Highlights of the project include a central chilling system powered sustainably by a biomass boiler for running the entire air conditioning system of the hotel. Other initiatives include 100% illumination through energy saving LED lighting, solar panels powering room lighting, hot water generated through biomass boilers, and all waste water being treated via a waste water treatment plant and being re-used within the hotel gardens.

The Heritage and Culture award will be awarded to Sampran Riverside in Thailand for its "Sampran Riverside - an eco-cultural destination." After 50 years of showcasing traditional aspects of Thai life for tourists, Sampram Riverside has embarked on a new venture: organic agriculture. Sampran Riveside has enhanced the use of traditional Thai farming culture throughout its property and the local community. It now promotes the use of Thai food, herbs, and traditional medicine without chemicals. Organic agriculture products produced at the property and by local farmers are available for tourists at the project's Sookjai Market and Sookjai Organic Development Centre.

The Marketing award is presented to the Tourism Authority of Thailand for its "Discover the Other You" digital marketing campaign. This campaign aimed to inspire travellers to discover their inner desires and develop new perspectives on their own lives, while creating an unforgettable experience. 

Open to both PATA and non-PATA members, this year's Awards attracted a total of 165 entries from 60 travel and tourism organisations.

PATA Grand Awards 2013

Education and Training
4 Cs: Centara Career Creation for Children
Central Plaza Hotel Public Company Limited, Thailand

Environment
A Heartfelt Commitment
Jetwing Hotels Ltd
Sri Lanka

Heritage and Culture
Sampran Riverside - an eco-cultural destination
Sampran Riverside
Thailand

Marketing
Discover the Other You
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Thailand

PATA Gold Awards 2013

Marketing - Primary Government Destination
What Tribe Are You?
Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority

Marketing - Secondary Government Destination
More Rottnest Winter Campaign
Rottnest Island Authority
Australia

Marketing - Industry
Hong Kong Disneyland Toy Story Land Travel Trade Integrated Marketing
Hong Kong International Theme Park Limited
Hong Kong SAR

Environment - Ecotourism Project
Wadjem up Coastal Walk Trail
Rottnest Island Authority
Australia

Environment - Corporate Environmental Programme
PLANET 21
Accor Asia-Pacific

Environment - Educational Programme
Eco-Walk & Training at the Frangipani
The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa
Malaysia

Heritage and Culture - Heritage
After Dark and Open House
Rottnest Island Authority
Australia

Heritage and Culture - Culture
Development of Phuket Old Town to be the Covservative Area
Phuket City Municipality
Thailand

Education and Training
Tourism Learning Centre Programme for 84 Schools
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Thailand

Marketing Media - Consumer Travel Brochure
Smart Tour Guide
Korea Tourism Organization
Korea ROK

Marketing Media - Broadcast Advertisement
Breathe in a bit of Gujarat
Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd
India

Marketing Media - Print Advertisement
Sarawak Tourism Re-Imaging Campaign
Sarawak Tourism Board
Malaysia

Marketing Media - Travel Poster
Gorgeous Shades of Craftsmanship - Chiangmai
Tourism Authority of Thailand

Marketing Media - Travel Video
This is Thailand
Tourism Authority of Thailand

Marketing Media - Public Relations Campaign
Benefits Beyond Borders
Air Transport Action Group
Switzerland

Marketing Media - Web Site
What Tribe Are You?
Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority

Marketing Media - E-Newsletter
Kerala Tourism Newsletter
Kerala Tourism
India

Marketing Media - Social Media
Discover Hong Kong Facebook Fan Page
Hong Kong Tourism Board
Hong Kong SAR

Travel Journalism - Business Article
A Brighter Shade of Green
TTGmice, July 2012
TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd, Singapore
By Karen Yue, with reports from Linda Haden, Patricia Wee,
Mimi Hudoyo, Timothy France and Brian Higgs
Singapore

Travel Journalism - Destination Article
Return to Cambodia
Travel+Leisure, February 2012
Written by Thomas Beller and Photograph by Christopher Wise
USA

Travel Journalism - Travel Photographer
Kathmandu, By Martin Edström, Qatar Airways Oryx magazine, May 2012
Agency Fish
United Kingdom

Travel Journalism - Guidebook
International Spotlight Northern  Region - 88 Useful Tips
Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei