Valentine’s Pampering at The Okura Spa

It’s the time of year to show yourself or your someone special a whole heap of love and affection and what better way than with the romantic 2-hour Valentine’s treatment at The Okura Spa in Bangkok. 

Indulging in a bit of personal pampering is simply perfect for restoring a sense of mental and physical wellbeing after the excesses of the recent festive season. 

The Okura Spa’s Valentine’s package begins with a gentle 30-minute Oriental Rose milk bath that cleanses and exfoliates the skin to leave it feeling soft and supple. 

This is followed by a 90-minute soothing Oriental Rose aroma massage deftly administered by a qualified therapist. 

The massage eases tired muscles while fragrant aromatherapy oils help to lull the senses into a state of deep relaxation so that you emerge from the treatment feeling refreshed and full of energy.

Valentine’s Pampering package is available daily at The Okura Spa from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., 1-28 February 2018, Price: Baht 8,999 net per couple.

The Okura Spa is located on the 25th floor of The Okura Prestige Bangkok. For more information and reservations, please contact 02 687 9000 or email spa@okurabangkok.com

Price is inclusive of 10% service charge and 7% government tax.

MACAO SETS THE TABLE FOR A MOUTHWATERING 2018

MACAO is set to celebrate 2018 with a year-long promotion that feasts on its recent UNESCO Creative Cities – Gastronomy recognition.

Now a member of an elite list of 26 global cities designated for their cuisine, the former Portuguese enclave will celebrate by promoting 2018 Macao Year of Gastronomy.

Among the major food-related events for the year is Macao’s hosting of the prestigious Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants promotion from March 25-27, complete with dining experiences, lectures, a chefs’ feast and a gala awards ceremony.

Throughout the Chinese Year of the Dog, Macao will be highlighted by a congested calendar of colourful festivals and events, along with the opening of a contemporary international hotel – the 1390-room MGM Cotai.

“Being recognised by UNESCO for its gastronomy is an exciting development for Macao which has always been renowned for having one of the world’s earliest forms of fusion food,” said Helen Wong, general manager of the Macao Government Tourism Office (Australia and New Zealand).

“Over four centuries, Macao has seen the evolution of what is known as Macanese cuisine, where families have prepared home-cooked dishes, recipes with elements of Portugal, Africa, India, Malaysia and China creating a real melting pot of tastes,” she said.

“During that time, Portuguese traders brought to China capsicum, curry, shrimp paste, pickled cod fish and other spices. These ingredients were combined with the evocative flavours and aromas from south-east Asia such as cinnamon, coconut milk, tamarind, garlic and red chilies’ along with the vegetables and fruit grown in the region.

“The story of Macanese cuisine is just as enticing as the taste of the food itself.”

Among the popular dishes on the Macao menu are African Chicken, Minchi, the salt cod fritters and the sawdust pudding Serradura along with the sought-after Portuguese-style egg tarts.

Macao will kick off 2018 with its annual Chinese New Year celebrations, including two vibrant family street parades have been organised for the evenings of Sunday, February 18 and Saturday, February 24.

From April 27-29, the compact Asian centre of more than 600,000 will host its 6th Macao International Travel Industry Expo (MITE) at The Venetian Macao, this year’s exhibition increasing to 500 booths.

Over five Saturday evenings from September 1 until October 1, the skies over the Macau Tower will explode into a kaleidoscope of colours as countries from around the world compete in the 29th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest.

For the first time in its history, the annual contest was cancelled in 2017 after Macao was devastated by the fury of Typhoon Hato which struck in the days leading up to the event.

On September 27, Macao will celebrate World Tourism Day with an array of colourful activities while, in October, it will host the Global Tourism Economy Forum.

Giant steins will be raised throughout the same month as the MGM Macau celebrates its annual Oktoberfest with all the food and singing expected at such a German-style gathering.

More food for thought in November will be the 18th Macau Food Festival, the overwhelming aroma of dishes enough to wake the taste buds as guests wander between street stalls.

December will be another busy month with the hosting 8th Macau Shopping Festival, the ever-appealing Macao Light Festival and the 3rd International Film Festival and Awards – Macao (IFFAM), completed with its red-carpet ceremonies.

To wind up 2018, sports fans can look forward to the Macao International Kart Grand Prix while lovers for fireworks can prepare for a colourful evening on December 20 to commemorate the 19thyear since the establishment of the Macao Administrative Region along with the traditional New Year fireworks on December 31.

Despite last year’s impact of Typhoon Hato, Macao boasted a record-breaking 2017, attracting more than 32,600 international visitors – and increase of 5.4 per cent on the previous record-breaking year.

An increase in the number of integrated resorts and hotels coupled with a growth in attractions and activities have played key roles in the rise in popularity.

The total number of hotel rooms in Macao increased to almost 38,000.

Such expansion saw an increase of almost 10 per cent in the number of visitors taking overnight stays, ensuring the average occupancy rate would be between 88 and 90 per cent.

Details: Macao Government Tourism Office, go to www.visitmacao,com.au (Australia) or www.visitmacao.co.nz

Thien-Hue issues code of conduct for tourists

The Department of Tourism of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue has issued a code of conduct for tourists in Vietnamese and English.

The guidebook includes illustrations of dos and don’ts. It encourages tourists to respect local traditions, behave in a civilized manner, protect historical relics, support the disabled, elderly, pregnant women and children, and to queue up when using public services or joining activities at public places.

Thua Thien – Hue houses Hue city, which was the imperial capital of Viet Nam for hundreds of years. Hue is home to five heritages recognised by UNESCO, namely the Hue ancient citadel relic complex – a World Cultural Heritage site; Nha Nhac (Hue royal court music) – an intangible cultural heritage item; Nguyen Dynasty’s wood blocks – a documentary heritage item; Nguyen Dynasty’s Chau ban (royal administrative documents) – part of the Asia-Pacific Register of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme; and literature on Hue royal architecture - a documentary heritage.

In 2017, the total number of tourists to Hue rose 16 percent to 3.8 million, contributing to the local tourism revenue of over 320 billion VND (14 million USD).

In 2018, the provincial tourism sector hopes to welcome between 4-4.2 million visitors, of which foreigners make up of 40-45 percent, up 10 percent and 12 percent from 2017, respectively, generating 4-4.2 trillion VND (176 million-184.8 million USD).

Source: VNA

New Zealand to come alive at AIME 2018

The New Zealand story is set to come alive at AIME 2018 this month with a bold new stand in the premium zone, mixing digital innovation and distinctive cultural elements.

Conventions & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) Australia Manager, Sharon Auld says New Zealand will have prime position at the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME), the region’s leading exhibition for the business events industry in Melbourne on 20 and 21 February.

CINZ and Tourism New Zealand are teaming up on the 100% Pure New Zealand stand with 11 partners from key regions and venues. They are joined by the country’s national carrier Air New Zealand, named 2018 Airline of the Year by AirlineRatings.com. for the fifth year in a row.

“Together we are making the most of this prime spot to create a real sense of our place and our people. It will be an engaging slice of Aotearoa New Zealand in Melbourne,” she says.

The collaborative approach will see the two main stand partners Auckland Convention Bureau and New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) expand their presence.

“As New Zealand’s largest city, with exciting new infrastructure and events planned, Auckland is really amping up its position on the world stage,” she says.

ChristchurchNZ Convention Bureau and the Christchurch Convention Centre are also partnering to showcase New Zealand’s newest city in the heart of the South Island, ahead of the convention centre opening in 2020.

The new 100% Pure New Zealand stand features a live plant wall and digital totem displays.

“Each of our partners have their own streamlined interactive displays, and tailored layouts to maximise their new space.

“We look forward to hosting our legendary Cloudy Bay networking event on the Tuesday afternoon, and can’t wait to show off our new home at AIME.”

Exhibiting with CINZ and Tourism New Zealand on stand #2910 at AIME 2018 are:

• Accor Hotels New Zealand
• Air New Zealand
• Auckland Convention Bureau
• Auckland Conventions Venues and Events
• ChristchurchNZ Convention Bureau and Christchurch Convention Centre
• Cordis Auckland
• Heritage Hotels and Resorts
• Millennium and Copthorne Hotels New Zealand
• New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC)
• Queenstown Convention Bureau
• Real Journeys / International Antarctic Centre

Historic Rough Riders Hotel, Medora in North Dakota

History buffs will love the Rough Riders Hotel where you can choose to stay in historic rooms (where President Theodore Roosevelt himself is rumoured to have made a speech), use showers marked by the brands of Roosevelt or read books about and by Roosevelt in the massive wall-to-wall library.

Enjoy the hotel’s authentic western charm paired with luxury amenities and its convenient location right in the heart of downtown Medora, close to historic attractions such as Billings County Courthouse Museum, the ND Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Medora Musical. 

For the best dining in the west, Theodore’s Dining Room offers a scrumptious bacon-wrapped steak, fresh garden salad, tantalizing buffalo osso bucco as well as signature cocktails, exquisite wines and much more.

ETG Staging Connections announces rebrand to Encore Event Technologies

Encore Event Technologies, a leading provider of in-house event technology and production services, announced that it is expanding its global presence with the rebranding of ETG Staging Connections to the Encore Event Technologies brand.

ETG Staging Connections is China’s leading provider of in-house event technology and staging services. Adding the company to the Encore umbrella creates a global audio visual (AV) and event services company, that not only provides broader staging and event production service offerings with improved business performance for customers, but also bolsters the brand’s competitive advantage in servicing premium hotels worldwide.

Both Encore and ETG Staging Connections are part of Freeman, the world’s largest brand experience company.

Commenting on the rebrand, Ken Sanders, President of Freeman Audio Visual, believes the adoption of the Encore brand is a positive reflection of the current landscape and will be the driving force to future success.

“The adoption of the Encore brand in China will provide our venue partners and clients with a single global resource that represents our unwavering commitment to elevate their brand experience in unique, creative and innovative ways. Our strengthened global offering provides clients with a blend of the best of what our two companies have to offer — unmatched customer service, high quality technology solutions, a customer-first approach, industry and technical expertise, and the best talent. These are these driving principles that will position Encore to be the leading voice in the industry.”

Encore has already grown significantly through the Asia Pacific region with in-house AV services in Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines. This rebrand continues the company’s evolution; the strength of the Encore name is reflective of the company’s global footprint, investment and vision. This new chapter of the business will enhance the services and technology available to current clients, and appeal to a whole new market in Australia and across the globe.

Tony Chamberlain, Managing Director for Staging Connections shared,

“As we expand throughout the Asia Pacific region, we will continue to offer our network of partners and clients unmatched expertise, quality services and global resources. A single brand reflects the mutual values for both businesses and will enable us to truly function as the most valued partner with access to one of the largest AV and event production networks within the industry.”

In November 2016, the creative and event agency arm of ETG Staging Connections was also rebranded to align with the brand experience agency model under Freeman – known as FreemanXP.

TIGER TOURISM: CAMBODIA’S NEWEST CASH PLOY

An Indochinese tiger is photographed in Thailand.
The last wild tiger in Cambodia was seen in 2007
and the government plans to bring the practically
extinct species back, for praise and profit.

Just 20 years ago, Cambodia was a country that many travelers to Southeast Asia skipped over to get to Thailand, Vietnam and other regional rivals. These days, they are flocking to see the country’s pristine beaches, picturesque pagodas and famed Angkor temple complex.

In 2016, international arrivals to Cambodia increased by an annual 5% and pushed past 5 million, a number that is expected to increase by 11.5% this year and signifies a massive boost from the total of roughly 1 million tourists who visited in 2004.

But fears about limited scope for growth have spurred the government to consider new strategies to ratchet up tourism even further. One of the latest initiatives is “tiger tourism.” Officials are aiming to bring the big cats, which have been functionally extinct in Cambodia since the last one was seen in 2007, back to the kingdom, a plan that they hope will bring both international praise for the revival of an extinct species and financial gain in the form of tourism returns.

In early October, Thong Khon, the minister of tourism, told a workshop on ecotourism and wildlife that the ministry was aiming to turn Cambodia’s eastern provinces, which are largely ignored by tourists, into a wildlife haven buoyed by its new tigers.

“The ministry of tourism aims to develop the northeast, especially Mondulkiri [Province], to make it one of the country’s major tourist draws, particularly for ecotourism and wildlife,” he said.

But the reintroduction plan has brought its share of criticism. Poaching is still endemic in Cambodia, and some are concerned that the Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary in Mondulkiri Province, where the tigers will live, lacks sufficient habitat and prey for the animals.

Decimated population

In 1999, Cambodia was said to have the world’s second-highest tiger population, according to the Cat Action Treasury, a U.S. wildlife nongovernmental organization. By 2007, that population was virtually extinct, and the last Indochinese tiger spotted in Cambodia was captured by camera trap roaming Mondulkiri Province.

Though some experts doubt the claim that Cambodia had hundreds of tigers in the late 1990s, it is still indisputable that many of them died from poaching, habitat destruction and other reasons. And in Cambodia today, where record deforestation and rampant corruption still contribute to environmental devastation across the country, things do not look much better.

Read full article at NIKKEI Asian Review: https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/Tiger-tourism-Cambodia-s-newest-cash-ploy

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ENJOY NEW YORK CITY EXPERIENCES WITH A 2-FOR-1 OFFER THIS WINTER DURING NYC MUST-SEE WEEK

—Receive 2-for-1 Admission to More Than 60 Attractions, Museums, Tours and Performing Arts January 29–February 11—

NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organisation, announced tickets are now on sale to the public for NYC Must-See Week. The program (formerly known as NYC Attractions WeekSM in 2017) will offer two-for-one admission to attractions, museums, tours, and performing arts venues across all five boroughs with tickets offered from January 29 through February 11, 2018. Experiences to be enjoyed among the 62 unique participants include iconic NYC attractions, skyline views, historic sites, world-class institutions and more. To view a full list of participants and to purchase tickets, visit nycgo.com/mustseeweek.

During NYC Must-See Week, there are options for everyone. For those seeking…

• …recently opened Times Square attractions, head to Midtown Manhattan to explore Gulliver’s Gate, National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey or the NFL Experience Times Square.
• …observation deck views, book the Empire State Building Experience or visit One World Observatory. …waterfront explorations, hop aboard with Bateaux New York, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises or Hornblower Cruises & Events, among others.
• …cultural institutions along Museum Mile, visit the Museum of the City of New York; the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; or the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
• …world-class museums not found on Fifth Avenue, visit the Brooklyn Museum, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) or the Whitney Museum of American Art, among others.
• …cultural heritage museums, visit the Museum of Chinese in America, Museum at Eldridge Street or the Museum of Jewish Heritage. …family-friendly activities, enjoy the Bronx Zoo, The Ride or Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, among others.
• …historical sites, enjoy Fraunces Tavern Museum, Morris Jumel Mansion, Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden or head out on an educational historic walk withLower Manhattan Tours.
• …food tours, dine with Like a Local Tours or Urban Oyster Tours.
• …behind-the-scene tours, discover Carnegie Hall Tours, Madison Square Garden All Access Tour or Yankee Stadium Tours, among others.
• …pop culture tours, head out with On Location Tours, The Tour at NBC Studios or see your favorite celebrities at Madame Tussauds New York.
• ...music and performing arts, enjoy the Baruch Performing Arts Center, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Harlem School of the Arts or the World Music Institute.
• And much more…

“NYC Must-See Week gives locals and visitors a unique opportunity to check off experiences from their bucket list and sample more of everything the City has to offer,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company. “From iconic attractions to lesser-known gems, the 2-for-1 offer gives everyone a chance to discover more across the five boroughs at a value.”

Furthermore, New Yorkers and visitors are encouraged to seek out the ultimate-value week this winter, January 29 through February 4, when three of NYC & Company’s signature programs align: NYC Must-See Week, NYC Restaurant Week® and NYC Broadway WeekSM. Additionally, snag NYC Off-Broadway WeekSM 2-for-1 tickets during this time after they go on sale January 29 for performances from February 12 to February 25. Hotel savings are also available as the winter season offers the most attractive hotel rates of the year, particularly on the evening of Super Bowl Sunday (February 4). For all there is to do in NYC this winter, visit nycgo.com/winter.

Con Dao national park’s old trees seek national heritage recognition

The management board of the Con Dao National Park in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has sent a dossier to the Viet Nam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE), asking for the recognition of its three ancient trees as Viet Nam heritage trees.

The trees include two “Nhoi” (Bischofia javanica) trees and one “Coc do” (Lumnitzra littorea) tree. The board said that those trees meet all criteria to become national heritage trees, which include over 200 years old, endemic, valuable and rare, of cultural and historical value, part of a beautiful natural landscape and at least 25 metres in height and 15 metres in diameter.

The recognition will promote tourism images as well as economic development in the island.

The board affirmed that a programme to conserve Viet Nam heritage trees initiated by the VACNE in 2010 has made significant contributions to safeguarding bio-diversity and natural landscapes, bolstering economy and improving livelihoods for local people.

According to VACNE experts, Con Dao has a diverse and plentiful flora with more than 880 kinds of vascular plants.

Earlier, 79 ancient trees planted along Ton Duc Thang, Le Duan, Le Van Viet and Nguyen Hue streets, Island Lord Palace, Phu Hai prison, Phu Son prison and Lady Phi Yen Temple were recognised as heritage trees in 2012.

Source: VNA

Anvil Hotel ideally located in the heart of the historic town of Jackson Wyoming

The Anvil Hotel, as featured in Vogue Living Australia is a newly renovated 1950s motel, transformed with a regional design focus into a funky and artful boutique hotel ideally located in the heart of the historic town of Jackson Wyoming.

Conveniently close to Aussie favorite ski and boarding destination Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and the National Elk Refuge, the property comes complete with a general store featuring gear and retail from Westerlind and an Italian trattoria, Glorietta, making it the perfect rustic getaway in winter - or any season. 

Secret tip: Look out for their new winter Explorers Club packages on the website which launched in December, featuring activities like dog sledding to the Granite Hot Springs (Exploration package), to exhilarating snowmobile tours through wildlife (Awe package) in Yellowstone or Togwotee High Mountain.