Netflix has announced a partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and the Creative Economy Agency to put together Uncover Thailand: A Creative Travel Guide, a first-of-its-kind Thailand travel guide.
The travel guide will lead tourists to discover incredible locations featured in popular films and shows from Thailand and beyond on Netflix -- and include recommendations for great experiences in the surrounding areas to help travellers make the most of Thailand's natural wonders, gastronomic experiences, rich culture and diverse heritage.
Uncover Thailand: A Creative Travel Guide is a definitive travel guide that covers fantastic destinations seen in movies and shows on Netflix as well as key attractions, activities and cultural experiences featured in these stories. The guide provides an opportunity for tourists and movie enthusiasts to discover new destinations away from the screen -- complete with intriguing facts and useful travel advice that help visitors enjoy the best that each destination has to offer. Additionally, exclusive behind-the-scenes content from Netflix promises to open up entirely new avenues of exploration across Thailand's many wonders.
Visit thailandtravelmap.com.
More Holiday Inn properties to open
IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the growth of the Holiday Inn brand in Thailand, following a franchise agreement with Destination Group, a hospitality and restaurant leader in Thailand, to rebrand two resorts in Phuket.
Independent hotels Surin Phuket Beach Resort and Karon Phuket Beach Resort will undergo renovations and be rebranded into Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Surin Beach and Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Karon Beach this year.
This brings the Holiday Inn portfolio in Thailand to 12 opened and in the pipeline after the 2022 openings of Holiday Inn Resort Krabi Ao Nang Beach and Holiday Inn Resort Samui Bophut Beach.
Mandarin Oriental celebrates cherry blossoms
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo recently launched the Ultimate Sakura Experience, an exclusive package to celebrate the arrival of spring and the blooming of the cherry blossoms. This new offering will provide guests with an authentic taste of Japanese culture through delightfully curated experiences, delectable culinary creations and a rejuvenating spa treatment.
The cherry blossom season is about to start and it's the most beautiful time to visit Japan. The cherry blossoms burst into bloom from March through May, travelling across the length of Japan from the south to the north. The blooming is a charming annual sighting which has been celebrated for many centuries with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) picnics under the trees. Nihonbashi, which is where the hotel is located, is the perfect place to be fully immersed in the history and culture of this 17th century Edo-era city and to enjoy a relaxing stay during the enchanting pink-coloured sakura season.
The Ultimate Sakura Experience is available from ¥185,200 (47,650 baht) per night and includes luxurious accommodation in one of the hotel's stylish rooms or suites; 10% off the best available rate when booked 14 days in advance; daily buffet breakfast for two at K'shiki Italian Dining restaurant; sakura-inspired cocktails at the Mandarin Bar; and seasonal cherry-blossom-themed in-room amenities.
The offer is available from March 11 until April 16.
Visit mandarinoriental.com/tokyo or email motyo-reservations@mohg.com.
Marina Bay Sands gets sustainable stamp
Singapore's Marina Bay Sands has been certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Industry Criteria for Hotels and Accommodations, becoming the largest hotel in Singapore to earn the accolade.
The GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels aims to promote the best sustainable tourism practices around four main themes -- effective sustainability management; minimising environmental impact; maximising social and economic benefits for the local community; and enhancing cultural heritage.
Marina Bay Sands' GSTC achievement certification is in line with the Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Hotel Association's announcement of the Hotel Sustainability Roadmap in March 2022. The roadmap aims for 60% of hotels in Singapore to attain internationally recognised hotel sustainability certification by 2025.
Having reduced its carbon footprint by over 50% since 2012, Marina Bay Sands also surpasses the roadmap's ambition for hotels in Singapore by commencing tracking emissions by 2023 and reducing emissions by 2030.
Thai VietJet wins best performance award
Thai VietJet Air was named winner of the Excellence In Crisis Management And Recovery award at the recent 31st World HRD Congress, highlighting its outstanding performance in crisis and people management throughout the pandemic.
As the winner, Thai VietJet proved its impressive accomplishment in business development and people management during the Covid-19 crisis. Since the outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020, the carrier retained all employees and even recruited for next-step development, together with additional aircraft planning and regular staff training, ready for the industry to recover.
