• Refreshed Somerset brand features new experiences anchored in sustainable travel for multigenerational families
• Launches augmented reality campaign with over eight million ASR points to be given away

 
The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a lodging business unit wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment, today unveiled its refreshed hospitality brand, Somerset. A brand that champions inclusivity and sustainability, Somerset embraces harmony within individuals, with families and in the environment. This brand refresh follows Ascott’s recently announced Ascott CARES, a sustainability framework that aligns Ascott’s growth strategy with environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations. The refresh of the Somerset brand serves as another milestone to mark Ascott as one of the first hospitality groups to be conferred Recognised Standard status by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
 
Ms Tan Bee Leng, Ascott’s Managing Director for Brand & Marketing, said: “Sustainable travel has gained prominence in recent times as travellers become more socially conscious and aware of their environmental footprint. We are witnessing a returning trend towards family vacations and multigenerational trips, as guests look to travel as a way to reconnect post-pandemic. Against this backdrop, the Somerset brand was refreshed to meet travellers’ growing expectations for sustainability, while at the same time ensuring they can immerse themselves in a truly inclusive, harmonious experience.”
 
“As the second largest brand within our global portfolio, Somerset has been most popular amongst our guests travelling with families, because of its flexibility to cater to different travel purposes – from long-stay relocations to short-stay vacations. As travel continues to rebound, we are excited about the renewed opportunities Somerset will offer for families and eco-minded travellers. Somerset celebrates the coming together of people in an inviting, inclusive and homely environment. We hope to curate a stay where all families across generations can share happy moments, build lasting memories and create positive impact,” added Ms Tan.
 

 The Peninsula Bangkok welcomes guests and visitors to discover the stunningly intricate, traditional, and vanishing Thai lacquer-art technique of Lai Kammalor, with a special art installation by acclaimed local artist and an Associate Professor, Niroj Jarungjitvittawat through 30 December 2022.
 
The exhibited works, collectively titled SATI (a Buddhist term meaning mindfulness or consciousness) have been commissioned as part of The Peninsula Bangkok’s artist in residence programme. The programme collaborates with up and coming local artists to offer hotel guests uniquely immersive artistic experiences – in part, by hosting artists in residence like Associate Professor Niroj, who use studio and exhibit spaces on hotel premises to create work and interact with visitors.
 
Lai Kammalor, a centuries-old painting technique that dates to the Ayutthaya period of the Kingdom of Siam, employs lacquer, gold leaf, and powdered tempera to create elaborately patterned designs. These were used to adorn the doors, windows, partitions, and cabinetry in many of the country’s grandest historic palaces and temples – including Bangkok’s Grand Palace.  Associate Professor Niroj has made it his personal mission to preserve this distinctive artistic tradition through his own works, including the dozen paintings which comprise SATI, displayed on the Mezzanine Floor and artist studio at The Peninsula Bangkok.
 
“My dedication to Lai Kammalor goes beyond simply wanting to introduce this ancient Thai method to modern-day art enthusiasts, or to my students,” said Associate Professor Niroj, who teaches art at Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin. “It is my way of promoting the higher cultural values embodied in the approach – goodness, faith, truth – to viewers around the world.”
 
According to Joseph Sampermans, General Manager of The Peninsula Bangkok, the SATI exhibit offers guests the sort of deeply engaging, culturally relevant art experience that the hotel seeks to share with the artist in residence programme.
 
“Installations like Associate Professor Niroj’s fulfil an important purpose,” Mr Sampermans said. “Not only do they surround our guests with exquisitely beautiful artworks, and introduce them to local creators; they also connect our visitors with the vibrant culture of our home city, and our home country.”
 
For more information about The Peninsula Bangkok’s artist in residence programme, please visit www.peninsula.com/art. To book an Artist Studio Tour in the hotel personally guided by Associate Professor Niroj, please contact The Peninsula Bangkok at +66 2020 2888 or email: pbk@peninsula.com.

​New Ascott CARES programme aligns with the gold standard for sustainable tourism; pledges commitment to key pillars of Community, Alliance, Respect, Environment and Supply Chain

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a lodging business unit wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment, today announced the conferment of Recognised Standard by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). As a member of GSTC, Ascott is one of the first hospitality groups to be conferred this GSTC-Recognised Standard status for its adoption of the GSTC Industry Criteria. It is an affirmation of Ascott’s commitment to the gold standard for sustainable tourism. Marking this milestone, Ascott has unveiled Ascott CARES, a sustainability framework that aligns its growth strategy with environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations alongside GSTC Criteria. The expanded framework is centred around five pillars representing the acronym CARES - Community, Alliance, Respect, Environment and Supply Chain.
 
“The sustainability landscape is an ever-changing one, made more complex by the prevailing macroeconomic environment. Recognising that, we need to evolve our approach to sustainability in a more holistic and strategic manner. As both an owner and an operator, Ascott has the ability to design a strategy that integrates purposeful sustainability goals with financial objectives. We have a strong position that allows us to influence and manage properties throughout their entire real estate lifecycle, beginning from the investment stage, to design stage, right through to operations,” said Ms Beh Siew Kim, Chief Financial & Sustainability Officer, Lodging, CapitaLand Investment and Managing Director, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Japan and Korea, The Ascott Limited.
 
“The need for us to accelerate our sustainability initiatives stems from the wider crisis of climate change. The built environment is a key contributor to the climate change crisis and there is much work to be done. As a key player in the lodging industry, every stakeholder has a part to play,” added Ms Beh.
 
Having evolved from a hygiene and safety programme that was first introduced in May 2020, Ascott CARES has since been strengthened to extend the culture of care and hospitality to the community and environments within which it operates through its business and across its supply chain as part of its sustainability framework.
 
Ascott CARES is aligned with CapitaLand’s ‘Sustainability Master Plan’ pillars and will be rolled out across all of Ascott’s managed and branded properties. Alongside the new framework, Ascott
 
has also announced its supporting targets which will be progressively achieved from 2023, with target completion by 2030.
 
Driving effective implementation of the sustainability programme, Ascott has taken further steps to establish a robust sustainability governance structure that fosters cross-collaboration between regional leaders and Ascott’s Sustainability Leadership Council (SLC).
 
Co-led by Ascott’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kevin Goh, and Chief Financial & Sustainability Officer, Ms Beh Siew Kim, Ascott’s SLC exercises oversight of sustainability and climate risks, and determines the strategy and goals for the company. These strategies are driven by the Corporate Sustainability team, in collaboration with regional and property leaders who facilitate the execution of programmes within the local market.
 
“Responsible stewardship is key to corporate governance, and a sound governance structure will ensure we remain focused in our efforts. Sustainability has been a key priority for all our stakeholders and will continue to play an integral part in our business and growth strategy,” said Ms Beh.
 
Full details on Ascott CARES can be found in the attached appendix. For more information, please visit discoverasr.com/ascott-cares
 

AnyMind Group, an end-to-end commerce enablement company, has today announced the launch of an analytics module and integrated its platforms for logistics management (AnyLogi) and conversational commerce (AnyChat) to its e-commerce management platform AnyX, enabling AnyX users to access detailed analytics into multichannel e-commerce operations, manage and track logistics operations, and perform customer engagement through a single platform. Both AnyLogi and AnyChat are still available separately to customers.
 
The company has also added several site analytics and advertising integrations, providing platform users with the ability to plug in data from Google Analytics, Google Analytics 4, Google Ads, and Facebook Ads for Shopify web stores.
 
The above seeks to help online merchants better navigate e-commerce where store management, marketing, logistics, and customer support can be done out of a single platform instead of across a multitude of disparate sources and apps.
 
The company looks to help enterprises better manage the growing complexity of online commerce, accelerating a world where business is done through a single platform, is borderless and open, and data can be utilized and maximized freely across business functions, enabling higher levels of growth.

Takieng – Phuket’s ultimate Thai restaurant at Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa recently announced its continued success with two prestigious dining awards includes 2022 Phuket’s Top 25 Restaurants and 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award Winner for Top Everyday Eats – Thailand.
Takieng means ‘Lantern’ in Thai, referring to the local fishermen’s daily routine of taking the long-tail boat with their fishing nets and lanterns to catch fish at night to avoid the heat from the day’s sun.
The restaurant serves classic Thai and Phuket’s favorite dishes with premium locally sourced ingredients that are hard to find elsewhere. Some of which are hyper-locally sourced, such as Mole Crab or Sand Crab that only live on Mai Khao beach and leaves that grow in Mai Khao.
Chef Tanasub Trisub or 'Chef Tham' – the head chef at Takieng has over 30 years of culinary experience, with a specialty in crafting local Thai and Southern Thai cuisine. Originally from the south of Thailand, Chef Tham’s dishes are inspired by family’s home cooking recipes and the aplenty of local ingredients available in the south of Thailand. Favorites on the menu are Pla Kapong Mieng Kham -- crispy deep-fried whole Sea Bass accompanied by Mieng Kham sauce, Chu Chee Ped Krob -- a rich red curry sauce with golden-fried locally farmed duck, and Jakkajun Thalay Thod -- deep-fried locally sourced Mole Crab served with sweet chili sauce.
In the heavily competitive market like Phuket and the time of changing diner priorities, Takieng exceeded expectations and has been lauded as one of diners’ favorites, proved by two prestigious dining awards this year. This is the second consecutive year that Takieng has been named Phuket’s Top 25 Restaurants, ranking No. 12 out of 25. Furthermore, the restaurant is also recognized by TripAdvisor again as a 2022 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best award winner for Top Everyday Eats – Thailand, ranking No. 6 out of 10 leading restaurants nationwide.
Takieng restaurant opens daily for lunch and dinner, from 12PM – 11PM. For more information and reservation, visit www.renaissancephuket.com or call +66 76 363 999.
Phuket’s Top 25 Restaurants award is founded by Travelindex in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Travel & Tourism Foundation. It is celebrating exquisite dining in each city highlighting the culinary diversity, as well as new trends and chefs supporting local community products.
Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best award is TripAdvisor’s highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on TripAdvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travelers and are ranked in the top 1% of all properties or restaurants worldwide.

Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, the landmark hotel in the heart of Thailand’s capital city, is celebrating after it won a trio of prestigious titles at the 2022 World Luxury Hotel and Restaurant Awards.
 
The pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry, the World Luxury Awards are voted for by guests, travelers and industry players alike. Over 300,000 international travelers vote each year, so the winners can truly be considered the best in their class.
 
In the 2022 awards, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park won the “Luxury Conference & Event Hotel – Country Winner” award in the World Luxury Hotel Award. This reflects the quality of its conference and banqueting space, which spans more than 30 flexible and fully connected function spaces and over 5,000 square metres of floorspace. These are complemented by exquisite alfresco venues, state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and professional catering and planning services, creating unsurpassed options for every size and style of event, from large-scale conferences to one-of-a-kind weddings.
 
Also in the World Luxury Restaurant Awards 2022, Goji Kitchen + Bar, the international culinary marketplace at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, won the “Gourmet-style Buffet – Country Winner” award. With its bountiful breakfasts, themed buffets and fantastic family brunches featuring fresh seafood, Parilla-grilled meats, global delicacies and much more, this is one of Sukhumvit’s most vibrant gastronomic venues.
 
Finally, Sirimahannop, the reimagined Thai tall ship on the Chao Phraya River, took home the “Outstanding Architecture – Country Winner” award in the World Luxury Restaurant Awards 2022. Having recently celebrated its second anniversary, this unique waterside destination has become an iconic landmark on Bangkok’s “River of Kings” and delights local residents and international visitors alike with its creative cuisine and dramatic design.
 
Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park would like to thank everyone who voted! For more information, please call +66 (0) 2 059 5555 or connect us via these channels:
 
Website:                                   www.bangkokmarriottmarquis.com
Facebook:                                https://www.facebook.com/bangkokmarriottmarquis  
Instagram:                                 @Marriottmarquisbkk
 
Website:                                   www.gojikitchenbangkok.com
Facebook:                                https://www.facebook.com/GojiKitchenAndBar/
Instagram:                                @gojikitchenbar
 
Website:                                   www.sirimahannop.com
Facebook:                                https://www.facebook.com/sirimahannop/
Instagram:                                @sirimahannop
 

The Quba Boutique Hotel Pattaya, a boutique hotel located in central Pattaya inspired by the vibrant colonial architecture of Old Havana in Cuba, is now open for guests to book and stay from the 11th November 2022 on their beach vacation in Pattaya city. The centrally located hotel provides convenient access to a variety of tourist attractions such as Pattaya Beach, Terminal 21, Central Marina, while being within short driving distance to Pattaya’s night life such as Walking Street and Tree Town in Soi Buakhao.
Decorated with Cuban street flair, the hotel was inspired by the iconic architecture of Old Havana which was constructed with mixture of Spanish colonial style and a unique blend of Baroque and neoclassical design which reflected projects taking place in France at the time of its construction. The Quba Boutique Hotel Pattaya comprises three buildings quaintly named Santiago de Cuba, Castro Royale, and Palacio de la Revolución which all reflect the chromatic architectural style of Old Havana with elegant façades of pastel yellow and turquoise hues and refined arch windows that will make you feel like you have been transported to Cuba.
Within the vivid structure of the hotel, guests can enjoy a comfortable stay on their beach holiday in guest rooms that resonate the historical vibe of the hotel’s exterior.  There are altogether 113 guest rooms that all embody a classical ambience by combining traditional materials and elements such as wood, plaster, marble, and iron where the dark wood elegantly contrasts the white furnishings and grey walls. The guest rooms come in 4 different room types including; 27 Havana Deluxe Rooms and 61 Havana Premier Rooms that are both 25 sqm in size but differ in the Premier Rooms being located on the higher floors of the hotel. The 24 Havana Connecting Rooms is ideal for guests travelling as a family or a large group of friends who wish to stay connected in the spacious setting of 50 sqm.

The Ascott Limited (Thailand), a wholly owned lodging business unit of Capitaland Investment, has been awarded the top honour of ‘Luxury Management Group’ at the 2022 World Luxury Awards, coming out tops among the hospitality companies on the global stage.
 
This crowning achievement comes on the heels of 9 other accolades the company has received — including ‘Best General Manager’ and ‘Luxury Brand’ — from votes by travel industry professionals and consumers worldwide.
 
The 10 awards are a major achievement for the group, with 8 of them competing at the global level and 2 of them at the Asia level.  Individual properties were recognised in categories such as 'Luxury Serviced Apartment', 'Luxury Business Serviced Apartments' and 'Luxury Art Boutique Hotel'. 
 
The ‘Best General Manager’ award in the global category went to Mr Brian Tan, the Country General Manager for Thailand & Laos, who oversaw the growth of the company in Thailand & Laos from 17 properties to 27 properties, steered the hotels successfully through the pandemic with minimal layoffs, created a strong employee culture to win back-to-back Best Employer Awards, and attained record guest service scores.

 The much-anticipated AssetWise Tennis Masters Championship will be happening at Fitz Club, Pattaya on November 19-25, 2022.
 
FITZ Club – Racquets, Health and Fitness together with AssetWise Public Company Limited and Carabao Group Public Company Limited will once again stage one of the world’s premier seniors’ tennis tournaments which is expected to bring in over 200 top players from over 10 countries around the world. A good lineup of international players from as far as Europe, Australia and America to countries close to home including Japan, India and Singapore will participate and compete for this prestigious ITF Championship title throughout the 7-day event. The event features the 35+ Singles and Doubles Open and is geared to help promote Pattaya and Thailand as outstanding sports destinations, especially for Tennis.
 
Royal Cliff Hotels Group, which is located on the same premises as the tournament venue, Fitz Club, is the official hotel for this tournament. All players and their families can avail of special room rates along with exclusive benefits to enjoy during their stay. Fitz Club is only a few minutes' walk from all hotel rooms.  A top-level lineup of international players will participate and compete for the coveted ITF Championship title throughout the 7-day event.
 
Chosen as the venue once again for the property’s outstanding brand reputation and top-quality facilities, the Royal Cliff Hotels Group and its luxury sports center, Fitz Club – Racquets, Health and Fitness being SHA PLUS certified provide all guests and attendees safe and superior service, numerous amenities, a great culinary experience, and sports facilities that are second to none.  Both sponsors will have a booth showcasing their products and services during the course of the event.
 
For more information or to register for the ITF tournament, please visit: https://www.royalcliff.com/package/mt700-assetwise-tennis-masters-championship/
​

InterContinental Hua Hin Resort is delighted to be the venue for an exclusive performance by soul,
doo-wop and rock ‘n’ roll legends The Platters Experience.
 
The Platters Experience carries on the rich musical tradition established by The Platters, who from the 1950s gained global fame for their multi-genre vocal stylings. Among many top hits are the instantly recognisable songs ‘Only You', 'The Great Pretender', ‘Twilight Time’, ‘Wonderful World’ and ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’. The group had 40 chart hits on the Billboard 100 between 1955 and 1967 and to date has sold upwards of 100 million records. The Platters were elected into The Rock 'n' Roll
Hall of Fame in 1990.
 
InterContinental Hua Hin Resort invites you to be a part of that incredible tradition during
'The 1st Magic Touch – The Platters Experience Live in Hua Hin'. The concert event is the band’s first-ever appearance in Hua Hin and takes place on Saturday, 19 November 2022 from 6.00 p.m.
 
A ticket price of THB 7,500 net includes four-course dinner (option limited to 60 seats), while tickets priced at THB 1,500 net include welcome drinks (total availability 100 seats). Tickets will be available for purchase from 18 October 2022.
 
The concert promises to be a magical night of music made even more delightful by the soothing seaside ambience of InterContinental Hua Hin Resort. Indeed, there’s no pretending where music fans will want to be on the evening of Saturday, 19 November.
 
Experience a truly magical night under the stars during The 1st Magic Touch – The Platters Experience Live in Hua Hin at InterContinental Hua Hin Resort.
 
For ticket information and other queries:
 
Tel:      +66 (0) 32 616 999
Email: events.ichh@ihg.com