BAHAMAS: New Courtyard Nassau Opens

A room at the new Courtyard Nassau

Another new hotel is debuting in Nassau: the new Courtyard Nassau.

Marriott’s latest property in the Bahamas officially opens July 1, with 112 rooms set at the former Sunset Resort Nassau in the downtown area.

The property includes a pool and sun deck, a fitness center, a signature restaurant called The Bistro and a lobby bar and lounge.

“We’re excited to introduce the Courtyard Hotels brand to the Bahamas market,” said Donald J. Urgo, Jr., Senior Vice President, General Counsel for Urgo Hotels & Resorts. “The Courtyard Nassau’s location, just steps from Junkanoo Beach punctuates the resurgence and revitalization of downtown Nassau.”

The hotel will provide another option for travelers to the capital, whether for business or a stay on the city’s Junkanoo Beach.

“Courtyard Hotels has become a very popular brand in the Caribbean and is expanding rapidly,” said Tim Sheldon, President of the Caribbean & Latin America at Marriott International, Inc. “It offers excellent value in the mid-tier market that is currently underserved. The hotels adapt well to the lifestyle needs of both domestic and international guests.”

Colin Child Remains Fastjet Chairman

Stelios Haji-Ioannou, one of Fastjet's shareholders with holdings in the 11 percent region, has proven to be as difficult a character to deal with for Fastjet's management and board as he was previously for the EasyJet management and board after he had yielded control of one of Europe's leading LCC's.

His attempt at the just concluded general meeting of the company to get Fastjet Chairman Colin Child dismissed backfired at him, after Child remained in the chair while the airline prepares for the arrival of its new CEO Nico Bezuidenhout.

Stelios had been meddling in company affairs for too long now, according to a usually well informed source, most notably when he earlier this year launched an attack on former CEO Ed Winter and the company's general counsel, after Ed had already announced his resignation from the company and said that SHI needed to be put in his place.

Results announced at the general meeting were mixed, and while passenger numbers rose growth was lower than anticipated due to the challenging business environment in the airline's core market Tanzania. Loadfactors most notably dropped as a result of capacity increases and the new CEO will no doubt already be burning midnight oil figuring out a way forward before he officially joins Fastjet on August 01st.

Given the entry into the Kenyan market, expected to happen during H2 of 2016 with no concrete dates given as yet, the airline is presently undergoing the KCAA process of attaining an AOC. Hard decisions will need to be taken by Fastjet's management in regard of its future fleet with a particular eye on the Kenyan market.

Some of the Kenyan routes given to Fastjet do not have sufficient traffic to justify the deployment of the airline's choice of aircraft, an Airbus A319, namely the city of Kisumu and the town of Eldoret.

Even Kenya's own LCC Jambojet, had to find out at their expense that the use of a Boeing B737-300 failed to achieve a black bottom line, even after combining the two destinations for some time. Now, Jambojet has changed course and is deploying Bombardier Q400NextGen turboprops with 78 seats on the routes also serving the coastal destinations of Lamu, Malindi and Ukunda, with each destination being served on its own.

Initial plans by Fastjet some years ago were to use CRJ200 aircraft in Kenya, but after the 'marriage' with Kenya's Fly540 spectacularly failed is it now anyone's guess if Fastjet on entry will use an A319 or else consider different and maybe smaller jets which are easier to fill up. Should such a fleet change become reality, the A319's could all go back to the lessors in favour of a smaller jet type as LCC's do not ordinarily operate with different aircraft types, Jambojet of Kenya excluded.

Loadfactors according to information sources declined from the 70 percent margin during the last financial year to slightly under 50 percent for the just concluded financial year. Given the average fare levels achieved this too will be subject to a full review of how to both restore loadfactors or else put less seats on the market through a potential fleet change across the board.

Chairman Colin Child, after surviving Stelios' ouster attempt, acknowledged the difficult business environment but also expressed his confidence that the fundamentals were in place to further reduce operational losses and move towards a positive balance sheet over the next few years.

A fresh cash call is likely to be made to shareholders before Bezuidenhout joins Fastjet and a change in direction vis a vis the continued use of the A319 may be the first step the new CEO will take, apart from looking at other areas where operations can be streamlined and savings accomplished.

Another major change coming up maybe when answering the question of where the airline should be headquartered. Fastjet PLC is presently based in London while the two operational units Fastjet Tanzania and Fastjet Zimbabwe are thousands of miles away in Africa with ongoing efforts to bring both Kenya and Zambia on line this year.

No doubt will this be a goldmine for aviation pundits and analysts in coming months who will watch closely which major decisions and perhaps revisions Nico Bezuidenhout will take in conjunction with the board of directors after he formally takes charge in just over a month's time.

RETOSA New Online Training At ZATEX 2016

RETOSA, the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa, part of SADC, short for the Southern African Development Community, has been highly visible at the ongoing Zambia Travel Expo in Lusaka this week.

The presence of RETOSA, besides showing solidarity and support to a member country, was however also aimed at promoting their new online learning programme, which is now available for travel agents, staff of tour and safari operators and more to attain higher levels of competence.

Those completing the various modules, there are 16 of them, are then certified as a Southern Africa Travel Expert by RETOSA.
Apart from a mandatory introductory module on the wider region - RETOSA has 15 member countries - are then 15 country modules on offer.

Graduates of the online training can aim for the Bronze Level which includes 5 countries and the regional module, while the Silver Level requires completion of 10 country modules and the regional module.

Top tier graduates then get awarded the Gold Level for which they must complete the regional module and all 15 country modules, making them undisputed champions of knowledge about the RETOSA region.

Notably are the courses free of charge and students can determine their own pace and time frame in which they are getting ready for their exams.

RETOSA member countries, besides Zambia, are Angola, Botswana, Congo DR, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Also on the RETOSA stand was impromptu visitor Jeremiah L. E. Manussa, the Director of Marketing of the Mozambique Tourism Authority who was particularly keen to meet hosted buyers who had come to ZATEX 2016 to have them consider add on segments in Mozambique, where some of the continent's finest beaches and most charming resorts await visitors.

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines Acquires Africa's First Airbus A350XWB

Ethiopian Airlines yesterday took delivery of Africa's first Airbus A350XWB, being launch customer for the continent.

The aircraft will be deployed on the routes between Addis Ababa and Lagos and Addis Ababa and Dubai, clearly aimed to impress the Nigerian market to travel with them, now that Emirates has reportedly cut their services down to one frequency a day.

The aircraft, named Simien Mountains, was handed over to the top management of Ethiopian Airlines in Toulouse where the aircraft was assembled and tested before delivery.

ET has ordered an initial 14 of these state of the art wide body aircraft and expects delivery of another 13 after today, though there is speculation that the airline may up the order as it remains Africa's leading airline in terms of fleet, African and other international destinations.

The new aircraft is registered as ET-ATQ, MSN 40 while a sistership, due to join her in a few weeks, will be known as ET-ATR with MSN 43. There have been fears that the various challenges Airbus is encountering right now with its supply chain could have impacted on the delivery of this aircraft type to airlines around the world but is would appear that Airbus is pulling out all stops to ensure that new customer Ethiopian Airlines is not let down.

The new aircraft has 343 seats in two classes, offering a 3x3x3 configuration in Economy Class while Business class with 30 seats has a 2x2x2 cabin layout.

This however is in stark contrast for instance with the A350's operated by Qatar Airways which offer a 1x2x1 layout in their premium cabin.

Additional destinations of the new aircraft will be announced in due course when more of these planes have been delivered.

INDONESIA: Four Seasons opens in Jakarta

While today’s travellers are more likely to arrive in Jakarta by commercial aircraft or private jet, the city has long welcomed the world as one of history’s most storied marine ports. Now, the start of a new era in Indonesian hospitality begins with the much-anticipated opening of the all-new Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta.

Ideally situated on Jalan Gatot Subroto within the city’s Central Business District, the all-new Capital Place, an award-winning architectural landmark by César Pelli, is home to leading businesses, and now, the stunning new Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta. With its excellent dining options, sumptuously appointed spa and handsome event spaces, it promises to be the preferred address of the city’s elite, as well as business and leisure travellers from around the world.

Internationally-renowned interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud was inspired by Jakarta’s long-established position on the global stage, and by its commercial trading history and the influence of many cultures on its character, in particular Indonesia’s Dutch colonial period. From the moment one enters the soaring lobby with its grand staircase lit by a magnificent crystal chandelier, a classical European aesthetic is reflected in the colour palettes, materials and finishes, fine furnishings and sophisticated lighting.

With its complete commitment to showcasing the art of Indonesia, Four Seasons presents throughout its public and private spaces a carefully-curated collection of works by contemporary and historic artists. The city itself is the theme connecting the diverse collection, creatively depicting and interpreting its landmarks, history and culture.

Although strategically placed amid the city’s financial and business hubs, Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta has an element of urban resort style as brought to life by the landscape design of Bill Bensley. Known for his expertise in creating lush outdoor spaces with exotic flora, water features and resort-like terraces and open-air rooms, Bensley’s signature style is particularly well known to travellers who have visited Four Seasons resorts in Thailand.

Intimately scaled with just 125 accommodations, the all-suites Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta feels as much a luxurious residence as a modern hotel. With sliding pocket doors separating sleeping areas from living areas, guests are free to settle in and make each suite their own – whether setting up a workspace and hosting impromptu meetings with colleagues, booking an adjacent suite so the whole family can enjoy a weekend in the city, or closing the doors on a long day of sightseeing, shopping or working and simply falling into quiet slumber.

Champalimaud’s refined design details and rich furnishings are punctuated with discreet, at-one’s–fingertips technologies and thoughtful considerations for which Four Seasons is known, including well-placed task lighting, a personal refreshment bar, and a spa-like bathroom.

Coming soon: The lavishly appointed 19th floor Presidential Suite featuring views from every room, plus the glamorous Ambassador Suite will complete the city’s finest accommodations selection later this year.

Four Seasons introduces a selection of all-new food and beverage concepts in Jakarta to welcome in-house guests and local clientele.

Located just off the grand lobby, the Palm Court is a glorious space. A glittering chandelier, custom made by world-renowned Lasvit is suspended from a rotunda ceiling 13 metres (43 feet) above, illuminating a grand yet inviting space for breakfast, lunch, cocktails and dinner, with tall windows opening to a garden terrace. While the menus are international in flavour, tradition reigns supreme in the daily Palm Court High Tea, with exquisite sweets by Executive Pastry Chef Lorenzo Sollecito, and savouries accompanied by a choice of TWG Teas.

The inspiration for Nautilus Bar comes from the sea, and the cargo-laden ships that have traded the world’s treasures for Indonesia’s riches since the 7th century. Choosing from a signature cocktail selection rooted in the country’s most famous exports – nutmeg, galangal, clove and lemongrass – guests may contemplate their place in Jakarta’s living history as they study the panoramic mural of the old port of Sunda Kelapa behind the bar.

Temptation is around the corner at La Patisserie, where Chef Lorenzo’s expertise is on full display in cases of confections from gâteaux and macarons to éclairs, financiers and madeleines. In an elegant, robin’s egg blue salon that would have made Marie Antoinette herself feel at home, La Patisserie offers the finest handmade sweets to take away in beautiful gift boxes and signature bags, or for those who simply can’t wait, to be devoured at one of its café tables.

No time to savour? Dolcetto is a grab-and-go venue for barista-prepared coffees and beverages, as well as light fare including gourmet sandwiches and salads. Dolcetto also offers catering options for local businesses or informal meetings held at Capital Place.

This fall, Executive Chef Marco Riva will introduce a new authentic Italian dining concept in a dazzling space atop the Hotel. At Alto Restaurant and Bar, large windows frame sparkling skyline views, while plush interiors invite leisurely enjoyment of fabulous cuisine with friends and colleagues. An outdoor terrace literally puts the city at one’s feet.

Like the Hotel itself, the Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta takes its inspiration from Southeast Asian cultures woven with global influences and updated with the most advanced therapies. In this opulent sanctuary, discerning guests can choose from traditional Balinese massage, Ayurvedic journeys and high performance European skincare from phyto-aromatic French brand Yon-Ka.

Spa Director Arie Sunia recommends signature treatments such as the Royal Body Boreh (a boreh is a traditional Balinese body mask of fresh herbs and warming spices), and the Luxury of Lulur, based on ancient Javanese beauty rituals. A special Soak & Sip menu pairs a choice of soothing baths with jamu – a traditional Indonesian herbal elixir made with locally-sourced spices. For today’s time-strapped traveller and local businesspeople, the innovative Express menu offers a 30 minute treatment followed by either a light poolside lunch, or a chill-down cocktail at the end of the workday.

Extensive facilities include eight treatment rooms with two couple’s suites and a hammam, a relaxation lounge, men’s and women’s locker facilities, a spa shop and 24/7 fitness centre. A secluded outdoor pool on the fifth floor rooftop is surrounded by tropical landscaping.

Coming soon: A women’s beauty salon as well as a dedicated nail bar and a gentlemen’s barbershop.

Getting Together, for Business or Pleasure

With more than 1,800 square metres (close to 20,000 square feet) of flexible function space, Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta is set to become the city’s preferred address for business meetings, conferences, social galas and weddings. In partnership with Four Seasons expert event team led by Director of Catering and Conference Services Ika Pranato, meeting planners and hosts can relax and enjoy themselves, assured that every detail is anticipated and executed to perfection.

The Grand Ballroom with its own pre-function area and adjacent Garden Terrace is easily split in two for multi-space events or smaller invitation lists. Up to 700 square metres (7,500 square feet) accommodate 350 people for a sit down meal, and as many as 1,250 for a traditional Indonesian wedding celebration.

Additional function spaces include two salons on the second level, accessed via the lobby’s grand staircase that are ideal for product launches. Three additional meetings rooms are on the third floor, and the Pool Terrace offers a sunbathed garden landscape by day, or an exotic setting by night.

GREECE: Wyndham Hotel Group Opens In Greece

Wyndham Hotel Group announced that accessible luxury is coming to Athens when the Wyndham Grand Athens, the first Wyndham Hotel Group hotel in Greece, opens in the city centre early next year. Travel is the best excuse to enjoy the grand things in life, and Wyndham Grand hotels and resorts offer truly unforgettable travel experiences.

Wyndham Grand is decidedly not pretentious, but approachable by design, featuring pristine guestrooms, relaxing spas, one-of-a kind dining experiences, and more. The Wyndham Grand Athens will be situated on Karaiskaki Place (2, Meg. Alexandrou St.), where Zeus International, a company that operates nine hotels across Eastern Europe, is transforming the building owned by VIOHALCO which formerly housed the Hotel Athens Imperial.

When renovations are complete, the Wyndham Grand Athens will boast 273 rooms, 2,500 sq. m. of conference and event space, a restaurant, a bar, a spa and an amazing roof-garden of 450 sq. m. with a pool and a 360° view of the city skyline. In addition, the hotel’s proximity to the Metro and many of Athens’ cultural points of interest will make it a destination for business and leisure travellers alike.

Dan Ruff, President and Managing Director EMEA, for Wyndham Hotel Group, said: “Wyndham Grand hotels are located in some of the world’s most sought after destinations, including Shanghai, Istanbul, Doha, Salzburg, Chicago, Orlando and now Athens. This is only our first stop in Greece, as we see opportunities for many of our brands across the country, from city centres such as Athens and Thessaloniki to resort destinations in the Greek islands and mainland.”

Haris Siganos, Founder of Zeus International, noted: “Our Company is engaged in a variety of consulting and advisory projects from hotel management and development to turnaround management. We have been monitoring the Greek market for the right hospitality investment opportunity.

We believe that Athens has been missing a flagship hotel offering a one-of-a-kind experience with a compelling local flavour, and we intend to change this when the Wyndham Grand Athens opens next year.”

All Wyndham Grand hotels in the region participate in Wyndham Rewards®, the simple-to-use, revolutionary loyalty programme from Wyndham Hotel Group that offers members a generous points earning structure along with a flat, free-night redemption rate in 73 countries across the world – the first of its kind for a major hotel rewards programme. To learn more or to join for free, guests should visit

TURKEY: Park Inn by Radisson Opens In Ankara,

Park Inn by Radisson today announced the opening of a new 114-bedroom hotel in Ankara, Cankaya.

Operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group, this latest addition to the group’s portfolio is conveniently located in the Eymir Lake district, in the diplomatic heart of the city.

The hotel is perfectly located for the area’s main attractions including the Presidential Palace, international embassies and universities as well as shopping malls. Esenboga International Airport is 30 kilometers from the hotel, and public transport makes it easy for guests to get around the city.

The Rezidor Hotel Group, Area Vice President Middle East & Turkey, Mark Willis, said: “We are committed to expanding in Turkey especially in the mid-market segment. The opening of our second Park Inn by Radisson brand in Turkey demonstrates the growth potential and attractiveness of our highly popular brand, that is designed to add color to life.”

The hotel features 114 spacious guest rooms and suites, each offering utmost comfort, privacy and amenities, including free high-speed, wireless Internet access and smart TV. The hotel’s design elements are unique and include a choice of ceiling colors, headboard with mood lighting and colored shower screen.

The main restaurant serves a selection of Italian, American and Turkish cuisine, as well as a buffet breakfast each morning. Wellbeing is essential to the Park Inn by Radisson guest experience philosophy. The hotel features well-equipped spa and gym facilities and a 20-meter heated indoor pool. Also on offer are six modern meeting rooms with a total combined meeting space of over 1360 sqm that can be adapted to accommodate small meetings or large banquet events.

General Manager Park Inn by Radisson Ankara Cankaya, Ahmet Sezici, said: “With the opening of the Park Inn by Radisson, Ankara Cankaya, we are bringing a hotel experience that is vibrant, colorful, cosy and stylish.

“Guests staying with us can expect an accommodation option that harmonizes traditional Turkish hospitality with the needs of the modern traveler whether travelling for business or leisure.”

Dusit Eco-friendly Amenity For Guests

Dusit International has teamed up with PressReader to offer unlimited access to over 5,000 leading publications and magazines worldwide to its valued guests.

PressReader HotSpot is an impressive, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly service available to guests staying in participating hotels and resorts where they can download the PressReader application on any digital device such as smartphone, tablet, eReader or access content using a laptop via web browser.

With the application, guests can download and enjoy full content, with real replica newspapers and magazines available. The extensive variety of local and international titles includes USA Today, Daily Mail, Shanghai Daily, The Nation, Post Today and magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Men’s Health, Bazaar, Business Traveller, Elle and Forbes Daily, amongst many more.

Mr. Silvano Trombetta, Corporate Director of Rooms Division, Dusit International, said that as a leading Asian hotel group, Dusit International is committed to providing exceptional experiences for guests while playing an active part in conserving the environment.

“Dusit International continues to seek out the latest technologies that will improve our guest’s experience. This new service fits right in to our year round initiatives to offer more green and eco-friendly products and services whilst delivering great experiences to our guests.”

The first batch of participating hotels and resorts include: Dusit Thani Bangkok, Dusit Thani Hua Hin, Dusit Thani Pattaya, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, DusitPrincess Srinakarin, DusitPrincess Korat, DusitPrincess Chiang Mai, dusitD2 Chiang Mai, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Dusit Thani Dubai, Dusit Thani Maldives, Dusit Thani Manila, Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo, Dusit Thani Guam Resort and dusitD2 Nairobi with more to come on line in the months ahead.

CHINA: China's Dog Eating

The annual Lychee and Dog Meat Festival (21- 30 June), is currently in full festive swing in Yulin, Guangxi, China.

It is widely reviled among those from the West, who do not consider eating dog to be the done thing at all. And with good reason! During the summer solstice, about 10,000 to 15,000 dogs are paraded in steel and wooden crates, killed, cooked and eaten along with the lychees. They say it helps festival-goers to cope with the summer heat.

It’s safe to say that no travel agents in Western countries are using this festival as a draw card for tourists. The dog in the West is considered ‘man’s best friend’, and has the cultural privilege of being a ‘companion’. You just don’t eat your friends, especially not your best one. For most in the West, this oversteps the bounds of acceptability.

But in China, dog meat is not considered a cultural perversity. Rather it is given the same status the West gives to ‘meat animals’ such as pigs, bovines and chickens. It has, in other words, the rather dubious status of ‘yummy’.

The Humane Society International and other animal welfare and rights groups are outraged and have set up online petitions to try and end this cruelty. I am an animal rights activist and I stand right beside them.

But I also stand beside my animal rights colleagues at regular slaughter house protests in New Zealand. I do this in order to demonstrate my outrage at cruelty toward other species routinely killed in order to satisfy our own cultural food lust. There is cultural hypocrisy in decrying the killing of dogs in Yulin, while resting all our faith in the myth of ‘humane slaughter’ and ‘high animal welfare standards’ in the West.

Yes, I know that there are abuses in this festival that we don’t like. As Animals Australia declares, the dogs are, “[f]orced to travel long distances and crammed into crowded wire cages, the dogs languish without food or water as they await their fate. They watch on as those before them have their throats slit. Many are reportedly beaten — even burned or boiled alive”.

This description reminds me of the fate of bobby calves in New Zealand as demonstrated by the bobby calf cruelty expose on Sunday Show documentary in November last year. They may not have been boiled to death, but they were beaten. The new regulations by MPI don’t offer much hope either.

Currently, even when ‘best practice’ is followed, young calves can legally be required to travel up to 12 hours to their deaths and go for 24 hours without food. In short, there is no guarantee your food got to your plate without intense and horrific suffering.

Westerners need to think about the cultural biases employed when petitioning to have the Yulin dog Festival shut down. Just because the animal is a dog, does his/ her life matter more than a calf? There is sameness beneath the obvious differences; in many ways a dog is a cow is a human.

As scientist Marc Beckoff has demonstrated, both humans and animals share the same capacity for joy, sadness, hope, and pain. The idea that some species matter more than others, and that animals are ‘beneath us’ are cultural ideologies only. And they serve to justify the continued exploitation of animals.

It’s time we faced the truth as a society and stopped clinging tight to cultural myths about ‘humane slaughter’.

There is abuse in animal agriculture and the dog meat festival alike. We just need to take the cultural blinders off.

CHINA: Yulin Dog Meat Festival

Campaigners submit an 11 million signature petition calling for an end to China’s Yulin dog meat festival at Chinese Embassy London
Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, otherwise known as the Yulin Dog Festival, kicked off in southern China this week, amid a fevered pitch of demands from the international community for the city to halt the controversial event.

Critics of the festival, which this year have included celebrity condemnations from Matt Damon, Rooney Mara, and Joaquin Phoenix in a widely circulated PSA from non-profit organization Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation, have said that the festival is barbaric and baseless. Proponents meanwhile have argued that the practice of eating dog in Asia is a cultural one that predates modern history, and should be respected as a cultural tradition.

The festival has only existed since 2010, though dog hot-pots became popular within Yulin in the 90’s.

Consumption of dog meat has taken place in China and the rest of Asia since before written history, however.

Dog meat purportedly helps alleviate heat exhaustion, which has led to popularity on summer menus.

Beyond cruelty concerns, many opponents of the festival cite serious hygienic concerns of the meat itself. In line with the belief that tortured dogs will provide better meat, conditions with which dogs are transported and slaughtered are often poor and treated with little oversight. Many of the dogs are unvaccinated, and rabies is a high concern.

THAILAND: Phuket Farmers Club

The founders of the Phuket Farmers Club have announced the opening of a new organic farm in Pa Klok, and are inviting local residents to join in the club's first 'Workshop', to take place from 10am on Saturday, April 23.

A spokesman for the club says that the founders hope to fill the needs of outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy gardening, eating, and being close to nature.

"We are dedicated to offering you a blend of fruits and veggies grown organically as well as other homemade products at an attractive price. We select the finest products available, so you can be sure they are grown in the most natural ways.

"We also organize workshops regularly on Saturday mornings for people who wish to learn how to grow in the most sustainable ways and prepare homemade products," he says.

The Phuket Farmers Club center is located on Soi Nanua, less than 3km east of the Heroines Monument. Residents are free to visit it by appointment, or for any of the Saturday morning workshops.

At this Saturday's workshop, the focus will be on compost and why it is so important to organic farming. Participants will also be able to taste some homemade products and to learn more about the farm's goals.

THAILAND: Amatara Resort & Wellness Ocean-view Restaurant Serving Spa Cuisine

Amatara Resort & Wellness, one of Thailand’s most comprehensively equipped resort wellness experiences, introduces The Retreat, a restaurant outlet dedicated to serving healthy and nutritious food and beverages.

Previously known as The Club, the newly refreshed venue The Retreat better harmonises the resort’s F&B offerings with its high quality spa and luxury wellness programs and facilities.

The Amatara wellness cuisine concept is deeply rooted in ancient traditions, making it a peaceful sanctuary to embrace authentic healing and living foods. The menu is based on local Thai cultural inspiration, which encourages the nurturing of harmony with spirit, the environment and to re-connect with one another.

Amatara’s mind, body and spirit approach to wellness and wholefood supports an organic healing process to naturally heal and improve the body and state of wellbeing; a key part of this is of course superb nutrition.

Amatara’s Wellness Director, Phoebe Boonkerd, explains, “Through the guest's experience of our simple, balanced, creative and delicious wholefood cuisine, it is our hope that the guest returns home feeling nourished and rejuvenated, and inspired to continue the journey of good health through optimal nutrition.

The menu is designed by our head chef and our nutritionists; it offers a delicious and healthy composition of the highest quality local and imported ingredients, organic fruits, vegetables and free-range meat and poultry.

The menu features seasonal, innovative cuisine with a diverse array of traditional and modern healthy eating influences. For example, the delicious-yet-healthy menus feature Soft Cured Ocean Trout with Organic Leaf Salad, Poached Prawns & Quinoa Salad with Ginger and Ginseng Dressing, Goji & Mussel Chowder Soup, Stir Fried Beef Tenderloin with Ginger and Yuzu Soy Sauce, Young Coconut Pudding and many more.

For operating hours at The Retreat, breakfast is served from 06:30 - 10:30 a.m.; however, this is exclusive for Wellness Retreat and Pool Villa guests only. The Retreat will open to all guests for lunch during 11:30am - 2:00pm and for dinner from 5:00.

THAILAND: Swedish Tourist Beaten Up By Patong Tuk Tuk Driver And Friends

A tuk tuk driver and four accomplices were arrested yesterday for ganging up on a Swedish tourist and beating him unconscious in Patong in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police responding to reports of the beating found Frederik Gustav Wilhelm Erikson Holm, 32, lying unconscious at the end of Soi Bangla at 3.45am. He was sent to Bangkok Phuket Hospital for treatment.

“According to witnesses, Mr Holm appeared drunk when he staggered out of Soi Bangla onto the Patong beach road and began arguing with tuk tuk driver Natee Det-oop, 27,” said Phuket Tourist Police Chief Maj Naruewat Puthawiro.

“The pair came to blows and then several other locals joined in to help the tuk tuk driver. Mr Holm was knocked unconscious and fell to the ground.”

Police soon arrested the suspects after reviewing CCTV footage. The four who came to the aid of the tuk tuk driver were named as Yosphat Chaona, 21; Sompong Wichienrat, 29; Jirawat Pratumchat, 34; and Busaron Kalupae, 28.

Police charged the five with assault.

Mr Holm’s injuries were not serious and he was later discharged from hospital.

THAILAND: Landslide Narrowly Crashes Family

A family of three narrowly escaped being crushed to death in a landslide in Krabi that completely destroyed their house on Friday.

The 56-year-old owner, Rorya Marya, was staying at her house in Baan Thapradoo, Khlong Thom District with her nephew and mentally unstable son when she heard rumbling sounds and went outside to check.

“I saw a landslide moving very fast toward our house, so I shouted to my son and nephew to get out. Moments later, the landslide swept our house into the Khlong waterway nearby. We didn’t get a chance to take any of our valuables,” said Ms Rorya. “I also lost 6,000 baht in cash in the disaster.”

The house, as well as all of the family’s possessions, were lost in the slide. Officials later surveyed the area and advised neighborhood residents to move out to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The family is temporarily staying at a neighbor’s house, as they have no place to go.

“Ms Rorya doesn’t have any land at the moment, so we are trying to see if we can find her some to build a new house on,” said Vivek Phiwdam, president of Huay Nam Khao OrBorTor. “I am willing to support some of the budget for its construction as well,” he added.

THAILAND: Battle To Protect Thai Tourism

The recent arrest of a businessman for allegedly faking a Thai national identification card is just the latest development in the seemingly never-ending battle to protect the Thai tourism industry from illegal foreign opportunists.

Thai authorities are, of course, correct to prosecute, to the full extent of the law, any foreigner who would resort to forgery in an attempt to carve out a slice of the lucrative Thai tourism pie. We hope, however, that future enforcement as it pertains to guides adheres to the true intent of the law – otherwise it could serve as a high-capacity vehicle for extortion, collusion and nationalist-driven folly.

As has often been pointed out in this space over the years, existing Thai Labor Law is intentionally vague when it comes to defining what exactly constitutes work. The modern classic ‘Working of Alien Act (2008)’ defines work as follows: exerting energy or using knowledge whether or not for wages or other benefits.

Indeed, under such a sloppy definition, one could easily run afoul of the Act simply by getting out of bed in the morning, or, in the more specific case of ‘guiding’, by simply directing a spatially-confused foreigner to the nearest bank, bus stop or brothel.

Fortunately, reports of authorities taking undue advantage of the absurd wording of the Act have been fairly few and far between. However, a few high-profile cases, such as the arrest of volunteers here to assist in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami disaster and the arrest of a foreigner caught ‘red-handed’ working on a boat in his own backyard, serve to remind all of our friends in the expat community just how tenuous day-to-day life can be in Thailand – especially if one has managed to rub someone in a position of authority the wrong way.

Of course, with each emerging inbound market, there are corresponding outcries from legally-registered guides who see their turf, quite literally, being encroached upon. First, it was the South Koreans. Then the Russians. Now we are seeing similar whining over the mainland Chinese, who comprise the greatest, and final, frontier of Phuket tourism.

We hope that the government at senior levels will continue to reduce the number of instances in which their more junior officers abuse the law for their own personal benefit, at the expense of Thai tourism and the country's long-challenged image overseas.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Health Expert Wants Higher Taxes On Unhealthy Foods

A chronic disease expert is not backing down from her call for higher taxes on unhealthy foods.

Director of the Barbados-based Chronic Disease Research Centre, Dr Alafia Samuels said the measure would serve the dual purpose of raising funds that can be invested in the health care system and residents would also be dissuaded from eating the wrong foods.

“I am saying lets tax french fries because, just like tobacco, the french fries are going to give you a heart attack down the road and you may as well start saving money little by little. Government should start saving it for you so that you can pay for the heart attack when it comes,” said Dr Samuels, a former advisor to the WHO/PAHO on chronic diseases.

She pointed out that the Caribbean is leading the Americas in the non-communicable disease epidemic, with Trinidad and Tobago topping the region, followed by Belize, Cuba and Barbados.

In Barbados, eight of the 10 leading causes of deaths are non-communicable disease (NCD)-related, including heart attack, diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure.

“Not only is this causing an obesity problem in the region but over time it is getting worse,” she said. “Men are catching up and it’s not only the adults, it’s also the children. We have a third of school children who are not getting enough physical activity. In the Caribbean, about 10 percent or more of children are already obese and it is increasing over time.”

Dr Samuels accused one of the largest fast food restaurants on the island of unfairly marketing itself to children, saying that contrary to international standards, it was having its name printed on material at learning institutions.

“You should not market to children in schools but we are doing it here and we are allowing it to happen. So in schools, in general, we’re not doing well and in Barbados, in particular, I have to call out [the company],”she said.

Dr Samuels, the deputy dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, said it was particularly worrying that 40 percent of NDC deaths in the Caribbean occur in people younger than 70 years old.

“In North America it’s older people who are dying from heart attacks and strokes. In the Caribbean its 40-year-old people and 50-year-old people in the prime of life, in the workplace, who are dying from heart attacks and strokes,” she asserted.

“In the Caribbean we are saying there are too many people less than age 70 who are dying from chronic diseases when we know that a lot of those could be prevented or delayed. These premature deaths are mainly from heart attack, strokes, diabetes and cancer. High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for most of these diseases and the problem with high blood pressure is that they call it the silent killer.”

The lecture delivered at the Cave Hill campus by Dr Samuels was titled Accelerating the NCD Agenda – Towards a Better Caribbean, Stronger Together.

BARBADOS: Disruptive Passenger On Air Canada Flight Causes Problems

A middle-aged man who reportedly made threats on an Air Canada flight to Barbados has been detained by police after his behaviour caused the more than 100 other passengers to remain on the plane for more than two hours after it landed.

Police in Barbados say they are continuing investigations into the matter.

The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, became disruptive on Flight AC1966 that left Toronto around 8:35 a.m. with 114 passengers for a five-hour journey.

The plane landed at the Grantley Adams International Airport around 1:40 p.m., but it was not until more than two hours later that the passengers were allowed to disembark, after police and other security officials investigated the threat and conducted a full search of the aircraft.

“Nothing was found that would cause further alarm or distress. The identified male passenger was detained,” police said in a statement issued late yesterday, adding that there was no harm done to the crew or passengers.

Air Canada spokesperson Isabelle Arthur also said that after the search was completed, passengers were transferred to the terminal.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Leak Of Nude Photos Of Trinidadian women

Law enforcement officials in Trinidad and Tobago are may have to subpoena a US-based company to retrieve the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the persons responsible for posting and trying to sell nude photos of young Trinidadian woman and under-age girls, according to local media reports.

The hundreds of photos were leaked on social media on Wednesday.

But police say that the operators of the website where the photographs were uploaded had recently switched to a new server based in the US.

Law enforcement officials will therefore have to go through Central Authority to subpoena the company, which has been identified as Digital Ocean Inc.

Police Corporate Communications Manager Ellen Lewis said victims have been coming forward and reporting the crimes to the Fraud Squad, which is leading the investigation with support from the Cyber Crime Unit. She urged others who are similarly affected to come forward as well.

Some of the 500 women who were pictured have come together and have identified a group of men they say is behind the spread of the photos.

They have pointed fingers at medical students of the University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine campus.

JAMAICA: Brexit, Jamaica Tourism To Secure UK Market

The United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union (EU) is significant to Jamaica’s tourism industry, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says, but there’s no need to panic as every effort will be made to secure the UK market.

Last Thursday, in a referendum on Britain’s exit (Brexit) from the EU, the United Kingdom voted to leave the 28-member bloc.

Bartlett told the media over the weekend that the decision “is of significance to us in tourism for a number of reasons, perhaps, foremost of which is the fact that, based on the economic and political implications, it will have an impact on the travel and tourism community across the region.”

He noted that the Caribbean was most dependent on British visitors on this side of the globe and “it is important for us to consider what implications that will have on the flow of visitors into our destinations.”

“For us in Jamaica, the British market is our third largest and is a growing market and with it comes also important connectivity from other areas of Europe, so that whatever is happening in that economy, in that political space, is of tremendous interest and importance to us,” Bartlett noted.

He gave the assurance that proactive steps were being taken to secure the UK market, but said it was recognized that the immediate short-term impact was the devaluation of the British pound in the wake of the Brexit vote.

This, the minister noetd, had implications for British travellers and their ability to afford visits to the Caribbean and Jamaica, “especially against the background that our prices are predicated on the US dollar.”

On a positive note, he suggested that the immediate impact on arrivals for Jamaica “may not be severe at all.”

“Our immediate market arrangements are covered by a series of packaging which have taken place already; payment for which have either been in the system already or are about to be made,” he explained.

However, Minister Bartlett said Jamaica had to look beyond the next winter season.

“As a result I will be leading a team to the UK in September for the Jamaica Travel Market and thereafter to do a roadshow in the British Isle,” he said, stressing that this is important to shore up partnerships in the area and bolster the country’s market position in relation to the type of products, pricing and general arrangements that will be made “to ensure the competitiveness of destination Jamaica.”

“We are always proactive and, interestingly, our programme for the UK in fact predates the results of the UK’s referendum. So we will continue to monitor the situation and take additional steps as required,” the tourism minister added.

INDIA: India To Introduce long-term Multiple-entry, Visa For Tourists And Business People

India may soon roll out a long-term multiple-entry comprehensive visa by merging tourist, business, medical and conference visas into one to attract more visitors and boost trade.

Tourists, businessmen or people coming for treatment or to attend conferences or even for film shoots can be covered under the proposed new category, which was first mooted by the Commerce Ministry following a suggestion by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to boost services trade.

The long-term, multiple-entry visa is likely to be given upto 10 years but under this category the visitor will not be allowed to work or stay permanently, a government official, who is part of the deliberations, said.

As per the proposal, if a foreigner is granted long-term, multiple-entry non-working or non-permanent stay visa and his or her stay is restricted to 60 days on a visit, the government may waive the visa fee as well.

However, the visitors have to give biometric details and fulfil certain security obligations, the official said.

The Home Ministry is working on the proposal and, hopefully, it will be implemented soon, the official said.

The plan is part of the Commerce Ministry's initiatives to boost India's services trade.

India is said to be missing out on a huge opportunity worth about $80 billion annually in terms of attracting foreigners and foreign exchange.

Medical tourism in India alone is estimated at $3 billion and projected to grow to $7-8 billion by 2020.

Foreign patients travelling to India for medical treatment in 2012, 2013 and 2014 stood at 1,71,021, 2,36,898, and 1,84,298 respectively.

Small countries like Thailand attract millions of people whereas tourists flow in India is far less.

India will not ask for reciprocal visa liberalisation as it is an old concept now. To achieve the objectives of major government programmes like 'Make-in-India' and 'Digital India', the country needs to have an easy visa regime, the official said.

For sensitive countries, the government may consider extending group visa to tourists and business persons.

Discussions are also being held on whether to incorporate the new category visa with the online e-tourist visa on arrival scheme for short term visits.

TVoA (tourist visa on arrival), enabled by Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), popularly known as e-tourist visa scheme, was launched on November 27, 2014.

Under the e-tourist visa scheme, an applicant receives an email authorising him or her to travel to India after it has been approved. The tourist can travel with a print-out of this authorisation.

On arrival, the visitor has to present the authorisation to the immigration authorities who would then stamp the entry into the country.

Till now, the scheme has been extended to 150 countries at 16 Indian airports designated for providing e-tourist visa service. On an average, 3500 e-tourists visa are being granted every day.

The proposal for new category visa assumes significance as the services sector constitutes about 60% of India's GDP but its share in global export of services remains at a low 3.15%.

Services has emerged as a prominent sector in India in terms of its contribution to national and state income, trade flows and FDI inflows.

The sector contributes around 28% to job creation. Its contribution to total trade is 25%-- around 35% to exports and 20% to imports.