| Grand Hyatt Melbourne Appoints Victoria Damiani as Events Director Posted: 21 Feb 2012 02:49 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  Grand Hyatt Melbourne is thrilled to welcome Victoria Damiani to the team. Victoria's experience in the hotel industry spans over an impressive 11 years; most recently she spearheaded the opening of the Pan Pacific Hotels Melbourne National sales office. In her ten month role as Director of Sales - Victoria, she also relaunched the PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport hotel to resounding acclaim.
Originating from the United States and now settled in Melbourne, Victoria has a resume that reads like a travel brochure, with positions at some of the most prestigious hotels including Langham Hotels International, The Peninsula, New York, The Waldorf = Astoria and Marriot Marquis.
Whilst employed by Langham Hotels International, Victoria was the Global Group Sales Manager, and responsible for selling Langham's 13 properties worldwide to the north-east of the US. During her tenure, she actively pursued Langham's venture into the Association market, securing new business and building a strong relationship with HelmsBriscoe, one of the largest meeting procurement organisations in the US. She held this position for over two and a half years prior to her departure for Australia in September 2010.
In her previous stint at The Peninsula, New York, as Sales Manager, Victoria oversaw all market segments including; group, incentive, leisure, travel trade and corporate. Whilst employed at The Waldorf = Astoria she was instrumental in launching a room service catering department that managed all in-suite functions for up to 40 guests.
Victoria has forged a well-respected path in the MICE industry with her pioneering attitude, ability to foster great relationships and breadth of experience. She looks forward to being an integral part of Grand Hyatt Melbourne, driving its continued growth and success as a global leader.
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| The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong Takes Private Dining to New Heights with World's Highest Chef's Table Posted: 20 Feb 2012 08:08 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  To craft a distinctive dining experience like no other, the Executive Chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, Peter Find, has created an exclusive Chef's Table adventure for guests to explore and engage their senses. "The idea of a Chef's Table is to present guests with an insider's pass to the world of cooking. Guests will be able to see and experience the work and secret that goes into fabricating the dishes we served," said Find, "Everything is personalized. The menu is tailor-made by me and my team after a thorough consultation with the guest. Through the dishes that we prepared, we hope to share with the guests our passion for and the refinement of the culinary arts."
Available for a maximum of eight guests and at a minimum spending of HK$ 14,000 + 10% (HK$ 1,750 + 10% per person), the personalized menu can be of eight to twelve courses. To add to the enjoyment, the sommelier at the hotel can recommend wines to pair with the specific menu featured.
The exclusive experience includes Find and his selected team of chefs (minimum three), attending only to that table throughout the evening. Every dish will be served with detailed explanations on the ingredients and the cooking method. Guests are welcomed to ask questions and share feedback with the chefs. It is an interactive dining exploration.
Located on the 102nd floor at 420 meters above sea level, the Chef's Table is a private dining room with separate sofa area and a spectacular harbour view. It features an open kitchen that offers a front row view for the guests. The ambiance is intimate with the use of soft lighting and rich burgundy red furniture and fittings.
Bookings must be made at least two weeks in advance. For reservations and enquiries, please call (852) 2263 2270 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
About Peter Find, Executive Chef, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
Originally from Bersrod, a small village in Germany, Find started his training and apprenticeship in a French-influenced restaurant in Germany in 1984. He then worked in a number of Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe for about ten years, including as Chef de partie in the one Michelin-starred restaurant Jorg Muller and as Chef Poissonnier in the two Michelin-starred restaurant Weinhaus Brueckenkeller in Germany.
Find first joined The Ritz-Carlton as Executive sous chef at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore in 2001. He was then promoted to Executive Chef at The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa in 2003. In 2007, Find moved to back to Asia and joined Wynn Macau and Encore at Wynn Macau as Director of Culinary Operations - where he supervised more than 400 chefs in 8 restaurants - before taking up the position of Executive Chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.
At The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, Find oversees 6 restaurants and a team of 100 chefs at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. He is responsible for the planning and directing of the culinary operations in the hotel.
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| MCVB Secures $1 Billion for the Victorian Economy through Business Events at MCEC Posted: 20 Feb 2012 06:23 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  The Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) has announced that in excess of AUD $1 billion worth of economic benefit has been generated for the state of Victoria, as a result of international business events secured by MCVB for the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Karen Bolinger, Chief Executive Officer of MCVB, said reaching the AUD $1 billion mark was a major milestone in the organisation’s history.
“A total of 123 business events have been secured for the MCEC, generating an estimated 203,250 delegates, equating to approximately 1,029,900 MCEC delegate days, 778,021 room nights in Melbourne hotels, and a forecasted $567,369,613 in delegate expenditure,” said Ms Bolinger.
Approximately 39 of these events have already been held and the remainder will occur over the next seven years.
“In 2009, the MCEC was officially opened, significantly enhancing Melbourne’s capacity to host major business events and compete with leading business events cities from around the globe.
“The world's first ‘Six Star Green Star’ environmentally-rated convention centre and the largest convention centre in the Southern Hemisphere, the MCEC offers world-class facilities, including a 5500+ seat plenary hall and 30,000 square metres of pillar-less exhibition space.”
Australia has received worldwide recognition for its convention and exhibition facilities and has been successful in attracting millions of delegates over the last two decades.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Overseas Arrivals and Departures figures, Australia welcomed 171,400 convention or conference arrivals during the year ending December 2011. This compares to 4280 for the year ending December 1991, equivalent to a 3904% increase over 20 years.
Ms Bolinger said Melbourne had contributed significantly to this growth and will continue to do so, having secured a number of prestigious international association events including The World Diabetes Congress 2013, the World Congress of Cardiology 2014 and the XX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014).
“Melbourne competes on the world stage in terms of securing high profile, international events that bring large numbers of new visitors to the region, delivering a significant economic impact to the state,” she said.
Ms Bolinger added that business events play a vital role in strengthening the city’s international profile, with the industry being a core component of the local tourism framework.
“Holding business events in Melbourne creates new and repeat visitors, attracts accompanying persons, drives regional tourism and generates economic wealth and export opportunities.
“Business events also provide ‘beyond tourism’ benefits and long lasting legacies including new business relationships; enhancement of industry sector profiles; innovations in research and technology; changing perceptions of a city, country and industry; and increased market intelligence.
“The benchmark has now been set and MCVB will continue to strive for success, bringing internationally significant conventions and congresses to the convention centre over the years to come and well into the future.”
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| Bai Dinh Pagoda – the biggest in Vietnam Posted: 13 Feb 2012 12:59 AM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  VIETNAM - Bai Dinh Pagoda in the northern province of Ninh Binh is famous for its great size and beautiful architecture, and also well-known for its record number of huge Buddha statues. Located in Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district, Bai Dinh pagoda was built to commemorate King Ly Thai To who moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long.
As a tourist attraction, Bai Dinh pagoda is endowed with both scenic beauty and historical value. It is considered the largest complex of Buddhist pagodas Vietnam, which are either old or new.
The old Bai Dinh Pagoda sits on a 200m high mountain, which has been recognized as a cultural and historical heritage site of Vietnam. The new Bai Dinh Pagoda covers about 700 hectares, near the site of the old one.
Tourists often visit the pagoda area during their sight-seeing tour. Every year, the Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival kicks off on the sixth day of the first lunar month, attracting tens of thousands of visitors.
On the way to the old pagoda site, pilgrims have to climb stone steps to small ancient places of worship to pray for good luck and enjoy traditional ceremonial singing performed by local artists.
Through the gate into the new Bai Dinh Pagoda area, visitors will see 500 Arhat statues, each 2.4 m high and weighing about 4 tonnes, standing or sitting on both sides.
The Bai Dinh Pagoda complex boasts having the biggest bronze Buddha statue in Southeast Asia, about 100 tonnes in weight, and three 50-tonne Buddha statues and two huge bronze bells.
From Bai Dinh, tourists can go by boat to the nearby Trang An tourist site in Hoa Lu district. Along with the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Tam Coc-Bich Dong caves and Phat Diem stone church are all on the to-see list.
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| Don Mueang Airport to resume operations in March Posted: 08 Feb 2012 01:13 AM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  THAILAND - Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport will officially reopen on 2 March as commercial operations recommence after severe flooding closed the airport in October. Civil Aviation Department (CAD) Director General Woradet Hanprasert said on Friday that Nok Air, one of the country's budget airlines, would resume its services at Don Mueang airport from 6 March, having relocated services to Suvarnabhumi Airport in the interim.
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and the Airports of Thailand (AoT) have agreed to jointly hold a ceremony to officially reopen the facility on 2 March to show the facility’s readiness for commercial use after last year’s flood crisis submerged the airport's runway, according to the CAD chief.
Woradet said the department is confident that the airlines which operated at Don Mueang before the flood forced them to relocate temporarily at Suvarnabhumi Airport would resume service at Don Mueang. THAI Smile Air, Thai Airways International (THAI)'s new sub-brand carrier, is also expected to launch services from the domestic and charter hub on 1 July.
Development will continue at the airport, and the CAD chief said he was confident that in the near future, Don Mueang could serve more than 1 million passengers annually and lighten the load on Suvarnabhumi.
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| Singapore sets new arrivals record Posted: 08 Feb 2012 01:06 AM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  SINGAPORE - Singapore welcomed a record number of arrivals in 2011. The country received 13.2 million international visitors last year, 13% up year-on-year and exceeding the full-year target of 12-13 million. More than three-quarters of arrivals to Singapore came from Asian countries, with Indonesia (+12% to 2.59 million), China (+35% to 1.58 million), Malaysia (+10% to 1.14 million), Australia (+9% to 956,000) and India (+5% to 869,000) representing the top five visitor source markets.
Despite the 11 March disasters, arrivals from Japan jumped 24% to 656,000, while visitation from the Philippines (+24% to 678,000) and Taiwan (+25% to 238,000) also saw strong growth. The number of visitors from the UK however, declined 4% to 443,000.
Tourism receipts for the year also hit a new record high, totalling SG$22.2 billion (US$17.8 billion), 17% more than in 2010.
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| Conrad Bangkok celebrates Valentine’s Day in contemporary style Posted: 07 Feb 2012 08:46 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  THAILAND - The season of love is upon us and Conrad Bangkok has introduced a selection of exquisite Valentine’s Day offerings to those who wish to pamper their special loved ones with a memorable experience. Available from 4 to 14 February 2012, the indulgent packages promise to add a romantic spark to the cherished occasion. Passion on the Water
Guests can set the scene for irresistible romance, watching the moonlight shimmer over the water as they enjoy a five course dinner at the poolside, complimented by a glass of fine rosé sparkling wine at Baht 2,999 per couple.
Garden of Eden
Guests can enjoy an enchanting pre-dinner cocktail at Diplomat Bar before sliding into their private table for a luxurious five course dinner at the pool, that includes a bottle of rosé sparkling wine at 5,999 per couple
Heavenly Love
Offering guests a first-class arrival via Conrad Bangkok’s limousine and a pre-dinner cocktail at the Diplomat Bar before moving on to a glorious evening over a splendid five course dinner and a bottle of rosé sparkling wine, on the pool and under a lovers’ moon at Baht 9,999 per couple
Café@2
A cornucopia of tempting delights await guests and their loved ones at the special Valentine Buffet Dinner in the hotel’s French-Thai Brasserie, that includes two glasses of sparkling rosé wine at Baht 2,999 per couple.
Diplomat Bar
Dare to indulge in the ultimate food of love on “Cupid Night” at the Diplomat Bar. A sensuous oyster platter and absolutely aphrodisiacal tapas with free flow Love Potion will set hearts throbbing for more of love’s most beautiful mystery on Valentine’s Night at Baht 1,999 per couple.
Sweets for the Sweet
Romantic gifts including heart-shaped cakes, cookies and chocolates are available from 4 February to 14 February (Valentine’s Day). In celebration of romance, Deli by Conrad and will offer a variety of mouth-watering chocolate creations which make the perfect romantic gift for lovers. All sweet things are also available to shop at Siam Paragon during festival.
For more information or reservations, please contact Food and Beverage Department at 662 690 9299 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
* Price is subject to 10% service charge and applicable government tax.
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| Philippines invests in tourism growth Posted: 07 Feb 2012 08:22 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  PHILIPPINES - In an effort to attract over four million visitors to the Philippines this year, the Government has allotted more funds to its tourism sector. Philippine Secretary of Budget and Management Mr Florencio Abad announced the government funding, stating that a total P182.2 billion has been allotted to building better infrastructure to entice visitors to the country, Sun Star reported.
"The Aquino administration has envisioned a sustainable and well-designed tourism program for the country,” Mr Abad said.
“A robust tourism sector can fuel up the economy so we can provide more jobs in local communities, as well as raise our national profile as a premier tourist destination.”
Mr Abad said the ultimate target of the administration is to attract 10 million visitors by the end of the President Benigno Aquino III’s term.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon Jimenez said that he felt the target is “feasible and attainable”.
The construction of new airports in high traffic regions form part of the planning, including a total of P1.2 billion to be allotted to the development of the New Bohol International Airport in Panglao and a further P1billion to develop Puerto Princesa Airport.
Other funds have been allotted to the development of national parks such as ‘Rizal Park’ and the promotion of arts and cultural activities in the parks.
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| InterContinental Doha The City targeting February launch Posted: 07 Feb 2012 08:08 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  QATAR - InterContinental Doha The City is now pulling out all the stops to open the hotel and residence suites this month. The property was accepting bookings for stays from March 15, but a spokesperson said it is now targeting a February opening date for both entities.
Online bookings have been brought forward to March 1, as the launch date appears imminent - though one imagines occupancy levels aren't likely to hit the height of the 58-storey tower in the next three weeks, if business travellers still don't know when exactly the property will open.
"As soon as we have a confirmed opening date, bookings will be brought forward," she said.
At launch, the hotel will open the Lobby Lounge, all-day dining restaurant The Square, the lounge bar Hive and chocalatier Criollo. Strata (seafood/Asian), Nai (Lebanese) and Prime (live grill) will follow shortly afterwards.
The residence suites are available in a variety of sizes, covering one to four bedrooms.
The hotel offers a sizeable MICE offering with a 1,015sqm grand ballroom and five meeting rooms.
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| Da Nang prepares for spectacular fireworks contest in April Posted: 06 Feb 2012 08:37 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  VIETNAM - The 5th Da Nang International Fireworks Competition (DIFC) 2012 will take place in the central city on April 29 and 30. A report quoted Ho Van Anh, the event’s director, as saying that unlike previous shows, the firework performances on the banks of the Han River this year will be preceded by several artistic activities held three days before.
These include a cuisine corner, a night market, street music performances, and exhibitions.
In addition, the Pham Van Dong Park will feature traditional music performances and folk games, as well as sea sports and dances, that are expected to attract more tourists to the city during the event.
Anh also said that the number of tourists, especially international visitors, is also expected to increase thanks to the opening up of the Da Nang International Airport last December.
In addition, more hotels have been built in the city to meet the rapidly increasing number of tourists for the event, and the city People’s Committee has asked hotel owners not to increase their room rents for the event.
Unlike the past DIFCs, in 2012, the four winners from previous years, along with Team Viet Nam (Da Nang), will compete with each other to depict the theme, “The Colors of Da Nang,” through firework displays.
David Whysall International Fireworks from Canada, Dragon Dancing Fireworks from China, the Jacques Couturier Organization from France, and Parente Fireworks from Italy were winners of the competition in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively.
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