COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – In 1845 an errant cannonball hit a Dutch villa that is today the Galle Face Hotel. Earlier this year the heritage hotel finally found out who fired the 30-pound ball that inspired an annual cannonball run, a 100 meter dash set for March 18th this year. “There was a famous story...
HANOI — It’s been twenty-five years since the hotel emerged from the doldrums of post-war privation; twenty years since the Opera Wing opened; and just seven years since Sofitel branded its Hanoi luxury property as its first Legend hotel. But there seems to be no end to the renewed enthusiasm for Vietnam’s Grand Dame. In...
TOKYO — In Forbes Travel Guide’s second annual review of Tokyo hotels, Palace Hotel Tokyo has emerged as the first independent Japanese hotel to secure the coveted Five Star rating. The world’s most prestigious arbiters of luxury travel, Forbes Travel Guide (formerly Mobil Travel Guide) has been providing comprehensive, anonymous reviews of the hospitality industry...
DANANG, Vietnam — The first golf course ever designed by former world No. 1 Luke Donald will open in Asia’s most impressive new golf destination on March 25. Ba Na Hills Golf Club will feature 18 tour-caliber holes at the foot of a towering mountain range less than half an hour’s drive from Danang, Vietnam’s...
SINGAPORE – As Chinese travellers leave the comfort zone of the group tour for do-it-yourself exploration, a new partnership between a fledgling hotel group and a marketing services company is pointing the way. In January, Louis T Collection (Louis T), and WIHP (World Independent Hotels Promotion) launched a new initiative that connects a curated collection...
HALONG BAY, Vietnam — The creator of the finest cruise experiences on Halong Bay is taking its offerings to new heights with a package that includes a splash of high-flying adventure. Paradise Hotels & Cruises’ ‘Cruise & Seaplane’ deal starts at Hanoi’s international airport and takes passengers on an hour-long seaplane ride that includes 15...
HO CHI MINH CITY — A major push to attract more golfers and tourists to Vietnam is underway, and it’s being led by the largest listed owner and operator of hospitality initiatives in the country. Vingroup, whose market capitalization is approaching US $6 billion across six varied business interests, is currently developing courses near Hanoi...
HANOI — The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is transforming the ‘street’ through its open-air courtyard into a traditional Vietnamese market in anticipation of the Tet lunar new year. The three-day Cho Que (country market in Vietnamese) anchors a multi-faceted approach to the annual observance, which also includes presentation of lucky red envelopes to guests on...
