QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand — Two years after its grand opening, Hilton Queenstown has expanded its ambitions on the country’s South Island and re-established itself as Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa. “We felt somewhat confined by the original name, which didn’t quite communicate the expansiveness of the guest experience here,” said Andrew Nisbet, general manager. “As...
LUANG PRABANG, Laos — Though lauded as a land where slow movement is all but a way of life, they’ll be running their hearts out in the one-time royal capital Oct. 5 in a half-marathon aptly dubbed La Procession. Named for the daybreak processions of Buddhist monks, who walk the streets, bowls at the ready,...
HANOI, Vietnam — The bonds between Hanoi and Washington. D.C. just keep getting stronger. In July, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi reached halfway around the world to the U.S. capital and the award-winning Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square for its new director of food and beverage, Vincent Gernigon. Gernigon succeeds Thibault Souchon who joined the...
HANOI, Vietnam — The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is uniting couples in the capital with the finest in wedding inspiration, preparation, and style in a full-day Romance Fair on August 17. The Metropole is partnering with the experienced planners of WedinStyle for its inaugural Romance Fair, featuring a bridal runway show, gown galleries from standout...
DANANG, Vietnam — Asia's newest destination-marketing initiative, Central Coast Vietnam, has partnered with one of the region's premier communications firms in hopes of carving out a place among the world's top tourism hubs. On July 15, Balcony Media Group, an American-based company that has been working with high-end hotels and resorts in Vietnam since 2006, assumed...
URI, Switzerland — Alain Bachmann, a Swiss native whose resumé includes management stints at some of the world’s finest hotels, has been engaged as general manager of GHM’s forthcoming debut, The Chedi Andermatt. Scheduled for a Winter 2013 opening, GHM’s ambitious new hotel is the centrepiece of the Andermatt Swiss Alps project, the largest...
HANOI, Vietnam — After more than a century of refining tastes in the Vietnamese capital, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is unveiling a new cultural itinerary for discerning holidaymakers in 2013. Designed to steer visitors through the best of charmingly chaotic Hanoi via a series of personalized tours, culinary adventures and historical connections, the...
TOKYO — We often hear tell of chefs who dream up new dishes. But bartenders new cocktails? Yes, indeed. In Tokyo, one of Japan’s most illustrious bartenders, Naomi Takahashi – herself a remarkable countryside-obscurity to big city-fame story – will debut three new cocktails at the Palace Hotel Tokyo’s Lounge Bar Privé Sept. 1....
Not every destination sells itself the way it should. This is especially true for places that lack sophisticated, destination-driven PR operations. And therein lies an opportunity for hotels, resorts and golf courses, as well as the agencies that serve them. Case in point: In Hue, Vietnam, Phu Bai Airport recently revealed (but did not announce)...
HUE, Vietnam — Come September 2013, travelers to Vietnam’s former Imperial City can once again touchdown and take off from the Phu Bai International Airport outside of Hue. Vietnam’s transport authorities have green-lighted the airport for an early re-opening on Sept. 20, 2013 – two months ahead of schedule. The airport closed its doors on...
