Phuket, Thailand, December 14, 2023 / TOP25RESTAURANTS / Montara Hospitality Group’s constellation of culinary stars is shining as brightly as ever following the MICHELIN Guide Thailand Revelation held in Bangkok.

At the grand unveiling, which took place this year at the Capella Bangkok, PRU, the signature community-to-fork dining venue at Trisara, the exclusive Phuket resort which is owned by Montara Hospitality, retained its MICHELIN red star. The restaurant, steered by Dutch chef Jimmy Ophorst, also held on to its MICHELIN Green Star, awarded for its strong commitment to sustainability.

PRU, which just premiered its new purpose-built venue, is the only MICHELIN red star restaurant in Phuket, a status it has held for six consecutive years.

There was good news too for JAMPA, which follows a philosophy of “locally-grown ingredients, live fire, and zero waste cuisine” at Tri Vananda, a US$182 million wellness community taking shape in the verdant forests of northern Phuket. The venue overseen by Rick Dingen retained its MICHELIN Green Star.

“It’s an absolute honour for PRU to achieve such recognition from MICHELIN,” said Ophorst. “It’s a tribute to everything that we have achieved as a team and also to our culinary philosophy. What we do at PRU is to create a unique dining experience by drawing inspiration from around Thailand. By discovering local ingredients and herbs that are not overly familiar, we can fuel our creativity.”

“The standards required to earn a MICHELIN green star are extremely stringent so it’s a massive achievement for us to retain the accolade,” said Dingen. “JAMPA innovates by using only live fire to transform local ingredients into amazing culinary creations with an emphasis on healthy and balanced food that is good for one’s body and soul.”

The accolades bestowed on the two venues are indicative of the standards PRU and JAMPA are setting for sustainable fine dining in Phuket.

PRU has blazed a trail for sustainable fine dining in Thailand. And its latest “Inside-Out” experience, housed in a new purpose-built restaurant, dissolves the traditional wall between the kitchen and the dining room.

With a theatre kitchen encouraging connections with guests, diners can see how each morsel is prepared, thereby providing complete transparency to the culinary process.

“We’ve come a long way to be where we are now,” added Ophorst. “But we want to look forward to attracting customers from around the world to Phuket with the objective of dining at PRU. Every chef wants to improve and push to the highest level possible and I’m no different. The creative scope that the new venue affords us means that the sky’s the limit.”

JAMPA, meanwhile, is a beacon for zero-waste, farm-to-table, live-fire cooking, manifesting what is sustainable culinary artistry.

“I aim to showcase locally sourced, seasonal ingredients in the best way possible,” says Dingen, whose hyper-local, plant-focused, cuisine is marking him out as a rising star in Thailand.

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8New York, New York – City Experiences announced today the expansion of its world-class travel offerings with a newly reimagined cooking school experience. Located in Rome, Italy in the popular neighborhood of Trastevere, guests discover the secrets of Italian cooking with local master chefs with a Pasta-making and Pizza-making class set in the backdrop of a brand-new state-of-the-art kitchen facility. This product marks the first collaboration between Walks and Devour Tours, two award-winning travel brands part of the City Experiences portfolio.

“We are thrilled to combine the best of Walks and Devour Tours for the first time to create a unique experience that showcases what we do best – taking small, interactive experiences and reimagining them to meet consumer trends,” said Stephen Oddo, founder and president of Walks. “Being part of the City Experiences portfolio has allowed us to elevate Walks through collaboration with travel leaders like Devour Tours as well as world-class facilities.”

As cooking classes have become popular throughout Italy, City Experiences’ cooking school stands apart with its brightly lit, private commercial kitchen – a rarity in the laissez-faire environment of Trastevere, where most classes take place in a local apartment.  The newly created state-of-the-art kitchen allows a level of professionalism and peace of mind to the cooking experience, while maintaining the charm of a Roman cucina.

Walks, which began as Walks of Italy, has cultivated deep roots in Rome, building strong local relationships that have translated to exclusive guest experiences. Devour Tours, founded in nearby Spain, has a similarly long history in Rome, having developed a cult following among travelers for immersing guests in local flavors and culture. Both brands exemplify City Experiences’ mission to provide one-of-a-kind, world-class experiential travel offerings.

“Through our partnership with Walks under the City Experiences portfolio, we are able to offer an even deeper understanding of Roman culture and cuisine, which lies at the heart of what we deliver at Devour Tours,” said Lauren Aloise, founder and president of Devour Tours. “Italy’s foundation is rooted in food. Our new cooking classes let you immerse yourself into Italian culinary culture, learning top techniques and secrets from local master chefs.”

For guests seeking a “first taste” of the Walks and Devour Tours collaboration, classes in City Experiences’ Rome cooking school are now available to book at CityExperiences.com. Both classes offer the opportunity to cook – and dine – like a Roman local, with each culminating in an intimate three-course dinner:

Rome Pizza-Making Class & Dinner in Trastevere

City Experiences’ Rome pizza-making class reveals the secrets of a bona-fide Italian classic, from kneading and stretching the dough to selecting the perfect toppings. A local, master chef welcomes guests with a classic aperitif of bruschetta and prosecco before sharing step-by-step instruction to craft an authentic Italian pizza. The evening ends with homemade gelato, made on-site, for dessert.

Rome Pasta-Making Class: Cook, Dine & Drink Wine With A Local Chef

In this hands-on pasta-making class, guests learn how to make and roll their own dough, choose the right shape for the right sauce, and discover why the best pasta dishes are often the simplest. Complete with gelato for dessert and plenty of Italian wine throughout, there’s a reason this class is already popular with influential travelers like Amanda Kloots

About City Experiences

City Experiences represents Hornblower Group’s expansive portfolio of water- and land-based experience companies and includes two sub-brands: City Cruises and City Ferry.  City Cruises companies operate dining, sightseeing and private events across 22 destinations in the U.S., Canada and the UK.  City Cruises companies also operate cruises on behalf of the National Park Service and the Niagara Parks Commission and currently hold service contracts to provide ferry service to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, Alcatraz Island and Niagara Falls.  City Ferry companies offer specialized knowledge and expertise required to transport passengers, vehicles and other cargo safely across inland and coastal waterways, serving as operator of NYC Ferry and Puerto Rico ferry system, among others.  City Experiences’ portfolio of companies also offers a range of water- and land-based experiences including shore excursions, partner-offered experiences, multi-port packages, with companies including Venture Ashore, Walks and Devour Tours.

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Brand new venue entices revelers with world-class cuisine and performances

NHA TRANG, Vietnam (September 13, 2023) — Vietnam’s most vibrant coastal city, Nha Trang, has a fresh hub for nightlife in the shape of the recently opened Ambassador Club Ana Marina Nha Trang.

The showpiece nightspot has been lighting up the evenings in Nha Trang with revelers packing the venue on a nightly basis to savour a delectable seafood buffet, starring the world-renowned Nha Trang lobster, one of Vietnam’s most famous marine delicacies. There’s also an eclectic entertainment roster that takes in everything from Cuban dance to energized DJ beats.

Ambassador Club is the centrepiece of the new Ana Marina lifestyle complex, overseen by leading boutique cruise operator Ambassador Cruise. When completed, the ambitious project will encompass not only Vietnam’s first dedicated marina, but also a yacht club, fine-dining restaurants, and numerous watersports activities including paragliding, jet-ski and diving.

The complex is designed to appeal to various demographics including foreign tourists, domestic visitors, families, couples and individual travellers.

“We’ve been delighted — but not surprised — by the excellent public response to Ambassador Club since it opened,” said Nguyen Cao Son, founder of Asia Premier Cruises Corporation, which owns Ambassador Cruise as well as Vietdeli, a restaurant company behind some of Vietnam’s most popular dining establishments.

“Nha Trang is famous for being one of the best places in Vietnam to let your hair down. And there’s no better place in the city than the Ambassador Club to do just that. Our experience in establishing the Vietdeli brand has also enabled us to offer truly world-class cuisine as well as entertainment at the club.”

Located at the northern end of Nha Trang’s famous bay, Ana Marina benefits from spectacular views out towards the jungle-clad islands scattered around the azure waters of the East Sea.

These uplifting outlooks are front and centre at Ambassador Club, where revelers can dance, dine, and party long, sultry afternoons and evenings away underneath a mellow setting sun and then a blanket of stars.

Boasting a capacity of up to 1500 pax, the venue is one of the most expansive clubs in Vietnam. Indeed, its generous size makes it an ideal choice for all sorts of MICE events such as wedding receptions, company gatherings and private hires.

Its list of entertainment and culinary attributes is equally comprehensive. An international buffet puts an emphasis on the freshest of local produce and seafood. Diners can choose from over 50 dishes, many of them served up fresh from the BBQ. Standout items include lobsters caught in the famously abundant waters around nearby Binh Ba Island. The restaurant is also open for breakfast and lunch and offers a la carte as well as the set buffet option.

On the entertainment front, there’s a daily line-up of in-house live bands, top local and international DJs, a Cuban dance troupe, and acclaimed cabaret shows. The high-quality entertainment is enhanced, meanwhile, by pulsating lighting and a state-of-the-art sound system.

The venue also benefits from its contemporary design and wide array of different set-ups and spaces. Guests can take time out from the party by the pool to chill on comfortable furniture on a 2^nd floor balcony. Restaurants with private rooms, meanwhile, offer the option of seclusion for groups.

“We’d like to think that we’ve covered a lot of bases with Ambassador Club, and covered them well,” continued Nguyen Cao Son. “We are very proud to provide the very highest service standards to give guests a flawless experience and to have added such a fantastic nightlife option to the range of attractions in Nha Trang.”

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BALI (Sept. 12, 2023) – An intimate resort in the uplands of Bali that has garnered a reputation for its deep artistic roots doesn’t limit itself to the mesmerizing sculptures, statues, and paintings collected over the founder’s lifetime. One of its biggest contributions to the local art scene is in the performing arts with its Kecak extravaganza, a traditional and captivating Balinese dance and drama, that is a bucket-list experience for many who visit the island.

Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana, recently announced the addition of a third performance night to the roster. Every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday a troupe of 60-70 bare-chested men descend on the property’s open air amphitheater to deliver the epic of Ramayana. There is love and war, struggle and success, good and evil, human royalty along with a monkey king. Performers chant and dance in a hypnotic-like state in concentric rings around an open flame beneath the stars. The rhythm comes from the monkey chorus and their heady chants.

Kecak originated in Bali close to a century ago in the 1930s and has its roots in Sanghyang, an ancient trance-like dance that also developed on the island.

The evening begins at 7pm as guests are welcomed with a chilled lemongrass drink and given a frangipani flower by Balinese women dressed in traditional Kebaya attire. They then take a seat in front of one of the resort’s most impressive structures, a Candi Bentar, a Balinese-style split gateway of carved elephants. Given the design of the resort’s amphitheater the audience has an abundance of space while still feeling they are part of an intimate gathering.

Bathed in a torch-lit glow guests watch the 30 minute-long Balinese Kecak and fire dance performance. There is then an opportunity for guests to take photos with the performers before a Royal Rijsttafel dinner experience, a family-style three course menu, at The Tempayan restaurant. Private performances are also available upon request.

The Kecak performance will be held three times a week until December 31st, 2023, before dropping back down to Tuesday and Friday performances only in 2024. Rates start at IDR 785,000++ per person inclusive of dinner, with children aged 6-11 years old half price and kids under 6 free. Reservations must be made in advance.

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CAM RANH, Vietnam (Sept. 5, 2023) – With Vietnamese food popular the world over, a resort on Vietnam’s southern coastline has cooked up a culinary journey that delves into centuries-long traditions, bringing new meaning to the humble bowl of phở.

Alma Resort on Vietnam’s Cam Ranh peninsula has joined forces with boutique travel agency Zazen Travel to launch ‘A Journey Through Culture and Cuisine’, a cultural immersion experience anchored by an interactive cooking class.

The adventure begins with participants rummaging through colourful and lively Cam Duc Market to experience the local way of life, and learn about fresh, local ingredients to be used in the cooking class.

The small, intimate group then visits a unique cobblestone temple in Cam Lam, the only one of its kind in Vietnam and possibly the world. Through perseverance and faith, the temple has taken monk Thich Tam Phuoc 24 years to build and counting.

The journey also entails a stop at a mango garden to learn about the importance of mango cultivation and harvesting to the area, accompanied by a cup of mango tea.

The budding chefs then return to Alma to learn recipes that have been handed down the generations. Together they cook quintessential Vietnamese dishes including bò lá lốt (ground beef wrapped in betel leaves), chả giò tươi (fresh spring rolls) and phở (Vietnamese soup with bone broth, rice noodles and meat).

Guests then indulge their creations together for lunch and take home a recipe book and an apron, along with new memories.

“As they say: ‘You have to taste a culture to understand it’. You can’t get a much more authentic experience in Vietnam than sharing a meal, cooked from scratch,” said Alma’s managing director Herbert Laubichler-Pichler. “We hope our guests will return home with not only a remarkable repertoire of authentic dishes with which to impress their dinner guests but also new friends for life.”

About Alma 

Situated on Vietnam’s emerging Cam Ranh peninsula fronting Long Beach, Alma resort commands some 30 hectares of inspiring ground. Emblematic of Vietnam’s maturation as a destination, the bold and spacious integrated resort offers 580 oversized suites and pavilions that all afford sweeping vistas of the ocean, including contemporary three bedroom oceanfront pavilions each totalling 224sqm with a living room, four bathrooms and a private pool. Alma features a broad spectrum of restaurants helmed by top chefs, a food court with an array of local and international cuisine, as well as a sports bar, pool bar and beach bar. Other highlights include 12 swimming pools cascading down to the beach, a waterpark, 13-treatment room spa, 75-seat cinema, convention centre, amphitheater, science museum, gymnasium and yoga room, 18-hole mini golf course, a youth centre with virtual reality games, a kid’s club, water sports centre, a sustainable organic farm and even an ‘Alma Mart’ mini supermarket.

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HANOI (Sep. 13, 2023) – As Meliá Hotels International continues to expand its presence in Vietnam, the Spanish Hotel Group has massaged its roots with an extensive renovation to Meliá’s first hotel in the country.

Meliá Hanoi recently completed an extensive makeover, renovating and revitalizing several key areas of the hotel, including the top suites, meeting and function areas, and fitness spaces. One of the most significant changes was a complete overhaul of all the property’s gastronomic offerings and restaurant interiors.

“The launch of our new dining concepts has positioned our hotel as a gastronomic hub in Hanoi,” said Santiago Cabre, general manager of Meliá Hanoi. “Given our Spanish roots, stellar cuisine and a just as impressive atmosphere to enjoy a meal or a drink are essential. With our new design and restaurant concepts we’ve created just that.”

In the lively lobby area, Garbo Bar draws inspiration from the golden era of ‘50’s Hollywood with its new sleek gold and emerald green bar counter and selection of classic cocktails. The Spanish touch endures with a delectable selection of tapas and Meliá’s signature Spanish-inspired afternoon tea.

Mosaico, Meliá Hanoi’s all-day restaurant deepens the hotel’s European heritage with Mediterranean cuisine on offer throughout the day and designs on becoming one of the best international breakfast buffets in the city. From delicately crafted pastries baked in-house to Spanish Iberico ham, and a healthy juice bar to more decadent dishes spanning a variety of cuisines, breakfast is a grand affair. New live cooking stations showcase culinary techniques in a modern, bright environment. A hanging garden and lush tropical plants feature throughout the space.

The former El Oriental Restaurant is set to emerge in October as Cham Restaurant serving sophisticated Cantonese dim sum and Asian noodle dishes in a hip, modern space. The new chef de cuisine, Madam Lê Minh Thái, has 27 years of experience in the craft of dim sum and Cantonese cooking. She has worked alongside a number of Chinese and Singaporean dim sum masters to perfect her skills over the last three decades and will bring that wealth of knowledge to each plate at the new restaurant.

A new concept that combines the best of a sophisticated cocktail bar and luxury barbershop, The Ministry of Men (part of the House of Babaard group), also launched in the hotel in May. The masterfully mixed beverages and exquisite ambiance provide the perfect place for cultivating connections and networking.

The top two keys, the Grand Suite, an opulent 135-square-meter space and the Presidential Suite, an elegant space coming in at 168-square meters, were both re-imagined with more contemporary, regal furnishings, a fresh color palette of soft grays, taupe, creams and gold, new state-of-the art entertainment systems, and floor-to-ceiling windows that make the most of the impressive city views.

The Level Meeting Room, available exclusively for The Level guests, has completely new furnishings, along with more ergonomic chairs and artwork. The larger MICE areas, including the Grand Ballroom and its dedicated pre-function area along with the Thang Long Ballroom, have new carpets, furniture, and a new interior design with a crisp white color palette. The Function Room space, ideal for intimate meetings, now features an entirely new interior with nature-inspired paneling framing the space. Meliá Hanoi has some of the largest meeting facilities in the city with two ballrooms and 10 function rooms and a total capacity to host up to 1,200 guests.

The spacious open-air swimming pool has a new deck and the fitness center has been remodeled with new cardio equipment.

“Meliá Hotels International brings a wealth of leisure expertise to Meliá Hanoi to create the ideal bleisure hotel in the heart of this busy metropolis,” said Ignacio Martin, Meliá Hotels International managing director for Asia Pacific. “With the hotel’s unique location in the heart of the city and considering the growing interest in Hanoi as tourist destination, Meliá Hanoi is positioned to be the perfect hotel for travelers looking to explore the capital’s culture and history, while also experiencing all the comforts of a 5-star international hotel.”

The 306-room property, ideal for both business and leisure travelers, is located in Hanoi’s downtown, near government ministries, embassies, shopping areas and tourist attractions.

About Meliá Hotels International
Founded in 1956 in Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International operates more than 380 hotels (portfolio and pipeline) throughout more than 40 countries, under the brands Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Paradisus by Meliá, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, The Meliá Collection, INNSiDE by Meliá, Sol by Meliá and Falcon’s Resorts by Meliá, plus a wide portfolio of affiliated hotels under the “Affiliated by Meliá” network. The Group is one of the leading companies in resort hotels worldwide, while also leveraging its experience to consolidate the growing segment of the leisure-inspired urban market. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led the Group to become the most sustainable hotel company in Spain and Europe, according to the last S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (Silver Class). It also has ranked seventh in the Wall Street Journal’s list of the 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world (and the leading travel company) and is the only Spanish travel company included in the list of “Europe’s Climate Leaders 2021” by Financial Times. Meliá Hotels International is also included in the IBEX 35 Spanish stock market.

About Meliá Hotels & Resorts
Meliá Hotels & Resorts, mother brand under Melia Hotels International portfolio, has 125 hotels in Europe (57), America (19), Cuba (15), Africa (5) and Asia (29). We are present in 31 countries and currently have 24 hotels under development in 10 countries.

At Meliá Hotels & Resorts, we stand out for our unique Spanish style in the hospitality industry and for our warmth, closeness and passion for service. This means that we offer our guests a unique wellness experience.

Our Spanish warmth and spontaneity are part of our Mediterranean roots and are always present in the Meliá experience. An experience that is enriched by providing thoughtful extra services. Paying attention to the smallest details and providing personalized experiences for each guest.

We see wellness from an innovative perspective. It is not wellness applied only to nutrition or wellness services, it is 360º wellness. The wellness we want to convey is global. You can find it in all aspects of the brand from different perspectives: physical wellness, spiritual wellness, leisure wellness, social wellness, occupational wellness, environmental wellness, financial wellness and nutritional wellness.

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The sustainability startup will help easyJet holidays automate and simplify the way it presents sustainability-certified hotels to travelers at booking
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Copenhagen, Denmark, August 23, 2023 – BeCause, a startup enterprise software company that is transforming how companies in the hospitality, travel, and tourism industries manage their sustainability data, has announced a new partnership with easyJet holidays to help the tour operator more efficiently collect and communicate hotel sustainability data.

BeCause will collect data on hotels certified according to 33 recognized Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) standards and integrate that data into the easyJet holidays system. That sustainability data will help inform the tour operator’s “eco-certified” hotel collection.

Efficient and scalable sustainability data management
BeCause’s sustainability data management solution replaces easyJet holidays’ current manual update processes. Under the new partnership, hotel sustainability data will be automatically updated in the easyJet holidays database, ensuring that users and travelers always have up-to-date sustainability information about eco-certified accommodation options.

“Through our shared involvement with GSTC, we quickly recognized both easyJet holidays’ need for a scalable sustainability data solution and their genuine commitment to industry transformation,” said Frederik Rubens Steensgaard, CEO and co-founder of BeCause. “We look forward to a long and productive relationship and helping to make real headway on reducing travel’s impact on the environment.”

Supporting easyJet holidays’ eco-friendly goals
Part of the easyJet group, easyJet holidays is the UK’s fastest-growing tour operator, projected to grow by 60% year-on-year this summer. The company, who were the winners of The Globes’ Sustainable Future Award, is committed to making sustainable holidays mainstream and, in addition to the GSTC, partners with the University of Oxford and the UNWTO to help drive forward the development of sustainable travel.

“We’re committed to our holidays being a force for good and making a positive impact on the environment and local communities in the destinations our customers visit,” said Matt Callaghan, Director of Customer & Operations for easyJet holidays. “We know that holidaymakers are caring more than ever about the eco credentials of the hotels they’re choosing to stay at. So, we needed a partner to help us connect and communicate hotel sustainability data more efficiently and scale with us as we grow, and BeCause delivered on those criteria.”

BeCause’s technology framework connects certification entities like GSTC and Green Key with travel providers and distributors, enabling over 11,000 hotels, tour operators and OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) to provide travelers with accurate and reliable sustainability data. These processes, traditionally handled via spreadsheets, emails and unconnected niche systems, are ripe for transformation, and managing them more efficiently allows travel and tourism companies like easyJet to accelerate their sustainability efforts across their consumer-facing platforms.

About easyJet holidays
easyJet holidays is the UK’s fastest-growing tour operator, having carried 1.3 million people in its first fully operational year and being named Rising Brand of the Year by Travolution. It offers great-value beach, city and lakes holidays to over 5000 hotels, in more than 100 destinations across Europe, directly through its website and through over 5000 travel agent partners. The ATOL-protected holidays can be secured with a deposit of just £60 per person, including flights, hotel, 23kg luggage and transfers on beach holidays. easyJet holidays is a member of ABTA, and all packages are covered by its Ultimate Flexibility, offering freedom to change a booking, a refund guarantee, and best price guarantee.

Winners of the Sustainable Future Award at the Globe Travel Awards 2022, easyJet holidays has a sustainability strategy focusing on three key pillars – create better holiday choices which is about making sustainable travel affordable and accessible to everyone; keep our holidays special, which is maximising the benefits and minimising the negative impacts of travel and tourism, and transform travel for everyone which means embedding sustainability into business decisions and behaviours and driving meaningful change in the industry. Through ongoing collaboration with the University of Oxford and as a member of the GSTC, easyJet holidays is focused on building its research, partnerships and certifications and taking action to make a positive impact on the people and places that make its destinations so special.

easyJet holidays has been named one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023 – being called out as one of the most loved employers and highly commended as a great place to work for LGBTQIA+ employees, as well as being named The Best Workplace in Travel 2023.

About BeCause
BeCause is an enterprise software company that enables sustainability data to flow more simpler, faster and cheaper so travel and tourism companies can positively impact people, the planet and their profits. BeCause works with over 11,000+ companies, including sustainability-certified hotels, eco-labels, certification entities like GreenKey, industry partners including UN GSTC and marketplaces including Booking.com. The BeCause Sustainability Management Hub allows organizations to collect and display all their communication about their sustainability efforts in one place, empowering them to make sustainability manageable for their operations and a competitive advantage for their business.

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Hanoi, Vietnam, August 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Over a decade ago Avana Retreat’s founder discovered a majestic waterfall while trekking in the mountainous region of Mai Chau in Northwestern Vietnam. This encounter was the spark that fueled the creation of the property. Understanding the importance of being in nature and with a desire to share the rich local heritage with those who ventured into the verdant countryside, the team at Avana, inspired by the owner’s first trip, have crafted trekking experiences that offer the same sense of awe and discovery that he first experienced there.

Tucked away in a relatively untouched area of Mai Chau, the roads stop when they reach Avana Retreat. From here mountain paths traversed by the ethnic Hmong people who have made their home in the hills, weave through the landscape and form the core of the ‘Adventure Trek – View from the Top’ experience.

This 8.5 hour journey, ideal for more confident trekkers, takes in more than just incomparable views of the undulating mountains, terraced fields, misty valleys and grasslands. There are visits to local villages including that of the ethnic Hmong, indigenous to the region and whose earthen walls in their traditional homes influenced the design of the villas. The local Hmong are also connected to the property. They cultivate the rice fields that give the property its iconic design and local Hmong artisans, among other artists from different ethnic groups, lead cultural classes at the property’s Stilt House Museum.

After summiting the peak, climbers make their way downhill to get another taste of local life with stops in ethnic Thai villages, one of the country’s more than 50 recognized ethnic groups that each have their own distinct culture, traditions, and language.

There’s also a gourmet picnic lunch included in the package ensuring guests are well-nourished for the full-day trip.

More suitable for intermediate hikers is Avana’s ‘Hmong Village Trek.’ The full-day journey includes the rich cultural elements of the Adventure Trek but covers less challenging terrain. The trip starts away from the property in the village of the Muong people, who live in the valley areas of Mai Chau. The walk takes in meadows dotted with Hmong houses, follows winding red dirt roads frequented by buffalo, and native forest. Like the Adventure Trek a picnic lunch, served amid nature is part of the experience.

Adventure Trek prices start from VND1,350,000 (approx USD57) for one guest with pricing dropping down for each additional participant. A group of 5-10 guests would be from VND780,000 (approx USD33) per person. The Hmong Village Trek is from VND1,500,000 (approx USD63) for one guest and drops down to rates from VND780,000 (approx USD33) per person when 5-10 people join. Avana Retreat provides local guides with basic English skills for all treks with guides more experienced in speaking English available for an additional fee. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance for each trek.

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Wellness-inspired hotel brand Fusion is celebrating the upcoming “Wedding Season” in Vietnam by throwing a bouquet of innovative proposals at prospective brides and grooms.

With the desire for destination weddings at an all-time high, three of Fusion’s finest resorts have refined their promotions to help couples make their Big Day the best day ever.

Natural Selection – Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion

This scenic resort lies a 30-km drive from Vietnam’s imperial capital of Hue in central Vietnam. The property exudes natural beauty, and is surrounded by verdant mountains and rejuvenating hot springs. But Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion is more than just a location for a relaxing getaway. Couples who are drawn to serene settings will be happy to know that the resort’s latest wedding package covers all the essentials for a wonder-filled celebration.

The ceremony garden can be created in a delightful forest setting. A dedicated photographer will capture the joyous moments during the ceremony and reception, with the day including a champagne fountain, live music, a master of ceremony, banquet and wedding cake, as well as a room for bridal makeup and a complimentary nuptials night with late checkout.

Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion is ideal for smaller celebrations with a guest list of up to 100 persons. Accommodations at the resort range from deluxe rooms to private bungalows. Highlights of Alba Wellness Valley include its unique Japanese onsen spa as well as activities such as sunrise yoga and meditation, and of course the natural hot springs.

‘Test Drive’ Wedding Offer at Fusion Resort Cam Ranh

Prospective couples now have the option of sampling first-hand the resort’s offerings with a one-night stay — a “test drive” — before deciding if this venue is ideal for their dream wedding.

Fiancees will meet the hotel’s wedding planning team, including the executive chef, and sample food in a tasting session from a special wedding menu.

Located just an 8-minute drive from Cam Ranh Airport, and perched atop a 28-meter-high sand dune overlooking the ocean, Fusion Resort Cam Ranh offers an idyllic beachfront wedding setting, with wedding day options including Vietnamese music and performances, spa treatments and a sparkling wine breakfast served in-villa.

Pool Villa Bliss at Maia Resort Quy Nhon

Fusion’s first culinary-led resort has manicured gardens, pristine beaches and the striking beauty of Phuong Mai Bay, coming together to create an idyllic backdrop for any dream wedding celebration.

Maia Resort Quy Nhon offers contemporary and luxurious private pool villas, either with garden or beachside settings. The resort’s centerpiece restaurant Vi, concept restaurant Ad Hoc, and multifunction room Jade that can each accommodate up to 120 guests indoors.

The resort’s team of experts will assist with date reservation, event planning, food and beverage recommendations, as well as all other details and ideas for wedding arrangements to ensure a flawlessly executed big day to say “I do”.

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Disney World is giving four Central Florida school districts the donations. Cast members raised additional funds as part of the back-to-school drive benefiting A Gift for Teaching

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2023) – Walt Disney World Resort today announced its latest investments in Florida education, including $125,000 in donations to support school districts in Osceola, Lake, Polk and Seminole counties. These funds will be used to expand workforce development and early learning student programs.

“Our company is very much rooted in storytelling, so supporting the future storytellers in our community is critical,” said Tajiana Ancora-Brown, Director of External Affairs at Walt Disney World Resort. “Career dreams begin in the classroom, and we’re helping students build a solid foundation to pursue those dreams and become who they imagine they can be.”

This donation joins ongoing efforts like Disney World’s annual Back-to-School Supply Drive benefiting A Gift for Teaching. Disney World has teamed up with A Gift for Teaching for decades and is the organization’s lead sponsor. As the largest supply drive in the state, Disney World and its cast members collected more than $177K in essential school supplies and monetary donations this summer to help get Florida students and teachers the resources they need to succeed in the classroom throughout the school year.

“As our longest and largest supporter, Disney has made a deep impact on our organization and our community,” said Jane Thompson, President of A Gift For Teaching. “We are so grateful for their help as we work together to empower local teachers and inspire future leaders. Thanks to every cast member who took part in the supply drive, we’re one step closer to a future where every student has the tools they need to achieve their dreams.”

Here are some additional ways Disney is supporting back-to-school efforts across the state:

• Disney matched eligible cast donations made during the Back-to-School Drive through its Disney Matching Gifts program.
• Disney VoluntEARS spent more than 2.3K hours in the community this summer helping students and teachers prepare for the first day back.
• A Gift For Teaching was the celebrated charity of the runDisney Virtual Series where runners helped raise an additional $20K for the organization.

This is all part of the company’s Disney Future Storytellers initiative to empower the next generation of storytellers and innovators to dream about their futures and build their talents and skills in distinctly Disney ways.

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