Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur is offering two packages specially created for the festive season. Celebrate the New Year in style with family, friends and corporate clients in the function rooms and Ballroom of the hotel.

Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

The Festive Celebration Package, available until 31 December 2015, offers a selection of buffet menus from RM180++ per person onwards. There will be complimentary pre-function drinks with tidbits such as gingerbread, roasted chestnuts and candy canes for Christmas, and canapes for New Year. Complimentary mocktails will be served throughout dinner. Continue Reading

The country’s Rizal Monument in Rizal Park lights up in French national colors in a display of support for France and unity with the rest of the world following recent events in Paris. The Rizal Monument stands as a visual icon of the Philippines proud heritage and is as a major tourist attraction in the City of Manila.

The Philippines lights up Rizal Monument

The inaugural lighting ceremony was held in the evening of 16 November 2015. Viewers will continue to witness the special lighting display everyday until 20 November 2015, with the following schedule: 6PM, 7PM, 8PM, and 9PM.

First Ascott Thailand Innovation Day 2015 Event

Leading international serviced residence owner-operator, The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has recently organized the first Ascott Thailand Innovation Day event at Ascott Sathorn Bangkok, its flagship serviced residence property in Thailand.

Ascott Innovation Day 2015

Since CapitaLand – Ascott’s parent company is one of Asia’s largest real estate and developer companies; creativity is one of the organization’s credos. Ascott, under the clear guiding vision of the CEO Mr. Lee Chee Koon, has recognized the need for all Ascott properties around the world to commence a drive towards innovation. Continue Reading

Deepavali or the Festival of Lights is celebrated in style at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur with a striking and colourful floral peacock in the Main Lobby.

Deepavali Floral Centrepiece at Shangri-La KL

Purple, pink, orange, red and yellow orchids and chrysanthemum pom-poms are put together to form this splendid peacock that is eight feet tall and 12 feet long. Its long, flamboyant tail flows down to join an intricate Kolam or Rangoli on the floor. Continue Reading

Following Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario’s recent call for the United Nations (UN) to affirm international law as the great equalizer among States, however powerful or weak, the Philippine Mission to the world body welcomed the international community’s growing recognition that developments in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea maritime disputes concern the international community as a whole.

West Philippine Sea

Addressing the Legal Committee of the UN General Assembly at debate on the rule of law last October 16, Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN, recalled that the root cause of the disputes is China’s claim of “indisputable sovereignty” over almost 90 percent of the South China Sea, as enclosed by its so-called Nine-Dash Line. Continue Reading

The city government of Davao is expecting an increase of visitors for the month of August when people from nearby and outside the region flock to this city for the Kadayawan Festival.

City Tourism Officer Lisette Marquez said they expect 14 percent increase in visitor arrival this month with 180,000 guests compared to last year’s record of 150,000 visitors.

Aside from the festival, Marquez said the city is also host to several national conventions this month. In fact, the city is already seeing a rise in the number of people coming in.

“Several of our hotels are experiencing high occupancy rate during this period,” Marquez said after guesting at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Annex.

Benjie Banzon, general manager of The Royal Mandaya Hotel said the hotel industry is doing good with either high occupancy rate or fully booked status. He said August is among the months of the year when visitors come in time for the Kadayawan festival.

He also attributed this to the efforts extended by the Department of Tourism in promoting the city’s destinations and its corresponding “a must visit” events. Continue Reading

Ascott’s properties in Thailand once again earn the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence Award. The properties are Ascott Sathorn, Citadines Sukhumvit 8, Citadines Sukhumvit 11, Citadines Sukhumvit 16, Somerset Lake Point and Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor.

Ascott’s Properties Wins Tripadvisor Certificate Of Excellence Award For Second Consecutive Year

Each year, this award is given in recognition of the established hospitality businesses that consistently achieve outstanding reviews on Tripadvisor. Winners of the prestigious award have also been proven one of the exceptional accommodations offering Tripadvisor travellers a great customer experience. Continue Reading

Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival, the first international music and arts festival in the Asia-Pacific region, caps another successful year on its 3rd installment Monday, March 3, on the foothills of Mt. Malasimbo in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.

Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival

The festival’s five-day affair which started on February 27 ends Monday evening by showcasing another set of local and international artists who will surely entertain and rock the worlds of the festival’s patrons and first-timers. Artists like Unlimited Rise, Mellow Submarine, Late Session II, Toto Delgado, Coco Jam, Mad Professor and Japoy are on the last day’s line up of performers. Continue Reading

Australia is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and millions of tourists travel down under to make the most of the beautiful weather, excellent food and fantastic culture. One thing the Australians aren’t well known for however, are their music festivals, but actually they hold some of the best on the planet. Search for international flights on cheapflights.com.au, and get the best deals on airfares to these top festivals!

Homebake

Over the years, the Homebake festival has become one of the most quintessential and hyped-up events in the music calendar, and it’s easy to see why. This festival likes to keep things Australian, and although it may not boast the world’s best line-up, Homebake certainly champions the feel-good atmosphere. Held each December in Sydney, the tickets are usually snapped up within minutes of release (just 10 minutes last year!), so if you’ve got a spare $90 or so, make sure you get down to Homebake.

V Festival

Dubbed the ‘people’s festival’, Sir Richard Branson made sure he carried on the success of the UK V Festival by taking it all the way around the world to Sydney, Australia. Now in its second year, the festival has seen some of the biggest names in music pass through, including The Killers, Queens of the Stone Age, Snow Patrol and Groove Armada. Not only have these artists given V Festival its own niche among the other huge festivals, but at $140 its one of the best values for money, too. Continue Reading

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing for a standardization of five-star hotels in the country to meet the level of excellence that Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is known of.

Resorts World Manila

According to Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) chief operating officer, Domingo Ramon “Chicoy” Enerio III, in an interview, the DOT wanted this to make sure that the Philippines is not left behind from its neighboring countries. Continue Reading

Dubai is one of the wonders of the Middle East, offering everything from soaring skyscrapers and luxury hotels through to some of the best shopping you will find anywhere. However, one of the areas where Dubai really comes into its own is golf. Although it is set in the desert, it has some of the world’s best golf courses, along with luxurious surrounding residences – offering a year-round golf experience.

Golfing in Dubai Image source: http://www.jumeirahgolfestates.com/

One of the best is Jumeirah Golf Estates, which has two stunning championship courses named Earth and Fire. Designed by Greg Norman, these courses are challenging par 72 monsters, with the Earth course coming in at an astonishing 7,675 yards. As you imagine on a desert course, deep bunkers line the fairways, placing the emphasis on both accuracy and length. The elevated greens increase the challenge, often adding an extra club to approach shots. The Earth course is also home to the DP World Tour Championship – a testament to its world-class status. Continue Reading

A haven of natural tranquillity, Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort in the Maldives is a top destination for seeing some of the world’s rarest sea creatures. What’s more, until November this beautiful island resort enjoys its ‘manta ray season’, offering divers, swimmers, snorkellers and even dry-land spectators an even greater chance of spotting one of nature’s more unusual creatures.

Manta Rays In The Maldives

While manta rays are an endangered species in most parts of the world, they thrive in the Maldives’ waters, especially during the summer months when the higher level of plankton in the water and the prevailing winds and currents of the hot weather entice rays of all shapes and sizes to migrate to Olhuveli’s tempting shores. Continue Reading