Thailand newest boutique hotel opening 1 Jan - 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai

137 PILLARS HOUSE CHIANG MAI

From Historic Colonial Residence to Stunning 30 Suite Hotel

Opening January 1st, 2012

The stunning new 30 suite 137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai has a prime location in a tropical enclave near the Ping River; adjacent to the famous Wat Gate Khar Rham Temple.   The hotel will open on January 1st, 2012.

The hotel offers guests every modern luxury, combined with the revival of 19th Century oriental elegance and nostalgic ambiance from its former days as the homestead of the Manager of the British East Borneo Company. Nearby cultural treasures await discovery as do the spa's Thai and aromatherapy treatments.

137 Pillars House is managed by SilverNeedle Hospitality and is a member of Small Luxury Hotels.

Historic Past

Founded in 1296, Chiang Mai was a prosperous trading center on the route from China and Burma.   A city wall was built to protect the city, much of which is still visible and parts of which have been restored.   

Wat Gate, the area of Chiang Mai surrounding 137 Pillars House, was formerly designated to foreigners. The traditional Thai temple complex of multiple pagodas and living quarters is also home to Wat Gate Khar Rham Museum, founded by former 137 Pillars House owner Jack Bain.   It is filled with quirky memorabilia from ancient farm tools and pottery to ornate clothing of the Chiang Mai Royalty plus an extensive collection of historic photographs.

Guest Quarters

Four stunning suite types range from 70 square meters up to 135 square meters, each named after a famous Colonial settler.

Architectural historians and conservationists worked meticulously to retain the integrity of the original 1889 structure at 137 Pillars House. Tiled verandas, cane shades, rattan furniture and free standing Victorian baths are reminders of days gone by, blended with the modern facilities including outdoor garden showers, flat screen televisions and the all-important wi-fi access.  Private Pools (5.5 x 2.5 meters) are featured in the two Louis Leonowens Suites.



Grounds and Gardens

Prior to its transformation, much of 137 Pillars House was enveloped in tropical northern Thai forest.  The elegant Lady Palm and Mimosa trees were retained to honor the property's unique heritage while creating shade and breeze along the stone walkways. Fragrant, indigenous blooms line the original elephant path, a favorite outdoor reminder of 137 Pillars House's historical past.

In the hotel's Market Garden, the 137 Pillars House Master Gardener takes full advantage of Chiang Mai's cooler climate to grow organic fruit and vegetables.   He collaborates directly with the Executive Chef and is available upon request to guide guests through this edible landscape.

Guest entertainment on The Lawn is regularly scheduled, including Thai music and dancing, cocktails parties and cultural lectures.

Drinks and Dining - A range of options include:

The Library Bar - guests can linger over fresh fruit drinks, Italian and local coffee and teas, wines, brandy, port, sherry, cognacs and aperitifs.

The Parlor - afternoon high tea is served in the classic style as Chiang Mai's early foreign visitors enjoyed, with bespoke tea blends, coffee concoctions and complimentary Thai sweets.

The Wine Cellar – serving a selection of New and Old World vintages from around the world, including notable Thai wines. 

The Dining Room - for breakfast, lunch and dinner, The Dining Room adjacent to Pillars House is a stylish yet comfortable environment to savor our favorite recipes prepared with fresh organic ingredients.

The Kitchen - a showpiece and gathering place for Thai cooking demonstrations. 

Private Dining - in-suite dining or dine in a private spot on the grounds. Set at least one night aside for our chef's BBQ on the expansive verandah of your suite. For adventure filled days or upon departure, allow our kitchen team to prepare gourmet picnic baskets and light lunch boxes good to go.

Additional Features:

The Drawing Room

The 19th century directors of the British Borneo Company would certainly be impressed by our fully modern meeting facility supported by all necessary business centre services. It is the ideal venue for a small private dining function, social gathering or business meeting for up to 25 people.


 

Relaxation and Recreation

The Spa

Classical and current massage and spa treatments include Aromatherapy, Thai Massage and Yoga with private lessons available.   Beauty rituals integrate local organics and ancient secrets.  Essential oils are distilled on site and freshly made beauty products come straight from our organic garden.

The Gymnasium

The gym is equipped with the latest multi-station free unit and free weights as well as computer controlled cardio-vascular equipment.  

Swimming Pool

Dive into the shimmering 25 x 5.5 metre pool, where snacks, sweets and fresh fruit drinks, as well as items off the main menus are delivered by attentive staff who drop by with complimentary homemade sorbet, cool mineral water, cold towels and atomizer mist.  

Opening Rate

Opening rates start from THB 12,333 (USD 400) per night, plus applicable service charge and Government taxes. 

For more information and reservations, please contact Zulkifli Rahman, Director of Sales & Marketing for 137 Pillars House on:

Mobile:   +66 81 55 34 871

Email:   info@137pillarshouse.com

Website:   www.137pillarshouse.com (coming soon) or www.slh.com

Facebook:   www.facebook.com/137pillarshouse.com

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Prestigious accolades for 2011 NSW Tourism Awards Winners

Winners of the Caravan & Camping Industry NSW

Tourism Industry Council NSW Chair, Ken Corbett

Minister for Tourism – George Souris

Winners of the 2011 NSW Tourism Awards

MC Mike Whitney, Jon Hutchinson and Minister George Souris

Mr Percival enthralling the crowd

From adventure pursuits such as Tri State Safaris in the outback and Sydney Harbour YHA backpacker accommodation, to Indigenous Tourism leaders Coffs Coast Aboriginal Discovery and major tourist attraction The Magic of Jenolan, NSW's most innovative and outstanding tourism businesses were recognised last night in Sydney as the winners of the 2011 NSW Tourism Awards.

Recognising 30 categories of tourism operators from NSW's exciting tourism industry, the winners were judged from hundreds of entries covering restaurant and catering services, accommodation, tourism education and training, heritage and cultural tourism, festivals and events.

Now in its 22nd year, the NSW Tourism Awards managed by Tourism Industry Council NSW supports the development of the tourism industry which contributes $28.7 billion per year to the NSW economy.

The depth of offering and professional calibre of product has strongly grown since the awards began and Ken Corbett, Chairman, Tourism Industry Council NSW, said that the range of entries symbolises that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, especially in the many small businesses that make up the industry.

"Small businesses are a vital element to the NSW tourism landscape. The value that they bring to providing employment opportunities to their regions cannot be underestimated.

"This year the winners demonstrated an enormous amount of pride in what they do; this exceptional pride in their product is exemplified in the innovative thinking and dedication to client experiences that we see all around the state," said Mr Corbett.

Jon Hutchinson, outgoing CEO of Business Events Sydney was recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to Tourism and Lori Modde was recognised for her Outstanding Contribution to Regional Tourism.

The Young Achiever award was presented to Ollie Philpot, CEO of Central Coast Tourism.

The 2011 NSW Tourism Awards were announced at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in front of 700 people. The NSW Tourism Award winners will automatically become finalists in the National Tourism Awards, to be held in Cairns in March 2012.

The Full List of Winners:


Category                                                        Winner

Adventure Tourism                                          Tri State Safaris

Backpacker Accommodation                         Sydney Harbour YHA

Deluxe Accommodation                  Macquarie Waters Boutique Apartment Hotel

Ecotourism                                                    Lane Cove River Tourist Park

Festivals and Events                NSW Caravan, Camping, RV & Holiday Supershow

Heritage and Cultural Tourism                      Written in Stone

Hosted Accommodation                           Mollymook Beach Waterfront

Indigenous Tourism                          Coffs Coast Aboriginal Discovery

Luxury Accommodation                         Sheraton on the Park

Major Festivals and Events                     Bluesfest Byron Bay

Major Tour and/or Transport Operators            Moonshadow Cruises

Major Tourist Attractions                                   Taronga Zoo

Meetings and Business Tourism                   Shoal Bay Resort & Spa

New Tourism Development                              Tandara

Outstanding Contribution to Regional Tourism       Lori Modde

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism by an Individual          Jon Hutchison

QANTAS Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism  Lane Cove River Tourist Park

Specialised Tourism Services                      Newcastle Airport

Standard Accommodation                     Scone Motor Inn

Tour and/or Transport Operators             Tri State Safaris

Tourism Education and Training              Travel 21fiftythree

Tourism Marketing                             The Legendary Pacific Coast

Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services        Margan Restaurant

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Boutique Breweries       Wyndham Estate Winery

Tourist and Caravan Parks        BIG4 North Star Holiday Resort & Caravan Park

Tourist Attractions                             The Magic of Jenolan

Tourist Pubs                            Shoal Bay Country Club Hotel

Unique Accommodation                 Somewhere Unique – An Escape for 2 in the Hunter

Visitor Information and Services     Greater Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre

Young Achiever in Tourism Award                 Ollie Philpot

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SOFITEL'S LANDMARK NEW HOTEL IN FOSHAN, CHINA, WILL BECOME CITY'S TALLEST BUILDING

New Sofitel opening in 2014 will become the city's tallest building

Sofitel Luxury Hotels today announced the opening of a prestigious, new 325-room hotel in the booming city of Foshan in 2014, which, at 236 meters tall, will become the city's tallest building. Foshan is a centuries-old but fast-growing city in China's Guangdong Province and has long been famous for its furniture, porcelain and martial arts industries.

Set to become one of Foshan's most instantly recognizable and luxurious hotels with unmatched visibility, the towering Sofitel Foshan will become a focal point of the 2nd phase of the Foshan Louvre International Furniture Exhibition Center – the biggest furniture exhibition mall in China. The Sofitel Foshan will feature 325 spacious hotel rooms and suites, four restaurants and three bars, a large pillar-free ballroom, ten meeting rooms of various sizes, the group's signature So SPA, a fitness center, a yoga room, a beauty salon and an indoor swimming pool. It will also have an executive lounge, which is complemented by a fully equipped business center, and 280 parking stalls. The stunning skyscraper will offer the first onsite luxury accommodation to Lecong's huge amount of daily furniture customers, as well as tourists and business travelers.

The Sofitel Foshan is being developed by Guangdong Louvre International Furniture Exhibition Center Co., Ltd. (whose parent company is Louvre International Furniture Group), and will be strategically located in Lecong – the largest high-end furniture trading center in the world.

Positioning the hotel in Lecong, where over 25,000 local and international customers including furniture wholesalers daily, makes the Sofitel Foshan an ideal choice for furniture shoppers as well as leisure and business visitors. For those wishing to visit the city's many cultural sites, the popular urban hub Dong Ping New Town is just five minutes away, downtown Foshan is a 15 minute drive and, for business, the Nanhai Financial District is 25 minutes away. Guangzhou is now easy to access from Foshan after the recent successful merging of the two cities by expressways and subways, while Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is approximately 50 minutes away.

Ms Chen Gui Fang, General Manager of Louvre International Furniture Group, said, "Louvre International Furniture Group is one of the largest furniture wholesale and retail companies in China with customers from all over the world. Proving that high-end furniture shopping is big business in Foshan, Guangdong Louvre International Furniture Exhibition Center Co., Ltd. is committed to its first international brand hotel, the Sofitel Foshan, and the unparalleled convenience it offers in this bustling district."

Responding to the new project, Markland Blaiklock, Senior Vice President of Sofitel Asia Pacific said "Sofitel Foshan will be an inspiring project in Foshan, the fast growing city in Guangdong Province. With its latest address Sofitel Luxury Hotels will further reinforce its strong presence in the Pearl River Delta with hotels and resorts already established in Dongguan, Macau and most recently in Guangzhou."


Discover Sofitel on www.sofitel.com

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Wolgan Valley Honoured with Condé Nast Traveler's World Savers Award

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa General Manager Joost Heymeijer hands the Conde Nast Traveler's World Savers Award to Phil Cram, Facilities Manager and Ben Boothby, Senior Field Guide with the resort's Conservation Team.

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, the world's first internationally accredited carbon-neutral resort, has been honoured at the prestigious 2011 World Savers Award for its pioneering work and commitment to wildlife conservation.

The Condé Nast Traveler's fifth annual World Savers Awards acclaims travel companies from around the world for their leadership in social responsibility. The rigorous process is judged across six categories including wildlife conservation, poverty relief, environmental and cultural preservation, education, and health initiatives.

"In just two years of opening, we're incredibly humbled to receive another global accolade for our commitment to wildlife conservation. From the outset, the resort has been built on the philosophy of complete integration with the Australian environment and a focus on endangered species protection," said Joost Heymeijer, General Manager, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa. 

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa

A scenic three-hour drive from Sydney, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is nestled between two of Australia's most prominent national parks and borders the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The resort itself occupies just two per cent of the Emirates-owned 4,000-acre property, and combines the expectations of the high-end traveller with a commitment to broader social, ecological and environmental sustainability.

Travellers have become sensitive to environmental issues - in particular their own impact on the locations and communities they visit. They are equally are not expecting to lower their standards, and the quality of their experiences when travelling. 

"When guests stay at Wolgan Valley, they immediately recognise our ethos and ongoing commitment to be truly environmentally and socially responsible; and of course also appreciate the unique, luxury world-class experiences delivered by Emirates have not been compromised.

"We commend our colleagues in Australia and around the world who are making contributions to become more socially responsible. We hope these efforts continue to protect our naturally beautiful landmarks and locations, ensuring our industry grows and prospers," concluded Mr Heymeijer.

With approximately 4,000 acres of land dedicated as a wildlife reserve, the Wolgan conservancy project re-establishes and secures a future for many of the region's indigenous and endangered species, which were under critical pressure from introduced flora and feral predators – the major cause of species extinction in Australia.

To date, over 175,000 indigenous trees have been planted in wildlife corridors and along creek banks at Wolgan Valley. The resort also incorporates many Ecologically Sustainable Design principles and resource-saving technologies, ranging from rainwater collection, full recycling of all domestic water, heat exchange technology to reduce electricity consumption and the use of solar panels for all hot water systems.

For further information on the conservation policies and work at Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa please visit www.wolganvalley.com.

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It's Official ...The Villas Voted Indonesia's Best Spa Resort

The Villas Bali Hotel & Spa in Seminyak has been announced as Indonesia's Leading Spa Resort 2011/2012 by Indonesia Travel & Tourism Award Foundation and The Board of Advisors at a glittering awards ceremony in Jakarta.

Industry representatives gathered at the gala dinner, which has been dubbed the Oscars of the Indonesian Tourism Industry, to recognise outstanding success by Indonesia's tourism businesses.

General Manger Andrew Keating said, "on behalf of our loyal staff I am delighted to have The Villas recognised by the renowned Indonesia Travel & Tourism Award Foundation and look forward to continuing to build the strong brand position The Villas & Prana Spa already enjoys".

The Villas Bali Hotel & Spa has established itself as one of Bali's finest and most enchanting villa style hotel resorts. The consistent level of service through high staff-to-guest ratios combined with an exceptional range of pampering treatments in Prana Spa ensures a true indulgent experience which has resulted in the Villas not only being awarded this latest award as Indonesia's Leading Spa Resort, but also joins the prestigious Trip Advisor award earlier this year having been voted in the Top 10 Relaxation/Spa Hotels across Asia.

The Villas has invested strongly through innovation in a range of areas to keep the Villas & Prana Spa top of mind among potential visitors. "This ITTA category win recognises the important work we have done and continue to do in this area."

"Spa culture has gained significant importance over the last few years and we made the conscious decision not to limit ourselves, we have created a great range of treatment options in line with the latest innovations and evolved The Villas into a sanctuary of well-being dedicated to relaxation," Mr Keating continued.

Timed to coincide with the winning of such a major award, The Villas and Prana Spa has a special deal on offer for direct bookings only, for a holiday of 3 nights or more, each new booking will enjoy a complimentary 2 hour Ayurvedic Simple Bliss Package in Prana Spa for each adult within the booking. (T&C's apply including - Must be booked and taken between 18th November 2011 and 29th February 2012 also not available from the 19th of December 2011 till the 5th of January 2012, subject to availability, please ask for further information).

Further information - www.thevillas.net

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