Bangkok Awarded "Best City in the World" by Travellers for Second Consecutive Year

Thailand Also Home to Best City Hotel in Asia, Best Resort in Asia and Strongly Represented in the World's Top 50 Hotels and Resorts

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) proudly acknowledges Bangkok as "Best City in the World 2011" as judged by the readers of the popular Travel + Leisure magazine which was announced at an award ceremony held in Los Angeles . It was the second consecutive year for Bangkok to win the prestigious award and just one of many accolades and awards presented to destination Thailand and Thai properties at this year's ceremony.

In addition to the "Best City in the World" accolade, Bangkok's tourism acumen was further highlighted among the "Best Hotels of the World" list, with the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, ranking at No. 23 in the world; making it the best city hotel in Asia. Additionally, The Peninsula Bangkok was also featured ranking at No. 40.

Thailand's hotels and resorts outside Bangkok also demonstrated the kingdom's strong appeal especially among international holiday makers with the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, located in Thailand's northern city of Chiang Mai, surging to No. 7 on the world's best overall list, and making it the world's second "Best Resort" and "Asia's Best Resort". Also located in Chiang Mai and performing strongly was the Four Seasons resort ranking No. 45, overall and seventh as a resort.

As resorts, the Dusit Thani Laguna Resort located in Phuket was ranked 11th, while the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa located in Chiang Rai was ranked 15th.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Director for Dubai and Middle East Office, Mr. Pramoth Supyen says: "It was indeed, an overwhelming recognition for Thailand. Despite the tight competition for best hotels and resorts in the world, Thailand still managed to win the hearts of many travellers. These results are clear proof of how tourists truly fall in love with Thailand."

Tourism plays a vital role in Thailand's economy, and the recognition provided by the latest Travel + Leisure survey is expected to bode well as a destination of sustained potential for both investors and tourists alike. Says Supyen: "All Thais hope that people around the world and especially the Middle East, will once again return and experience the vibe and excitement of Thailand no matter what time of the year, and in order to encourage tourists to do so, we as a tourism board, will continue to challenge ourselves by producing newer and more effective informational channels, campaigns and promotions."

www.thailand.net.au

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Hawaiian Ranks #1 with Travellers to Hawaii

The readers of Travel + Leisure have voted and ranked Hawaiian Airlines as the top U. S. carrier serving Hawaii, according to the magazine's 2011 World's Best Awards.

Blaine Miyasato, Hawaiian's vice president of product development, credits the authenticity of Hawaiian's "Hawaii flies with us" service experience for the high ranking. Miyasato says the Hawaiian Airlines experience begins well before you arrive and is celebrated throughout each flight with the culture, natural beauty, people, and aloha spirit of Hawaii.

"We're thrilled the readers of Travel + Leisure recognize the careful thought and effort we put into making a trip to and from Hawaii as enjoyable as possible," said Miyasato. "Starting from our initial encounter, we embrace our guests with the true spirit of aloha, and show them what makes Hawaii such a beautiful experience through the sights, sounds and tastes of the islands."

Hawaiian's quality of service to travellers goes beyond its distinctive brand of service. Along with being the nation's best on-time airline and offering conveniently scheduled daily, nonstop flights from 10 gateway cities, Hawaiian is the only U.S. carrier serving Hawaii to provide complimentary meals in coach and use exclusively wide-body, twin-aisle aircraft for all of its transpacific flights.

Readers of Travel + Leisure were invited by the magazine earlier this year to rate the quality of service offered by domestic carriers in four categories: cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service, and value. Hawaiian came out as the top-ranked carrier serving Hawaii and ranked third overall following Virgin America and JetBlue Airways.

Travel + Leisure is one of the travel industry's most respected publications with a readership largely comprised of sophisticated world travellers. The magazine's 2011 World Best Awards is published in the August issue and, in addition to airlines, includes rankings of the best hotels, cities, islands, cruise lines, tour operators and safari outfitters, rental-car agencies, destination spas, and hotel spas worldwide.

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Fiji serves up ‘Bula’ breakfast TV to millions of Australians

Fiji will be the venue for the Channel Nine's Today Show's national Australian weather reports this week.

Scheduled from tomorrow (02 August), the program will feature five daily crosses broadcast live from hotels and resorts on Viti Levu and in the Mamanuca Islands.

An estimated national daily audience peaking at around the 2.7 million mark is expected to tune in to the high rating show.

Fiji hoteliers joining Tourism Fiji and its chief partner in the exercise Qantas Holidays include the Intercontinental Golf Resort & Spa at Natadola (Tuesday), the Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa (Wednesday), Plantation Island Resort (Thursday) and Tokoriki Island Resort (Friday).

All four hotelier partners' properties and their various activities – from sports, spas and kids clubs to culture and romantic venues – will provide settings for the weather updates delivered by weather presenter Steve Jacobs.

Air Pacific has also joined in the exercise flying the crew and its equipment to Fiji.

Tourism Fiji Regional Director Australia, Paresh Pant said the advertising and PR value of the exercise was significant, estimated in excess of AUD1.6 million per day.

"This event provides Tourism Fiji and its partners with a huge opportunity to directly reach large numbers of Australian consumers," he said.

"At the same time the mix of hotels and resorts involved in the broadcast allows us to demonstrate just how multi-faceted Fiji has become to a discerning, nationally-spread audience and our ability to service all travel requirements, irrespective of taste, requirement or budget."

www.fijime.com

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