Now you can ‘Grab’ a hotel as well

If you’ve used Grab you’ll realise what a big announcement this is. It immerses yet another service within their intuitive App. Grab, already a leading App in Southeast Asia, has announced the launch of its ‘Hotels’ booking service.

The company says customers will now be able to book hotels and other accommodation from Agoda and soon, Booking.com directly from their Grab app, and additionally enjoy special hotel offers when they book through Grab.

The company said its customers can access and easily compare prices across millions of places to stay, ranging from a wide choice of luxury and budget hotels to apartments, vacation homes, and family-run B&Bs.

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“Travellers are an increasingly important audience for Grab. With more Southeast Asians travelling than ever before, the launch of ‘ Grab Hotels’ highlights our commitment to provide the most relevant services to our customers as Southeast Asia’s leading everyday super app.

“Our ‘Hotels’ service adds to the multiple benefits we already offer travellers, including the most comprehensive miles and travel loyalty program for any O2O platform, discounts at lounges and F&B outlets at major airports in Southeast Asia, and exclusive Grab transport pick-up points at airports in Indonesia and the Philippines,” said Jerald Singh, Group Head of Product and Design, Grab.

More features and benefits will be added to the ‘Hotels’ service throughout the year. Grab customers will get free travel personal accident and flight delay insurance with each hotel booking, as well as special ride offers. In addition, customers will be able to pay with GrabPay, Grab’s cashless payment mode, and earn GrabReward points with each booking, which can be redeemed for more deals and discounts around other travel services, F&B, retail, entertainment and more.

“Grab’s ‘Hotels’ service is ideal for young professionals who travel frequently for holidays, or families looking for the best deals.

“Our partnerships with Agoda and Booking.com allow our customers to easily find the right accommodation – anywhere in the world – for their holiday, and within their preferred budget too! With the special Grab discounts and free insurance, we’re confident travellers can find the most value-for-money deals when booking hotels with Grab.”

Source - TheThaiger

#Cambodia - Government creates ‘great tourism zones’

Tourists visit the Wat Phnom historic site in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

A sub-decree issued Thursday coined ‘great tourism zones’, a term for areas where a wide range of tourism-related services is available.

In last week’s sub-decree, the government describes the zones as areas that have accommodation, food and beverage services, entertainment complexes, sports facilities, gardens, parks, health care centres, and other tourism-related facilities.

Great tourism zones must cover at least 100 hectares, according to the sub-decree.

Investors that wish to create great tourism zones in any part of the country must first submit an application to the Tourism Development Committee of the Ministry of Tourism, who will study and evaluate the project and submit a report to the government, the sub-decree said.

Top Sopheak, spokesman at the Ministry of Tourism, told Khmer Times that the concept of great tourism zones is modelled after special economic zones, areas that bring together facilities needed to streamline manufacturing activity.

“In Khmer, the word ‘great’ (piseth) has a similar meaning to the term ‘special’. That’s why the government chose this word,” Mr Sopheak said.

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“Great tourism zones are hubs that offer all tourism-related services. It is based on the same idea that special economic zones, which focus on manufacturing,” he said.

Mr Sopheak said great tourism zones cannot be established in existing tourism sites but only in new locations that show great tourism potential.

Source - Khmer Times

Beautiful news as #Thailand set to host its first Miss World final in December

For the first time in the history of Miss World, the highly anticipated final – the 69th edition –will be hosted in Thailand, Miss World Organisation chief executive officer and chairman Julia Morley announced during a press conference at Phraya Thai Palace in Bangkok on Monday. 

 

      

     Delegates from 130 countries are scheduled to arrive in the Kingdom in November, with the final to be held the following month. 

During their one-month-long stay here, contestants will participate in various activities and visit tourism sites across the country, as well as take part in “Beauty with a Purpose” fund-raising activities to help good causes in Thailand.   

 Tanawat Wansom, CEO of TW Pageants, said on Monday that he was honoured to receive the rights to host such a major beauty pageant as Miss World in Thailand. 

“I believe this opportunity will bring joy to the Thai public, as they will be able to see Miss World contestants doing activities in their home country, and it will help promote Thai tourism, culture and hospitality to a global audience,” he said. 

Alongside Morley at the press conference were reigning Miss World Vanessa Ponce de Leon and seven continental queens: Miss World Asia Nicolene Pichapa Limsnukan from Thailand; Miss World Europe Maria Vasilevich from Belarus; Miss World Caribbean Kadijah Robinson from Jamaica; Miss World Oceania Jessica Tyson from New Zealand; Miss World Africa Quiin Abenakyo from Uganda; Miss World Americas Solaris Barba from Panama; and Miss United Kingdom Linzi McLelland from Scotland. 

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Source - TheNation for more pictures

#Cambodia - Siem Reap welcomes plans for aquarium, sanctuary

Siem Reap will be home to a $70-million aquarium and wildlife sanctuary project that seeks to become a new tourist draw for the province.

Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium, a joint venture of Cambodian, Japanese and US investors, announced the project on Monday during a meeting with Siem Reap’s governor Tea Seiha.

Roger Reynolds, member of the board of directors at Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium, said the project will comprise freshwater and saltwater fish displays as well as a wildlife sanctuary.

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The project will be located on 100 hectares on land in Sout Nikom district.

“The project will provide employment for many local people,” Mr Reynolds said.

“It is divided into three phases. Phase 1 will use $20 million. Construction of this phase will start in March and will be operational by the end of 2020.

“Besides helping to develop the national economy, the project will educate local and international visitors about the environment and the conservation of natural resources by introducing guests to rare aquatic species so that they can see and understand the natural resources of the country,” Mr Reynolds said.

Mr Seiha said Siem Reap welcomes the project.

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“The company must now cooperate with relevant departments and authorities to move forward. It must review the location of the project to avoid delays in construction in the future and it must ensure it adheres to the law.”

Source - Khmer Times