It has been a very exciting and busy year for hospitality since the emergence of the world from the pandemic. Here are five notable properties which have opened/are opening recently this year. MADI PAIDI BANGKOK, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION A new Marriott Bonvoy hotel, Madi Paidi Bangkok, Autograph Collection, has opened in…
The Westin Singapore commemorates its tenth anniversary by offering 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy loyalty points free with every booking of the “Suite Celebration” room stay package from 1 October to 31 December 2023, limited to the first 100 bookings only. Other anniversary offers include S$10++ cocktails at Lobby Lounge and Cook…
In August 2023, I checked into the Deluxe Room at Conrad Osaka. The hotel is situated on the highest floors of the Festival West Tower skyscraper building in the urban island of Nakanoshima, with direct connection to Watanabebashi Station on the Keihan Nakanoshima Line (train) and Higobashi Station on the…
Closed since September 2022 for renovations, the reimagined Grand Hyatt Singapore is set to welcome guests from the first quarter of 2024 onwards, with the unveiling of the transformed 699-room property to be done progressively in phases. As part of its relaunch campaign, Grand Hyatt Singapore has launched “Moments of…
The list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels was revealed during an awards ceremony in London held on 19 September 2023, and includes industry-defining hotels from 35 different locations across six continents worldwide. This long-awaited list is 50 Best’s first foray into the travel space, and its first new global…
In July 2023, I checked into the Historic Twin Room at Ace Hotel Kyoto. Housed within a landmark 1926-built building in the heart of Kyoto, the 213-room hotel is conveniently connected to the Karasuma Oike subway station; just 10 minutes from Kyoto Station by taxi; around two hours from Kansai…
After an extensive six-month transformation (reportedly to the tune of US$100 million), the iconic Mandarin Oriental, Singapore reopened its doors on 8 September 2023, just in time for the Singapore Grand Prix Formula 1 Night Race. Here’s what to expect. MANDARIN ORIENTAL, SINGAPORE The 510-key hotel’s extensive renovations were led…
In August 2023, I checked into the Premier Garden View Room at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto. Located within the historic Higashiyama district in Kyoto beloved for its feudal-era architecture and tradition, the 123-room property is within walking distance from notable temples such as Sanjusangendo, Yogen-in, Kiyomizu-dera and Chion-in. It takes…
In June 2023, I checked into the Partial Ocean View Pool Villa at Rosewood Phuket. Tucked away within the secluded and picturesque Emerald Bay along Phuket’s southwestern coast, the 71-key beachfront property is a short drive away from the buzzy Patong nightlife and dining area – Phuket’s most famous attraction…