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Bangkok Named 'Best Leisure City in Asia-Pacific' for Fifth Consecutive Year
Readers of Business Traveller Asia-Pacific have once again named Bangkok the 'Best Leisure City in the Asia-Pacific', helping Thailand's capital city retain its crown for the fifth consecutive year.
This also marks a record 10th time Bangkok has won this award since 2008. Each year, Business Traveller Asia-Pacific confers the awards based on votes cast by its readers and subscribers.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said, “We are touched that even with the current travel restrictions, Bangkok remains top-of-mind with Business Traveller Asia-Pacific readers. We look forward to welcoming them back soon.”
Bangkok's rich diversity remains a major draw, showcased via its unique blend of New World experiences and Old World charms. And it is not just about mouth-watering Thai street food, though that remains a key attraction. the city now boasts multiple Michelin starred restaurants served by modern transportation infrastructure. This includes a new Blue Line underground train extension to historic Rattanakosin Island, where the grandeur of its amazing past remains on full display.
Between April and June 2020, Business Traveller Asia-Pacific sent out a voting poll to subscribers with the results independently compiled by market research company Business Intelligence.
Although there was not much travelling this year as in the past, readers still voted for their favourite airlines, hotels, and airports for 2020.
Accolades for Australia's Top Travel Media at the ASTW Awards for Excellence 2020
A record number of finalists were acknowledged at ASTW Awards of Excellence virtual event in November 2020, including travel writers, PR professionals, photographers and digital influencers.
As host of the annual event, Australian comedian Jean Kittson shared her signature wit and absurd humour with almost 200 ASTW members and guests who tuned in throughout Australia.
“While we were unable to connect in person, our virtual Awards of Excellence was a huge hit, celebrated via a professional platform featuring a networking room where attendees could engage with each other, as well as spontaneous competitions and giveaways,” says Elisa Elwin, President of the ASTW.
Platinum Sponsor, Tourism Australia, presented two awards on the night: Best Australian Travel Story over 1000 Words and Best Australian Travel Story under 1000, while Gold Sponsor, TravMedia presented the award for Best PR Professional.
“Given the current media and travel environment, there has never been a more important time to recognise the very best published work and tourism promotion by ASTW members,” says Nick Wayland, CEO of TravMedia.
The highly esteemed Jack Butters Award was presented to long-standing ASTW member, David McGonigal, for his tireless support and valuable contribution to the society during the past 12 months.
Much-loved travel writer Jack Butters co-founded the ASTW in 1975. The award was created to commemorate Jack following his death, with the objective of recognising the person or people who have contributed significantly to the society throughout the year.
For more information about the ASTW or for membership enquiries, please visit the ASTW website
The Travel Corporation Sees Emerging Trend of Solo Travellers First to Resume Travel
The Travel Corporation (TTC) has seen an uptick in travel bookings by solo travellers for 2021, and has decided to highlight its special deals ranging from single supplement discounts to 100% waiver of Single Supplement fees. The attractive savings are offered across selected 2021 itineraries for its guided holiday brands Trafalgar and Insight Vacations and its luxury river cruise brand Uniworld.
Recognizing the need to adapt quickly in a post-COVID-19 world as holiday travel gradually resumes, TTC has also unveiled a new well-being video to help promote further confidence and provide peace-of-mind for guests booking guided holidays with Trafalgar and Insight Vacations, ensuring travellers know that there is a new well-being director who will provide enhanced support to ensure adherence to all hygiene standards and will update them with the latest travel protocols guidelines.
TTC's Well-being Directors are expertly trained in a three-step approach: Step 1: Always-on personal support and 24/7 assistance. Step 2: Supplier partner engagement and compliance. Step 3: Daily monitoring of distancing and hygiene standards. To know more about TTC's various holidays and more ways to save, please visit: www.ttc.com or call TTC's travel advisors at +65 6922 595.
Taste Summer in the Tropics
You can't go past a cold beer and a bucket of prawns in summer, but have you tried a Cassowary Cocktail or a Tiger Prawn Schnitzel with pineapple and persimmon?
Summer is unfolding in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef when warm rain refreshes the landscape overnight and brings seasonal experiences unique to summer in the tropics. This means that luscious mangoes, unique native ingredients and signature seafood dishes are taking centre stage on menus across the region. For a truly local drink, you can't go past the Cassowary Cocktail from Ochre Restaurant, located on the waterfront in Cairns. As colourful as its namesake, the Cassowary Cocktail's rich red comes from the cassowary's favourite food – local Davidson plum, which is blended with Hunter Distillery ginger liqueur, local finger lime and Smirnoff vodka.
Savour the taste of the native plum a little longer by choosing Ochre Restaurant's Twice Cooked Pork Belly served with Davidson plum jam, Queensland scallops and cauliflower puree.
At Palm Cove, Nu Nu chef Nick Holloway is pairing tiger prawns fresh from the Gulf of Carpentaria with Mareeba pineapple and persimmons from Tolga. The Tiger Prawn Schnitzel is finished with a spicy Korean ssamjang that brings together the tropical fruit flavours for a bite of summer freshness.
After ordering, enjoy the absolute Palm Cove beachfront view with a Pineapple Express – Sailor Jerry spiced rum, Falernum, fresh pineapple and lime, shaken and served with coconut sorbet.
In the city at CC's Alfresco in Bailey, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, the signature beef steak has been paired with a light salad, ensuring the beef from Crystalbrook Station (west of Cairns) remains the hero of the dish while matching the casual, relaxed setting befitting a balmy Cairns evening.
