The twoday event brings together a variation of doctors and experts in nutrition, exercise, meditation, sleeping and a happy mind. Visitors can join various activities, ranging from nutrition and psychological consults to yoga classes, meditation sessions, beauty lessons and stateoftheart treatments.

The lineup of doctors includes neuropsychologist Dr Erik Scherder, Bianca Brangstrup from Vita Viva, Hanna Verboom of Cinetree, holistic doctor Juriaan Galavazi, Maarten van Huijstee from Delight Yoga, holistic beauty expert Karen van Ede, Anouk Puister from Happy Sleeper, Feng Shui specialist Nina Elshof and media psychologist Mischa Coster.

Visitors can join the Akasha Health Summit when booking a ticket with access for 3sessions, starting at 90 euros (Bt3,300) per ticket. Meanwhile the hotel is offering a Wellness Weekender package for guests to enjoy a onenight stay in a Deluxe Guest Room and breakfast in the Brasserie for two persons.

The package also includes access to all panels and talks, two private consults, two 50minute holistic Akasha treatments, the special Akasha Health Summit lunch, Taiko Chisana fourcourse dinner for two persons, two Seedlip cocktails, two Vita Viva Start up Health Kits and two goodie bags filled with wellness essentials

Find out more at http://www.ConservatoriumHotel.com or email reservations@conservatorium.com.

Both will be located in the heart of Davao City’s new central business district, Lanang, only 30 minutes by boat from the Beach Club and 15 minutes by car from Davao International Airport.

Owned by Torre Lorenzo Development Corp and set in a 36-hectare master-planned leisure township within a former coconut plantation, the Beach Club invites visitors to experience an upscale island lifestyle amid unspoiled reefs, coral gardens, exotic marine life and lush tropical fauna.

Easily accessible by boat from the mainland, the family-friendly retreat features a large swimming pool, a children’s play area, an events hall, the Tarictic Grill & Snack Bar serving barbecued favourites, and a private beach stretching 50 metres. Visitors can also easily arrange to explore the island’s prime snorkelling and diving sites.

DusitD2 Davao hotel is slated to open next month with 120 well-equipped guestrooms and suites. The focal point is a lush, landscaped courtyard featuring a lap pool, wading pool, children’s pool and deck areas for relaxation. From here, guests will enjoy direct access to an international restaurant, lounge areas and a lobby set within a striking, glass-enclosed pavilion.

The Dusit Thani Residence Davao hotel, meanwhile, is slated to open adjacent to the dusitD2 in April. The hotel will feature 178 well-appointed studios and suites.

Other offerings include Namm spa, a state-of-the-art gym, four meeting rooms and two large ballrooms accommodating up to 1,000 guests. Dusit’s signature Benjarong Thai restaurant is expected to open in mid-2019.

Opened two weeks ago, dusitD2 Ao Nang, Krabi puts guests within walking distance of the beach and other major attractions in this popular Southern Thailand resort.

It offers 173 stylish guestrooms and suites with a choice of sea, mountain or pool views and features an All-Day-Dining restaurant, a lobby bar, an outdoor swimming pool with a separate children’s pool, a fitness centre, a spa, a 200 sqm ballroom, and an extensive children’s playground. Rock climbing excursions, jungle treks, and boat trips to nearby paradise islands can all be arranged at the hotel.

dusitD2 Yarkay Thimphu, Bhutan serves as the first and largest internationally branded hotel in the enchanting kingdom. Drawing inspiration from the Four Harmonious Friends, a beloved national folktale about four animals working together to harvest fruit from a magical tree, each guest floor of the hotel is dedicated to a different animal from the tale.

Adorned with colourful contemporary motifs of the creatures, the resort houses 83 well-appointed guestrooms and suites, a beautiful lobby showcasing local artworks, Thai spa, fully equipped gym and an international all-day-dining restaurant. A vibrant bar and the first authentic Thai restaurant in Bhutan will follow soon.

With a prime innercity location in the capital Thimphu, the resort is surrounded with many popular attractions such as Buddha Point (Kuensel-Phodrang), the iconic Tashichho Dzong, the Royal Botanical Park, and Clock Tower Square.

“Designed to reflect and anticipate the needs and desires of today’s hyperconnected travellers, our dusitD2 resorts feature a unique combination of comfort, convenience and style, creating vibrant places for guests to socialise and interact,” said Lim Boon Kwee, chief operating officer, Dusit International.

“We are delighted to welcome dusitD2 Yarkay Thimphu, Bhutan and dusitD2 Ao Nang, Krabi to our fastgrowing portfolio of global hotels, and we look forward to delighting guests with our unique brand of gracious hospitality.”

To celebrate their opening, guests can enjoy 400-per-cent off the Dusit Best Available Rate, daily breakfast, exclusive dining discount and more great benefits.

Check out the best rates at http://www.Dusit.com.

Operated by the Bensley Collection, it is located in a pristine wildlife corridor three hours’ drive south of Phnom Penh and is perched over 1.5km of river and waterfalls. The 14 one-bedroom tents (100sqm) and one two-bedroom tent (140sqm) have been meticulously designed with inspiration from a luxury safari in the jungle of Jacky O who travelled throughout the Kingdom with King Sihanouk in 1967.

Creative luxury adventures include exploring the untrammelled waterways of Southeast Asia’s last wild estuarine ecosystem aboard a custom Bensley-designed expedition boat; or joining Wildlife Alliance rangers on antipoaching patrols. Ever changing menus are inspired by sustainably foraged wild edible plants, as the camp’s naturalists guide guests through the forest to discover – and taste – Cambodia’s natural larder. The Boulder Spa provides chemical-free Khmer Tonics treatments including a riverstone foot massage while soaking in a waterfall pool.

Described by Bensley as a “utopia of sustainability”, Shinta Mani Wild’s comprehensive conservation and community programmes are spearheaded by the Shinta Mani Foundation, and include the provision of long-term employment opportunities to local inhabitants where there is minimal infrastructure and fewer work prospects. Shinta Mani Wild  Bensley Collection, in conjunction with the Foundation, will nurture its natural environment through partnerships with respected conservation organisations including Wildlife Alliance and The Cambodian Government. Rates start from US$2,345 (about Bt78,000) per night, inclusive of all food and beverage; all private guided activities and excursions; spa treatments; personal Bensley Butler; land transfers from Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville airports, and taxes. Helicopter transfers are additional.

A minimum threenight stay is required and kids under the age of 13 are not accepted.

Find out more at http://www.Shintamani.com/wild.php.

Located near the Han Bridge and the city’s famed Bach Dang street, the hotel offers easy access to the hub of main entertainment, shopping and business belts. The hotel is also a short 10-minute drive from Da Nang International Airport, and five minutes from Da Nang Beach.

“The opening of Hilton Da Nang represents a milestone for us with the entry of the brand into yet another key destination in Southeast Asia. Bringing our flagship Hilton brand into major and secondary cities with the right partners is part of our growth strategy. With Da Nang expected to draw 15 million tourists by 2030, we are confident Hilton Da Nang, as a beacon of hospitality, will be top-of-mind for them when they visit this beautiful coastal city,” said Paul Hutton, vice president, operations, South East Asia, Hilton.

“Hilton has welcomed travellers through its doors for almost 100 years, and we are thrilled to be able to continue doing so in a city with tremendous growth potential, such as Da Nang, underscoring our commitment to offer our guests moments that matter around the world,” added Vera Manoukian, senior vice president and global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Ranging from 36 square metres to 202 sqm, all 223 spacious guestrooms and suites feature locally inspired contemporary designs and views of the Han River. The hotel’s executive floor rooms offer exclusive access to the 27th floor lounge, where guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast, all-day refreshments and panoramic views of the city.

With a total of 725 sqm dedicated to flexible meeting spaces, Hilton Da Nang offers eight meeting rooms and a grand ballroom, which can accommodate up to 500 guests. Each meeting space comes fully equipped with the latest audio-visual equipment, LED screens and high-speed Wi-Fi to ensure events run smoothly and seamlessly.

In addition to a 24-hour gym and a heated outdoor swimming pool overlooking the Han River, Hilton Da Nang also boasts three dining options. The all-day dining Brasserie Nam offers a creative menu with locally sourced ingredients, featuring Western, Asian and Vietnamese specialities. Guests can select between indoor and outdoor seating for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

From Banh Mi to pastries, Parisian-inspired Cafe Viet features selection of fresh local delicacies with modern twists in a relaxed and contemporary setting.

Located on the 28th floor, The Sail is a high-end rooftop grill bar that offers sweeping views of the city from both its restaurant and lounge areas. With a menu featuring classic grill options, local and Mediterranean inspired bites and a comprehensive wine list, guests can look forward to dining or lounging in style.

To celebrate its official opening, Hilton Honors members will earn an additional 5,000 Honors points for bookings of three nights or more until March 31 when booking directly with Hilton. They can also take advantage of a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi and the Hilton Honors mobile app.

Make a reservation at http://www.3.Hilton.com.

 AccorHotels and SNCF Group signed a strategic partnership in 2017 to develop Orient Express hotels after AccorHotels acquired a 50-per-cent stake in the share capital of the brand. SNCF retains ownership of the seven original Orient Express carriages, which have been restored and now provide a new and exceptional setting for the organisation of events in collaboration with Potel & Chabot. Both groups are committed to preserving, promoting and sharing the heritage connected with the legendary brand.

“Orient Express has always acted as a passport between worlds and a trip on these legendary trains was historical, touristic and cinematic with an inimitable experience. This linking of Occident and Orient, of history and modernity, and of curiosity and cultures will be a hallmark of the new Orient Express Hotels and we are excited to bring back this spirit of luxurious adventure to today’s modern travellers,” said Sebastien Bazin, chairman and chief executive of AccorHotels.

Situated in Bangkok’s brand-new King Power Mahanakhon Building, the hotel will house 154 rooms including nine suites and two penthouses, as well as an entire floor devoted to wellness including an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi plus signature Orient Express Spa by Guerlain. Guests will have access to the building’s spectacular rooftop observation deck and rooftop bar, all rooms will provide stunning views over the City of Angels.

“The launch of the world’s first Orient Express Hotel at King Power Mahanakhon truly completes our vision of creating an extraordinary landmark that celebrates the city and adds a new milestone to Thailand and the world’s hospitality industry, while further elevating Thailand to a truly world-class destination,” said Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, chief executive officer of King Power Group.

“King Power Mahanakhon always wants its projects to be different, impressive and distinct, exuding excellence in every dimension. We look forward to welcoming visitors from all over the world, and placing Thailand’s tourism scene on the global stage through a landmark that combines exceptional hospitality, award-winning cuisine, a unique shopping experience and Bangkok’s spectacular views.”

The original Orient Express trains were famous for the highest standards of fine craftsmanship, the newest innovations and the most exquisite dining and so Orient Express Mahanakhon Bangkok will bring together the best names in these fields to reinterpret the art of luxury travel.

Esteemed designer Tristan Auer has been tasked with reimagining the Art Deco styling and plant motifs of the original Orient Express carriages into a modern skyscraper in the heart of a bustling metropolis. The sumptuous bedrooms and exquisite bathrooms will bring new levels of style and luxury to Bangkok.

“We are proud to bring the multicultural heritage, mystery and exoticism of the legendary Orient Express brand to Bangkok” said Michael Issenberg, chairman and chief executive officer, AccorHotels Asia Pacific

“Orient Express redefined rail travel in the 1900s, introducing the first sleeper cars linking West to East and delivering unprecedented levels of comfort and dining. We look forward to bringing this same luxury and refinement to the new incarnation of Orient Express hotels.”

Two signature restaurants will include Mott 32 on level 2 and Mahanathi by David Thompson on level 5 of the hotel.

Mott 32 will also bring an exceptional modern Cantonese dining experience to the city with a contemporary restaurant and cocktail bar in Orient Express Mahanakhon Bangkok. Mott 32 is named after 32 Mott Street in New York – the site of NYC’s first Chinese convenience store, which opened in 1851.

David Thompson is known worldwide for his skills and expertise in Thai cuisine and culinary art. Thompson has established award-winning restaurants across the world, Nahm in London and Bangkok, Long Chim in Asia and Australia and Aaharn in Hong Kong.

For more than 135 years, Orient Express has inspired authors, artists and film directors, with famous guests including Josephine Baker, Albert Einstein, Coco Chanel, Graham Greene, Ernest Hemingway, Marlene Dietrich and Mata Hari.

Agatha Christie made the trains even more famous with her eponymous novel “Murder on the Orient Express”, while Albert Hitchcock’s “The Lady Vanishes” and James Bond’s “From Russia with Love” further immortalised the Orient Express name in the popular imagination.

Another hallmark of the Orient Express has always been the excellence of its staff and the prestige of the uniform. These signatures will also be present in all Orient Express Hotels, setting the highest standards in impeccable service for the industry.

Located less than an hour away from Singapore, this boutique beachfront estate nestled amidst luscious tropical gardens and the sparkling Indian Ocean, has an Indonesian-inspired spa, private croquet lawn, endless white beach, and several world-class dining options, making it one of the most convenient weekend escapes from the city.

From January 7 to 14, renowned Singapore-based pilates specialist Rosie Gregory, who has worked with leading studios across Australia, London and Asia, will create a mixture of pilates, sculpt method, full body sessions and stretching classes.

With morning sessions focusing on high-intensity interval training full-body workouts and afternoons dedicated to stretching and breathing, all classes will be complimentary for in-house residents to empower and uplift mind, body and spirit.

To complement Gregory’s classes, The Sanchaya also offers an enhanced wellness menu throughout the residency, with highlights including Magic Matcha Tonic. This boosts health and wellbeing and has incredible effects on the mind and body, with benefits including improved metabolism, regulated blood sugar levels, reduced stress and blood pressure, improved memory and learning.

The newly renovated spa has the addition of two new treatment rooms. The first is a Beauty Room boasting two state of the art mani/pedi stations, with natural manicure and pedicure treatments and CND shellac paint options.

The second is a Relaxation Room kitted out with comfortable seating and lounging areas where guests will be able to relax before and after their treatments with a detoxifying tea or rejuvenating fresh juice. Guests can enjoy the new treatments that complement the existing fresh menu of organic scrubs, incorporating products unique to the Indonesian archipelago.

The Sanchaya’s next health and wellness residency is set for March, when celebrity trainer Artur Zolkiewicz will return to the estate.

Find out more at http://www.TheSanchaya.com.

The popular 181-key resort on the southern tip of Mauritius has opened the Onyx nightclub for groups staying at the resort, especially those who use the purpose-built Crystal marquee for events. Guests can now continue the party after hours at the Onyx, which has space for 200 guests, dance floor, DJ console, bar sitting area and an area for catering.

The resort has also unveiled The Garden Pool adults-only bar in the resort’s quiet pool zone. The intimate outdoor bar with ocean view is open all day. It is a popular venue for both pre-dinner sundowners and after-meal drinks.

Teenagers now have their own all-day Teens Club with music, Wi-Fi, pool and soccer tables, air hockey and lounge chairs for chilling out.

“We listened carefully to guest feedback and added many new aspects to the resort,” said Cyrille Carmona, the general manager. “Whatever your mood, age or preference, guests can engage, relax or get active in many rewarding ways all round the property.”

As part of the changes, Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort has also launched two cooking classes: modern Mauritian Creole and Indian, led by chefs Jerome and Sadien. Guests choose local ingredients, some from the chef’s garden at the resort. Moving to the kitchen, they then learn modern cooking techniques under supervision from the five-star chefs.

There is an emphasis on local Mauritian cooking traditions that combine native Creole with Indian, Arabic, French, British and African inspirations. Guests dine on what they’ve cooked, with chefs making sure they won’t be disappointed.

At the end of the lesson, each guest receives a recipe booklet. Classes are designed for between 2 and 10. Each cooking class includes cocktail making to accompany the food.

For further information and booking, visit outrigger.com, contact your travel agent, email resa.mauritius@outrigger-mu.com or call (+230) 623 5000.

STARING OUT of the window of the Land Rover Defender taking me from the Loisaba airstrip to the five-star Loisaba Tented Camp, I feel like I’m right in the middle of an Indiana Jones adventure. The bushland here in North Kenya’s Laikipia County stretches out seemingly forever and I am enchanted to spot a group of dik-dik (small antelope) grazing peacefully not far from the narrow track.

Courtesy/ Loisaba Tented Camp

Open for two years, the Elewana Collection pitched camp on an escarpment of Northern Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau is the ultimate escape from city life for anyone wanting to see African wildlife up close but without foregoing the luxury of home.

Part of the Loisaba Conservancy, the camp is secluded from the outside world and focuses on sustainable living by using a state-of-the-art solar power system backed up by an electric generator to reduce carbon footprint and ensure there’s enough power to keep guests happy.

Surrounded by electric fences to ensure guest safety, every corner is designed as a vantage point from which to enjoy breathtaking views of the lush landscape that stretches all the way to Mount Kenya.

I drop my luggage at the reception and follow a staff member to an open-air dining area with a large deck that serves as the outdoor lobby where guests can relax and watch the sunrise and sunset. Nearby is an open lounge and bar, where I’m greeted with a refreshing herbal drink while other guests have fun splashing in the infinity swimming pool, the bottom of which is covered with black tiles to absorb the sunlight and keep the water warm.

With year-round cool breezes – the temperature drops to 13 degrees Celsius at night – the camp offers 12 elegantly decorated tent suites without air conditioning but with a shower and water heater. Perfect for both those travelling alone and with families, the options include six en-suite tents, Family Combinations and Three Family Combinations.

“We use 100-per-cent solar power here and we also have an electric generator so guests have hot water and lighting all day. Guests are provided with a strong flashlight for the night and the path is dimly lit too,” says Patrich Dessy, general manager.

“We also provide complimentary Wi-Fi both in the rooms and main area so you can stay connected.”

Each custom-built tent occupies 49 square metres with floor-to-ceiling doors and windows that create airflow. Popular with big groups, the Three Family Combination suite features a double tent and convertible twin/double tents connected by a walkway.

It also includes exclusive privileges like a personal butler, private swimming pool, separate kitchen with a chef, a mobile bar and a separate entrance, where a guide will drop guests in front of their tent when returning from a game drive.

I spend two nights in a tent number 12, which has a towering wood door that allows entry without a key – you just push it with all your strength. Decorated in chic African-modern style with a European twist, it has a high ceiling, polished wood floor and leather-like carpets.

The furniture and partition are made of solid wood, while the closet contains plenty of hangers, slippers, a safety box, and additional pillows and blankets. Purified drinking water is available in the room though there’s no mini bar.

My tent has a working desk and twin beds with a functional headboard equipped with several USB hubs and square three-pin plugs of the type used in the UK, which is handy if you want to recharge the batteries of a smartphone, camera and mobile power pack at the same time.

There’s a separate toilet and double washbasin counter with two mirrors complete with lights, a hairdryer and all the amenities you could possibly need. The en-suite shower is luxurious and comes complete with a compact seating area and a water heater that allows you to choose between rain fall and rain shower.

There’s no phone but I’m woken by a staff member bearing a choice of coffee and tea plus cookies, which I enjoy the comfort of a lounge chair on my private deck, disturbed only by a domesticated kudu, which comes to graze a few metres away and doesn’t move away even when I start taking photos of her.

Soon after I head out on the Samuru villagers’ camel riding tour to watch dik-dik, elephants and giraffes. We reach an open area after about 30 minutes and settle down to enjoy a western-style breakfast of eggs, cereal and more right in a bush.

The camp offers a range of outdoor activity programmes like a cultural tour to Samuru villages, safari game drives, fishing, horseback riding, a visit to the sniffer dogs who perform an anti-poaching demonstration, bush walks, lion tracking and mountain biking.

AT A GLANCE

High point: The location is private and surrounded by unspoilt nature. A hot water bottle is placed in the bed every night to ensure guests don’t feel chilly.

Low point: Laundry service is available but relies on the weather so clothes don’t always get dry on time.

Pay for it: Check out the website for the best rates.

Find it: Loisaba National Park, Laikipia region, Kenya.

Call it: (+ 254 71) 347 4171, |(+254 73) 170 0084

Browse it: http://www.ElewanaCollection.com.

Owned by Kasetsinn and located in Phratamnak, Pattaya on an eight-rai plot of land, the property will feature 78 rooms and suites.

The facilities include a spa and fitness centre, recreation room and kids club, an outdoor swimming pool, wellness space, beach house, restaurant and bar, and meeting facilities. The resort adopts modern colonial design giving a classic vintage feels with a touch of modernism and is situated just a few minutes walk to the beach, and surrounded by attractions like Royal Varuna Yacht Club and Pattaya Hill Top.

“Our team has been working closely with all parties during the pre-opening including the design, concept, construction and feasibility. The property is located in a beautiful part of Pattaya, facing the Thai Gulf and this is a popular spot among both Thai and foreign vacationers as it gives a serene, peaceful and family friendly vibe. As Thailand is moving forward with developing infrastructure in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), we foresee that tourism and MICE will be on the rise in this region. We have meeting facilities for small and mid-sized events. We will offer wellness facilities such as a fully equipped fitness centre, yoga space, a very large free form swimming pool, petanque lawn and a jogging track for the health-loving travellers. We also have a family room for parents with young children,” said Danai Wansom, president & CEO of Well Hotels & Resorts.

Phratamnak Well Resort Pattaya is the fourth property in the portfolio under the management of Well Hotels & Resorts, which debuted with a first property – Well Hotel Bangkok – on Sukhumvit Soi 20 in 2016. It later took over the management of Costa Well Resort Pattaya in Bang Saray and White Sand Beach Residences Pattaya in Na Jomtien.

“Before making the decision, we had actually met with many management companies. The team of Well Hotels & Resorts has a positive attitude management style, regional marketing expertise, unique understanding of Thai culture, and is very cooperative,” added Pongstorn Sangruchi, chairman of Kasetsinn Group.