First opened in 1932 and widely celebrated as La Grande Dame de Angkor, the hotel has been welcoming discerning travellers and famous faces – from Charlie Chaplin to Jackie Kennedy and Michelle Obama – to the historic heart of Cambodia for over 80 years.

Beyond the refreshed façade that retains the colonial style synonymous with the heritage and history of the Raffles brand, all 119 rooms and suites have received a meticulous facelift, according to a Tuesday release.

Warm, hardwood floors, lighter and brighter interiors, Segafredo coffee machines, USB charging stations and Simmons pillow-top mattresses are new features added to complement traditional ceiling fans and brass rotary telephones.

All bathrooms have been extensively renovated and upgraded with new Italian tiling and rain showers, some of which feature grand claw-foot tubs and views over Cambodia’s most iconic swimming pool.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor retains its old-world French colonial charm while introducing what it sees as new levels of unrivalled luxury and comfort. The original teak and wrought iron cage elevator is carefully preserved as part of the original architecture to ferry guests up and down the heritage building.

“Raffles Hotels & Resorts boasts an illustrious history and we are delighted to welcome travellers to the new-look Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, which has been reimagined and refined for the well-travelled guest seeking a memorable experience, evocative of the golden age of travel,” said Patrick Basset, the chief operating officer of Accor for Upper Southeast & Northeast Asia and the Maldives.

Deemed the last bastion of Cambodia’s Golden Age of Travel, the hotel is deeply rooted in local culture; the restoration has retained its colonial charm, heritage, and architectural grandeur, yet still leads the way in answering the needs of today’s most discerning guest, according to the release.

Another significant new addition to the hotel is the Sugar Palm Club, designed to nurture the spirit of adventure in children.

From historical tours of the hotel to special teepee tents for the rooms, the kids’ club provides a number of activities for children that open up their world and sense of wonder.

An additional feature situated within 15 acres (6 hectares) of lush French gardens where the hotel is located will be the addition of the Raffles Marquee early next year, a fully air-conditioned marquee to provide a spacious venue for events and functions.

With executive chef Angela Brown at its helm, the hotel will offer exclusive new dining concepts.

Named after the year that Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor first opened, 1932 is the hotel’s new signature restaurant, serving-up Chef Brown’s take on Cambodian cuisine with an innovative interplay of traditional ingredients and progressive cooking methods.

A quintessential Raffles experience is presented in the all-new and vibrant 1932, which is currently the only destination in Cambodia offering authentic Royal Khmer cuisine originated from ancient Khmer recipes gifted to Raffles by Royal Decree.

Gourmands can savour signature dishes, such as the Chateaubriand pairing Lok Lak spiced Wagyu beef strip loin with grape puree, pickled water lily and Lok Lak essence, and the Crisp Kroeung marinated quail perfected with sweet potato fondant, long bean salad and authentic Khmer curry sauce, as well as a variety of seasonal specials featuring fresh local ingredients.

Guests may choose to complete their experience with Sipsmith’s Raffles 1915 Gin in the swish Elephant Bar or enjoy traditional afternoon tea in the colonial-style Conservatory.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor is situated a mere 20-minute drive to the doorway of the Unesco Heritage temples of Angkor.

To allow guests to explore more of the fascinating destination, the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor offers an enticing series of Raffles curated journeys and resort programmes designed to infuse local experiences with worldly elegance.

Guests can explore the ancient Angkor Archaeological Park on an iconic Vespa, before being one of the first travellers of the day to enter the temple.

Art enthusiasts can embark on a local tuk-tuk tour of Cambodia’s most iconic artworks, or journey the Silk Road of Angkor, visiting the beautiful Banteay Srei Temple and Golden Silk Farm.

Food aficionados can taste Siem Reap on an exclusive Khmer culinary discovery, while shopaholics saunter Siem Reap’s Kandal Village neighbourhood with the assistance of a Raffles butler, and culture lovers can enjoy a majestic performance of Cambodian dances in the Apsara Terrace.

Within the resort grounds, guests can take part in on-site activities including monk blessings, Singapore Sling master classes, botanical and culinary garden tours, and a tour with the hotel’s resident historian.

“We are honoured to be custodians of the hotel’s 87-year legacy, and to safeguard its heritage while upgrading it for the modern era,” said Oliver Dudler, the general manager of Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. “On behalf of our team, we look forward to welcoming guests back to our iconic hotel to experience the restored grandeur and curated journeys of Cambodia’s most storied hotel.”

Raffles is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in 4,900 hotels and residences across 110 countries.

The survey also reveals travel trends based on gender and age for countries in Asia Pacific, the Middle East as well as the UK and US ahead of World Tourism Day on September 27.

According to the survey, almost seven out of 10 or 68 per cent of people in the areas surveyed have visited up to 10 countries, with travellers from the United Arab Emirates averaging at 92 per cent and Saudi Arabia 82 per cent, followed by Thailand (76%), Malaysia (75%) and Japan (71%).

The UK has the largest proportion of travellers who have visited more than 31 destinations (5%), followed by Australia (4%), Thailand (3%) and the United States (2%).

In Agoda’s home market of Asia Pacific, Malaysians are most likely to have travelled to more than 10 countries (11%), followed by Thais (8%), Indonesians (2%), and Vietnamese (1%).

“Whether it’s looking to find yourself or just the need for a relaxing break in the sun after working hard throughout the year, it’s clear people everywhere – regardless of age or gender – love to travel,” said Timothy Hughes, vice president of corporate development at Agoda. “And with so many ways and reasons to travel, and bustling cities, breath-taking beaches or rich arts and cultural centres to explore, it’s no wonder that the number of people visiting up to 10 countries is so high.”

Never travelled abroad

Meanwhile, the survey also found that 18 per cent of people have never travelled to another country at all, with a surprising 13 per cent of over-55s never having left their contry.

Interestingly, among non-Asia Pacific markets (United Kingdom, United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia), Americans are the least travelled, with 29 per cent having never been overseas.

Gen Z and Millennials are the biggest groups where travel still hasn’t taken off

Globally, 27 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds have never travelled and youngsters in China, Vietnam and Indonesia most likely to never have travelled at 49, 45 and 37 per cent respectively. However, in the 25-34 age group, where the global average is 19 per cent for having never travelled, Vietnam is pushed out of the bottom three by the US.

By 45-54 years old, 86 per cent have travelled abroad, while 81 per cent of the 25-34 years age group has already travelled to other countries.

“While it seems Gen Z and Millennials are yet to have the opportunity to travel as extensively as other age groups, the gap between those who have never travelled internationally is shrinking fast. It will be exciting to see the potential cultural and socio-economic gains once those from China, Vietnam and Indonesia start travelling more,” Timothy added.

Gender no barrier for travel

Overall, 19 per cent of women have never travelled outside their home country versus 17 per cent of men. Only the United States, Vietnam and Indonesia showed significant differences in percentages of males and females traveling – 66 per cent of women versus 76 per cent of men in the US have travelled internationally at least once, and 67 per cent women compared to 74 per cent men in Vietnam. Indonesia, however, bucks the trend with 72 per cent of women having travelled internationally before, compared to only 65 per cent of men.

In celebration of the motion picture “Downton Abbey”, the booking for the listing will open on October 1, 2019 at 12pm BST (6pm Thailand time).

Guests will be treated like royalty during their stay, with the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon inviting the guests to join them for an exclusive evening of cocktails in the Saloon followed by a traditional dinner in the State Dining Room, being waited on by Highclere Castle’s own butler. After dinner, coffee will be served in the Library before the guests retire to one of the principal bedrooms with an en-suite bathroom and views over 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of rolling parkland.

Before departing the next day, guests will enjoy a delicious breakfast prior to a private tour of Highclere Castle’s extensive grounds. The castle itself covers 100,000 square feet (9290 square metres) and has a total of 300 rooms. Throughout the property, the rooms are opulently decorated and furnished, with each detail providing a unique insight into Highclere Castle’s history. Fans will get the opportunity to explore iconic rooms, such as the Drawing Room, or relax in one of the Gallery bedrooms, following in the footsteps of kings and queens.

Host Lady Carnarvon said to Airbnb: “It’s an absolute privilege and pleasure to call Highclere Castle my home and I am delighted to be able to share it on Airbnb for a truly unique stay. Highclere Castle has been in the Carnarvon family since 1679 and has an incredibly rich history. I am passionate about the stories and heritage of Highclere Castle, and I am looking forward to welcoming our future guests.”

Hadi Moussa, the Airbnb general manager for northern Europe said, “We are thrilled to be able to offer fans the ultimate Downton Abbey experience through this once-in-a-lifetime-stay at Highclere Castle. At Airbnb we are passionate about offering unique and unforgettable travel experiences to our community, and we are certain that guests will have a magical experience while staying on the iconic location of Downton Abbey.”

House rules prohibit pets, but nine friendly dogs are on site. As well, there is no smoking, all newspapers must be ironed, there is strictly one butler per person, cocktail dress is de rigueur for dinner, gossip is restricted only to downstairs quarters and the listing is for midweek only because after all – What is a weekend?

To celebrate this special offering, Airbnb will be making a donation to The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Highclere Castle – the home of Downton Abbey – can be viewed on Airbnb at airbnb.com/downtonabbey.

Highclere Castle is only available for a one-night stay for up to two guests on November 26, 2019 costing £150 inclusive. Reservation opportunities will go live on October 1, 2019 at 12pm BST (6pm Thailand Time)

This is the second year that LTI, a provider of digital reports for travel trends, has compiled a list in this category. The company took 12 months to apply its assessment process to measure the performance and values of luxury hotel brands all over the world.

Part of this process includes 123 touch points that are relevant to the luxury hotel sector, and each touch point has its own weighted score value. These points also relate to overall brand performance, and not just the performance of individual properties.

As many as 12 brands are included in the list, including Anantara and One&Only. These two brands, which have just entered the Malaysian market, are set to launch its lush properties at Johor’s new upmarket resort destination – Desaru Coast – soon (Anantara has announced that it will officially open on Dec 1).

Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, St Regis and Rosewood are the other brands on the list with properties in Malaysia.

Some of the brands that did not quite make it to the list but are also highly rated include Alila, Banyan Tree, Fairmont, Jumeirah, Ritz Carlton, Shangri-La and The Luxury Collection.

Almost all of these brands have at least one property in Malaysia, with the Jumeirah development set to open in 2021.

Here are the top 12 luxury hotel brands this year:

1. Belmond

2. Mandarin Oriental

3. Four Seasons

4. Aman

5. Oetker Collection

6. Auberge

7. Rosewood

8. Six Senses

9. St Regis

10. COMO

11. One&Only

12. Anantara

Bangkok retains its position as the top Thai destination for the third consecutive year, with Phuket and Chiang Mai vying for second and third spot.

Chinese love Thailand’s coastal beauty, with cities and islands in the South accounting for seven out of 10 of their most popular Thai destinations. After Phuket, the list includes Koh Samui (No 4), Pattaya (5), Krabi (6), Koh Lanta (7), Hua Hin and Cha-am (8) and Koh Lipe (9).

One of the main factors that influences Chinese people to come to travel in Thailand is the relatively low cost. The Thai government has extended the period for free visas-on-arrival for Chinese until the end of April.

During National Day Golden Week, many Chinese people indulge themselves in various leisure activities, including travelling abroad.

After Japan and Thailand, they prefer Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines. Singapore leapt onto the top 10 list this year in seventh spot, while Malaysia has been holding onto its eighth position since 2017.

The Philippines surpasses South Korea, though Vietnam has continued to descend from fifth place in 2017 to 10th this year.