EXO News | January 16

EXO ADVENTURE

EXO Welcomes New Director to Lead EXO Adventure

Matthew Blench has joined EXO Travel as our new Director of Adventure. Matt will be leading the future strategic direction and operational oversight of EXO Adventure.

Originally from Southampton, England, Matt fell in love with Southeast Asia as a backpacker in 1993. With an extensive history of working in the traveI industry in the UK, he finally moved to Thailand in 2005 to become a tour leader running trips throughout Indochina.

Matt has always had a love of adventurous travel. “From trekking up Mount Kinabalu or through the jungles of Sumatra, biking in Northern Laos or diving in the Andaman Sea, I’ve always loved to explore. Inspiring other people to do the same is why my passion for working in the adventure travel industry has never waned.”

We’re excited to have Matt on board and what he will bring to EXO Adventure throughout 2016 and beyond!

MYANMAR

Bagan Prepares for Ananda Festival

Ananda Festival, Bagan’s biggest celebrations, will kick off on the 24th January and run for two weeks. The festival takes place annually in January and is a spectacular event to witness. Local theatrical groups arrive by the dozen to entertain festival goers, and stores are set up selling everything from tasty local dishes to agricultural wares. At the break of dawn pilgrims line up to make donations to the local monks which is an equally worthy sight to experience, and it is a superb time to interact with the local communities.

To find out more or to discuss attending the festival, simply get in touch at [email protected]

Myanmar Launches Electric Train

January sees Myanmar Railways begin running the long-planned electric train which will operate along the Strand in Yangon. After facing a number of delays, the project was finally deemed ready to launch, despite some minor ongoing works on extensions of the lines. As of now the route runs up and down the Strand, but will soon be expanded to cover a larger area and will eventually connect with Yangon’s Circular Railway.

To find out more, get in touch at [email protected]

THAILAND

EXO Thailand Welcomes New Assistant General Manager

EXO Thailand has a new Assistant General Manager with the arrival of Jean-Baptiste Richard who is already hard at work.

Jean-Baptiste is no stranger to Thailand or EXO, having previously worked with EXO Thailand between 2005 and 2008 as Product Manager and North Thailand Operations Manager in Chiang Mai.

Jean-Baptiste is well travelled, having been to more than 60 countries including most of EXO’s destinations, and he considers Thailand his home and speaks the language fluently.

His very good knowledge of the language and Thailand overall will be a great asset in helping EXO Thailand continue to improve and reach all of our goals for 2016 and the years to come.

VIETNAM

EXO Vietnam awarded the prestigious CCIFV Grand Prize Business Award for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

We are incredibly proud to announce that EXO Vietnam is the winner of the CCIFV Grand Prize Business Award for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The team demonstrated immense efforts to achieve a more responsible approach towards EXO’s business model. This accomplishment is the perfect recognition of their achievements so far and a reminder that there is still much to do if we are to be a leader in our industry.

EXO Vietnam General Manager, Anton Jurgens was thrilled with the news and offered “special thanks to EXO Foundation, all the Sustainability Teams and especially Alex Michat who was instrumental in making this happen.”

The Vietnamese New Year Approaches – Tet 2016

This year, Tet falls on February 8th, with the holiday spanning the surrounding days from the 6th until the 14th of February. Welcoming in the ‘Year of the Monkey’, Tet observes the first day of the first month on the lunar calendar. The occasion is a period of paying respect and remembrance to ancestors, as well as welcoming in the New Year with members of the family. People will also try to rid themselves of any bad luck of the previous year by cleaning their houses, paying off debts and making amends with friends and colleagues for previous disagreements, so that they can begin their new year with a clean slate.

To learn more about travelling in Vietnam during Tet, simply get in touch at [email protected]

MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur’s Iconic Petronas Towers Partly Closing for Maintenance

Between the 1st March 2016 and the 2nd May 2016, the Petronas Towers’ Skybridge on floor 41 will be closed for maintenance and will not be open for public visits. Visits during this time will only include the Observation Deck on the 86th floor. Throughout this time, we shall be offering a 25% discount on all admission tickets. Please refer to the temporary pricing structure applicable during the period of closure.

Pricing structure during the Skybridge Closure Period – 1st March 2016 to 2nd May 2016

Ticket Type           Normal Price     Discounted Price
Adult                         RM84.80               RM63.60
Adult (MyKad)         RM26.50               RM19.90
Child                         RM31.80                RM23.90
Child (MyKid)          RM12.70                RM9.50

*Prices are inclusive of GST at 6%.

If you have any queries or to get more information, simply get in touch at [email protected]

LAOS

EXO Laos Welcomes New GM

EXO Laos has welcomed a new General Manager, Jason Rolan, following the departure of previous GM, Jason Blackwell.

Jason has more than 10 years’ experience in Asia’s tourism industry, including 5 years as Country Manager in Laos for Buffalo Tours, Country Manager for Trails of Indochina in Bangkok and more recently back in Laos working for Khiri Travel.

As well as his extensive experience in Laos’ tourism, Jason also speaks, reads and writes fluent Lao. We could not have found a better candidate to fill the position, and he will help take EXO Laos to the next level.

New Luxury Hotels Set to Open in Laos

The President by Akaryn

The President by Akaryn is set to redefine elegance in Vientiane. With thirty stately rooms including two presidential suites, the property is reminiscent of a bygone era. Rolls Royce shuttles, exquisite fine dining options, and a cigar lounge, humidor and whiskey cellar for its private members club. Located opposite Chao Anouvong Park, the hotel is due to open in March 2016

Crowne Plaza, Vientiane

Providing 198 rooms in the centre of Vientiane (on the way to Wattay Airport), the Crowne Plaza is soon to be the laid-back Laos capital’s latest 5-star addition. Set to open in June-July 2016 the property will boast a state-of-the-art gym, outdoor infinity pool, and on-site spa. All-day dining will be available in the international restaurant, or delicacies may be enjoyed in the speciality restaurant. The Crowne Plaza Vientiane will also offer plentiful meeting space, making it ideal for both leisure and business guests alike.

JAPAN

EXO Recommends – Tokyo Palace Hotel

The Tokyo Palace Hotel is a luxurious 5-star hotel situated in the heart of Tokyo, right beside the Imperial Palace. The property offers spacious rooms, half of them with balconies, and exudes a level of sophistication rivalled by only the very best hotels that Tokyo has to offer. The Tokyo Palace is the best option for couples, families, and single travellers. Guests may enjoy the resplendent pool and Spa facilities, or head to the restaurant overlooking the moat surrounding the palace for the perfect spot to enjoy a romantic evening or a quiet start to the day.

Discover the Tokyo Palace Hotel with EXO by simply getting in touch at [email protected]

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