TRAVELTITBITS
Royal museum
The government willbuild a museum dedicated to the royal cremation ofHis Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Klong 5in Pathum Thani’s Klong Luang district.
The museum will be run by the FineArts Department. The investment is estimated at 864 million baht.
According to the department director-general Prateep Phengtako, the museum will be located on a 200 rai plot of land, which also houses the Supreme Artist Hall, the King RamaIXArchive, and the national museum warehouse of the department.
The plan to build the museumwas postponed from last year but theblueprint has nowbeen completed. The structure will be atwo-storey building and will looklike the royal crematorium known as Songtham Pavilion.
It will have a 7,200m² spaceand will consist of five major zones toexhibit every angle of the royal cremation. It includes the Hindu-Buddhist ideology, which tells a story about the divine kingship, the process of the construction of the royal crematorium, andthe royal funeralchariots used in the cremation ceremony.
Models of the royalcrematoriums fromthe Ayutthaya to the Rattanakosin period will also be displayed. There will also be the royal urn, which is known as phra kot chan, and the royal coffin or phra heep chan,and 132 sculptures usedtodecorate the royal crematorium such as Shiva, Indra, Brahman, Narayana and mythical creatureslike garuda, naga and sangha.
Construction will takeabout two years and the museum is expected to open in 2022.
Insurance branch
Europ Assistance has opened an officeinBangkok. Founded in 1963, the company is thetravel insurer of the Generali Group, one of the world’s leading insurers, headquarteredin Italy.
Europ Assistanceprovides roadside assistance, travel assistance, insurance, and personal-assistance services such ashome assistance, theprotection of digital identity,senior care, concierge services and health coverage.
It plans to offer afull suite of services by working with local airlines, travel agents, insurance providers and banks.
Visit europ-assistance.com.
AIRLINES UPDATE
Bangkok Airways has joined hands withits sister company BangkokTravel Clubtolaunch travel packages in Thailand andabroad.
The programmeincludes “The Miracle Indochina” tour programme for 11 destinations such as Mandalay and Sukhothai. The tour prices start at 28,900 baht per personfor overseas destinations and 20,000 baht fordomestic destinations.
Another programme is “Fly Boutique– Stay Unique In The Kingdom”. It offers a round-trip air ticket, two nights’ accommodation and airport transfers.
Visit bangkoktravelclub.co.th.
HOTELS DEALS & UPDATE
The Sukosol Hotel has launched a Chinese New Year Package.
Available until theend of February, thepromotion is offered to guestswho book at least two nights. They will receivea daily buffet breakfast, complimentary Chinese set-menu dinner for two at Lin-Fa Chinese Restaurant, a snack set at Pool Side or Sapphire Bar, coffee/drinks at ChaoCafe,
30% discount on anyspa treatments, and late check-out at 3pm.
Visit thesukosol.com/offers.
Cape & Kantary Hotels has introduced “Weekend Special” promotions for all of its hotels until Dec 20. Rates start from 1,600 baht net perroom per night and will be applicable fromFridays until Sundays.
Visit capekantaryhotels.com/weekend.
InterContinental Hua Hin Resorthas launched “Stay 3 Pay 2” promotion.
It is available forguests who book for luxurious Club InterContinental suites or villas. Package includes breakfast fortwo, unlimitedaccess to Vana Nava Waterparkand True Arena Hua Hin,a sports complex.
The package is valid only for direct booking and subject to availability.
Visit huahin.intercontinental.com.
Accor has announced the global elimination of single-use plasticsby2022.
At present, about 94% of Accor’s hotels have eliminated the use of straws, cotton buds and coffee stirrers. The remaining 6% (mostly in China) will do it by the end of March2020.
In addition, the groupwill removeplastic toiletry amenities andcups by the end of 2020. They also plan to stop the availability of singleuse plastic items in guestrooms, likeplastic bags for laundry or extra pillows and plastic waterbottles provided in meeting areas, restaurantsand all leisure-activitiesareaslike spas and fitness centres, by the end of 2022.
Accor owns 39 brands including BanyanTree, Novotel and Ibis. It operates 4,900 hotels in
110 countries.
Visit all.accor.com.