Bangkok's towering hotel is out of this world

Rising like some majestic, mythological spire from a Tolkein tale, the 88-storey Baiyoke Tower lords it over the more modest constructions in the Pratunam area of downtown Bangkok. Guest blogger Roderick Eime let his imagination run wild.

When opened amid much fanfare in 1997 after a gruelling seven-year construction, Baiyoke Tower II stood more than 300 metres above ground level, making it the tallest building in all of Thailand. 

As part of the megalithic construction, a luxury hotel occupies floors 22 to 74 and comprises 673 rooms with views from the rooms leaving nothing to the imagination. Dubbed the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, its name is no exaggeration.

Panorama Suite (not Coruscant) - supplied

We stayed in one of the eight massive (85m2) Panorama Suites situated on the 54th and 55th floors. To continue the fairy tale fantasy, I couldn’t help thinking this huge enclosed balcony in many ways resembled the Jedi Council Chamber at the summit of the High Council Tower of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, such was the stratospheric view over the planet far below.

One of the highlights (pun intended) of any stay at the Baiyoke Sky Hotel is breakfast. Whether you choose to dine in-room and gaze out over the cityscape in your bathrobe or venture up to the 81st floor and into one of the exclusive open-air ‘Sky Boxes’, it’s a culinary experience to remember.

Rooftop Bar on the 83rd floor - supplied

The Rooftop Bar on the 83rd floor is a hard act to follow too. Any Martini consumed at 300m is bound to leave an impression.

Daytrippers are welcome, too, with the observation deck and revolving floor allowing views as far as Suvarnabhumi Airport, 25km distant. Until 10pm, 400THB will get you a drink and selfie worth Facegloating about.

View from the top (RE)

A top-to-bottom review of the hotel wouldn’t be fair under immediate post-Covid conditions, as the covers have only just come off after many weeks in the hospitality doldrums.

Some venues within the hotel like the Crystal Grill and Stella Palace are yet to reopen, but suffice to say that the Baiyoke Sky Hotel is quickly gaining momentum and occupancy is rising quickly as Thailand relaxes its entry requirements. 

The Baiyoke Sky Hotel is the flagship property of the Baiyoke Group of Hotels which operates 10 properties throughout Thailand.

Location: 222 Soi Ratchaprarop 3, Ratchaprarop Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400 Thailand

Nearest Transport: Ratchaprarop station on the airport line.

Tel: +66 (0) 2656 3000, +66 (0) 2656 3456, Fax: +66 (0) 2656 3555, +66 (0) 2656 3666, Email: baiyokesky@baiyoke.co.th

The writer stayed as a guest of Baiyoke Group of Hotels and Tourism Thailand Experts

Crying in the Chapels: Elvis-themed weddings to be banned

Is it Heartbreak Hotel time?

Elvis Presley-themed wedding chapels in Las Vegas face closure with The King’s licensing company Authentic Brands Group having sent cease-and-desist notices to several operators.

The Las Vegas’ wedding industry is worth about $US2 billion a year and Elvis-themed nuptials have played a major role.

The court orders demand chapels stop using Elvis look-a-likes in ceremonies and seeks to halt unauthorized use of Elvis’ name, likeness, voice image and persona for commercial purposes.

Some wedding chapels have said they could go out of business, Travel Mole reports.

"We are a family-run business, and now we're hanging with the big dogs," said Kayla Collins, who operates two Elvis-themed chapels with her husband.

"That's our bread and butter. I don't get it. We were just hitting our stride again through Covid, then this happens."

Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya, who led a marketing campaign promoting Las Vegas as a wedding destination, said the order for chapels to stop using Elvis couldn't have come at a worse time for the sector.

The licensing company also oversees the estates of star names like Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali.

Travellers subjected to too much hotel jargon

Do you ever feel that you are the target of an endless torrent of marketing gibberish from hotels?

Travellers are forced to digest an increasing amount of jargon dribble - I get dozens of press releases from hotels each week and you can be sure that every one of the them - without fail - will include a number of key words.

Among them are "luxury", "eco-friendly", "design" and "sustainable". Quite often "holistic" gets a go, along with "curated", "dynamic" and "sanctuary".

1 Hotels, which describes itself as "the luxury lifestyle hotel brand inspired by nature" has just launched a new hotel on the San Francisco waterfront. The Embarcadero is not known for its nature, but that doesn't halt the spin.

The hospitality brand's second California property is San Francisco's "newest, most thoughtfully designed eco-friendly urban refuge. Integrating the best of sustainable design and architecture."

That's quite a few cliches in just one sentence.

Apparently, the property's 186 guest rooms and 14 suites capture "panoramic views of the Bay Area's rolling hills, sweeping fog, inspiring architecture, and stunning natural beauty.:

"1 Hotel San Francisco is an inspiring example of what our brand stands for," said 1 Hotels Founder and CEO & Chairman of Starwood Capital Group Barry Sternlicht.

"It is a tangible extension of our vision and purpose: to place holistic wellness at the forefront of our operations for our guests, local communities, and the planet.

"This vibrant and eclectic city has long been at the forefront of driving sustainable change in architecture and design. Inspired by that rich history, our goal is to infuse an urban oasis with the natural beauty of the Northern California landscape and the sensibility of this dynamic community."

Stop for a breath Barry.

So who are 1 Hotels?

In their own words: "As a luxury lifestyle hotel brand inspired by nature, 1 Hotels cultivates the best of sustainable design and architecture, together with extraordinary comfort and an unrivalled level of service." 

They provided the image above, which, to be frank, looks like generic hotel lobby 1-0-1. But I'm sure it's a very nice property. 

Buy a pineapple: save $100 on a holiday

There are plenty of weird and wonderful travel promotions, but a new one from Sunshine Coast Tourism is particularly fruity. 

For less than the price of a cup of coffee, potential holidaymakers can earn $100 towards their next Sunshine Coast holiday - by buying a pineapple.

Visit Sunshine Coast has partnered with one of Australia's largest pineapple producers - Sunshine Coast-based Pure Gold Pineapples - to roll out a "juicy" winter promotion from June 1-24.

Anyone who buys a Pure Gold Pineapple - which are available from Woolworths and Coles - and enters a competition during that time period can claim $100 dollars to put towards their next Sunshine Coast escape booked through My Queensland.

From there entrants will also go in the running to win a $10,000 My Queensland Sunshine Coast holiday.

Of course, that means they have all your contact details.

Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel said the campaign was a nice way to make chilly winter months a little bit sweeter, while celebrating a Sunshine Coast icon.

“Since the Big Pineapple first opened in 1971 pineapples have been a symbol of the Sunshine Coast,” he said.

“For many eating a pineapple conjures up images of warm beach days and tropical escapes, and that's what we're all about here – even in winter.

“The winter months are the perfect time to plan a Sunshine Coast holiday, from swimming with whales to a calendar of epic events, it's a great time to visit the Coast."

The Sunshine Coast is Australia's largest pineapple growing region, and Pure Gold Pineapples supply 40% of the tropical fruit available for purchase in Australia.

The winner of the $10,000 My Queensland Sunshine Coast escape will be drawn on June 27 - which is International Pineapple Day (how hilarious).

To find out more go to visitsunshinecoast.com/win-10k-sunshine-coast-holiday.

New festival replaces canned Truffle Kerfuffle

Calling all gourmets in Western Australia.

Truffle Kerfuffle may have been kicked into touch for 2022, but it has been replaced by the new Manjimup Truffle and Wine Festival, to be held from June 24-26.

The new event will showcase local producers and makers with truffle tours, gourmet degustation dinners, dog-led truffle hunts, farm visits, wine tastings, entertainment and wine masterclasses.

Events will be held across the Manjimup and Pemberton regions at venues including Truffle Hill Wines, Hidden River Estate, Ampersand Estates, Tall Timbers Manjimup, Pemberley of Pemberton, Stonebarn Estate and more.

Chefs on hand will include TV personalities Alistair McLeod and Laura Sharrad.

The event is supported by the Manjimup and Pemberton Chambers of Commerce, Southern Forest Food Council, Shire of Manjimup and Tourism WA.

It comes after the annual Truffle Kerfuffle, which has been held since 2011, was cancelled this year with organisers saying in April: "Lasting impacts of the pandemic have undermined the 2022 festival’s ticket sales and the availability of a skilled regional workforce that is necessary to put on the event. To maintain the high standard Truffle Kerfuffle is known for, the board has decided to cancel the 2022 event and to focus efforts on delivering the festival in 2023 and 2024."

But some locals refused to give up.

“We wanted to be sure the annual truffle season was marked in some way, given the Shire of Manjimup is the largest producer of black truffles in the southern hemisphere, so we will be opening our farm and truffle restaurant for the whole weekend to celebrate,” Truffle Hill wine director Stuart Hutchinson said.

“There are more than 60 local truffières and they provide 95% of Australia’s production, so it’s important we continue to highlight what’s on offer.

“Demand for high-quality, high-value food and beverage products is increasing, with many consumers now seeking out specialised products and experiences – and the Shire of Manjimup has those in spades.”

Manjimup Gateway Hotel is hosting several truffle-related events with some already sold out.

For more information and details of confirmed events, visit www.manjimuptruffleandwinefestival.com.au

Why the world is going bananas for tropical fruits

Forget apples, oranges and bananas. Today's health-conscious fruit eater is looking for jackfruits, durians and mangosteens.

Also forget orange juice - making way for natural coconut water.

Health benefits and innovative promotions are seeing tropical fruits from nations such as Thailand gain growing followings around the globe.

Thailand's total fruit exports increased 48% in value in 2021 to some $US6.2 billion, Global Trade Atlas data shows.

Global consumption of fruits and fruit juices has risen in recent years due to push for a healthier diet, a trend that accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation declared 2021 the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, calling them "dietary essentials".

Thailand's fruit output includes the durian, known around Asia for its strong smell, the mangosteen, mangoes, papayas, longans and tamarinds - all of which are finding new  popularity in Japan.

"Our policy has been to inform Japanese consumers about the variety of fruits Thailand offers," said Pimjai Matsumoto, Managing Director of P.K. Siam Co., Ltd., one of the leading Thai fruit importers in Japan.

"We started years ago with one type of mangoes, and over the years we added more mangoes, and now other Thai fruits, such as our coconuts, durian, mangosteen, pomelo, and tamarind. Tamarind is doing very well this year and its now available in many department stores."

While fresh fruits represent the largest share of Thailand's fruit exports, with Asia as the main market, the country also exports worldwide canned fruits, frozen fruits, ice creams, dried fruits, and drinks, such as pineapple, mango, guava, and orange juice, as well as coconut water.

Thailand was the eighth-largest global exporter of fruit juice in 2021, with exports worth $US630 million, up 13% from the previous year.

The market in the United States and European countries has seen higher demand for organic fruit juices, and a rising popularity for other healthy features, such as low sugar and low calories.