Discovery Shores Boracay is No. 1 Best Hotel Spa in Asia

Discovery Shores Boracay once again took the top spot as Number 1 Hotel Spa in Asia in Travel + Leisure’s (T+L) coveted 17th annual World’s Best Awards compendium of the best hotels, destinations, and travel companies in the world.

Travel + Leisure features director, Nilou Motamed, announced winners of the 2012 World’s Best Awards survey on the “Today” daily American morning television show that airs on NBC. The resort also ranked Number 5 on the list of Top 100 Hotels in the world and Number 2 among the Top Resorts in Asia.

Discovery Shores has been consistently in the T+L World’s Best Awards list of Top Resorts in Asia for three years now, each year ranking higher in the readers’ survey. “This is an affirmation of our unwavering commitment to giving our guests unmatched service standards complemented by our dedicated staff and our world-class facilities,“ said Jose C Parreño, J, chief operating officer of The Discovery Leisure Company Inc (TDLCI) and concurrent general manager of Discovery Shores Boracay.

For 17 years running, T+L readers have been asked to vote on the hotels, destinations and travel companies they love the most in the annual World’s Best Awards survey. This year’s results showcase the hotels and destinations that are important now. “Even after 17 years, the opportunity to see what travel experiences resonate with our readers still intrigues and delights me. While some passions change over time, the allure of the exotic and the new remains as strong as ever, as does the attraction to trips that provide distinctive and long-lasting memories,” Travel + Leisure editor-in-chief Nancy Novogrod said in a press statement.

Travel + Leisure’s website describes Discovery Shores: “Barefoot elegance is the prevailing vibe on this tiny island, where the 2 1/2-mile stretch known as White Beach is often singled out for having the softest sand in the world. The 88 spacious suites feature large glass walls that look towards a scenic rock garden, but chances are you’ll spend more time by the water. Take a dip in the infinity pool, or Jet Ski on the crystalline sea. For people-watching, head to the Sandbar, where they stir up delicious mojitos, infused with local flavors like lychee and mango…Room to Book: Suites #318 and #330 have outdoor Jacuzzis, loft bedrooms, and views of the entire resort. Insider Tip: Chefs at Indigo restaurant can prepare a customized, multi-course degustation menu—just make sure you give them 24-hours’ notice.”

Boracay Island, the pristine white sandy beach where Discovery Shores is located, known as the beach capital of the Philippines has been named as this year’s World’s Best Island Overall with a score of 93.10, taking the top spot from Santorini, last year’s World’s Best Island Overall. In January of this year, Discovery Shores was ranked among the top-rated 500 hotels in the world. It was the highest-ranking hotel in the Philippines in the T+L 500 10th Anniversary Collection.

Each year, T+L asks readers to rate their favorite hotels, destinations, and travel companies around the globe., The Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards is a definitive guide to travel, listing the top travel experiences according to T+L readers. The results of the 17th annual Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards survey are listed on www.TravelandLeisure.com/worldsbest and will be featured in the magazine’s August digital editions and its August print issue that will hit US newsstands on July 20. The Twitter hashtag is #tlworldsbest. The Travel + Leisure 2012 World’s Best Spa results will be featured in the October issue of Travel + Leisure and available on www.TravelandLeisure.com in mid-September.

Novogrod and the magazine’s vice-president and publisher, Jean-Paul Kyrillos, will honor the 2012 World’s Best Awards winners at a ceremony on July 19 at the newly opened Conrad New York.

DIscovery Shores Boracay Website

Philippines’ Ariara Island is Top 1 in British Vogue’s 100 Best Holiday Destinations!

A July 16, 2012 press release from the Department of Tourism

Philippine tourism is poised to benefit from the worldwide recognition of Ariara Island in Calamian, Palawan for ranking first in the Top 100 holiday destinations, which will be released in Vogue-UK Magazine’s August 2012 issue.

This luxurious and spacious private getaway has attracted and welcomed a number of high-profile groups with its all-inclusive package of exclusivity, relaxation, 24-hour service, excellent cuisine, and a host of amenities both for the laidback and adventurous.  Ariara is the ultimate “off the beaten track” destination where the structures are contemporary in style and have been designed with sensitivity to the environment.

The resort website describes it to have eight spacious villas and beach cottages situated along Ariara’s 600-meter white sand beach with uninterrupted views of the sea and neighbouring islands. All bedrooms have private terraces and gardens, scattered with hanging chairs and hammocks. Many have vaulted ceilings, four poster style beds, walk-in wardrobes, enormous bathrooms, and open-air showers. Every item of furniture in Ariara has been designed, made, and upholstered in-house by local carpenters and craftsmen in the island’s own workshops or outsourced to Filipino artisans. Materials were sourced locally and all furnishings were created using traditional methods: marble bath hand carved from single blocks of Romblon marble, wooden bath made using traditional boat-building techniques, local wood and rattan, cushions made from tribal fabrics in Mindanao, and intricate wooden chests by indigenous Palawan woodcarvers. Ariara’s decorative flair is accentuated by striking wall hangings, heliographs and ceramics made by a talented Filipino artist Ugu Bigyan.

“What is remarkable is that the entire resort is a testament to the unique artistry and skills of Filipino designers and artisans. The use of local materials and traditional techniques serves as good advertising for Filipino craftsmanship and world-class products. Tourism is not just about counting tourist arrivals. More importantly, it is about building opportunities on the ground and improving lives, in communities in very real places,” beamed Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr.

“Furthermore, the resort’s properly planned development and low density shows the owners’ respect for the environment.  We want to see more of this type of investment which supports the principles of responsible, ethical, and sustainable tourism,” the Tourism Secretary added.

Prior to Vogue’s recognition, Ariara was likewise featured in various magazines in the United Kingdom. The annual travel issue of Times Magazine hailed it as the “Best Private Island Resort” and described as “a Philippine island of such prettiness that you almost expect Johnny Depp to pop out with a parrot on his shoulder” and “beyond a forest of coconut palms, ridiculously blue water stretches out to a techno-colored reef, where pink, fluffy, Barbra Cartland-esque corals and rainbow-hued creatures waft in the tropical current.”

In Independent‘s “Life’s a Tag: 2012′s Most Surprising Holiday Destinations”, Ariara was listed as one of the best islands to visit this year. Black Tomato, on the other hand, hailed the island resort as “the” place to visit in 2012 in the Evening Standard.  Other illustrious UK magazines which featured the private island destination are Angels and Urchins, Harrods Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, The Spectator, Wine and Dine, Urbanollogy,and Tatler.

Roxanne, a British guest, had this to say about her group’s experience: “We had to pinch ourselves to be sure that the unique mixture of stunning beauty, cosseting luxury, and peace from anyone’s agenda other than our own wrapped in the friendliest of support teams were all real. With all our varied needs, tastes, and energy levels, every member of the family felt it was the most exciting, stimulating, restful, cleansing, and privileged break they had ever experienced.”

UK remains to be a key generator of tourist arrivals to the Philippines. The UK market grew stronger in 2011 and registered 104,466 year-end tourist arrivals—a first in its history to yield over 100,000. January to May 2012 statistics also attest to the market’s continued growth as it yielded 50,327 tourist arrivals rising one notch higher from its previous 10^th place. The market’s performance is expected to be better with heightened awareness and current promotional efforts in UK via London taxicabs, double-decker buses, and posters in strategic places at the underground rail stations in time for the Queen’s Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics.

To learn more about Ariara, log on to www.ariaraisland.com.

VIDEO: Better & Longer “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” TV ad out on the Internet

There’s really no denying on the viral success of DOT’s newest tourism campaign, It’s More Fun in The Philippines which was launched earlier this year replacing the very controversial “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” slogan.

An international TVC was launched at the end of April this year on CNN for this said campaign but many felt it was too short and lacking.

Now a better and longer video has been put up on Facebook and YouTube and has been getting great feedback from the public. Still there are no words from DOT if this particular video is an official ad from them. Nevertheless, this is much better and should replace the shorter international ad that was launched earlier.

VIDEO: DOT Launches #itsMoreFunInThePhilippines International TVC on CNN!

The Department of Tourism has just launched a short TVC for the International viewers on CNN earlier today. The short video was a collection of It’s more Fun in the Philippines memes that the FIlipinos have come up with. The Music was by Duck Sauce's 'Barbra Streissand' and it was rapped by one very proud pinoy, International singer apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas.

Watch the video below.

Sec. Jimenez: Bagong tourism slogan, hindi ginaya

"No one can own the expression "it's more fun" but it's very true for the #Philippines so it becomes ours."

Ito ang binigyang diin ni Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez matapos lumabas sa mga social networking site ang advertisement ng Switzerland noong 1951 gamit din ang slogan na "it's more fun."

Sa kaniyang official twitter account na @MonJQuotes, sinabi nitong walang sinuman ang pwedeng magmay-ari ng nasabing expression.

Ang salita aniyang "fun" ay pagsasama ng lugar at ng tao. '"FUN" is a fusion of place and people. A place is not fun if there is no fun people in it," sabi pa sa tweet ni Jimenez.

Hindi aniya gawa-gawa lang ang slogan kundi ito ang katotohanan sa Pilipinas.

"The line isn't a manufactured slogan. It's simply the truth about our country. Don't be swayed by people who are trying to punch holes in it," ayon pa sa series ng tweet ng kalihim.

Sa katunayan, kung maghahanap pa aniya ng todo, may makikita ring ad na "It's more fun in Alcatraz!"

Source

New Philippine Tourism Campaign: Philippines is FUN!

They are finally out. These are the lines that will convince tourists that Philippine destinations are worth a visit.

On Friday, Jan. 6, 2012, the tourism department unveiled two logos that will accompany a country branding strategy markedly different from how it has been done in the past.

While these logos will still find their way in traditional media spots, they are also designed to be personalized by Filipinos who will then pass it on to their social media networks, in effect creating a stir online. 

The first logo is aimed at the international audience.

• MORE FUN. This is the tourism campaign line for international audience.
• Credit: Department of Tourism.

While it will still be featured on billboards, posters, signages in key target cities abroad, it is meant to be the second line in the campaign.

The first line -- an example of what makes the Philippines more fun -- will be up to the imagination and creativity of the individuals.

What is more fun can be a conjured image of, say, the Banawe Rice Terraces. An image of that makes climbing stairs here more fun than, say going up the escalator at a London subway.

The second logo is meant for local release.

• HASHTAG FUN. This is the tourism campaign line for domestic use.
• Credit: Department of Tourism.

This was purposely kept short so it could fit the side of jeepneys, splashed on T-shirts and other merchandise, and added to posts on social network. 

The two logos feature a pixelized version of a "banig" or a handwoven mat traditionally used for sleeping and sitting. Within the pixels is the Philippine map embedded in yellow. 

The "banig" shows off the artistry and the superb skills of the native weavers -- a hint that the creative process in this campaign harnesses the Filipino's innate skills.

Advertising firm BBDO Guerrero is in charge of shaping "all forms of communication for the country's domestic and international tourism promotions." They won the bid in December 2011, but the theme reveal was purposely delayed to January as the country dealt with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Sendong's wrath.

Social media

This new tourism campaign veers away from the usual adjective-based and one-word superlatives that most country slogans have.

It is not WOW Philippines, nor Incredible India, nor Malaysia, truly Asia, nor Amazing Thailand.

It plays around the word "fun," purposely coined to be easily remembered, not to be a toungue twister, and meant to fuel the rapid spread of the combined words "fun" and "Philippines" across the World Wide Web.

After all, both words already appear on microblogging site Twitter every six minutes.

This modern branding campaign will harness the power of social media, according to Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, a veteran advertising man. 

(Read more about the role of social media in the Philippines' tourism campaign here.)

This bold move allows people online to help define what is "fun" not only with the tourism spots, but also with the Filipinos who go out of their way to give visitors a good time.

Source

So how do you guys like the new Tourism Campaign?