Perched on a lush tropical hillside with sweeping views of the Andaman Sea, Banyan Tree Krabi has once again been recognized for its outstanding hospitality. During the MICHELIN Guide’s annual evaluation of Thai hotels, this acclaimed resort was awarded the prestigious Two Keys status, confirming its position as a premier luxury destination in Thailand. A Consistent Mark of Quality in Thai Hospitality In 2024, Banyan Tree Krabi joins an exclusive group of 62 Thai hotels to receive MICHELIN Keys, with only six earning the top Three Keys. The resort’s repeat recognition for Two Keys reflects its commitment to excellence across architecture, service, character, value, and community contribution. The MICHELIN Guide’s criteria emphasize design quality, personalized service, and meaningful engagement with the local community, all of which Banyan Tree Krabi exemplifies. This accolade follows other recent awards, including the Thailand Tourism Outstanding Award and a Thailand Tourism Sustainability Award for health and wellness. The resort’s signature spa, The Rainforest, has also garnered praise, described by the MICHELIN Guide as “where tropical serenity meets holistic wellness,” highlighting the resort’s dedication to holistic health experiences. Achievements in Food & Beverage The resort’s renowned restaurant, Saffron, recently underwent an elegant refurbishment aimed at elevating guest dining experiences. The new decor features fine china porcelain and gold-plated cutlery, complemented by innovative touches like the “Sorbet of the Day,” which enhances each course. The revamped menu showcases regional culinary mastery, including dishes like Laab Gai Thod, a traditional Thai ground chicken salad prepared tableside, blending spicy, sour, and herbal flavors with toasted rice powder. Another highlight is Pla Chuk Khrueng, a local Krabi recipe of deboned mackerel cooked with fresh coconut and aromatic herbs, sourced from nearby producers. This commitment to local sourcing ensures that every dish reflects authentic flavors of the region. According to Ms. Porntip Narangsiya, Director of Food & Beverage, the culinary team continually refines their skills to offer healthy, flavorful Thai cuisine infused with modern techniques. This dedication has made Saffron increasingly popular among international travelers and local gourmets, and recognition by MICHELIN only enhances its reputation further. Luxury Facilities and Experiences Banyan Tree Krabi offers 72 luxurious pool villas and suites, including two- and three-bedroom options, along with a seven-bedroom Presidential Beachfront Pool Villa. Guests can enjoy multiple dining venues, a beach bar, a beach club, a kids’ club, a fitness center, and versatile meeting spaces. The resort’s lush rainforest-themed spa provides a sanctuary for relaxation, with signature treatments like hydrotherapy in the region’s first luxury hydrotherapy facility, The Rainforest. This focus on wellness and comfort makes Banyan Tree Krabi a top choice for discerning travelers. Travel Tips for Visiting Banyan Tree Krabi Reserve early: To secure your preferred villa or suite, especially during peak seasons. Visit during shoulder seasons: From May to September, when the weather is pleasant and crowds are thinner. Sample local cuisine: Explore regional dishes at Saffron or nearby local eateries for authentic Krabi flavors. Prioritize wellness: Indulge in the spa’s holistic treatments for complete relaxation amid natural surroundings. An Outstanding Choice for Luxury Travel in Thailand Banyan Tree Krabi’s recent MICHELIN recognition affirms its reputation as a top-tier resort in Thailand’s luxury travel scene. Combining stunning natural beauty, authentic regional cuisine, and impeccable service, it remains an ideal destination for travelers seeking both relaxation and adventure. For more details or to plan your stay, visit Banyan Tree Krabi. For more information or reservations, contact +66 075 811 888 or email krabi@banyantree.com

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There was a celebratory mood recently at Banyan Tree Samui, a luxury beachfront resort in southern Thailand, after the hotel was recognised with three independent international awards in the space of one week. The French-based MICHELIN Guide, famed for its accreditation of “stars” to the most exquisite restaurants, has for the first time introduced a ranking system of “keys” to acclaim the most outstanding hotels in the world. The 2024 MICHELIN Guide hotel selection in Thailand included a total of eight Three-Key hotels (its highest decoration), 19 Two-Key hotels, and 31 One Key hotels. Each hotel had been anonymously visited and assessed by MICHELIN inspectors. Banyan Tree Samui, and its sister resort Banyan Tree Krabi on Thailand’s western Andaman Sea coast, were both recognised by the new MICHELIN Guide with two “keys”. “These [all MICHELIN’s recommended hotels and resorts] are places that significantly add to your experience as a traveller” read the MICHELIN Guide announcement on September 24, “each vetted and judged excellent in five categories: architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for the price; and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting.” No sooner had the champagne settled when, on October 1, the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 were announced. New York-based Condé Nast Traveler is arguably the leading luxury travel magazine in the world and the announcement of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards is an eagerly anticipated event in the calendar of the global hospitality community. Online voting for the world’s favourite hotels, resorts and spas ran from April through June this year, with more than 575,000 votes cast. In the category of Top Resorts in Thailand, Banyan Tree Samui polled third with a 95.16 score. The placement marked a jump up the rankings for Banyan Tree Samui, which finished 5th in 2023, while Banyan Tree Krabi had come in 4th in the Top Resorts in Thailand awards. In between those announcements, Area General Area General Manager Remko Kroesen was on hand in Bangkok to receive an accolade on 26 September 2024 when he was presented with the “Best Luxury Hotel – Koh Samui” prize at the 33rd Annual TTG Travel Awards 2024 Ceremony & Gala Dinner The prestigious TTG Travel Awards honours the best in the Southeast Asian hospitality industry, with readers’ votes including many of the region’s travel agents and tour operators. Opened in 2010, the 88-key Banyan Tree Samui is a luxury all-pool villa resort. The 38-acre property is rich in flora and plant life, and its private beach is flanked by coral reefs. The resort hosts three restaurants, a spa with Banyan Tree’s signature Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, a fitness centre, a kids’ club, a meetings and events centre, and a library. Last year, Banyan Tree Samui was awarded the highest level of certification by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking organisation for sustainable tourism, making it the first hotel in Thailand to achieve this status. Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with a private infinity pool, start from US$585 per night.

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Palace Hotel Tokyo, the luxury property that’s become one of Japan’s most loved hotels since its unveiling in 2012, has been awarded Three Keys by MICHELIN Guide in recognition of its achievements in meeting, and exceeding, the guide’s benchmarks for delivering the world’s most ‘extraordinary stay’ experiences. As one of only three properties in Tokyo to receive MICHELIN Guide’s highest distinction, Palace Hotel Tokyo continues to elevate its enviable status as the only Japanese-brand hotel to receive such elite standing in addition to the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating which it has held for nine consecutive years as well as the Five-Star rating achieved earlier this year by its evian SPA TOKYO (as one of only four in Japan). “For decades, MICHELIN Star ratings have stood for exceptionalism, offering highly respected expertise and guidance to gourmands the world over on the most revered dining experiences to be had,” remarked Senior Managing Director and General Manager Masaru Watanabe. “To now receive recognition not only for our dining offerings, but also our hotel from one of the world’s most distinguished arbiters of excellence in hospitality is an incredible honor.” Described by MICHELIN as “places that significantly add to your experience as a traveler,” each key-rated property has been meticulously – and anonymously – vetted and judged based on categories such as architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, personality and character, and contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting. Reflecting the “crème de la crème,” MICHELIN’s key-rated hotels are deemed to be of “remarkable quality,” with the Three-Key-worthy recognized for offering “one of the most outstanding experiences in the world.” “As an independent hotel that’s worked tirelessly to establish its place in the ever-competitive global luxury hotel industry, it’s especially meaningful to us – as a brand and as a team – to achieve such a prestigious distinction,” said Watanabe. “Our Michelin Three Keys will further strengthen our resolve to continuously elevate the level of hospitality that Palace Hotel Tokyo offers as we welcome travelers in search of the best of the best.” Described as being, “as close as you can get to actually staying on the verdant grounds of the Imperial Palace,” from MICHELIN Guide’s Point of View, “a stay at the Palace Hotel Tokyo is likely to set a standard that you’ll find other luxury hotels unable to match.” For more information about MICHELIN Guide’s brand-new Key distinction, visit Michelin.com.

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The iconic Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi landed two prestigious honours this month, drawing glowing praise in the inaugural Michelin Guide for hotels in Vietnam and earning a coveted spot in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards. “This is simply the place to stay in Hanoi,” the Michelin Guide writes in its review of the historic hotel. “The luxury here is not a function of the number of switches and buttons on the bedside control panel; this is an old-school five-star hotel, with a discreet atmosphere and service fit for executives and statesmen alike … On the whole, an utterly fascinating experience.” The inaugural Michelin Guide for hotels in Vietnam, launched on June 7, spotlights 29 luxury hotels and resorts in various cities, beach destinations and islands, along with a separate guide focused on restaurants in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The guide praises Metropole Hanoi’s recently relaunched modern French fine dining restaurant Le Beaulieu (“well-known for fine French cuisine and an extensive selection of wines”) and upscale traditional Vietnamese venue Spices Garden, along with its rich atmosphere of history. The hotel’s “sense of not-so-distant past is what gives the Metropole its unique personality, and sets it apart from the shiny new mega-hotels of the East.” Earlier in June, Metropole Hanoi was also named one of the top city hotels in Vietnam in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2023. The industry-leading U.S.-based travel magazine’s Luxury Awards Asia Pacific were announced on June 5, highlighting the very best in the region’s hospitality, from top city, beach, island and upcountry hotels to the best hotel pools, spas and general managers. For more information on Metropole Hanoi or to make a booking, please call 0243 826 6919 (ext. 8500), email h1555-re3@sofitel.com or visit www.sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi.com/. ABOUT SOFITEL LEGEND METROPOLE HANOI A prominent fixture in the heart of Hanoi since 1901, the Hotel Metropole Hanoi has a long tradition as a luxury venue for prestigious events and a popular rendezvous for business and leisure travellers such as playwrights, ambassadors and heads of state. The recipient of numerous international awards for its fine service, this legendary landmark has contributed to the richness of local heritage. The hotel includes 364 rooms. The historic Metropole wing has 106 guest-rooms and three Legendary Suites. The suites are named after famous residents and visitors to the hotel (Graham Greene, Charlie Chaplin, Somerset Maugham with private garden) and have access to the Club Lounge. We proudly welcome our esteemed guests from all over the world. The Metropole restaurants and bars are all famous dining venues, each offering a different exotic experience: Le Beaulieu has the best French fare in this corner of the world; Spices Garden offers the ultimate in Vietnamese gastronomy; angelina – Hanoi’s bespoke bar-lounge-restaurant, La Terrasse brings Parisian-style to the sidewalks of Hanoi; Le Club Bar treats guests to its famous chocolate buffet and cool jazz performances; and, finally, Bamboo Bar brings poolside lounging to the next level.

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