After identifying the Ha Long Bay fishing villages as a key area for a charity project Exotissimo Travel got together with an overseas agent who had an interested and committed client who donated the money to make it happen. The long term aim and focus was to reduce the pollution on the bay through education and greater understanding of the local environment and there is no better way to do this than building a floating library for the local children. This also provided a great opportunity through better learning for the children to escape poverty. 12,000USD was raised with all the funds going towards the project. As well as the floating library an indoor games rooms was built as well as new bathrooms and a fresh coat of paint for the village’s floating school.

We are very excited to announce that Exo has received a nomination from the World Travel Awards, under the category of ‘Best Tour Operator’. Would you agree? If so please take the time to cast your vote for us. You can do this through, clicking here.

Set for August and September this year, our popular Agent Familiarization trips are the perfect way for you to learn more about our destinations and best products. Each program mixes innovative touring with hotel inspections to give you a thorough introduction to Exotissimo’s Asia. This year we are offering a mix of classic itineraries as well as some off-the-beaten-track destinations that are quickly emerging as traveler favorites. Each itinerary is uniquely Exo with our signature excursions and Exo Touches filling the programs. For more information please, click here.

We are excited to announce that luxury travel network Virtuoso has named Exo as its new On Site DMC for Thailand. Following in the footsteps of Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, Exotissimo already established on-sites, this latest appointment highlights our position as a leader in Asia’s high-end travel market. Synonymous with luxury travel and providing clients with unique and quality vacations, to be affiliated with Virtuoso is to provide comprehensive holidays highlighting the best touring opportunities available in the region. For more information please contact thailand@exotisismo.com

We have just been informed by that TTM 2010 has been postponed due to the current situation in Bangkok. We are awaiting further details from Thailand Travel Mart and will keep you updated with any news via our Travel Trade site.

Exotissimo will be attending IMEX in Frankfurt from the 25 to the 27 of May. We will be represented by Mr. Jean-Marie Mell, Incentive Product Manager Exotissimo France. Our Exo booth number is: B160, alternatively Click here to schedule an appointment with us or contact marketing@exotissimo.com.

Exotissimo Thailand will welcome Michael Lynden-Bell as General Manager from 10 May 2010.

Michael is an experienced and valuable member of the Exotissimo family as he has been General Manager at Exotissimo Australia for the past two years and will replace Edwin Briels who is moving on after three years with Exotissimo Thailand. Prior to joining Exotissimo in 2008 Michael was with Lonely Planet in Australia where he held a variety of senior management positions.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to work in Thailand. After two years with Exotissimo in Australia I feel I have a clear understanding of the company’s strategy and focus and I am looking forward to further developing our Thailand operation.”

Michael will spend the month of May working alongside Edwin to take over responsibilities and understand working procedures in depth before Edwin departs.

“We are very pleased to have Michael on board,” said Hamish Keith, managing director of Exotissimo Thailand. “Edwin has done a great job over the last three years and we wish him the best of luck with his new ventures. Despite a turbulent market recently, the company is on a solid footing and I have every confidence that Michael can carry on the good work as well as bring in some fresh new ideas to keep us moving forwards.”

“Michael has done a great job developing the Australian market and we are very pleased to have him in the strategically important position in Thailand”, added Olivier Colomes, Exotissimo Group CEO. ” He is very customer focused and I am sure Michael will ensure our clients continue to receive the high standard of service and attention they have come to expect from Exotissimo Thailand.”

New Chiang Mai Hotel adds to boutique offerings
18-room Butterfly Resort located 10 minutes north of town

Located on the Ping River 10 minutes from Chiang Mai’s old town, the Butterfly is an independent resort featuring 18 deluxe rooms and 1 villa suite. The quiet location and spacious garden setting creates a relaxing atmosphere suited for couples or FITs and is winning accolades as being an oasis-like, unpretentious resort. Amenities include a riverside bar and lounge, all-day dining, a lap pool, plunge pool, library and free shuttle service to town. The large rooms have dark wood floors and furniture accented by local textiles and wifi internet is available throughout the property.

For more details and pricing click here
Booking and inquiries can be sent to: thailand@exotissimo.com

During the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet), Exotissimo’s Vietnam offices will be closing at noon on 12 February (Friday). The offices will fully re-open at 9AM on 18 February (Thursday). During this time, our operations staff will be working as usual and our 24-hour emergency phone numbers will be in effect to handle any urgent issues. Sales staff will be present, but replying only to urgent matters. Emergency numbers are as follows: Hanoi/North (Mrs Thuy +84 9 1323 7135) Hue/Hoi An/Central (Mr Quang +84 9 0544 3009) and Ho Chi Minh City/South (Mr Long +84 9 1380 1350)

Exotissimo Vietnam Lends a Helping Hand to Local Communities

In keeping with our responsible travel ethos, Exotissimo gives back to local charities and the disadvantaged in Vietnam in a number of ways:

Aid assistance in typhoon-struck province- A week after the devastating Typhoon Mirinae hit South-central Vietnam, the Exotissimo team arrived in Phu Yen Province to render aid to four affected villages. Altogether three tons of rice, instant noodles, cookers, blankets, personal hygiene kits were given out, totaling more than 2.000 USD in aid given.

Sponsor for a kids’ day out- Over 40 impoverished children from Mekong Delta villages in Ben Tre Province were sponsored by Exo Vietnam on a fun day out at the Water Park and the Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City. For most of the children this was their first time to the city and they were overjoyed at the opportunity. In addition, one child was given a year of scholarship sponsored by Exo Vietnam.

Sponsor for KOTO Charity Bike Ride- Proudly sponsored by Exotissimo Vietnam, the annual KOTO Charity Bike Ride was successfully held in Hanoi on 21 November 2009. Over 150 riders turned up for this event. KOTO is a not-for-profit restaurant and vocational training program for the disadvantaged youth in Vietnam.

Click here to view other causes your clients can support while on holiday in Vietnam. For more information, please contact Le Hong Lan, Project Manager for CSR and Special Projects, at honglan@exotissimo.com.

Exotissimo Cambodia Teams Up with Local Charity

Exotissimo continues to play a part in the development of sustainable tourism in Cambodia by teaming up with American aid organization Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) in their inaugural Hidden Treasures Cambodia contest. This initiative seeks to identify and promote lesser known attractions in order to increase awareness amongst potential visitors and encourage tourist spending outside established areas. The winning destinations were offered consultation with Exotissimo Cambodia and media promotion. This year’s winners are:

o Peam Krassop – Mangrove forest in Koh Kong Province
o Chi Phat Ecotourism village in the Cardamom Mountains
o Chambok Community Based Waterfall – an ecotourism site in the Cardamom Mountains
o Ta Tai Waterfall – an ecotourism site in the Cardamom Mountains
o Phare Ponleu Selpak – an arts school and circus center in Battambang
o Banteay Chhmar – a cultural tourism site
o Kampong Luong Floating Village – an ecotourism site in Pursat Province

Click here to view other causes your clients can support while on holiday in Cambodia.