The Exotissimo Travel Professional's Guide to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar & Thailand 2004

London’s World Travel Market will once again be the venue for the launching of the new Exotissimo Travel Professional’s Guide. For the first time the Exotissimo Professional’s Guide will feature Thailand in 2004. Despite a tough year for Asia, Exotissimo reinforced its confidence in the future of tourism to the region with the opening of Exotissimo Thailand in March 2003. Linking established Exotissimo destinations in Indochina and Myanmar, Thailand is heavily featured in our 2004 Travel Professional’s Guide. Among the many new tour ideas for 2004 are a collection of regional tour programmes combining the best our destinations have to offer including some spectacular World Heritage Sites. Other exciting and original new products for 2004 include spa and relaxation tours, new cruises, gourmet tours, a movie location tour and plenty of off the beaten track adventure products.

This year, as in previous years, the Exotissimo Travel Professional’s Guide comes in two sections, an attractive full-colour brochure and an information-packed professional tariff.

In our full-colour brochure we will take you on a journey through the exotic locations of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, brought to life by a wonderful new collection of Bill Hobdell images of some of the people, sights and scenes you can expect to encounter along the way. Each country section is colour-coded for easy reference and all the popular destinations, and some lesser-known destinations, are featured along with a summary of highlights. There is also a full-colour guide to every Exotissimo Preferred Hotel in each of our destinations to help you choose the most suitable hotels for your clients. Colour maps of each country, city street maps and full contact details for Exotissimo offices in the region complete our 2004 brochure.

While our professional confidential tariff is not as pretty as our brochure it is certainly just as important, if not more important, for travel professionals. In our 2004 confidential tariff you will find a wide range of sample tour programmes, net wholesale rates, booking conditions and an invaluable section of up to date useful information for visitors to each country.

We have attempted to make the Exotissimo Travel Professional’s Guide 2004 as attractive, informative and user-friendly as possible and we hope it will become an invaluable tool in helping you to promote our fascinating destinations to your clients over the coming year.

The Exotissimo Travel Professional’s Guide to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar & Thailand 2004 is due to be mailed to tour operators and travel agents in October. If you are attending WTM in London we will also have a limited supply on the Exotissimo Travel Group stand (AS 3240) located in the Asia Pacific section at the new ExCeL venue. For further information please contact marketing@exotissimo.com.

A new Furama resort in Nha Trang

Nha Trang, Vietnam’s premier beach destination, will see the opening of a new 5-star resort this year when Furama Hotels and Resorts International open their new resort in December. Upon completion, the resort will boast 500 guest rooms, conference rooms, restaurants, swimming pools and other luxuries. Those who enjoy the nightlife can go dancing at the club or gambling in the casino. As many visitors to Nha Trang go there for its spectacular beaches, Furama will also offer guests the option to engage in fun water sports, including diving.

Vietnam Airlines resumes flights to China

Vietnam Airlines has reintroduced its flights from Vietnam to China, which were withdrawn following the outbreak of the SARS epidemic earlier in the year. As of now, all flights to China are available. As from this December the airline will also be offering direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Frankfurt, Germany.

Free shuttles from Sofitel

The Sofitel Plaza Saigon has recently begun offering its guests a free shuttle service from the hotel to the Tax Centre Department Store or Ben Thanh Market in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.