Got That Friday Feeling

We've got that Friday feeling here at the SLC offices, and we're dreaming of far off destinations...

But one very lucky member of the team won't be dreaming for much longer. Gill's going on a trip to visit some of our wonderful clients, see where she will be staying below...

She'll be heading to Krabi to stay at the fabulous Rayavadee in one of their Deluxe Pavillions:

And popping into The Grotto for a bite to eat:

She'll also be sampling the wonderful rooms at the new akyra on Koh Samui:

And chilling out on Chaweng beach during her stay...

Before tearing herself away to akyra's sister property Aleenta in northern Phuket Phang Nga to compare beaches:

And catching up on her beauty sleep in one of their stunning villas:

And not forgetting the newly refurbished Boathouse in Phuket, where lucky old Gill will get to experience all the stunning renovations just as they are re-opening!

And last but not least, the immaculate Sukhothai - always elegant, stunningly designed...

and a real Thai experience with traditional Thai cuisine at Bangkok's best restaurant, voted by Travel and Leisure Magazine, the Celadon.

It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!


For more information on any of these fabulous properties, please email rebecca@sandraleach.co.uk

Green Gecko Project Delivers Crucial Aid

The team at Green Gecko, Hotel de la Paix, Golden Banana Boutique Hotel and Resort, Heritage Suites Hotel and Exotissimo Travel Cambodia have been hard at work over the past few days delivering food packages to local Cambodian villages who are in desperate need of aid.

The journey to these villages was in itself no easy task - the first obstacle was the bridge which was falling apart and couldnt take the weight of the van, which meant the team had to unload and create a chain gang to get the bags of rice across. Not only this but the waters are snake and crocodile infested,  making this not only a difficult job but a dangerous one too.

Nonetheless the food was delivered safely, and has been distributed to 870 families - a collective 5000 people! - and will last about 7-10 days.

Please donate just a few pounds to help us raise funds to keep providing much needed food and flood relief to these villages. Click here to donate.

You can also visit Hotel de la Paix's Facebook page or The Sandra Leach Company's Facebook page for information and images, or email rebecca@sandraleach.co.uk for more information.

Aleenta Resorts Release Turtles Into The Wild With Pure Blue Foundation

Take a look at these beautiful pictures of turtles being released into the wild in Thailand to brighten up your Monday. Alennta Hotels and Resorts are working in conjunction with the Pure Blue Foundation, and you can support this wonderful cause too. 
 

Thailand’s precious marine environment will once more be the worthy beneficiary of an exclusive fundraising event held by the pioneering corporate social responsibility group Pure Blue Foundation.

Aleenta Phuket–Phang Nga resort will host the prestigious “Help Save Marine Life” event on Saturday November 19 at its cool, innovative beach bar and lounge The Edge, perched on the picturesque Natai Beach. Tickets for the evening cost THB2,900 net per person and include dinner and free flowing drinks.

All funds raised on the night will go to the Pure Blue Foundation, which has been instrumental in rebuilding damaged coral reefs off the coast of the resort. Both the resort and the foundation were created by Aleenta Resorts Founder, Anchalika Kijkanakorn.

“We are really looking forward to putting on a fantastic event – and are very grateful for the support of Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) who are offering two amazing prizes of a seven night stay and a five night stay anywhere in the world – which we hope will help raise funds for this important work,” Ms Kijkanakorn said.

“Guests can also enjoy Chef Laurent Révéillac’s wonderful molecular cuisine which will be prepared from live cooking stations that we are setting up on the beach. It will really be a night to remember.”

The evening will start at 7pm with the release of indigenous leatherback turtles back into the sea –– followed by cocktails, dinner and entertainment including a fire show and music spun by DJ Me.

The evening will spark into life courtesy of French-born Chef Laurent – whose creativite culinary offerings have taken him to more than 50 different cities around the world – when his nitrogen-based cooking performance will be sure to light up the evening.

The Pure Blue Foundation has already been successful in its environmental initiative to build and restore coral reefs off the coast of the Aleenta Phuket-Phang Nga resort, using the ground-breaking initiative of solar power which assists the growth and survival rate of the coral. To date, almost 25 coral species have been created in the park, in addition to substantial growth in the fish population in the surrounding waters.

To reserve, email: help@purebluefoundation.com or call (0066) 76 580 333

Or for further information visit  www.purebluefoundation.com or email rebecca@sandraleach.co.uk

Tamarind Village Receives Wonderful Reviews

Tamarind Village in Chiang Mai is a beautiful boutique 40 room property in the heart of the old town, within walking distance of the night markets, temples and Lanna style architecture that makes the town so distinctive.

In the last few days Tamarind Village has had wonderful reviews including The Sydney Morning Herald, who described it as 'a haven that fuses modern style with traditional northern Thai culture.' You can read the lovely full write up here.

Tamarind Village have also had a lovely review from Alex at Kuoni, who said:

'The Tamarind Village ........ We had a perfect stay here location could not be better. Greeted with a warm welcome and a much needed cold drink and towel the hotel was a hidden in a little peaceful oasis in the middle of a busy city. The rooms are spacious and modern the  spa is amazing felt totally relaxed after a Thai massage . This is the perfect hotel for all to enjoy the independent traveller, the loved up honeymooners and the happy families!'

So thank you to both for their kind words, and we hope you are inspired to visit us soon!

 

 

Green Gecko Kids Flood Relief Initiative

Today we have been talking with Christian; Director of Sales for Hotel de la Paix. He has given us an update on the situation with the flooding in Cambodia and told us of villages that have been cut off with no food for more than ten days. They have partnered with Golden Banana Boutique Hotel, Resort and Heritage Suites and Green Gecko to provide rice, fish and fresh water to families who have lost their crops, income and home after the devastation of the floods.

This initiative was put together by four wonderful girls at the Green Gecko who were distressed by what is going on around them, and together with staff from Hotel de la Paix, Heritage Suites, and Banana Hotel they are raising money to buy rice and supplies. Staff from the hotels will personally be making the journey to these affected areas to distribute the food.

For just £8, 25kg of rice can be given to the worst hit areas to provide relief, and will be taken personally by staff from the three hotels. To find out how you can help out by donating, have a look at Hotel de la Paix's Facebook page, or http://www.razoo.com/story/Floodreliefcollaboration. 

Please share this information with your colleagues and friends, and thank you for your support.

For more information on any of the above, please have a look at the fundraising website, Hotel de la Paix's website or Facebook page, The Sandra Leach Company's Facebook page, or contact rebecca@sandraleach.co.uk

Hotel de la Paix 'Share Your Shirt'

Happy Monday Morning everyone! Here at The Sandra Leach Company we’ve been ‘Sharing Our Shirts’ over the last few weeks, have a look at the pictures and see what everyone brought...

The team at Buffalo Tours have also done their bit...

As well as the guys over at Quintessentially...

Hotel de la Paix are running this ‘Share Your Shirt’ programme to donate clothes to the local Cambodians. Everyone has a spare t-shirt lodged at the back of their wardrobe that they never wear, so why not get yours into an envelope and send it to:

Hotel de la Paix

Sivutha Boulevard

Siem Reap

Cambodia

And get involved!

The first lot of clothing has already been distributed in Cambodia after the flooding which has affected so many of the locals. Have a look at Hotel de la Paix's Facebook page to see all the wonderful photos and find out more. 

If you want to find out more about Hotel de la Paix’s wonderful charity work, have a look here or contact us at Rebecca@sandraleach.co.uk

Hotel de la Paix Voted 6th Best Hotel in Asia

Following Creative Travel's awards and Hamilton Island's listing as one of the best island resorts on The Great Barrier Reef, we’ve got even more cause to be proud with Hotel de la Paix's incredible achievement of being listed the best hotel in Cambodia and sixth in the whole of Asia by Conde Nast traveller! You can read the full list here. 

What an amazing accolade for Hotel de la Paix and mostly for the wonderful team there. We’ve always known they make every guest’s stay one to remember, and now everyone else knows how fantastic they are too! So congratulations and a huge thank you to every one of the hard-working, friendly and enthusiastic staff who make Hotel de la Paix Asia’s sixth best hotel!

Make sure you visit Hotel de la Paix’s website and their Facebook page for more information on everything they do.

Hamilton Island Named One Of The Eight Best Island Resorts on The Great Barrier Reef

Great news for Hamilton Island, who have been named one of the eight best island resorts on The Great Barrier Reef by Conde Nast Traveller! Read what they had to say here. 

Hamilton Island is one of the Whitsunday Islands and its newer resort Qualia, opened in 2007, is 'sophisticated, contemporary, and elegant'. 

Qualia in Latin means 'a collection of deeper sensory experiences', which is exactly what you will get when staying at this stunning resort. With experiences ranging from sailing, snorkelling and diving, to culinary classes, a spot of golf or a day at the stunning spa, Qualia has everything covered.

Have a look at what Qualia is all about on their website, or for more information email rebecca@sandraleach.co.uk

Exciting Revamped Brand easygo Campers Launch Competition

Pacific Horizon's low cost alternative brand easygo Campers are having a new and exciting re-vamp of the brand, and are launching a competition to mark the event.

easygo campers enjoy many of the same beneficial terms and conditions as Pacific Horizon but the brand is aimed at a slightly younger audience, or those travelling on a budget, and easygo very much lives up to the tagline: 

Spend Less. Do More

Over the years easygo has evolved to become the hassle free budget option it is today. The next step of this evolution has been a modernisation of the brand and the introduction of a fresher, stronger brand identity.

This evolution is not yet complete though, the two characters in the cartoons below (1 male, 1 female) are sadly without names. We are looking for names that fit with the easygo brand image, which is where our readers come in; we're asking you all to send your suggestions, and the winner not only gets to see their suggestion come to fruition and incorporated into the legacy of a real low cost motorhome option, but will also receive two bottles of fine New Zealand wine to celebrate with!

Post your suggestions below or email rebecca@sandraleach.co.uk for a chance to win two bottles of New Zealand wine!

Creative Travel Wins India's Best DMC and India's Best Travel Agency

Great news here at The Sandra Leach Company, our client Creative Travel has won a handful of awards over the last week!

A wonderful family run company, Creative Travel was established in 1977 and has been offering an excellent service ever since. It covers all of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Tibet and creates tailor made itineraries to suit every need and taste. In fact, Ashley from our office has been out to India in the last few weeks on a trip organised by Creative Travel, and had a fascinating and unique trip that she will never forget. 

So back to these fantastic awards...the first accolade was India's Leading Destination Management Company, from The World Travel Awards. Have a look at Rohit, Creative Travel's Managing Director, receiving the award:

Not only this, but Creative Travel earned a second accolade last week. TTG awarded the company with India's Best Travel Agency at their awards ceremony in Bangkok.

So huge congratulations to the entire team at Creative for these two well deserved recognitions of the great work they do...we hope there will be plenty more to come!


For more information on Creative Travel, please email rebecca@sandraleach.co.uk

Big Bubs the Largest Wombat in the World

A little something that made us all smile here at The Sandra Leach Company today; take a look at Big Bubs, the world's largest wombat! 

Freelance writer Wendy Gomersall went to Perth to experience all the wonderful things Western Australia has to offer, including Big Bubs the Southern hairy-nosed wombat. At 40kg-plus and more than three and a half foot long she's quite hefty, but she is no slow coach! Put her down and she'll prove it's not fat under all that fur but muscle by whizzing off into the bushes faster than you can say giant wombat. Visit her at Caversham Wildlife Park, near Perth, Western Australia.

For more information on Western Australia, visit Tourism Western Australia, or email rebecca@sandraleach.co.uk

Our First Blog Post

Hello and welcome to the brand spanking new blog from The Sandra Leach Company! We're all very excited here to be sharing our wonderful products with you and letting you know what they're up to, as well as keeping you updated on what the team here at The Sandra Leach Company are doing. Please have a look through our slideshow and feel free to post your comments below...we love to know what you think!

The Sandra Leach Company represent a range of fantastic properties and DMCs across the world from Australia to Indochina to Fiji, have a look at our website for a full list of our portfolio: http://sandraleach.co.uk/  

Here's to a new and exciting blog which we hope you'll enjoy reading, let's get started!


For more information on any of our products or what we're up to, please email rebecca@sandraleach.co.uk