ASIAN TRAILS TAKES AMAN JUNKIES OUT FOR STREET FOOD
In a sign of the times, Amanresorts
is collaborating with Asian Trails to
bring guests to the streets for local
food.
While a reason for Aman
junkies to pick an Aman stay has
always been the F&B – peaceful
settings and safe-to-eat food,
both in hygiene and spice levels
– the new partnership reflects the
changing luxury traveller who is
willing to rough it out for a taste of
authenticity.
“There is a growing interest
among guests for local food
experience,” said Patrick Gauthier,
Amanresorts’ cluster director of
sales based in Bangkok. “We would
like to present the rich local culture
in all our destinations and show
that we always strive to offer the
most authentic, insightful and
unique experiences to our guests.”
Exquisite Experiences, as the
programme is called, offers a few
nights stay in an Amanresort, with
culinary journeys as the overriding
theme.
Guests will get the fine dining
in-house handled by Amanresorts
on some nights, and street dining
handled by Asian Trails on others.
Programmes are available for
Amanresorts in Cambodia, China
(including the new Shanghai
property, Amanyangyun), Indonesia,
Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
So how unadulterated is the
street dining? Aman junkies can
kiss ‘exquisite’ goodbye. It’s the
real thing – “plastic chairs, wobbly
metal tables, toilet rolls as tissue
paper, and more of this stuff all
the way”, according to Asian Trails’
group director of marketing and
eCommerce, Niels Steeman.
“We avoid Western-oriented
restaurants, high-end eateries, any
Amanresort restaurant, or places
where foreigners tend to go,” said
Steeman.
A four-day Amanpuri package,
for instance, brings guests to
Phuket Town on Day Two for lunch
– snacks and kerbside dishes such
as Khanom Ahpong (crispy rolled-
up crepe) – before heading for a
museum unknown to many. It ends
with a seafood galore “like only the
locals know” where guests ‘blend in’
with locals.
“Our packages fuel the
wanderlust by taking a different
approach to something that is
in demand but has not yet been
Hosting events
in style at
Tables Grill
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok’s fine-
dining restaurant Tables Grill, which
has received a Michelin Plates award
and is listed in the first edition of the
Michelin Bangkok guidebook, aims to
attract more private events, corporate
meetings and private wine tasting
parties.
Apart from its impeccable dining
area, Tables Grill has two stunning
private rooms enhanced by signature
tableside cuisine, the finest wine
selection, bespoke cocktails and
personalised service. The restaurant/
venue is designed by the renowned
Toni Chi.
The main area offers seamless
arrangements for private functions,
parties, social functions, corporate
events, meetings and baby showers. It
can accommodate up to 100 guests.
Chamber is an elegant private
room crowning the hotel’s notable
offered. Travel is and remains an
exploration which evolves as the
years go by. If you’re not innovative,
you’ll start to fall behind in the travel
offers,” said Steeman.
Steeman is confident that
Aman guests will relish the idea.
Amanresorts itself offers local
food experiences in Vietnam that
“must be tried out”, he said, adding
the hotel group has been open to
and enthusiastic about Exquisite
Experiences.
“Working with their regional and
global offices has been an eye-
opening experience for us, seeing
how such a respectable chain
tackles such undertakings.”
Gauthier said Amanresorts has
always looked for opportunities to
collaborate with the travel trade
since its founding 30 years ago.
“We consider DMCs as travel
partners, and we need to work
closely with them to offer the same
level of guest experience,” he said.
“We operate 31 resorts worldwide,
of which 12 resorts, and two cruises,
are located where Asian Trails
provides ground services.”
– Raini Hamdi
Where to go at dusk in Singapore
staircase, overlooking the grand hotel
lobby. Suitable for private celebrations
or gatherings for up to 12 VIPs and
discerning guests.
Cellar houses extensive Old and
New World wine collections, and
features oversized sliding glass doors
that open to a sprawling view of the
hotel lobby. It offers a contemporary
ambience that is ideal for both formal
and casual occasions – sparkling
parties, an engagement, a birthday
celebration, baby showers – and
accommodates up to 32 guests.
Michelin describes Tables Grill as,
“characterised by good cooking with
fresh ingredients, capably prepared,
and simply a good meal”.
Dusk Restaurant & Bar,
located 100m above
sea level at Faber
Peak Singapore and
surrounded by lush
rainforest, is a vantage
point for views of
Harbourfront and Sentosa Island, especially at night.
The latest dining concept by One Faber Group, opened
last December, is a 15-minute drive from the city centre.
Guests can taste European tapas created by executive
chef Kenny Yeo, who has over 30 years of French culinary
experience, and sip specially curated wines and cocktails
while enjoying one of Singapore’s best sunsets on a hilltop.
The restaurant’s alfresco-dining section seats 40 persons,
while the sheltered section seats 80. There’s also a bar near
the entrance.
“Dusk Restaurant and Bar caters to the PMEB
(Professionals, Managers, Executives and Businessmen)
segment who seeks new experiences that can be shared
with friends and loved ones. We are confident that our
unique location, coupled with a menu and wine list, will
put Faber Peak on the map as a one-of-its-kind, must-visit
dining destination in Singapore,” said Jessie Tan, director,
business operations, One Faber Group.
TTG Asia luxury | May 2018 63