Japan, Singapore mark 50 years of diplomatic relations with new MoU

Source: Takasaki City. From left: Shinichi Aoshima, President, Takasaki Seinenkeieisya Kyogikai (seated); HE the Ambassador of Japan Kenji Shinoda (standing); Low Yen Ling, Parliamentary Secretary of Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Education and Mayor of South West CDC (standing); Douglas Foo, Singapore Manufacturing Federation (seated); Kenji Tomioka, City Mayor, Takasaki (standing).

Fifty years of Singapore-Japan diplomatic relations (SJ50) were marked on November 18 in Singapore, at Japan Business Expo – Takasaki Day, with the city of Takasaki, one of the largest cities in Gunma Prefecture and a key manufacturing centre for food, metal, and plastic products, representing Japan.

Kenji Tomioka, City Mayor, Takasaki highlighted the role of Takasaki as an increasingly important centre of industry for Singaporean businesses: “There are many different kinds of industries in Takasaki, particularly food and chemical industries. We also have a lot of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with high and advanced technology who are manufacturing in wide range of industries.”

Going forward, economic links are a key aspect of the future of this successful relationship. The city of Takasaki signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation at the same time. Both entities undertake to:

• Offer assistance to visiting members of the two organisations visiting the respective countries; 
• Provide information on programmes organised to one another for circulation to respective members; 
• Encourage Singaporean and Japanese companies to collaborate together in business for mutual benefit. 

Douglas Foo, President of Singapore Manufacturing Federation explained: “Japan and Singapore’s economic ties have matured over the past 50 years. As well as the milestone of SJ50, the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement (JSEPA), which was signed in 2002, is the cornerstone of our economic relationship. The JSEPA was Japan’s first-ever free trade agreement, and Singapore’s first with a major trading partner. The JSEPA has not only created many business opportunities, but it has also fostered business stability, thus enhancing the mutual attractiveness of both markets.”

Tourism is also a key link between the two countries. Guest of honour HE the Ambassador of Japan
 Kenji Shinoda explained: “We are currently working very hard to make Japan more and more attractive to our foreign friends to think about going to Japan repeatedly, so that they can enjoy new and interesting experiences on each and every visit. Last year alone, almost 20 million tourists from overseas visited Japan, which was really record-breaking. But, we are even more ambitious. We would like to welcome 40 million foreign visitors annually by 2020, when the Tokyo Olympic Games will be held.”

Kanya Suemura, President of Takasaki Tourism Association, added: “Takasaki is located in a suburb of Tokyo where you can find a lot of natural and cultural scenery and resources, but at the same time the city is centre of economy where there are a lot of business activities going on." Takasaki is also one of the largest plum producers in Japan, he pointed out.

Amber is the only Hong Kong restaurant in the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2016

Source: World's 50 Best Restaurants website. Dishes from Amber. 

Amber at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong has been listed in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016 awards for the sixth year, coming in 20th. Amber was the only restaurant in the city to make it to the list. An annual celebration of global gastronomy that recognises restaurants around the world for their culinary prowess, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is seen as the Oscars of the fine dining world. 

Source: Mandarin Oriental website. Amber.

Amber’s chef, Richard Ekkebus says, “This endorsement is a testimony that Amber maintains to be relevant on a global level, and is a reaffirmation to our entire team’s efforts to push the boundaries and to continuous evolve the guest experience.”

Torsten van Dullemen, General Manager of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong said, “Claiming a spot on such a prestigious list is a wonderful achievement and speaks for the culinary team’s hard work and dedication.”

With Ekkebus at the helm, Amber received two Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide Hong Kong, Macau, which it has held since 2009 - eight consecutive years, as well as the 4th spot and China’s Best Restaurant on the San Pellegrino’s Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list which came out earlier this year.

Having built his reputation on a solid foundation of traditional French cooking techniques, Ekkebus is known for his focus on superior produce and innovative presentation, creating French cuisine with a contemporary and light feel. His signature creations include Miyazaki wagyu beef, strip loin, barbecued with dulse and red cabbage slaw, oxalis, horseradish & pepper berry emulsion; and Korean abalone, black pepper and vinegar seasoned tomato compote, braised then crisped oxtail and its jus.

The only Asian restaurant in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list ranked above Amber is Narisawa in Tokyo, Japan (No. 8). Gaggan in Bangkok, Thailand was ranked No. 23, Nihonryori Ryugin in Tokyo at No. 31, Restaurant Andre in Singapore at No. 32, Attica in Melbourne, Australia at No. 33, and Nahm in Bangkok at No. 37. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet in Shanghai, China is the last Asian restaurant in the list, coming in at No. 42.

Interested?

Reserve online or call +852 2132 0066.

Princess Yachts celebrates 50th anniversary in Singapore with Bentley launch, exclusive cruise

Source: Princess Yachts. The Princess 56 features teak decking, a convertible sunbed, twin helm seats, a wet bar, barbecue and ergonomic dining areas. The craft has a top speed of 34 knots. Below deck, three cabins and a full-beam master stateroom offer the luxury of space.

Princess Yachts, known for its quality craftsmanship, design and engineering pedigree, and refined luxury interiors of its craft, celebrated the latest stage of its 50th anniversary year at the Singapore Yacht Show alongside Bentley Motors, which launched the Bentley Bentayga, billed as the world’s fastest and most impressive SUV.

Hosted at Marina Bay, the celebratory event was the result of a collaboration between Princess Yachts, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the Public Utilities Board, the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Yacht Show. To mark the event, Princess was granted special permission to cruise around the protected freshwater marina, allowing guests to take in the iconic night-time vista of the Singapore skyline including the Merlion and Fullerton Bay Hotel while enjoying a spectacular laser show.

Princess’ presence at the Singapore Yacht Show and the launch with Bentley marks a move to establish Singapore as a one of the world’s key luxury yachting hubs.

Global Marketing Director for Princess Yachts International Kiran Jay Haslam said: “The professionalism and tireless efforts of everyone involved in Singapore made this one of the most memorable and magical events in our history. Our close collaboration with Bentley Motors and the Fullerton Bay Hotel meant we were able to create an incredible evening, revealing the world’s most impressive luxury SUV from Bentley alongside a private cruising experience on-board our stunning Princess 56 yacht – all within the surrounds of one of the finest hotels in world.”

David Jackson, Regional Manager for South East Asia & Australasia at Bentley Motors commented: “Together with our friends at Princess Yachts we were able to create a simply spectacular evening. The all-new Bentayga, the world’s finest luxury SUV, was in great company with our VIP guests experiencing a unique and seamless link in terms of both luxury and performance. It was an impressive moment for two iconic British brands committed to unsurpassed design, craftsmanship and beauty, with a simply stunning backdrop in Singapore, together with special guests from all across Asia Pacific.”
Designed, engineered and handcrafted in the UK, each Bentley Bentayga takes more than 130 hours to produce. The first Bentaygas were delivered in March 2016.

Interested?

Register interest in the Bentayga

Find your local Princess Yachts distributor

Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2016 will be announced in Bangkok

Source: Asia's 50 Best
Restaurants. 

The fourth annual awards ceremony to celebrate Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will be held for the first time in Bangkok, Thailand, on 29 February 2016.

As evidence of Thailand’s growing influence on the region’s culinary scene, Bangkok restaurants have claimed the No.1 spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list for the last two years. David Thompson’s Nahm took top honours in 2014 while Gaggan Anand’s eponymous restaurant secured the No.1 spot in 2015. Along with Gaggan and Nahm, the 2015 list also featured the Bangkok-based restaurants Eat Me (No. 25), Bo.lan (No. 37) and Issaya Siamese Club (No. 39). 

HE Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, says: “The support of this event is consistent with the national agenda to promote Thainess, Thai culture, and, in particular, Thai cuisine to the world. It will also strengthen the country’s strong brand image and differentiate us from other countries. Moreover, it will prominently feature and position Thailand as a multi- faceted fine dining destination where visitors are treated to an unimaginable array of cuisine options prepared by renowned chefs and backed by our warm Thai hospitality.”

William Drew, Group Editor of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants says: “Thailand has long been recognised for its rich culinary history and traditional street food culture. In recent years, the country’s vibrant restaurant scene has matured, welcoming world-class establishments serving a variety of international cuisines. Thailand is fast establishing itself as one of Asia’s key gastronomic hubs, making it the ideal country to host the 2016 edition of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.”

Source: Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. Winning chefs at Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2015.

Since launching in 2013, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants has become a trusted guide to the best places to eat around the region. In 2015, changes to the voting process were introduced to reflect the opinions of over 300 voters spread throughout Asia and better showcase the diversity of Asia’s culinary scene. The 2015 list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants featured eight new entries, including first-time entries from the Philippines (Antonio’s, No. 48) and Cambodia (Cuisine Wat Damnak, No. 50).

Interested?

Follow the announcements live via Twitter at @Asias50Best on 29 February, 2016. Following the ceremony, the results of the awards will be published at www.theworlds50best.com/asia.

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post on Asia's 50 Best 2014 winners

Follow TheWorlds50Best on Instagram

Hashtag: #Asias50Best

*Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants is created by The Diners Club Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 300 leaders in the restaurant industry across Asia, each selected for their expert opinion of Asia’s restaurant scene. The Academy is divided into six voting regions: India & Subcontinent; South-East Asia – South; South-East Asia – North; Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macau; mainland China & Korea; and Japan. The divisions are designed to represent the Asian restaurant scene as fairly as possible at the current time and are agreed with the Academy Chairs. Each region has its own panel of 53 members including a chairperson to head it up. The panel is made up of food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly regarded 'foodies'. Each panellist has seven votes. Of the seven votes, at least three must be used to recognise restaurants outside of the voter’s home country. For the 2016 edition, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants is working with professional services consultancy Deloitte as its official independent adjudication partner. The adjudication by Deloitte will ensure that the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants are protected. 

Lithium identifies socially savvy airlines, hotels

Lithium Technologies has announced its Klout 50: Summer Travel Edition, which identifies the top 25 airlines and 25 hotels around the world based on social engagement and expertise. These travel and hospitality leaders achieved the most influence among their followers for the way they connect and share experiences on social, and also for the expertise they deliver to make everyone's vacations and business trips better.

The Klout 50 rankings are generated by each brand's Klout score, which tracks social engagement, sharing, and influence using proprietary algorithms. It is determined by more than 400 signals from eight different networks, including Facebook, Twitter and Google+ as well as real-world data from Wikipedia.

For the airlines, Lithium used Skytrax's World Airline Awards 2014 to identify the top 25 social media winners. Key findings include:

British Airways ranks #1 on the Klout list for social influence (and #17 in the World's Top Airline list) and is an expert in Europe, Hong Kong and Scotland
Virgin America ranks #8 on Klout and made a huge jump up from #46 on the World's Top Airline list
Cathay Pacific Airways has expertise in "Food" – which shows that content needs to engage a follower or customer holistically, and not just through the lens of a customer relationship management (CRM) or revenue record

Klout 50: Summer Travel Edition

Airlines in the Top 25 Airlines which fly to Asia Pacific or the Middle East, Klout Score

1. British Airways, 90.27

2. Air Canada, 87.83

3. easyJet, 86.24

4. Virgin Atlantic, 86.18

5. Malaysia Airlines*, 86.02

6. Turkish Airlines, 86.00

7. Cathay Pacific Airways, 85.20

8. Virgin America, 85.15

9. Virgin Australia, 85.03

11. KLM, 81.76

12. Qatar Airways, 80.86

13. Qantas Airways, 80.56

14. Garuda Indonesia, 80.44

15. Delta Air Lines, 80.12

16. Emirates, 78.39

17. Jetstar Asia, 76.93

20. Etihad Airways, 72.38

21. Lufthansa, 71.97

22. AirAsia, 71.57

23. AirAsiaX, 71.57

24. Swiss, 70.45

25. Air Astana, 70.45

For the hotels, Lithium analysed Travel & Leisure's World's Best 2014 Top 100 Hotels and found that six Four Season Hotels made the top 25 list, which indicates the brand is socially savvy.

Klout 50: Summer Travel Edition

Hotels in Thailand, Hong Kong and India within the Top 25 Hotels list, Klout Score

9. Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India, 60.33

12. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India, 59.95

17. Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand, 55.16

20. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, 54.51

22. Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong, 53.95

23. The Peninsula, Hong Kong, 52.78

Lithium notes that the lowest Klout score among the top 25 airlines is higher than the highest score among the top 25 hotels. Lithium believes this is because airlines have been forced to deal with "social shaming" via Twitter and other social networks in very public ways—and have built social infrastructures to handle those service complaints. Additionally, the airlines are bigger companies than the individual hotel properties ranked in this Klout list, indicating the benefits of scale and unified social presence on digital networks.

"What these Klout Scores reveal – especially for those who ranked further down by the respective lists we analysed, but higher on Klout - is that what they do on social really matters to their customers," said Katy Keim, Chief Marketing Officer at Lithium. "You can be ranked and judged by a variety of factors within your industry, but your customers are online, they're social and they're paying attention to your presence there. These airlines and hotels should be very proud of their social media accomplishments and we're proud to be able to recognise their reputation among consumers."

The Klout 50 was launched in 2014 as the ultimate ranking of brands that are authentically connecting with their digital audience. These social elite brands are the most active on social media platforms and their audiences consistently share and interact with their digital content.

Interested?

See all the Klout Expertise rankings at www.klout.com and explore each brand's "topic expertise."

*Malaysia Airlines (MAS) today appointed an Administrator to facilitate the transfer of selected assets and liabilities from MAS to a new company, Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), which will effectively take over by 1 September 2015. MAS continues to operate throughout the period up to and including 31 August 2015, after which MAB will operate the business of the airline.
posted from Bloggeroid

Accor announces 600th hotel in Asia Pacific

Accor has announced its 600th hotel in Asia Pacific with the signing of the landmark Park Lane hotel in Hong Kong to the group’s upscale Pullman brand. The rebranding of the Park Lane Hotel to Pullman is doubly significant because it is the brand’s 50th hotel in the region, representing enormous growth since Pullman Hotels debuted in late 2007. The announcement comes as The Park Lane celebrates it 40th anniversary, and signifies a new era for the hotel. 

Source: Accor. The Riva deck bar at the Park Lane Hong Kong.

The fact that Accor’s 600th hotel is part of the Pullman family is a great symbol of Accor’s future growth in the region, with the group increasingly focused on expansion in the upscale and luxury sector. The group’s first hotel in Asia Pacific – the Novotel Orchid Singapore – opened in 1982. It took Accor 14 years to reach more than 100 hotels in Asia Pacific but from 1997 to 2007 the network tripled in size to over 300. Showing its strong focus on the region, Accor then doubled that network to 600, achieving in just six years what had previously taken 25 years.

Development has now reached record levels, with an average of one Accor hotel opening per week in Asia Pacific. This growth will continue to climb exponentially alongside the growing middle class in the region which is fuelling demand for quality, globally-branded hotel accommodation.

"The addition of The Park Lane Hong Kong to the Pullman brand is a huge milestone for Accor because it brings us a strategic hotel in the centre of one of the world’s most important business and tourism hubs at a time when Pullman is really affirming itself as one of the most exciting hotel brands in the region," said Michael Issenberg, Chairman and CEO of Accor Asia Pacific. 

"The fact that it becomes our 600th hotel in the region is further cause for celebration because it is testament to Accor’s strong growth in the region and our investment in Pullman as a brand of the future. The Park Lane’s relaunch on 1 January 2015 will, I am sure, signify a very strong year for the Pullman brand, with more than 40 more Pullman hotels in the pipeline across the region for the new few years."

The Park Lane in Causeway Bay offers 826 rooms, three restaurants and bars plus 14 meeting rooms with a total of 10,371 sq ft of event space. While the hotel is very well maintained, a full renovation programme has begun to bring it to Pullman’s global standards which will include a makeover of the Park Lane Suites, executive floors, dining outlets, meeting rooms and executive lounge. Renovations are phased to avoid disruption to guests and the hotel will remain open throughout. 

"We are very excited to join the Accor family and the Pullman brand and believe this will open The Park Lane hotel to greater distribution channels and more guests from across the globe," said Luc Bollen, Regional Director Park Lane Hotels International. "Pullman is the perfect brand for The Park Lane because it appeals to today’s cosmopolitan and connected traveller looking for upscale services and excellent business and meeting facilities. Our owners, Victoria Park Hotels, are spending HK$200 million in the next two years to rejuvenate the hotel and we look forward to this new journey after celebrating 40 successful years in business."

In just over seven years since its launch, Pullman has become one of the most dynamic upscale hotel brands in the region, establishing itself as the largest five-star hotel brand in Australia and Accor’s fastest-growing brand in Greater China. The Pullman brand aims to set new benchmarks in upscale accommodation, with a network of 80 hotels across 23 countries and five continents. Pullman hotels typically offer tailored services, innovative technologies and a new approach to organising meetings. 

IDC Financial Insights picks top 50 mobile pioneers in APeJ

In early 2014, IDC Financial Insights published Mobilizing Financial Services in Asia/Pacific, a report detailing the most innovative and interesting mobility initiatives within financial services. The company has just released an infographic describing the findings. 

IDC Financial Insights notes that Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea and Singapore are leading the mobile charge in the Asia Pacific excluding Japan region (APeJ). 

The company says the opportunity for mobile commerce is high, with growing adoption of mobile devices in Asia, and great interest in paying for goods and services via a mobile channel. Close to 10% of mobile Internet users in APeJ already make purchases through their mobile devices, for example.

Digital, the company says, has become the preferred customer channel for banking customers in Asia. 

A comparison of banking behaviour between 2010 and 2012 shows a clear rise in mobile transaction volumes over online equivalents in Malaysia and Korea, while a look at transactions in China and Thailand show that both mobile and Internet transaction volumes are expanding their share of the digital transaction mix over ATM transactions for the same period. Banks have been responding by ramping up their support for mobile channels, IDC has noted.

Finally, IDC Financial Insights has revealed the top 50 mobile pioneers in APeJ. These are companies which have adopted advanced mobile technologies like proximity payments, where bringing a mobile device near a payment terminal is enough to complete the transaction; remote payments, or payments which are not made in person; and mWallets, which are applications that allow users to store virtual cards, loyalty and promotional offers, and money in a single mobile app.

View the full list of 50 here.

*All images from the IDC Financial Insights "Asia's Top 50 Mobile Pioneers in Financial Services" infographic. View the full infographic here.

Air China offering 50% lower excess baggage fees to North America if prepaid

Air China has become the first domestic carrier to introduce prepaid excess baggage fee services on routes to North America. Passengers on Air China-operated flights between North America and Beijing whose checked baggage exceeds the allowance can pay in advance for their excess baggage through Air China's ticketing offices worldwide or via the Air China Members Services Center hotline. 

Prepaid excess baggage fees will cost 50% less than those that passengers usually have to pay when checking in at the airport, amounting to RMB 650/piece, or equivalent in local currency. 

The prepaid excess baggage fee service is applicable to Air China's direct flights between Beijing and seven North American cities including Los Angeles, New York, Washington, San Francisco, Houston, Hawaii and Vancouver. The baggage cannot exceed 158cm in the sum of its length, width and height and must not exceed 23kg in weight. Each passenger can pay in advance for up to two pieces of excess baggage on each flight. 

Passengers can pay for the service 24 hours before flight departure through Air China's ticketing offices worldwide or via the Air China Members Services Center hotline. Passengers need only show proof of their payment to Air China's staff at check-in at the airport to have their excess baggage checked in.

Other services that Air China has introduced recently include self-service check-in, baggage through check-in and boarding gate standby, all of which enhance travel experiences for passengers.

Six times the power with Duracell batteries

Source: Duracell. In celebration of 50 years of portable power, Duracell partners TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, the fourth film in director Michael Bay's global franchise, in a showdown of good versus evil.

Duracell, the battery people, celebrates 50 years of portable power this year. While the shape of the classic battery hasn't changed much, advances in battery technology have improved battery life considerably. 

The latest Duracell CopperTop AA and AAA batteries with Duralock Power Preserve Technology, the type used in wireless mice and keyboards, last six times longer than ordinary batteries* and are rated for reliable operation in temperature extremes from -20°C to 54°C. A higher compression seal and enhanced crimp leakage resistance reduce the likelihood of leaks. The Duracell batteries also have up to a 10-year guarantee in storage. 

“Duracell is the world’s No. 1 battery brand and that drives us to innovate and excel. When you choose Duracell batteries, you are choosing 50 years of innovation powering the devices that keep us connected, protected and entertained,” said Stefan Sallandt, Commercial Director of Duracell Asia.

*Based on technical tests on digital cameras vs. ordinary zinc carbon batteries.

Asia's 50 Best Restaurants reveals the best food is in China, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand

If you need to entertain at the best, you can't go wrong with the top 10 restaurants in Asia, as listed by Asia's Best 50 restaurants for 2014. 

The catch? You have a better chance of trying the food if you are in Thailand, Japan, China or Singapore. The top 10 list includes two from Bangkok, two from Tokyo, three from Hong Kong, and two from Singapore:

1. Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand, recommended for guinea fowl curry with shampoo ginger and holy basil. It was ranked no. 3 in 2013.

2. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan, where you should try the "inori". Narisawa was no. 1 in 2013.

3. Indian food at Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand, to try the papdi chaat 2050. Gaggan was all the way in no. 10 last year.

4. Hong Kong's Amber restaurant at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and be sure to order the Hokkaido sea urchin in lobster jelly, with cauliflower, caviar and crispy seaweed waffle. Amber was also no. 4 in 2013.

5. Nihonryori Ryugin in Tokyo, Japan, ranked no. 2 last year. The must-try is the sea perch grilled over charcoal and topped with roasted rice and a black vinegar glaze. Chef Seiji Yamamoto was the winner of last year’s Chefs’ Choice award.

6. Multiple award winner Restaurant Andre in Singapore, where the dish "Memory", warm foie gras jelly with black truffle coulis, is highly recommended. It was no. 5 last year.

7. Waku Ghin at Singapore's Marina Bay Sands, another multiple award winner, where chef Tetsuya Wakuda’s marinated botan shrimps with sea urchin and Oscietre caviar is to be sampled. It was previously at no. 11.

8. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet in Shanghai, China, where the chocolate foie gras tartines are said to be sublime. Its rank is unchanged from last year. Pairet is also behind no. 11, Mr And Mrs Bund, also in Shanghai (2013: 7th).

9. Cantonese restaurant Lung King Heen at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong, recommended for master chef Chan Yan Tak's sautéed lobster with vegetables in fermented bean sauce. Lung King Heen was no. 13 before.

10. Italian restaurant 8 1/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong, for the ‘Fassone’ veal tenderloin, fresh porcini mushroom, and barley. In 2013, the restaurant was 6th.

Look through the list from 11 to 20, and restaurants in the same cities have won again, other than no. 19, Jungsik in Seoul, Korea. 

The same cities continue to dominate in ranks 21 to 30, though three of the winners are from Delhi, India, and no. 24 is a French restaurant from Taichung in Taiwan, Le Moût Restaurant, rather than cuisine from Taipei, the more well-known Taiwan destination.

Restaurants ranked 31 to 40 show a little more variation, featuring 28 Hubin Road in Hangzhou, China at no. 33, Japanese restaurant Wasabi in Mumbai, India, at no. 36, and Robuchon Au Dôme at the Grand Lisboa Hotel at Macau, China at no. 39. 

Hajime at no. 42 is the only representative from Osaka, Japan, while Nihonbashi in Sri Lanka (no. 44) is the only restaurant in the list from the country. At no. 47 is Sarong from Bali, Indonesia, and no. 49 is Karavalli from Bangalore, India.

The Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is published by William Reed Business Media, a family-owned business with offices in the UK, US, France and Singapore. 

*Images all from Asia's 50 Best Restaurants website