Anantara Thailand resorts feature in The White Lotus Season 3

Three Anantara Thailand resorts have been officially announced as filming locations for the Emmy-winning series HBO Original series The White Lotus. Filmed across Thailand, The White Lotus Season 3 features the country's landscapes, cultural heritage, and architecture to create a mesmerising setting for the series’ signature plot twists and social satire. 

Each of the featured Anantara resorts embodies the essence of Thai island life, from the beaches of Koh Samui to Phuket’s coastline. The Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort, Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, and Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort are key settings for a fictional resort, The White Lotus Thailand.

Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort 

Set along the shores of Bophut Beach, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort is one of the island’s most iconic resorts, with architecture inspired by Southern Thai heritage. The resort has 106 rooms, suites and beachfront pool suites and is within walking distance to the Fisherman’s Village. Occupying a lush site that was once a coconut plantation, the resort’s landscaping — including lotus ponds and a spa garden — was designed by architect Bill Bensley.

Multiple locations within the property are featured as The White Lotus Thailand, including the signature Thai-style lobby, security station, tree-lined resort entrance, the employee parking lot and resort’s jewellery store.

Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort

Situated on a private beach in Chaweng, Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort blends modern luxury with Samui’s rich history. One of the most distinctive settings in The White Lotus Season 3 is the resort’s Singing Bird Lounge, a treehouse-style bar nestled within the branches of a 120-year-old tree. Announced as a key filming location for the bar scene, the lounge offers panoramic ocean views and draws inspiration from the island’s bird-singing contests, a tradition that attracts thousands of spectators. 

As guests sip handcrafted cocktails at sunset, the melodies of Samui’s avian performers create an unforgettable atmosphere.

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas

Locations in Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas have been designated The Wellness Sanctuary, Spa, and Belinda’s room in the HBO series. With 183 villas and suites along Mai Khao Beach in Phuket, this hideaway is renowned for its seclusion and luxury.

Guests looking to experience The White Lotus firsthand can book The Lotus Awakening Escape package*, a four-night Phuket and Koh Samui retreat. The stay includes experiences at all three Anantara resorts featured, as well as unique lotus-inspired activities that reveal the heart of Thailand.

Begin with the allure of Phuket on the golden sands of Anantara Mai Khao, breaking up poolside relaxation only for excursions, wellness rituals and sumptuous dining. The next stop is Koh Samui, where the team at Anantara Bophut will take you on a spiritual journey and arrange private dining and spa indulgences. One of the island’s most exclusive dining venues, Tree Tops, awaits at Anantara Lawana Koh Samui, a sister resort 15 minutes away by car.  

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas

- Luxury accommodation for two guests

- Half-day guided Phuket Exploration tour, including stops at a muay Thai stadium in Patong, the Phuket Big Buddha, and attractions in and around Phuket Old Town

- The Lotus Awakening spa ritual for two, including chakra crystal balancing (90 minutes) and sound healing therapy

- One Lotus Season dinner experience at La Sala

- One cocktail at BUA Bar 

Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort

- Luxury accommodation for two guests

- Full day Passage of the Lotus experience for two, including a lotus folding class, guided prayer at the resort’s spirit house, visit to the Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem temples, the Chaweng viewpoint experience, and visit to the Elephant Kingdom shelter

- The Lotus Indulgence spa experience for two, including a lotus foot ritual, body massage with white lotus oil (90 minutes) and lotus petal tea with lotus seeds

- Anantara’s signature designer dining Cocoon experience on the beach, with a lotus-inspired menu

Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort

- One themed cocktail per person at The Singing Bird Lounge

- Eight-course set dinner with whimsical, themed elements at Tree Tops Signature Dining

Source: Minor Hotels. Lobby, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort.

Explore

Book The Lotus Awakening Escape package at www.anantara.com. 

*Terms and conditions:

• The rate is subject to 18.7% tax and a service charge. 
•  The minimum length of stay is two nights. 
• The package must be fully prepaid and is non-refundable.

Design-conscious buyers pushing gift and premiums manufacturers to up their game

Source: SGS website. SGS 2015 was well attended. 

Exhibitors are also stepping up their game at this year’s Singapore Gifts Show (SGS), which returns this year from 29 June to 1 July in response to buyers becoming more design-conscious. The largest Singapore gifts and premium show is a trade event showcasing gifts, premiums, lifestyle products and services in the regional and international markets. Established in 2006, SGS’s annual showcase event includes a three-day exhibition and industry seminar.

Ooi Peng Ee, General Manager of TTG Events, the organiser, said that quality and innovative designs have helped clients differentiate their offerings, and reinforce their brand identities in a way that makes marketing merchandising work the way it was intended. “We want SGS to inspire the industry. A well-designed corporate gift balances creative thinking with practical needs and transcends their everyday functions. It can make the product and organisation unique and memorable by standing out from the crowd,” Ooi said.

Obsession with design

Design has gained tremendous importance since Singapore was named the UNESCO Creative City of Design back in 2015. This year’s SGS will be the first for Antalis Singapore, a distributor of paper, packaging solutions and visual communication products for professionals. A spokesperson from Antalis said there is a lot to consider when selecting packaging, from the shape of the package to the functionality of the package and also the materials used. 

Antalis has begun collaborating with end users, design and packaging agencies to become more involved in the entire process. The company also seeks to engage the design community and bring more exposure to their customers’ works through self-funded initiatives implemented across Asia such as the Antalis 10-20-30 project, The Paperweight Awards and Conqueror Design Contest.

Source: SGS. The Tredan USB
Traveller Plug.

Chia Eng Kiat, MD, Tredan Connections, has made functionality a key factor of his products. In 2014, he debut his patented USB Traveller Plug, which received an initial 20,000 orders from corporate buyers. Today Tredan Connections offers a water bottle with integrated pillbox as well as a display kit to aid doctors in diagnosing erectile dysfunction, designed and developed by Chia.

“When you design your own product, it holds a special DNA familiar to the designer and the company it belongs to. Even when others try to replicate (it), (it) may not hold the same meaning or value. The industry is amassed with similar products that end up becoming commodities – they have lost their value and price often turns into a key factor,” Chia shared.

Also at SGS 2016 will be Thailand’s contingent of 12 gifts design talents. Exhibitors from Thailand have participated for 10 years as they find SGS provides a networking platform for them to meet with customers who appreciate their creative talents. “Thailand’s leadership in creative gifts design stems from its industry ability to harness its creative talents across all segments of its society,” said Khun Jirabool, President of Thai Gifts and Premiums Association (TGP).

Source: SGS. SIP members.

SGS' continued support of Social Innovation Park (SIP), and its Pop and Talent Hub (PaTH) social
enterprise talent development platform helps to provide exposure to creative talents. Penny Low, founder of SIP, said, “Since our collaboration in 2010, 106 members have benefitted from their participation in SGS and we are pleased that our members are able to contribute in a meaningful way to the positive development of the industry.”

Interested?

SGS will be held at Suntec Singapore Halls 401 to 403 from 29 June to 1 July. Admission is free for business cardholders. This year’s show will feature 112 booths with exhibitors from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the US.

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about Tredan's USB Traveller Plug, and see what happened at SGS 2015

2015 Namyangju Slow Life International Festival to delight visitors this October

Source: Slow Life Planet website.

An international festival promoting the slow food movement as well as an all-round healthy lifestyle will take place in the South Korean city of Namyangju in October. 

Under the theme Good Food, Good Life the Namyangju Slow Life International Festival (남양주슬로푸드국제대회) will run for 10 days from October 8 in the provincial city, located about 30 km east of Seoul. 

The fair is the second of its kind to be held in Namyangju city, after it launched the Asio Gusto festival in 2013. The city has since changed the name of the programme and decided to make it a regular event that is held every two years.

Visitors can expect to enjoy concerts, tasting sessions and other hands-on activities. A food show starring some of the most popular chefs from South Korea will be held during the festival, and visitors will also be able to try traditional foods and beverages from a diverse mix of cultures.

Interested?

Individual tickets: 7,000 won
Group* tickets: 6,000 won
Early bird** tickets: 5,000 won
Buy tickets**

*A group should have at least 10 people. 

**Early bird prices are available till October 7, 2015.

***Tickets at each tier cost 1,000 won less for teenagers and children.

Singapore Gifts Show 2015 preview

The Singapore Gifts Show (SGS) 2015, running 8 to 10 July at Suntec Singapore, showcases a range of uniquely Singapore gifts.

The sample pack sent by organiser TTG Events included the NYP Postcard Set at 12 o'clock, SG50 Tattoos at 1 o'clock, Makan Buddies LEGO Minifig at 6 o'clock, Miniature Tea Book – Volume II at 7 o'clock, and the Suction Mug at 11 o'clock.

Makan Buddies LEGO Minifig - Graceland Gifts, Booth B21

These premium custom LEGO pieces show how anyone can design and print their very own custom mini figurine, more popularly called a 'minifig' among LEGO collectors. This minifig in the Makan Buddies series sports the message 'roti prata', but it could be corporate branding instead.

Minifiglabs designers work with the LEGO art style in mind, ensuring that customers' creations blend in seamlessly with all existing LEGO minifig styles. Custom details can be printed at a maximum resolution of 1,800dpi.

SG50 Tattoos - Booth F16

Tattoo booth are crowd pullers at corporate events. Gumtoo celebrates Singapore’s 50 years with designer SG50 tattoos, exclusively designed by Gumtoo designers. Clients can order from six SG50 designs or convert their logos into temporary tattoos. Gumtoo designers can also custom-create tattoos as required.

Miniature Tea Book – Volume II -  Oriental Royalty Singapore, Booth F11.

Basilur Tea presents pure Ceylon black tea with blends of natural fruits, herbs and festive aromas packaged in what looks like an intricately designed book.

All the tea books in Basilur’s collection feature innovative blends and packaging, such as pyramid tea bags.

NYP Postcard Set - NYP Pavilion

A quirky collection of Singapore’s most cherished childhood memories and popular colloquial quotes.

Designed by students of Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)’s first year Diploma in Visual Communication, these designs titled A Moment of Singapore were specially created for Singapore’s jubilee and shown as part of the SG50 Singaplural showcase.

Suction Mug - Advantrade Supplies, Booth C19

A first in Singapore, these mugs have a grip pad at the bottom so that they are less resistant to accidental knocks, falls and spills.

Interested?

Visit the Singapore Gifts Show (SGS) 2015 at Suntec Hall 401 to 403 from 11am to 6:30pm. Admission is free for trade buyers and corporate visitors.

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post on SGS15.

Visit Singapore Gifts Show 2015 for corporate gifts galore

The upcoming Singapore Gifts Show (SGS) 2015 is the best place to get a feel of trends in corporate gifts for the year. Running from 8 to 10 July at Suntec Singapore, Hall 401 to 403, admission is free to the international trade event dedicated to showcasing innovative gifts, premiums and lifestyle products and services for trade buyers and corporate visitors.

The 10th SGS will feature a total of 160 booths with exhibitors coming from Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore, targeting 9,000 purchasers, corporate and marketing professionals from Singapore and around the region.

“We are thrilled to have been able to bring together exhibitors and purchasers from all over Asia and beyond for 10 years now. It is always gratifying for our team to see visitors get inspired by new ideas for corporate gifts and forge new relationships with regional and international industry suppliers and agents at the show,” said Ooi Peng Ee, General Manager of TTG Events, the exhibition and events arm of TTG Asia Media, the organiser of SGS 2015.

As the nation celebrates its Jubilee Year, many of the SGS 2015 exhibitors are offering gift ideas that reflect Singapore’s heritage, architecture and culture. Some uniquely Singaporean gifts include the “chope” (Editor's note: tissue packets are often used to reserve seats in public areas. The act of reservation is known as 'choping') tissue case and the Kueh Lapis bag from Apexx Marketing; lacquerware from Brex International’s Peranakan and Harmony Collection; as well as items with designs inspired by Singapore’s architecture by local label Now & Then.

SG50 Kueh Lapis Bag (Apexx Marketing, Booth F08). 

The Harmony Collection celebrates Singapore’s racial harmony. From left: a four-compartment tea box, mini boxes, a musical box, stationery box and a business card stand (Brex International, Booth D06). 

Nanoleaf One is billed as the World’s most energyefficient LED light bulb & a winner of the Red Dot Design 2015 Award. (Brex International, Booth D06). 

Show highlights include the Nanyang Polytechnic Design Pavilion Showcase, featuring works by young entrepreneurs, and the SIP Pavilion Showcase, hosting 20 booths from PaTH, Singapore’s first social enterprise talent development platform. PaTH booths will exhibit handmade crafts and accessories, all in support of the less-advantaged. Many PaTH vendors accept customised small orders.

Qua is introducing the Pathlight Artist Showcase - a collection of lacquerware featuring the designs from students and associates of Pathlight School, the first autism-focused school in Singapore. Artists include Leong Tung Seng, whose collection captures the Lion City in vivid colour, and Glenn Phua, with high stamina ink work.

Brex International is launching what it says is the world’s most energy-efficient LED lightbulb. Nanoleaf One has been rated the most energy efficient LED lightbulb in the world, based on data from the Lighting Facts website, and has a lifespan of 27 years. Nanoleaf is a 2015 Red Dot Design Award winner, and allows buyers to laser-etch custom artwork, logos or texts onto the surface of the product. Brex will also showcase Nanoleaf Bloom, a dimmable bulb that does not require a dimmer. The bulb has an integrated dimmer and is controlled via a standard light switch.

MOCAM – old school point and shoot photography meets new school cloud technology and filters. (Allegro Print at Booth F09).

Temporary tattoos based on the SG50 logo to mark the 50th anniversary of Singapore's independence. (Gumtoo, Booth F16).

From left: business card lacquer box and Celebrating Singapore 2015 MyStamp folder (SingPost, C09).

Visitors to the show can also try out the new MOCAM, a point-and-shoot camera that can be customised with skins. Conceptualised and developed in Singapore, MOCAM operates on a standard AA battery and a SD Micro card, and comes with in-built filters including vivid, sepia, spot Art, Black & White, X-ray and Pencil drawing. 

MOCAM users can use the MOPRESS cloud service which enables them to print out their pictures as a photo book. MOCAM and MOPRESS are currently only available in Singapore.

SGS organisers will also be running daily lucky draws with prizes that include a cruise to Penang, hotel stays, capsule coffee machines, as well as luggage from Delsey and Benetton.

The Singapore Gifts Show is organised by TTG Events, a business group of TTG Asia Media. It is partnered by the Gifts Association Singapore (SGA), the Designer Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS), Singapore Innovation Park (SIP), eConsultancy and supported by the Malaysian Gifts & Premium Entrepreneur Association (MGPA), Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), the Thai Gifts Premiums and Decorative Association (TGPA), Marketing Institute of Singapore (MIS) and Conversion Hub Marketing.

From top: Tote bag inspired by Singapore architecture; mug inspired by Peranakan tiles; porcelain plates inspired by local architecture. (Celcem, Booth C05).

Interested?

Visit the show from 11am to 6:30pm from 8 to 10 July at Suntec Singapore, Hall 401 to 403.

*Pictures from SGS.

Tredan launches handy USB Traveller Plug at Singapore Gifts Show

Source: Tredan. Chia holding two USB Traveller Plugs.

Chia Eng Kiat, who owns corporate and gifts supplier Tredan Connections, has done the legwork and found that most business executives who travel carry at least three devices, a laptop, a tablet and a phone. They may even carry more if they own more than one phone and a camera too.

"Their problem is how to ensure that all their devices are fully charged before they leave the hotel. Most hotels comes with a single power point and some are located in obscure places that you have to move furniture and dangle your device while charging," said Chia. "Even if you have adaptors with multiple USB ports, the USB capacity is insufficient to charge more than two devices at one go as the same USB capacity is shared by four USB ports. Some folks set an alarm to wake them up to charge their devices and worse if you have companion in the room, it's double the devices, who gets to charge first?"

The problem has become even more pressing with the latest news that devices on international flights must be charged. Singapore Airlines has already advised that phones must have some charge in them on Frankfurt to US flights, or they will be confiscated. In a travel alert dated 8 July the airline said: "Customers travelling on flight SQ26 to New York JFK are advised that electronic devices, including and larger than a mobile phone, must be switched on at security screening to show functionality. Failure to do so will result in the device not being permitted for travel from Frankfurt."

Chia's answer to making business travel better is the USB Traveller Plug, which features two multi-standard sockets, two USB ports and an extension wire, all stored in a charger the size of a smartphone. The gadget allows travellers to charge multiple devices from a single wall socket unit.

"Based on our research and feedback from clients, their frustration when they travel is having to charge their multiple devices. Some bring extension plugs but it's bulky and the wire is messy and obstructive, and they do not have USB ports. Our USB Traveller Plug is small and compact; there is an extension wire that can be coiled, and the universal socket can be used in any country. With the USB ports you don’t need to bring another USB adaptor, thereby cutting down on your items to bring and weight," he said.

Chia spent a year doing research, getting user feedback and tweaking the product to get it right. The plug has been launched at the Singapore Gifts Show 2014, and he hopes to add to his corporate orders. He has already signed up corporate customers and have patented the design in Singapore and China, and is applying for more patents in other countries.

According to Chia, the plug is in production now and will be available for sale around end-August at the Qoo10 online retail site as well as at other retailers. Reservations are accepted by emailing sales@tredan.com.sg.