YPB wins 2 prized awards at China’s peak anti-counterfeit summit

Best Western® Hotels & Resorts to Welcome Spectacular New Hotel with

1,000+ Rooms Overlooking Breathtaking Ha Long Bay

Best Western Hotels & Resorts announced today the signing of an impressive new upscale hotel overlooking Ha Long Bay, the iconic UNESCO World Heritage site in Vietnam.     

Developed by Doji Land Real Estate Investment Company Limited, the Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long is a spectacular new 31-story project that is currently rising in the heart of Ha Long City’s hotel district. It will feature more than 1,000 spacious guestrooms, outstanding business and leisure facilities and panoramic views of the bay. The hotel is scheduled to open its doors in the fourth quarter of 2020.

“Best Western is excited to announce the signing of the Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long, as this hotel reflects our brand’s commitment to bringing world-class hospitality to Asia’s most attractive destinations,” said Ron Pohl, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “We look forward to providing travelers visiting the historically-rich and captivating coast of Ha Long Bay with the elevated style and luxurious amenities that are signatures of our Best Western Premier^® brand.”

Upon opening, this exceptional hotel will feature 1,008 residential-style rooms with a minimum size of 35 square meters and a choice of one or two bedrooms. Each unit will feature contemporary décor, a private balcony and modern technology, including complimentary Wi-Fi.

Guests will be able to unwind with a full range of facilities, including a swimming pool, fitness center, business center, executive lounge and retail outlets, all supported by Best Western’s impressive service standards. A diverse collection of dining and entertainment options will feature a bright all-day restaurant, a chic specialty restaurant, a coffee shop, beer bar, cigar lounge and wine bar.

“Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long is a fantastic new hotel that provides international accommodation in an unsurpassed location, in the heart of one of the world’s most desirable destinations. As a globally recognized World Heritage site and one of the ‘New7Wonders of Nature,’ Ha Long Bay is the jewel in Vietnam’s tourism crown. Our wonderful new waterfront hotel will perfectly showcase this breathtaking landscape,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations - Asia.

“This landmark signing is a wonderful example of how Best Western’s portfolio is evolving in Asia Pacific. As a fully managed property, Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long will benefit from our company’s 70-plus years of hospitality expertise and extensive global support network. Sleek, stylish and spacious, this landmark hotel will combine seamless stays with stunning views. We look forward to working with Doji Land to bring their vision to life, and to welcoming our first guests to Ha Long Bay in 2020,” Olivier added.

Nestled in Quang Ninh province, northeast Vietnam, Ha Long Bay features approximately 2,000 islets and limestone karsts, jutting out from the water in a variety of dramatic shapes and sizes. This makes it an ideal destination for outdoor adventure and recreation, including boat tours, cave exploration and kayaking.

Quang Ninh welcomed 7.5 million visitors in the first half of 2018, including 2.5 million international travelers, which marked a 14 percent year-on-year increase. This number is likely to rise significantly in future as Ha Long Bay becomes more accessible than ever before. The recent opening of a new highway has slashed the traveling time from Hanoi down to just two hours, and the new Van Don International Airport is slated to start operating in late 2018, just 50km from Ha Long City.

Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long marks the latest phase of Best Western’s Vietnamese expansion strategy, following the recent signings of hotels and resorts in Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc and Quang Binh

Exquisitely Festive 2018 at The St. Regis Bangkok

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Willis Towers Watson launches employee wellbeing indicator

New index provides workforce insights that support improved productivity and performance

Employers will be able to gain insights into the effectiveness of their employee health and wellbeing programs, through a new index launched today by leading global advisory, broking and solutions company Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW).

While companies are investing heavily in wellbeing in their workplaces, employee engagement with these programs remains low. Lesley Brown, Asia Pacific Leader, Employee Surveys and Insights at Willis Towers Watson said: “We saw the need for a tool that would help companies build employee wellbeing and reduce risk, as well as measure and benchmark improvements in workforce productivity. We have developed our Employee Wellbeing Indicator to support this.”

The tool measures the current wellbeing of employees in physical, psychological, social and financial terms and identifies the areas of concern that will affect productivity.

The Global Benefits Attitudes Study, released earlier this year, shows that 50% of Australian employees with current financial concerns indicated that their worries keep them from doing their best at work. Globally, one in four employees have health issues, are worried about their finances, plan to work into their 70s and are disengaged.

A further Willis Towers Watson survey, the Asia-Pacific Benefits Trends report revealed that employees were expecting further benefits from their organisations in the health and wellness space. It found 74% of employers were considering behavioural or emotional health management programs, while 55% were looking at activity-based wellbeing programs and 50% of employers identified lifestyle risk management as their key area of investment. The missing link was for employers to gauge the efficacy and return on investment of such programs.

The Employee Wellbeing Indicator is designed to help companies identify areas of strength and high performance, pinpoint where they need to focus to build employee wellbeing, productivity and overall business performance and track progress over time.

Brown added: “We are looking to go beyond traditional health programs and employee engagement surveys. This is an integrated solution that uses consumer-grade software, underpinned by robust research methodologies. Individual company results will also be benchmarked against Australia’s most comprehensive national norm.

“The Global Benefits Attitudes Study showed that employers need to look at programs that leverage the workplace environment and promote the use of new technologies. These are both strongly linked to more positive attitudes by employees about their company’s wellbeing efforts and to health management.”

The 2018 survey window for employers to participate in the Employee Wellbeing Indicator starts 22 October and runs until 30 November.

Source : https://www.willistowerswatson.com/

Deloitte announces record revenue of US$43.2 billion

Deloitte today reported aggregate member firm revenue of US$43.2 billion for the fiscal year ended 31 May 2018 (FY2018). This is an 11.3 percent revenue increase of US$4.4 billion.

“FY2018 was exceptional for Deloitte as we continued to deliver a measurable impact for clients, our people, and society. These results reflect Deloitte’s unrelenting commitment to serving clients with quality and distinction while embracing important public-interest responsibilities,” says Punit Renjen, Deloitte Global CEO. “Over the past year, we have increased strategic investments in the capabilities and services most sought-after by clients in the fastest-growing markets in the world. We also have expanded our efforts and investments to drive audit quality and innovation while achieving strong financial results.”

Transition to Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) delivers growth across all businesses, industries and regions

Deloitte’s global strategy and multidisciplinary business model continued to deliver successes in FY2018. All five practice areas—Audit & Assurance, Consulting, Financial Advisory, Risk Advisory, and Tax & Legal—grew during this time.

Among the industries driving Deloitte’s growth in FY2018 were Technology, Media & Telecommunications, and Financial Services; each grew revenue more than 12 percent on a US-dollar basis. Consumer and Industrial Products was the top contributor with US$1.3 billion revenue gained from FY2017 to FY2018.

Overall, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) grew fastest among the regions with a USD revenue growth rate of 15.9 percent, followed by Asia Pacific at 13.3 percent, and the Americas at 8.0 percent.

• Audit & Assurance experienced growth of 7.7 percent. Amid changing regulations and disruptive technologies, Audit & Assurance expanded services that provide greater value and insights while fulfilling its commitment to the public interest. Over the past five years Deloitte has advanced audit quality with more than US$1 billion in investments globally. Among many initiatives in audit innovation is Deloitte Omnia, a cloud-based, next-generation artificial intelligence platform that adds to a market-leading global solutions portfolio. Deloitte continues to be recognized globally for leadership in audit quality, and for insights based on analytics and artificial intelligence.
• Consulting revenue grew fastest at 15.7 percent, with double-digit growth in each core capability area: Technology, Strategy & Operations, and Human Capital. This extends more than 10 years of double-digit growth. Consulting focused on delivering digital-enabled business transformation by integrating strategy, people, and technology to help clients navigate the challenges and opportunities of Industry 4.0. Consulting developed cloud-based, agile, data-driven products and solutions through strategic alliances with leading technology companies.
  
• Financial Advisory achieved 8.0 percent revenue growth, providing services crucial to many iconic and transformative M&A deals, and deploying new offerings and client initiatives. End-to-end M&A services continued to support major global transactions, while Financial Advisory’s Forensic practice supported clients in some of the year’s biggest and most complex disputes and investigations by leveraging analytics, digital tools, and digital delivery mechanisms.  
• Risk Advisory had the second-highest revenue growth at 12.0 percent, fueled largely by growth in Cyber, Financial, and Operational Risk. Risk Advisory completed six acquisitions in critical growth areas such as corporate social responsibility, cybersecurity, risk sensing and analytics, and regulatory compliance and strategy. Risk Advisory also launched new cross-industry offerings in GDPR, breach notification, and digital risk. It introduced offerings for life sciences clients in IDMP and Medtech. Risk Advisory has been at the forefront in supporting clients adapting to geopolitical changes—in particular the impacts of Brexit.
  
• Tax & Legal saw 8.7 percent revenue growth driven by the needs of clients who face an increasingly complex landscape of tax and legal requirements everywhere they operate. Tax & Legal leveraged its strength in delivering technology-enabled global solutions to assist clients who must comply with evolving tax, legal, and employee mobility and immigration policies as they pursue strategic opportunities throughout the world. 

Building a diverse, inclusive, agile workforce to meet the needs of tomorrow

In FY2018, Deloitte increased its workforce to approximately 286,000 professionals, an 8.4 percent increase. Growth occurred across all regions and practice areas, with more than 77,000 professionals hired. Among the regions, growth was led by Asia Pacific at 11.6 percent, and for services it was led by Consulting at 14.7 percent.

Additionally, in FY2018 Deloitte elevated 676 professionals to partner, a 19 percent increase from FY2017. Globally, 174 of these partners are women. Geographically, Asia-Pacific saw the largest share, with 242 professionals elevated to partner, representing a nearly 30 percent increase over last year. The Americas elevated 238 new partners and the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region (EMEA) elevated 196.

Deloitte continues to build a diverse, inclusive, agile workforce that is deeply skilled and ready for Industry 4.0. How and where work is done is changing, and Deloitte is responding by providing its people with exceptional professional experiences, including new approaches to connectivity, learning and development, and advancement.

Deloitte’s dedication to attracting, retaining and developing the very best global leaders, at all levels across the organization, is illustrated by its investment in its network of Deloitte University (DU) centers around the world. Through DU, Deloitte professionals advance their careers and participate in leadership development programs in a world-class learning environment that inspires them to be their best.

In FY2018, Deloitte doubled down on its talent investment and increased its impact by delivering the DU experience to more than 90,000 professionals and opening Deloitte’s seventh DU location, in Mexico City.

New mindset for societal impact

Addressing the complex challenges society faces today has become an imperative for business, and one that requires a new mindset for action. Deloitte embraces this opportunity—through its client work and hands-on community activities, and by sharing insights.

Deloitte’s ambition is to create pathways for people to fulfill their aspirations and find meaningful work in the new economy. The WorldClass societal-impact initiative expands access to education and career-building opportunities for those affected by Industry 4.0. The goal is to impact 50 million futures by 2030.

In FY2018 alone, major initiatives included: award-winning work showcasing the social and economic value of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia; cooperating with the Refugee Studies Center at the University of Oxford on a cross-border initiative to realize the economic potential of refugees living in Europe; and serving as the lead innovation partner for UNLEASH 2018, a global initiative inspiring and supporting the next generation of leaders as they develop solutions to some of the most vexing problems facing the world today.

“At the core of Deloitte’s business model is the fundamental belief that working with a sense of purpose and serving with quality and distinction make a positive impact on our clients, our people, and our communities. It is through our work that we contribute to building a more equitable and sustainable world,” says Renjen.

Recognizing the impact Deloitte is making in preparing its people and its clients for the technological disruption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Fortunerecently named Deloitte to its “Change the World” list. The annual ranking recognizes top companies who are making measurable progress addressing important societal problems.

To learn more about Deloitte’s societal impact, please read Deloitte’s 2018 Global Report.

Note: All growth rates in this press release are in USD unless otherwise specified.

Source: https://www2.deloitte.com/

PKF becomes SEC approved Auditor

PKF is proud to announce that it has been added to the prestigious list of Audit firms in Thailand that are approved by the Stock Exchange of Thailand to audit Listed clients or those which are looking to perform an Initial Public Offering (IPO). With the addition of PKF there are 28 firms who have qualified for this high level of accreditation. Companies and individuals that are approved to this group have to undergo rigorous scrutiny by the SEC to ensure the highest levels of standards, governance and monitoring.

The Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission is an independent public agency under the Securities and Exchange Act B.E. 2535 (1992) with the duty to supervise and develop the Thai capital market to ensure efficiency, fairness, transparency and integrity. Khun Sawinee Sawanont, an Audit and Assurance Partner from PKF commented “PKF are proud to assist the SEC with their important mission to protect the confidence and trust of all stakeholders for listed and potential IPO companies.”

 

Source: http://www.pkfthailand.asia/

A team from UNSW Sydney are behind a sculpture and video installation featuring in this year's Sculpture by the Sea exhibition

Sculpture by the Sea, one of the world’s biggest outdoor sculpture exhibitions, will this year feature a work exploring the complexity of mental illness through a video and sculpture created by a team at UNSW Sydney. 

It is only the second time a video installation will be part of the exhibition, now in its 22nd year and visited by about half a million people annually. The work will be exhibited with more than 100 other sculptures by artists from around the world on the two-kilometre coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama.

The interactive installation, Look Inside My Mind, is a collaborative work by UNSW’s visual content manager Matthew Gill and his team, along with UNSW Medicine, UNSW Psychology and UNSW Canberra.

Positioned at the steps on the edge of Tamarama’s Marks Park, Look Inside My Mind is an over-life-sized androgynous, ageless resin head that will give visitors an imagined glimpse into an experience of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through a looping video seen through multiple viewing stations.

"On closer inspection the viewer realises there are three viewing holes positioned around the head," says Gill. “Within the sculpture is a three-minute audio and visual sequence that depicts the lived experience of PTSD from the view point of a returning solider.

"The images look back at you, creating an emotional engagement that connects you to the person. The viewer can become totally absorbed in the surreal and dreamlike experience and there’s a sense of frustration that you don’t see the full picture or make sense of the order of images."

The video is based on research from UNSW Medicine’s School of Psychiatry, UNSW Psychology, and interviews with male and female ex-service personnel who are UNSW Canberra alumni. One of the contributors whose experiences of living with PTSD informed the video is Benjamin Farinazzo, a former Australian Army Officer and UNSW graduate who was diagnosed with PTSD following his return from East Timor where he served as part of the INTERFET Forces.

Experiences of PTSD, such as intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, heightened physiological reactions such as hyperventilation and anxiety, and dissociative symptoms such as derealization, numbing and detachment, are represented through the video.

Professor Zachary Steel, from UNSW Medicine’s School of Psychiatry, emphasises that raising public awareness of PTSD is crucial in improving understanding about the mental health disorder and removing stigma at a community level.

"PTSD is a major global challenge and capturing an experience of PTSD through video and the eyes of someone who has the disorder is highly valuable in providing a window for others to better understand the debilitating nature of this condition that often can go undiagnosed," says Professor Steel.

"We are all familiar with the term PTSD. What we don’t often understand is how someone can shift from high functioning to sudden impairment.  PTSD can dramatically change a life, disconnecting people from family and friends. While it may resolve for some people who develop the condition, all too often it can become a chronic condition and cause difficulties not only for those directly affected but those who support and care for them," he adds.

Professor Steel, a psychologist and the inaugural St John of God Professorial Chair for Trauma and Mental Health, a partnership between Richmond Hospital, UNSW Medicine and the Black Dog Institute, leads a joint research program in mental health, working closely with veterans and emergency service first responders as well as refugees, asylum seekers and populations affected by displacement.

"PTSD will affect one in 20 Australians at some time during their lives and is one of the most common mental disorders in Australia. There is enormous need for increased awareness," he explains.

Some of the key challenges for clinicians in recent years, says Professor Steel, have been working with veterans and first responders with high trauma load who don’t respond well to treatment, supporting refugees and asylum seekers dealing with the impact of immigration policies and supporting women who have experienced domestic violence.

In the first reports released this year from the joint DVA and Defence-funded Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme – a series of studies examining the health of current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members – researchers found one in two transitioning veterans experienced a mental disorder and one in five were diagnosed with PTSD. The suicide risk was high in transitioning veterans, with one in five reporting suicide and close to one in 10 making a suicide plan in the last 12 months.

"We are seeing extraordinarily high rates of mental trauma – higher than expected. Often those who are most injured are least able to be able to tell their stories," says Professor Steel.

"There are very high fitness requirements for military and emergency first responders, and often the level of impairment caused by relentless trauma exposure isn’t properly recognised as by the time the full extent of post-traumatic stress injuries become apparent they have already left the service.

"There are also major barriers to overcome delays in treatment, he said, and improving early detection and tackling complex government agency systems and processes that can undermine recovery. There is also often limited support for the readjustment back to work.

"Raising public awareness of PTSD will go a long way to lifting low mental health literacy and continuing to destigmatise mental health," he says.

Source: http://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/

Fantastic Four in a Row for Best Western® at Travel Weekly Asia’s Reader’s Choice Awards

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has continued its winning streak at Travel Weekly Asia’s Reader’s Choice Awards, after it was named “Asia’s Best Midscale Hotel Chain” for a fantastic fourth consecutive year.

The world-renowned hotel group received its latest honor at the 2018 Reader’s Choice Awards, which were voted for by the readers of Travel Weekly Asia – one of the region's largest and most respected travel trade publications.

The award was presented to Best Western at a glittering award ceremony in Singapore on Monday October 15, 2018.

“It is a great honor to be named as ‘Asia’s Best Midscale Hotel Chain’ once again. Best Western has developed multiple new brands in recent years, catering for exciting new market trends. These include Vīb®, our millennially-minded urban hotel concept, which we believe represents the future of midscale accommodation,” commented Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia.

“We look forward to introducing guests to Asia's first Vīb hotels later this year. I am confident that the region's travel trade will love our innovative new midscale products as much as they love our classic midscale Best Western hotels. On behalf of everyone at Best Western, I would like to thank the esteemed readers of Travel Weekly Asia for voting for us once again,” Olivier added.

This year, Travel Weekly Asia handed out a total of 56 Readers’ Choice Awards across 10 different categories. These awards were created to celebrate the hotel industry’s leading stars – brands that push the boundaries and raise the bar for hospitality in the region, earning the respect of customers and travel trade professionals alike.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has now held the title of “Asia’s Best Midscale Hotel Chain” every year since 2015.

International Media Familiarisation Trip 2018 at Lancaster Bangkok

The event was hosted by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), who invited representatives of the media from Asia, Middle East and Europe for a five-day familiarisation trip in 2018.

Lancaster Bangkok is a new five star Hotel in a prime area for corporate or leisure stays, with a range of facilities that make it an ideal MICE venue. Lancaster Bangkok is independent of any hotel chains and one of the few remaining Thai owned and operated hotels in Bangkok. The Hotel proudly promotes Thailand’s readiness to become a leading MICE venue hub in Asia.

As the newest member of the renowned Landmark Lancaster Hotel Group, with properties in Bangkok and London, the striking Lancaster Bangkok embodies the warm hospitality Thailand is known for. Beautifully designed and lavishly furnished, this 5-star hotel in the vibrant Makkasan District pairs luxurious Thai heritage with a highly-trained team dedicated to providing guests with heartfelt and generous service. 

Situated along Phetchaburi Road, Lancaster Bangkok opens its doors to guests as the city’s new destination  for business, leisure, medical and wellness travellers. The hotel is located near the intersection of Phetchaburi and Asok. Easily accessed from both Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi  Airports and close to both the Airport Rail Link and the underground station MRT Phetchaburi, Lancaster Bangkok ensures guests are never far from the city’s vibrant heart. 

Beginning with a 60-metre atrium flooded with natural daylight, the hotel’s interior features an elegant, sleek design that balances modern and traditional Thai elements. The hotel and its guest rooms incorporate a contemporary colour palette to provide a relaxing and warm environment. Thai design elements are seen throughout the hotel. The atrium walls above the lobby feature 2,500 pieces of wooden wall art carved in the classical Thai pattern pla ta pian, symbolizing prosperity and abundance. All deluxe rooms are also decorated with premium Jim Thompson silk textiles in beautiful designs.

Lancaster Bangkok features an array of leisure facilities and impeccable services. 231 luxurious guest rooms, deluxe rooms, suites, family rooms and apartments provide ample space for guests to relax and take in enchanting city views while enjoying the full range of thoughtful, state-of-the-art amenities on offer. Each room is furnished with luxury Egyptian cotton and features a free-standing bath and rainforest shower. The rooms also are fully equipped with modern necessities like high definition televisions, in room tablets and complimentary high speed Wi-Fi to offer guests both style and comfort.

For the discerning business traveller, Lancaster Bangkok features multiple meeting rooms and facilities to satisfy the needs of even the busiest executive. For events, conferences, weddings and meetings, Lancaster Bangkok is the venue of choice. The ballroom is fit to host up to 300 guests and an additional 9 meeting rooms offer flexible meeting and exhibition spaces. Each one is versatile and fully customisable, with catering and setup options ready to be tailored to any preference.

Authentic Thai memories await at Lancaster Bangkok, where travellers can enjoy a unique experience full of warmth and true Thai hospitality.

For reservations and more information, please call Tel. +66 (0) 2252 6890, info@lancasterbangkok.com,

www.lancasterbangkok.com or become a fan at www.facebook.com/lancasterbangkok

Best Western® Hotels & Resorts Shares Loving Kindness with Under-Privileged Children in Thailand

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has continued to spread love and kindness across Asia with another successful charitable initiative to support under-privileged children in rural Thailand.

In the two-day “Share Loving Kindness” CSR event, Best Western’s Asia head office and hotel associates traveled to Thailand’s Lopburi province to deliver much-needed support and supplies, including sports equipment, to two local schools: Wat Dong Sawong School and Lopburi Panyanukun School. This was followed by a visit to Wat Prabatnampu. At all three locations, the team was able to spend time with the children, playing games and learning about their lives, hopes and dreams.

In total, Best Western’s team, friends and family members donated funds and equipment worth THB 120,000 to the community. This will help to improve educational standards and support local families, teachers and carers, whilst bringing smiles to faces of local children.

“CSR is an integral part of Best Western’s activities. As a global company, we aim to make a real and sustainable difference in every destination in which we operate. Our charitable mission to Lopburi province helped to ‘Share Loving Kindness’ by supporting the people who need it most and providing new opportunities for local children. I would like to thank all the Best Western team members who contributed to this occasion, including the volunteers and everyone who made donations,” commented Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia.

This rewarding mission marks the latest in a series of CSR initiatives undertaken by Best Western in Asia. In the future, the company will continue to provide for local communities as part of its global “Best Western For A Better World^®” program, which supports charitable efforts and worthwhile causes all around the world.