Guests at Anantara Layan and Mai Khao and its sister property Avani+ in Phuket recently participated in the annual baby turtle and shark release programme in support of the conservation efforts of the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and the Phuket Marine Biology Centre. Fifty-four green turtles ranging from 12 to 15 months old and 34 young bamboo sharks were released along the beaches where both Anantara Layan Resort and Anantara Mai Khao Villas are located.
During the breeding season from November to February, marine turtles return to the beach they were born to lay their eggs. Their numbers have been severely depleted over the last 20 years and the local Mai Khao and Layan villagers are working hard to protect them. They take the eggs to the Phuket Marine Biology Centre hatchery where the baby turtles are protected from elements of nature and human exploitation and kept for a year to improve their chances of survival.
The Phuket Marine Biological Centre manages the nursery in order to strengthen the baby turtles and increase their chance of survival. At the nursery, the turtles are raised within tanks, receiving sufficient food and specialists' constant care. After a year, when their shells are at least 20cm long, their bodies weigh over 2kg and their blood count and flippers are in the right condition, they are released back to the sea.
The Bamboo Shark breeding programme is also led by Phuket Marine Biological Centre. After nine months of safety in the nursery, the bamboo sharks are released into the Andaman. Bamboo sharks are among the smallest of sharks, growing up to only 1m in length and harmless to humans. They are threatened due to poaching either for the dinner table or aquariums.
Guests can visit the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation next to Anantara Mai Khao each morning at 11am and learn more about the life of a turtle from the resident marine biologists. Visitors can also support the Foundation's efforts to save the environment by donating 30 baht per night during their stay under Anantara's Dollars for Deeds CSR initiative.
Call 076-336-100 or email phuket@anantara.com.
WorldHotels offers savings
WorldHotels announced recently the launch of its newest global campaign "Reimagined Destinations", inviting travellers to take time to rediscover, reinvent and reimagine their unique destinations with an exclusive promotion. Under this new promotion, travellers can save up to 20% on two (or more) night stays at any of WorldHotels' upscale and luxury properties which are available in more than 200 destinations worldwide between May 1 and June 30.
From the Scottish Highlands to the beaches of Miami and everything in between, with WorldHotels' "Reimagined Destinations" campaign, the brand provides guests with an offer to stay at unparalleled upscale and luxury properties across the globe.
Guests who are part of WorldHotels' award-winning loyalty programme will also be eligible to earn WorldHotels RewardsSM (WHR) points or 500 airline miles (or equivalent) for their stay at participating WorldHotels properties.
Visit worldhotels.com.
Celebrate British queen's jubilee
As all eyes turn to London for the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, Leicester Square's super-boutique hotel The Londoner recently unveiled The Jubilee Summer Series, a 30-day special that embraces the best of British luxury, heritage and culture.
On offer is a programme of exclusive events and experiences in and around the hotel. Running from May 16 to June 12, highlights include Queer Queen's Cabaret in The Green Room, Exclusive Omorovicza Queen's Jubilee Facial in The Retreat and New Jubilee Additions to the Afternoon Tea in The Stage.
Guests throughout the month can also enjoy several activities including live music in The Stage, Blue Badge Tour Guides to historical sites and a Royal Park Stretching Class.
Visit thelondoner.com/jubilee.
Travellers seek mindful trips
A 2022 Travel Trends Report recently revealed that global travellers are placing a greater focus on how a trip benefits their mental well-being. Nearly half of Hong Kong (49%) and Singapore respondents (41%) are looking for a sense of contentment and mental well-being on their next trip. Meanwhile, more than a third of people (32%) hope to immerse themselves in destinations, cultures and experiences that are completely distinct from theirs.
Travellers planning their next overseas adventures are increasingly looking for immersive experiences, which go beyond traditional tourism, and provide opportunities to make genuine connections with local cultures and people, to give back and to partake in activities that are good for the soul.
With that said, Oceania Cruises' exclusive Go Local tours have been designed to tap into evolving guest preferences and embed travellers in the lives and homes of local families for an authentic taste of the different communities' ways of life. Rather than simply visiting historic landmarks and well-known sightseeing spots, these shore excursions connect guests with vendors in local markets, open the door for shared meals with local families and let travellers explore age-old traditions on farms and vineyards alongside local workers.
Visit oceaniacruises.com.
