Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel Celebrates 150th Anniversary

‘The Colonial Life’ showcases specially tailored culinary experiences

Meliá Pattaya Hotel With a design inspired by Pattaya’s attractions and melting pot history and culture, and an eclectic dining landscape including a beach club, Meliá Pattaya Hotel is slated to open Q1 2025. Situated in vibrant Pattaya, a short drive from Bangkok, on the Gulf of Thailand’s east coast, the hotel stands 12 stories high on Second Road, also known as Pattaya Sai Song. In addition to the sun-soaked beach club fronting Pattaya Beach, Meliá Pattaya Hotel will also cut the ribbon on 234 contemporary rooms and suites, a rooftop restaurant, an executive lounge, a vast swimming pool with an enchanting adjacent bar and function lawn, Meliá’s signature YHI Spa, kids club Kidsdom, a fully-equipped gym, coworking area, collection of versatile meeting spaces and more. Meliá Pattaya Hotel’s debut follows the rollout of Meliá Koh Samui in 2020, Meliá Chiang Mai in 2022 and INNSiDE By Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit in 2023 in Thailand under the ownership of Asset World Corporation (AWC). Photo credits: Balcony Media Group ME Lisbon Opening in the heart of the historic Portuguese capital in early 2025, ME Lisbon will showcase the brand’s signature avant-garde design and cultural programming, as well as world-class gastronomic concepts, a Radio Rooftop Bar with panoramic views, and over 600m2 of meeting and event space. The 213-key property features rooms and suites ranging from 31 - 138 sqm. Restaurants include Fismuler, an award-winning restaurant from the La Ancha Family Group making its debut outside of Spain; and Attiko, a rooftop restaurant launching for the first time in Europe. Attiko, by Chef Moon, currently has a sister restaurant in W Dubai.   Photo credits: Balcony Media Group Further development plans for ME by Meliá include Spain – with ME Malaga opening in Q1 2025 and ME Marbella following in Q2 2025 – as well as Greece, Albania, and China. The brand will also bolster its presence in Mexico, with ME Guadalajara and ME Sayulita both set to launch in 2025. Joining ME Cabo, these new Mexican properties further fortify Meliá’s expansion into Mexico, where it is expected to double its presence in the next two years.

A Spanish Take on Festivities INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit is gearing up for the New Year with an exquisite Spanish menu, buffet feasts and a sky-high countdown party, all accompanied by panoramic views of Bangkok’s skyline. Perched on the hotel’s 33rd and 34th floors, LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar will take diners on a culinary pilgrimage of Spain with a New Year’s Eve set menu crafted by Madrid-born chef Juan Ignacio García Racionero. The menu will be served in two sessions from 6-8pm and 9-11pm. The Kites Eatery will serve, under the stewardship of executive chef Katisak Pinkaew, a New Year’s Eve buffet from 6-11pm and a buffet brunch from 12-3pm on New Year’s Day. Revellers will count down the new year at the Giant Swing Bar for a night of rooftop fun and music from live DJs from 6pm-1am. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group Japanese and Italian Feasts The Hari Hong Kong, on Lockhart Road in vibrant Wan Chai, will usher in the new year with delectable lunches and dinners and a countdown party with a DJ spinning the decks. Under the stewardship of Director of F&B Francesco Gava and his team, Italian ristorante Lucciola will serve authentic Italian classics with a modern twist at the New Year’s Eve set lunch and dinner. Contemporary Japanese restaurant Zoku, with a ceiling of angled timber slats in origami-like forms, will host a New Year’s Eve set lunch from 12-3.30pm and New Year’s Eve set dinner with the first seating from 6-8pm and the second seating from 8.30-10.30pm. The hotel’s alfresco terrace bar, aptly named The Terrace, will host the hotel’s lively New Year’s Eve Countdown Party from 10pm-1am, with food and cocktails. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group A Resident Pianist Plays It Again, Like Sam To bid farewell to 2024 and welcome 2025 with gusto, Alma’s restaurants will host dinners, and the Alma Lounge will celebrate with its “Countdown Bash”. Italian fine dining trattoria La Casa will serve dinner on New Year’s Eve to an accompaniment of the resident pianist Ben’s live piano and singing. Alma Garden, which beats at the heart of the resort, will put on lavish buffet spreads of international delicacies on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. At Alma’s Countdown Bash revelers will gather at Alma Lounge from 8.30pm onwards to dance to live music and, as the clock strikes midnight, champagne toast to the new year. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group A Night for Masquerades The Anam Mui Ne and The Anam Cam Ranh will welcome 2025 with a ‘Masquerade-themed New Year’s Eve BBQ Buffet’ and a ‘Midnight Masquerade Countdown Party’ respectively. The Mui Ne buffet at the Indochine will brim with breads, cheeses and cold cuts, appetizers and salads, hot dishes, soups, a carving station, BBQ seafood and meat including baby lobster, grilled oysters and beef striploin, desserts and more, before a countdown party at the Beach Lawn. After a seafood BBQ buffet at Lang Viet Restaurant & Bar on New Year’s Eve to a backdrop of a fire show and bartender’s show, the Midnight Masquerade Countdown Party at The Anam Cam Ranh’s Beach Lawn will feature live music and spectacular fireworks. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group Dancing on the Beach after Journeying Under the Sea Located in a private bay at the southeastern corner of the island, Banyan Tree Samui invites guests and revelers to experience their “A Night Under the Sea Party Night” from 10pm till 1am on New Year’s Eve. The night will begin with a fabulous feast - a 5-course gala dinner set menu from 7pm to 10pm - with everything from appetizers such as sushi and sashimi, French foie gras, oysters, tiger prawns and Russian caviar to main courses of prime rib of beef, lamb crown or Tasmanian grilled salmon, and a host of delectable desserts. At 10pm, the party moves to the beachside where a dance floor will burst into life. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group Leave the Kids in a Corner Banyan Tree Krabi bids farewell to 2024 with a Gala Dinner and Countdown Party including live entertainment, an extravagant buffet, and selected free-flow alcoholic beverages. Starting at 7pm on 31st Dec with a festive feast at The Naga Kitchen venue, diners can choose from an array of cheeses, cold cuts, a salad bar, homemade smoked salmon, truffle soup, iced seafood including fin de claire oysters, as well as a selection of Southern Thai and Japanese culinary delights. There’s also a supervised KIds’ Corner as the party moves to the beach as midnight approaches.For more information or reservations, contact krabi@banyantree.com or tel: +66 075 811 888. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group Soar over Rice Paddies into 2025 Overlooking the rice paddies of Ubud and with Mt Agung in the distance, Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana, offers a one-of-a-kind view of the surrounding landscape. The view is further enhanced when taking flight in Bali’s only hot air balloon. On the 31st of December guests can take a hot air balloon ride, take part in cultural activities, enjoy a candlelit dining experience, and watch a fireworks show, at this scenic Balinese resort. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group A Cabaret, a DJ and Fireworks Celebrate the arrival of 2025 in style at Trisara, one of Phuket’s most prestigious beachfront properties. The reveries begin with a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, starting with canapés and a glass of champagne under the stars. Indulge in a lavish buffet with live cooking stations while enjoying performances from a live band, traditional Thai dancers, a festive cabaret, and a DJ, culminating in a breathtaking midnight fireworks display. The festivities continue on New Year’s Day with a sumptuous oceanfront brunch, featuring fresh seafood, cheese, desserts, and live jazz from the Malika Band. Guests can raise a glass with a selection of champagne and wine packages, and savor the start of the new year in paradise. Prices for the gala start at THB 25,000++, while the brunch begins at THB 4,900++. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group Look Forward While Looking Back Celebrate New Year’s Eve in retro style at Laguna Lang Co, Vietnam’s premier integrated resort, with a nostalgic gala dinner that takes revellers back to the vibrant 70s, 80s, and 90s. Dress in your best vintage attire and groove to iconic hits from these unforgettable decades as you enjoy a sumptuous feast under the stars. Begin the evening with “Nostalgia Night”, a time to get down to retro vibes and indulge in delicious cuisine. Then, keep the celebration going with a lively Countdown Party. The evening includes a free-flow of sparkling, white, and red wines, beers, and soft drinks. Priced at VND 3,500,000** per adult and VND 1,800,000** for children under 12, this New Year’s Eve promises unforgettable memories for the whole family, with complimentary dining for children under six. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group An Eight-Course Introduction to the New Year Gala dinners and countdown parties will be the order of the evening at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi on Dec. 31 as the world prepares to usher in 2025. The storied hotel will offer a number of ways to celebrate, including an 8-course New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner at the modern French fine-dining restaurant Le Beaulieu, a 7-course dinner at angelina, a buffet dinner at Le Club and more. Countdown packages are available poolside at Metropole’s elegant outdoor Bamboo Bar and at angelina for the city’s most exciting celebration. On New Year’s Day, Metropole Hanoi’s culinary team will offer a New Year’s Day Brunch at Le Beaulieu and a buffet dinner at Le Club. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group Drag Queens on the Rooftops Meliá Chiang Mai will ring in 2025 with a bang as fireworks light up the sky at Mai The Sky Bar’s ‘Sky High New Years Eve Countdown Party’ from 7pm on Dec. 31 to 1am on Jan. 1. The entertainment line-up features band 3D, DJs and drag queens from Blow Entertainment. Guests will have the chance to win prizes throughout the night. Tickets are THB 2500 net per person on the Lower Rooftop including THB 1000 net of credit for F&B and THB 3000 net per person on the Upper Rooftop with THB 1500 net of F&B credit. The hotel’s Laan Na Kitchen’s lively ‘New Year’s Eve Buffet’ will take diners on a culinary journey around the globe from 6-10pm on Dec. 31. On Jan. 1, Mai Restaurant & Bar will host a four-course Thai ‘New Year’s Day Dinner’ from 6-10pm. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group Fireworks over the Karsts Luxurious boutique cruise operator Ambassador Cruise’s overnight cruises of UNESCO World Heritage listed bays Halong and Lan Ha will welcome 2025 with countdown parties replete with a wine toast, fireworks display, a live band, raffle with souvenir gifts, and midnight snacks. Throughout December and January, the overnight cruises will also host a special gala dinner on the sundeck featuring live music against stunning backdrops of both bays’ limestone karst-studded waters. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group Soirees at a Home Away from Home Viet Deli’s restaurants HOME Saigon, Ngon Gallery Nha Trang and All Seasons Danang will welcome the new year with unique, holiday-inspired menus. Each restaurant will offer its own themed experience titled “Festive Soiree Set Menu & Champagne Night package” including a special set menu paired with a curated wine list including champagne, available for an additional fee on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. All Seasons Nha Trang – Ambassador Club, HOME Hanoi, HOME Hoi An, MAMMOM Hanoi, also under the umbrella of Viet Deli, the company behind some of Vietnam’s most popular dining establishments, will feature holiday promotions and be decorated for the festive season. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group A Mindful Start to the Year in Vietnam Reflect, Reconnect, and Rejoice is the mantra at TIA Wellness Resort this New Year’s with activities designed to put guests in a blissful state of mind for 2025, while also celebrating the important day. Across the first day of the year and the last day of 2024, the wellbeing-focused property is running a Reflection & Intention Setting Creative Workshop and a Sunrise Meditation, along with offering a festive 6-course New Year’s Eve dinner and the option to celebrate in-villa with a champagne and strawberries package. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group Bubbly Toasts and Gala Dinners Two of Vietnam’s most stylish hotels invite guests to welcome 2025 with exclusive New Year’s Eve countdowns. At the oceanfront Azerai Ke Ga Bay in southern Vietnam, guests will bid farewell to the final sunset of 2024 on the beach before celebrating with a special dinner served poolside, including foie gras, chestnut and truffle soup, roasted three cheese lobster and Australian lamb rack, and a decadent Valrhona chocolate mousse. As midnight approaches, guests are invited for a toast of bubbles. At Azerai La Residence, Hue, the festivities kick off with a cocktail reception in the lobby lounge, where there will be a traditional dragon and lion dance, followed by a gala dinner with an exquisite set menu at Le Parfum. Guests can later return to the lobby lounge for an exciting countdown with a toast of sparkling wine. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group Glitz and Glam Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor’s “Glitz and Glam New Year’s Eve Soirée” promises to be Siem Reap, Cambodia’s most exciting place to ring in 2025. The event features an extraordinary lineup of dining experiences, countdown parties and feasts. And in the Cambodian capital, its sister property, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, will serve an exquisite 5-course “New Year’s Eve Truffle Set Dinner” at the award-winning Restaurant Le Royal that includes a complimentary glass of Champagne for the countdown to 2025. Meanwhile, at Le Phnom 1929 and Apsara Terrace, guests can enjoy a festive evening with a live disco band along with a grand buffet featuring BBQ stations and traditional seafood, foie gras, roasts and more. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group A ‘Carnival Night’ Celebration Fusion Resort Cam Ranh invites guests to ring in the New Year with an unforgettable “Carnival Night” celebration. The evening begins with a lavish buffet featuring an array of gourmet delights. As the night unfolds, a resident DJ will play electrifying beats. The excitement peaks with a “Free Villa Lucky Draw” and a thrilling “Cash Balloon Drop” at the stroke of midnight. The Ocean Resort Quy Nhon, which is also under the Fusion Resorts umbrella, invites guests to enjoy the Festive Chef’s Table at Maia’s signature restaurant ad hoc. The resort, with spacious villas ranging from one to four bedrooms, has also curated a rejuvenating treatment series at Vela Spa with highlights including bamboo and organic coffee therapies. Photo credits: Balcony Media Group