A View from the Road

Joaquin Cababie of SmartOtels photo diaries of his travel through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines and more..

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It's not Politics - it's Personal

It’s not Politics – it’s Personal

For years I have always believed in not bringing politics into business – there lies only danger.  But, the debate on Remaining or Leaving the EU is so much more than politics – it goes to the heart of who I am, where I come from and what I believe in.

Whilst I there are legitimate concerns about immigrationand the pressures it puts on services, immigration is not so newly a feature of this…

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Making Ourselves Redundant - a Lesson in Business

Making Ourselves Redundant – a Lesson in Business

Matthew Brooks and Joaquin Cababie

In three years since we launched SmartOtels in June 2013, we have, like any business, had many ups and downs.  One of the biggest wake-up calls, perhaps, was realising that the whole purpose of ourselves as sales and marketing representatives of resorts and hotels in South East Asia and South Asia is to make ourselves redundant.  It is so easy, in this line of…

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Authentic Travel Experiences in Sri Lanka – Dambulla

Authentic Travel Experiences in Sri Lanka – Dambulla

The ‘pearl drop’ island, Sri Lanka packs into this tropical island just about the size of Ireland, a huge variety of sun-soaked beaches, a hinterland showing off the country’s rich heritage, breathtaking rail trips and cooler, hillside tea plantations and an expertise and refinement in producing the world’s favourite beverage in surroundings that stem from a bygone era and seem not to have…

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How One Photo changed the Philippines

How One Photo changed the Philippines

Mangrove Forest near Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa Palawan Philippines

In August, Joaquin and I were at Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa, Palawan, experiencing the famous underground riverclose-by and the eco-resort’s many other attractions.  On the last full day, we were picked up by a WWII jeep and driven a very bumpy 5 minutes along the beachside path to see for ourselves Palawan’s lush mangrove…

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5 Reasons why Facebook is the new E-mail

5 Reasons why Facebook is the new E-mail

5 Reasons why Facebook is the new E-mail

For some time, we have known that in following up with an established contact, an e-mail often does not get a reply, a message through LinkedIn more often does work and a message through Facebook almost always gets a reply. If this seems like an admission of the challenges for us of doing business, we take no shame: this is simply observing how…

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A George Town Experience - feel your jaw drop

A George Town Experience – feel your jaw drop

Joaquin outside Hotel Penaga, George Town, Malaysia

It is a measure of any hotel or resort how far you feel your jaw drop when you first walk into the room you have been given at Reception.  That feeling (or its absence) sets the tone for the rest of your stay, no matter how short or long.  The resorts and hotels which we represent for sales and marketing in the UK have many facilities aside from…

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3 days in Paradise - another Palawan experience

3 days in Paradise – another Palawan experience

Huma Island Resort and Spa on approach in the seaplane

“Welcome to Paradise” Bollie’s deep voice boomed out as we clambered genteelly out of the seaplane and onto the very solid jetty at Huma Island Resort and Spaluxury, private island.  Wilhelm Bolton, the highly experienced General Manager of the resort is “Bollie” to all his guests and “Mr Bollie” to his team.  In truth, our feeling of heading…

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Luang Prabang, Laos - highlight of unspoilt Asia ?

Luang Prabang, Laos – highlight of unspoilt Asia ?

It is a part of the human condition that we attract tourism to somewhere people are drawn to largely by the difference of the culture, scenery and weather and then work to model that place to reflect the culture and experience of its visitors. The Costa Del Sol of Spain has become “Britain in the sun” and, whilst tourism to South East Asia is far more diverse and complex in its markets, it’s…

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George Town, Malaysia - culture and food capital of Asia ?

George Town, Malaysia – culture and food capital of Asia ?

    Sri Mahamariamman Temple, George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Cultural curiosity, unique multi-cultural mix, food capital of Malaysia and home to some of the world’s best street art – all of these, and more, describe George Town, capital of Penang province Malaysia and together go some way towards describing the unique appeal in tourism of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.  If you have just 2 days…

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Palawan - Last Frontier or Best Island in the World ?

Palawan – Last Frontier or Best Island in the World ?

Palawan from Above – the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River entrance

Long known as “The Last Frontier” and voted “Best Island in the World” by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine, Palawan has been seen as a paradise on earth by those in the know for many years.  It is a destination that is becoming much more widely available through European tour operators, as a part of the Philippines…

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Batam - South East Asia's missed Island Getaway ?

Batam – South East Asia’s missed Island Getaway ?

Montigo Resorts Nongsa sky terrace and plunge pool view

Because a major feature of Montigo Resorts Nongsa is that it is just 30 minutes from Singapore by ferry it is all too easy to overlook the attractions of Batam itself – the important other reasons why guests so enjoy their stay at this lovely, contemporary, deluxe resort – and you only have to search the resort on Twitterto see just how much…

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Easter in Paradise - Pure Indulgence

Easter in Paradise – Pure Indulgence

If you are still thinking of where to take an Easter break from the daily pressures of work and city life, there are still a few vacancies in Paradise – at Huma Island Resort & Spa, a private island luxury paradise where privacy reigns and time stands still.

Arrive in Manila and you will be transported from airport to Manila Bay by car and from there by private seaplane to step ashore on the…

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Exotic, Luxury Island Resort in the Philippines joins SmartOtels

Exotic, Luxury Island Resort in the Philippines joins SmartOtels

Huma Island Resort & Spa – exotic, luxury island resort in Palawan, Philippines

As sales representatives for resorts and hotels in South East Asia and South Asia, SmartOtels is very happy to have reached agreement to represent the exotic and luxury Huma Island Resort & Spa for sales and marketing in the UK and Spain, initially.  Huma Islandis an exotic, luxury, private island resort in Busuanga,…

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Sri Lanka Luxury Resorts and Hotels join SmartOtels

Sri Lanka Luxury Resorts and Hotels join SmartOtels

Already well known as sales and marketing representatives for luxury resorts and hotels in South East Asia, SmartOtels has expanded its coverage to  include South Asia and the Indian Ocean with the landmark addition of 5* The Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka and luxury Amaya Resortsacross Sri Lanka.  The Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo and Amaya Resorts are award winning luxury resorts and hotels in…

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New Year, New Destinations, New Business

New Year, New Destinations, New Business

New Year, New Destinations, New Look

A Very Happy New Year to you and welcome to SmartOtels’ blog new look – we hope you like it.  If you are just visiting this post, which will look quite normal, please do visit our blog home pageto see the change.  We anticipate 2015 being an exciting new year for SmartOtels with many changes focused on generating even more business for our client resorts and…

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Very Happy Christmas and New Year from SmartOtels

Very Happy Christmas and New Year from SmartOtels

Happy Christmas and New Year from SmartOtels

Christmas Day is just a week away and we wanted to take the chance to wish all of our readers a very Happy Festive Season and the very best for a Prosperous New Year !

We also want to thank you for following us and for reading our posts.  It’s wonderful to see that we still have a large, regular readership right around the world (141 countries !), so…

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5 Bad Twitter Habits to Drop

5 Bad Twitter Habits to Drop

Twitter Mistakes for those wanting Followers

It has been too long since we last posted for our social media series – a result of our many other activities. That makes it feel a little awkward to pontificate about mistakes made using Twitter (or any other social media platform) and I hope these observations don’t come across that way. Two months of tracking tweets across a range of keyword topics…

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