J u l y / A u g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3Newsletter

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Dear Apple Tree Team Members & Colleagues,

Greetings from Apple Tree Hospitality!

I hope that you and your families have enjoyed a wonderful festive season and expect that you are ready for another exciting year with Apple Tree. I would like to report that the preparations for our latest hospitality project, Bagan Lodge, Myanmar are well underway and we expect to open to the public sometime in Q2-2013. Our new General Manager for Bagan Lodge, Mr. Shane McKirdy, is now charged with the task of co-ordinating the hiring of our first “Team Myanmar” and we are very excited to be operating in this beautiful country. In fact we are working already on the second Myanmar hotel project, which will be located on the shores of stunning Inle Lake, a spectacularly scenic spot about 650km north of the capital Yangon. An approximate opening date for this project is expected between Q3 or 4- 2013. I will certainly brief and update you on the progress made on both new hospitality projects via this newsletter.

Despite the continuous tough economic situation we are still growing as a group and a lot of excitement is building for our new ventures within Apple Tree Hospitality but also among projects among our sister companies. Yet another year has begun and may the Year of the Snake be a prosperous one for us as a group and for each and everyone of our team members. In this spirit, I would like to wish you, your colleagues and of course your loved ones the best of success, happiness and great health!

Chuc Mung Nam Moi and Happy New Year to you all,

Kurt WalterGroup General Manager

C o n t r i b u t o r s

Nguyen Hung sonSales & Marketing ManagerPress Club Hanoi

Tran Thi Lan Sales & Marketing Manageremeraude Classic Cruises, Halong Bay

Phuoc DangDirector of Sales & Marketingla residence Hue

Coralie VongsouthiSales and Marketing ManagerKamu lodge & Villa Maly, luang Prabang

shane McKirdy General ManagerBagan lodge, Myanmar

A Message From the Group General ManagerJ u l y / A u g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3Newsletter

Dear Apple Tree Team Members & Colleagues,

Greetings from Apple Tree Hospitality!

It is hard to believe that the first half of 2013 is over now. A lot of exciting events have taken place in our various existing properties and our new, up and coming properties are making good progress. We plan to welcome our first guests at Bagan Lodge sometime in the month of July, which will mark another milestone for our company and will allow us to celebrate the opening of our first Myanmar property. Our project and operations team members are “firing on all cylinders” to open this beautiful property as soon as possible to satisfy the enormous shortage of international standard accomodations. Aboard the Emeraude, we have celebrated the end of a busy season with our annual Wine & Dine Cruise Classic, which was held for the ninth time aboard the Emeraude. Jim Barry was the featured vineyard and Peter and Sue Barry were not only very knowledgeable and charismatic winemakers but simply delightful people to be around. This event was a joint effort between our sister company The Warehouse and Press Club which supported the Emeraude in this wonderful two-day event. In Laos, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Sales & Marketing Manager, Miss Coralie Vongsouthi who has recently joined us to strengthen our sales & marketing efforts. As for our latest acquired property called “Le Parasol Blanc”, the current hotel will close its doors to the public shortly and a full renovation will be undertaken. We expect this gem of a hotel to reopen sometime in 2014. We will keep you all posted as we receive dates.

Last but not least, I would like to congratulate our General Manager Phan Trong Minh as well as his deputy Sergio Arias and their team on running our flagship property, La Residence Hotel & Spa, to the highest standards. We have received so many great and encouraging comments about the friendliness of the team and the maintenance of the hotel. I would like to personally thank the entire La Residence Hotel & Spa team for all their great efforts in making it one of the top hotels in Vietnam. Well done!

I wish you and your families, wherever you might go, a great summer break and look forward to catching up with you soon.

Best regards and stay healthy!

Kurt WalterGroup General Manager

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Huong was awarded the best employee of quarter II for her great contribution to sales & marketing team. As an assistant to travel partner sales, Huong performs well with good organizational skills. Being in charge of the hotel and tour guides’ bookings, Huong made great efforts to boost sales revenues from these markets. Her plan is to participate in more tour guide social networking events to broaden contacts and enhance good relationships with them.

TripAdvisor’s Comment

After two weeks of travelling we were treated to our final evening at the Press Club. the ambience was lovely with a pianist playing lovely music. the western style food was delicious and the service was impeccable. Barbdpayne – Oregon

Piano Classics

Customers coming for dinner at Press Club now can enjoy live piano entertainment from 7.30 to 9.30pm. the exciting new dining experience is from Saturday to Wednesday on the 3rd floor, the restaurant.

Tour Guide Meet-up

In a friendly environment, the cocktail party was organized successfully at the library. this meet-up was not only to thank the tour guides who have been supporting Press Club but also to enhance relationship with them.

the Member Wine evening has become the most anticipated event at Press Club. this quarterly get-together brings fabulous wines from all around the world to Hanoi’s wine lovers. the latest Jim Barry wine tasting presented the wines from one of the pioneering wineries of South Australia’s famous Clare Valley. Full flavour, balance, freshness and a dry finish are all attributes of the wines. Mr. Peter Barry, Managing Director of the brand also participated in the event. Members and guests had a pleasant night with good wines, delicious appetizers and live jazz music. the noble event was organized one day before the 9th annual Wine Cruise of emeraude Classic Cruises on 25th - 26th May on Halong Bay.

Outside Catering – Royal Netherlands Queen’s Day

Singapore International School – Night of Arts

Ms. Dinh thu Huong

Jim Barry Wine tasting

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Press Club Hanoi

Corner of 59A ly thai to St. & 12 ly Dao thanh St., Hanoi - S. r. Vietnamtel: (84-4) 3934-0888, Fax: (84-4) 3934-0899email: info@hanoi-pressclub.com

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this month we would like to introduce our best employee: Md Pham tra Giang-housekeeping captain. With 10 years on the boat, she is a veteran staff. Friendly and enthusiastic, she enjoys tV and novel reading in her free time and hopes she can work with emeraude for a long time.

Summer holiday

KIds love summer vacation. Bring your kids to discover Halong Bay this summer on emeraude Classic Cruises with sea, sun, limestone on a beautiful boat. An Apple tree special rate applies to all corporate members.

My first Wine Cruise

For emeraude Classic Cruises, it is the 9th Wine & Dine cruise but for me it is the first. thanks to our team who has worked very hard to make the cruise successful and a great memorial event to all guests as always.Thu Giang.- Sale Executive

to further our commitment to deliver a high-quality product and facilities to respected travellers and guests, emeraude Classic Cruises have scheduled to wet dock the emeraude for maintenance from 17 June 2013 to 27 June 2013. You may be wondering, ‘what is wet docking?”. A wet dock, or impounded dock, is the name given to the gate or lock system that allows ships to remain afloat in places of high tidal range. the level of water in the dock is maintained despite the raising and lowering of the tide. this makes transfer of cargo easier, it the works like a lock which controls the water level and allows passage of ships. A dry dock is another variant, also with dock gates, which can be emptied of water to allow investigation and maintenance of the underwater parts of ships.

Pham tra Giang

Wet Docking

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Emeraude Classic Cruises - Hanoi Sales Office

46 le thai to Street, Hanoi, Vietnam. tel: (84-4) 3935 1888, Fax: (84-4) 3825 5342, Hotline: (84) 9 0623 7899 e-mail: sales@emeraude-cruises.com

TripAdvisor’s Comment

We went on an overnight Boat Cruise with emeraude to Halong Bay and it was delightful. the service was excellent and the Food to die for. the tour included great extras that were off and on the Boat... Nicole M, Australia

Wine Tasting on the Sundeck - UNIS group

Dinner in the cave – CEDEO group

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Ms Cao thi le Na is the room attendant who was voted the employee of the month February 2013. Ms Na deserved to have this award because she works very hard with high responsibility and independence. Always with a smile, guests have frequently noticed her great care. She has be willing to work overtime during high occupancy times. this positive attitude is truly a good example for the team to follow.

La Residence - a story to tell

Proud to be a team member of la residence Hotel & Spa- the prestigious & leading hotel in Asia, a MGallery Hotel by Accor, a hotel Knowledge’s Competition was organised among the staff to encourage them to be more confident & proud of the working place to tell the guests.

Cheer the Planet 21

la residence team was very excited to join the PlANet 21 day activities. this involved cleaning & planting trees around the hotel for a greener environment; collecting recyclable & supporting “Healing the Wounded Heart”; joining the responsible Vegetarian Buffet lunch.

As part of our on-going commitment to the highest standards of aesthetic presentation, safety and service quality for our guests, la residence is undertaking a number of renovations throughout the property this summer. Our work includes the installation of environmentally friendly leD lights to replace the current lighting in the hotel’s public areas, the installation of an advanced termite control system and additional work on the tennis court and pool bar renovation, including replacement of the pool’s wooden decks. the rooms’ surfaces are to be touched up and repainted. In addition to maintenance, we are making training and development programs a priority this summer. We look forward to delivering a memorable experience for our guests during the upcoming season.

Happy International Children’s Day

The Charity Honda 67 group at LRH 18 April

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la residence On the Move

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La Résidence Hôtel & Spa

5 le loi Street – Hue City, Vietnamtel: (84) 054 3837 475Fax: (84) 054 3837 476e-mail: resa@la-residence-hue.com

Wonderful Stay (Ray Smith-UK)

this former French Colonial Governor’s house has been converted into a top quality hotel with river view. rooms are in good size & very comfortable. large gardens surround the hotel & pool area, which is a pleasant place to put your feet up after a day sightseeing.

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Villa Maly was proud to welcome PHOENIX VIP’S

VIP Group from PHOENIX Voyages

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It is with great pleasure that we announce Mr Somphone has been awarded « employee of the Month ».

Mr Somphone is working to oversee the pool, is always on time in the early morning, and maintains good relationships. Always with a smile, he is eager to learn more as a bar tender and improve his english. We wish to Mr Somphone all the best.

Feedback from a guest

I spent two nights at Villa Maly and was just amazed by how comfortable it was, specifically the friendly staff. Fantastic pool, very quiet, good wifi, and breakfast was really impressive. I can highly recommend it.Alexandro H - Argentina

Introducing Coralie

AtG is strengthening its presence in laos with the appointment of French native Coralie Vongsouthi as sales and marketing manager for Hotel Villa Maly and Kamu lodge. A fresh face on luang Prabang’s hospitality scene.

Earth Hour

turning off all the lights for earth Hour led us to one conclusion: Villa Maly looks even more beautiful by candlelight ! 500 little candles in Villa Maly during one hour created a very special atmosphere.

During the Baci ceremony, a white (purity) thread of silk or cotton is tied on the right-hand wrist of the individual who is being wished well and also around the wrists of all guests who assemble. Before the thread is tied, the hand is held chest high as a mark of respect. the white thread is symbolic of “peace, harmony, good fortune, good health and human warmth and community.” the thread is normally worn for a minimum of three days and is untied thereafter (not cut). recommended practice is to allow the thread to fall off on its own.

Mr Somphone Pool AttendantBaci ceremony

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Villa Maly

B.P158, Ban that luang, luang Prabang , lAO PDrtel : (856) 71 253 902 /903/904Fax :( 856) 71 254 912email : info@villa-maly.com

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It is with pleasure that Olivier, Manager at Kamu lodge awarded staff “employee of the month” of May: Ms leelee.She is always smiling and ready to help, trying the few english words she knows with guests. As a waitress in the lodge, she works with goodwill and impresses the guests. Only working in F&B for a short time, she is eager to learn and work hard. Congratulations.

Feedback from a guest

Stayed at K.l on my second night in laos: Magic! Beautiful location surrounded by amazing scenery. the most luxurious tents, the village visit was a real highlight. Wonderful massage in a pavilion on the banks of the Mekong.Mandy Taylor 63, Alice Spring.

Welcome to Ms Pek

let’s introduce a new staff in Kamu lodge team: Ms Pek is the new gardener in charge of taking care of plants on the Kamu lodge site. She is the youngest staff of Kamu lodge! Sokdee (good luck) to her.

Big storm at Kamu Lodge

A large storm created a lot of work for everyone at Kamu lodge to repair and rebuild rooves and clean everywhere. A great job from all the team though; in the following days all was repaired and the show continued.

On the 17th of May, Kamu lodge management and staff team was so proud to welcome the Group Mekong Cruise from laos. It was a great moment for us and the staff of Kamu lodge to share this kind of event. We were happy to participate in activities on site and share knowledge of the Khmu population, including how to fish, how to collect gold, how to plant rice. Visiting the village and having fun with the kids was a great experience. An aperitif was prepared on the bank of the Mekong, served with cocktails, snacks, all kinds of food, of course music was in the air and all participants were happy to dance lao’s traditional “lanvong” and try the famous Khmu “bamboo dance.

Moumoune the cat is the mascot of Kamu Lodge

Family trip to Kamu LodgeMs leelee

Mekong Cruise inspection trip

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Kamu Lodge

44/3 Ban Wat Nong, Kham Kong rd, luangprabang lao P.D.r. tel & Fax: ( 856 71 ) 260 319 e-mail: info@kamulodge.com

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Saw is the Chief Accountant at Bagan lodge; she was the second staff member recruited on the pre-opening management team and been working on this project for the past seven months. In between her busy schedule, Saw has been coordinating the procurement of all of the resorts operating equipment. Her happy smile and enthusiasm about her work are endearing features that have made Saw a valuable asset to the Bagan lodge team.

First Staff Canteen Meal!

the resort kitchen opened on the 29th of May and the staff enjoyed their first canteen meal. After nearly two months of pre-opening training, the kitchen staff were all very happy to be doing what they all love . . .cooking!

Mt. Popa

On the drive to Mt. Popa you will see many palm sugar trees which the locals farm to make candy and wine. to reach the pagoda at the top of Mt. Popa, you must climb 777 stairs that are home to multitudes of monkeys.

Staff Picnic Day

After many weeks spent training and unloading deliveries, the staff and management arranged a picnic day at law Ka Nanda Garden to relax and enjoy some team games. eating, singing, dancing ensued and a great time was had by all.

Bagan is world famous for its lacquerware industry which has been established for nearly two centuries. the lacquer itself is made from the sap of the varnish tree that grows wild in the forests of Myanmar; when painted on, it forms a hard glossy smooth surface resistant to moisture and heat. the local people in Bagan still use traditional methods when making lacquerware, all items are handmade with the designs and engraving done free-hand by several artisans. lacquerware rice bowls with spired lids for monks are commonly seen throughout Myanmar. Other popular lacquerware items include round boxes with lids, pedestal dishes or small trays, theatrical costumes, masks, head-dresses and musical instruments.

Construction Photos . . .getting closer!

Saw - Chief Accountant extraordinaire!

Bagan lacquerware

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Bagan Lodge

Myat lay road, New BaganNyaung Oo townshipMyanmartel: +95 (0) 616 5456Fax: +95 (0) 616 5457email: info@bagan-lodge.comWeb: www.bagan-lodge.com

 

 

 

 

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The Apple Tree Management Board may modify the benefits from time to time, without notice. Any failure to comply with the Tems & Conditions, any fraud or abuse relating to the use of the card may result in the termination of benefits enjoyment. This card is non-transferable. A personal ID card will be required for every purchase.

* The above-mentioned benefits associated with the Apple Tree Corporate Benefits Card apply to the card holder only!** Any misuse will result in the cancellation of the card benefits.

COrPOrAte BeNeFItS CArDthe Apple tree Management Board is pleased to present you with the Corporate Benefits Card. Cash payment applies unless otherwise specified.

PRESS CLUB 20% discount on food 15% discount on beverages 10% discount on other services (laundry, dry cleaning & florist services) * EMERAUDE CLASSIC CRUISES US$ 70 per person including the cruise, all meals and on-shore excursions US$ 20 per person for the return trip Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hanoi via shuttle bus * LA RESIDENCE HOTEL & SPA USD 80 net per room including breakfast - 15% discount on F&B * ANNAM 15% off (excludes non-food, alcohol & spirit, food & beverages consumed at the lounge, cheeses & delicatessen, fresh fruits & vegetables and fresh bakery) * YVES ROCHER 20% on all products * WAREHOUSE 20% on all products * EXOTISSIMO 10% discount on short tours booklet at each agency 5% discount on Club Med prices 5% discount on car rental rates for europe (tt) - 5 USD on service fees for International flights * VILLA MALY 50$ net per room per night including breakfast (double occupancy) subject to availability * KAMU LODGE 50$ net per person / night subject to availability / departure * NAVA MEKONG 50% discount on rack rate subject to availability / departure. * BAGAN LODGE US$ 80 net/room incl. breakfast.

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KURT WALTER Press Club Exp. 9/2014

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