Heritage Hotels of Asia, in Southeast and East Asia Book launch with Ken Barrett, Eric Hallin and Jaffee Yee Yeow-Fei

‘Heritage Hotels of Asia: Southeast & East Asia’ was a passion project for its editor, Jaffee Yee Yeow-Fei. His book is in many ways a grand tour of a region that opened up to international travelers after the Suez Canal was commissioned in 1869 and steamships helped usher in modern travel. “Grand hotels and history are inseparable,” writes Andrew J Woods. “These remarkable properties are far more than elegant places to stay. Each reflects the rich tapestry of the country, region or city in which it stands. Through architecture, art, tradition and carefully preserved historical references, they connect travellers with their surroundings while immersing them in the atmosphere of another era.” The first volume in this series covered the inroads made by Europeans into India in the 19th century. The grand colonial hotel tradition was forged by Spence’s Hotel in Calcutta in 1830. This second volume takes in 56 storied properties that followed in 13 countries, documenting the architecture, people and stories behind many of Asia’s most iconic heritage hotels. These include The Strand in Yangon, Malaysia’s Eastern & Oriental, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion and Hotel Majestic, plus Singapore’s Raffles, Goodwood Park and Fullerton. “Unlike many books of this genre, which are picture-heavy, this one is nicely balanced with lovely pictures and also detailed yet concise history and context for every property featured,” said Nirmal Ghosh, a former FCCT president. Speakers: Author Ken Barrett is a London-born journalist and writer who has lived in Asia for the best part of 40 years, much of that in Bangkok, with stints in Hong Kong and Singapore. He has visited 60 countries on assignment, and launched, edited or contributed to numerous publications in the business, travel, industrial and consumer sectors. He has written extensively on architecture and building technology, and has a strong interest in architectural heritage conservation. Barrett is the author of ’22 Walks In Bangkok: Exploring the City’s Historic Back Lanes and Byways’, which was launched to great acclaim at the FCCT in 2019. Eric Hallin is a Swedish hotelier with more than five decades in the hospitality industry, much of it spent in Asia. He has a particular passion for hotels with a strong sense of place, character and history. He has held senior positions in Thailand, the Maldives and Vietnam, managing and developing a wide range of hotels and resorts, including business, luxury and experiential properties. Highlights include his years with Dusit Hotels & Resorts and Six Senses. Hallin has been general manager of The Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort & Spa since 2022. Editor Jaffee Yee Yeow-Fei is an award-winning publisher, editor, art consultant and travel marketing consultant with more than 40 years of international experience. Based primarily in Thailand, he is deeply involved in documenting, preserving and promoting the culture, arts and tourism in the Greater Mekong Subregion. He has collaborated with global media institutions like McGraw-Hill Book Company and CBS International Publishing. His independent ventures include Myer Publishing Ltd in Hong Kong and Thailand’s Knowledge Media Group in Thailand. He is a veteran FCCT member of 42 years. Moderator: Dominic Faulder , FCCT board member and Nikkei Asia associate editor. Copies of the book will be available on the night.