Dear All,
I just got off the phone with a friend, who had attended the Emotional Tourism event held by the lebua at State Tower in Bangkok. For those, who have not followed the press, here is what it was all about:

The lebua invited fifty of their most valued guests to accompany them on a trip to the north-east of Thailand, the poorest region of the kingdom. They went to a village to inspect the underprivileged circumstances the farmers and their children have to live in. As most of the guests are in influential positions in multi-national corporations, they were asked to think about how they or better their companies could offer a long-lasting solution. The guests were not asked to make donations, but to get involved, i.e. build a school, support a kindergarten, found a scholarship fund, etc. After their return to Bangkok, they were invited to a gala dinner prepared by Michelin-starred chefs from Europe and Canada, of whom some donated their compansation to the good cause.

The whole day was a full success and shows the positive influence, our industry can have for the societies we live and work in. The lebua has triggered a great new initiative more of us should follow. We all have a social responsibility for the underprivileged among us. I tip my hat and hope that many of us will follow this example to fight poverty and add what we hoteliers and our influential guests can to make a difference in our societies.

Post From LEBU


Last year Lebua hosted an exlcusive dinner which cost the guests approx $25,000 per head. Yes, it was a lavish afair. But it was considered my many a flagrant show of wealth in a country which has the majority of it's population living on less than $150 per month.
This year Lebua put a charitable twist to the event (after most of the invited chefs pulled out and the media got a hold of it again). Private jets flew the high society guests up north for a village inspection.
In these days this sort of conspicuous showing of wealth is considered by most people, offensive.
It's a bit of a shame Lebua copped so much flak. I think their intention is honourable, they just need to be more sensitive and polish the marketing of such events.