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www.travelweekly-asia.com | 3 Siew Hoon is a traveller who loves to write and a writer who loves to travel. She's combined her two loves into a career in travel journalism that has seen her launch several travel industry titles and conferences, including WIT. She loves the change and discovery that comes with travel and the business. Published by NORTHSTAR TRAVEL MEDIA SINGAPORE PTE LTD SINGAPORE 91 Bencoolen Street, #05-08 Sunshine Plaza, Singapore 189652 • TEL: +65-6801-0450 FAX: +65-6801-0469 BEIJING Room 024, Building 8, Qijiayuan Diplomatic Compound, No.9 Jianguomenwai Street, Chaoyang District 100600, China • TEL: +8610-8532 3611 | FAX: +8610-8532 5293 SHANGHAI Room 2553, The Headquarters Building, No.168 Central XiZhang Road, Shanghai 200001, China • TEL: +8621-5179 8360 | FAX: +8621-5179 8360 Travel Weekly Asia is published on a monthly basis by Northstar Travel Media Singapore Pte Ltd. Located at 91 Bencoolen Street, #05-08 Sunshine Plaza, Singapore 189652. All rights reserved. Volume 7 Issue 5 Please address all subscription mail to the above address, Fax +852 3020 5794, or email travelweeklyasia@asia-ad.net. Online Subscription: www.travelweekly-asia.com/subscribe For reprints or copyright permission contact Wright's media at +877 652 5295 ext 102 or niademarco@wrightsmedia.com http://wrightsmedia.com/reprints/contact.cfm?magrid=3500 Printed by TIMES PRINTERS PRIVATE LIMITED Travel Weekly Asia is BPA audited, with 11,100 print circulation and 18, 893 eNewsletter circulation in 30th June 2015. Around the world, BPA is the preferred third-party auditor for advertiser-supported business publications (including print and digital editions). BPA verifies paid, controlled, or any combination of paid and controlled circulation, and reports the data in a single Brand Report. Founded in 1931 BPA Worldwide is an independent, not-for-profit, self-regulating organization governed by a tripartite Board. NORTHSTAR TRAVEL GROUP (ASIA) GROUP PUBLISHER Irene Chua Tel: (65) 6801 0451 | ichua@travelweekly.com EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Yeoh Siew Hoon Tel: (65) 6801 0450 | syeoh@ntmllc.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Esther Faith Lew Tel: (65) 6801 0457 | esther.lew@ntmllc.com EDITOR-AT-LARGE Ian Jarrett Tel: (618) 9433 6455 | ian.jarrett@travelweekly.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Lee Xin Hui Tel: (65) 6801 0453 | xinhui.lee@ntmllc.com WRITER Danielle Yong | danielle.yong@ntmllc.com WRITER Corinne Wan Tel: (603) 2201 1979 | corinne.wan@travelweekly.com HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT Catharine Nicol | cn@monsterpix.hk THAILAND CORRESPONDENT Alisha Anne Somanas | anne.somanas@ntmllc.com ART DIRECTOR Lim Bee Bee Tel: (65) 9750 8405 | bb.bbcreative@gmail.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Suki Chong | suki.bbcreative@gmail.com SALES & MARKETING REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Ng Whey Whey Tel: (65) 6801 0460 | whey.ng@ntmllc.com REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Derek Ho Tel: (65) 6801 0459 | derek.ho@ntmllc.com MARKETING EXECUTIVE Rachelle Lee Tel: (65) 6801 0458 | rachelle.lee@ntmllc.com AD TRAFFIC AND PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Rena Koh Tel: (65) 6801 0455 | rena.koh@ntmllc.com IT & DIGITAL IT & DIGITAL OPERATIONS Raymond Sim Tel: (65) 6801 0456 | raymond.sim@ntmllc.com CHINA OFFICE GROUP PUBLISHER (China) Rebecca Zhang Tel: (8621) 5179 8363 | rebecca.zhang@ntmllc.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Shawn Li Tel: (8610) 8532 4021 | shawn.li@travelweekly.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Roger Wang Tel: (8621) 5179 8360 | roger.wang@travelweekly.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Susan Li Tel: (8610) 8532 3611 | susan.li@travelweekly.com MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES HONG KONG/MACAU ZAM International - Manna Ma Tel: (852) 9650 0518 | manna.ma@zamintl.com.hk KOREA Young Media Inc - Keon Chang Tel: (822) 2273 4833 | ymedia@chol.com INDIA MHI Communications - Smriti Khanna Tel: (9198) 1040 7483 | skhanna@mhi.com.hk AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR - ASIA Patti Mo | patti.mo@travelweekly.com DATABASE & FULFILLMENT MANAGER Zoe Chu | zoe.chu@travelweekly.com FINANCE ASIA FINANCE MANAGER Julia Tham | julia.tham@ntmllc.com NORTHSTAR TRAVEL GROUP CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Thomas L. Kemp CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Lisa Cohen PRESIDENT, TRAVEL GROUP Robert G. Sullivan EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, DIGITAL MEDIA Thomas Cintorino EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GROUP PUBLISHER David Blansfield SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Lori Cioffi SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Arnie Weissmann SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES Janine L. Bavoso VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING SOLUTIONS Michelle Rosenberg VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION Roberta Muller VICE PRESIDENT, CONTENT LICENSING Sheila Rice VICE PRESIDENT, IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS Rich Mastropietro VICE PRESIDENT, DATABASE PRODUCTS Elizabeth Koesser TRAVEL WEEKLY EVENTS PRESIDENT, TRAVEL GROUP Robert G. Sullivan SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EVENTS, TRAVEL GROUP Alicia Evanko-Lewis I am writing this from Room 4111 at the Shangri-La Hotel, London at the Shard. This 95-storey landmark, the tallest building in the European Union, is owned by the State of Qatar and the hotel is managed by a Hong Kong- based management group. Southwark, in Dickens' day, was rife with ruffians, smugglers and prostitutes. Today, it is full of markets, cafes and art galleries. On the other side of the river, you see 30 St Mary Axe, better known by its nickname Gerkhin, the Leadenhall Building (Cheesegrater) and masses of cranes at work creating the new Battersea Park. Just last week, London voted in a new mayor, Sadiq Khan. His personal story is inspiring – son of a bus driver from Pakistan who, in one generation, has clawed his way out of poverty to a position of power. But beyond that, it's the fact that he is London's first Muslim mayor that is astounding and speaks to how this city has changed. Who would have ever thought such a day would come to pass? But pass it has. Khan's ascent is happening at a time when Europe is undergoing profound social and political change, dealing with challenges such as the refugee crisis and four letters of the alphabet (ISIS) that has struck terror into the hearts of people living on this continent. And on June 23, the people of Britain will vote in a referendum as to whether they should stay or leave the European Union. In a London cab going across the Tower Bridge (or rather crawling), I ask my driver what he thinks of Sadiq Khan. "We shall see, we shall see," he says. He is a true London cabbie, a disappearing breed. Most drivers you meet these days are either from South Asia or Africa. This one was born and raised in the city. What do you hope he will do for you, I asked. "It's impossible to live and work in the city now – too expensive." He's moved four times, each time further out. He counts himself lucky to own a house. I am headed for Bethnal Green, in East London, a part of the city I've never been to. Past Bishopsgate, the financial district, the landscape changes. This area is where the Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities live. The streets are lined with stalls selling textiles, groceries and spices. My destination is Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, a former town hall, built in 1907, and restored by Singaporean hotelier, Loh Lik Peng, into a designer boutique hotel. Opened six years ago, it was a bold move by the entrepreneur known for his eye for picking up historic properties in up-and- coming neighbourhoods and converting them into boutique hotels. Wrap exceptional food and beverage experiences around them and they become destinations in their own right. His bet has paid off. This hood is London's newest up-and-coming trendy spot, attracting the young and creative crowd. From the outside, the hotel is nondescript. Walk in and I promise you, your jaw will drop. Lik Peng, together with manager Marie Baxter, has created a jewel – every one of the 98 rooms is different in design; there are interesting historic and art pieces scattered throughout and its two restaurants are popular with those in the know. My favourite space is the former Magistrate's Court which has been preserved as is. Welcome to the new London, where Asia is more present than you imagine. A SINGAPORE SURPRISE IN JAW-DROPPING LONDON TALKING POINT

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