Bacall Associates - Singapore Travel Guide for First-Timers

Singapore is South East Asia’s most prosperous city and smallest nation by land area. In recent years, newly developed mega-attractions and casino driven integrated resorts had transformed this “all work” economic powerhouse into one of the region’s most popular destinations for leisure travel.

Because of its compact size, Singapore is very easy to travel and generally safe. It is a top choice for first-time international travel, family trips, and those seeking to indulge in metropolitan luxuries. While costs are significantly higher than the rest of Southeast Asia, a lot of people continue to visit Singapore because of its unique and top-notch attractions that cater to almost every type of traveler.

I honestly didn’t expect to travel to Singapore as often as I have, considering the high number of seemingly more “exotic” and adventurous destinations elsewhere in the region. Singapore was just too irresistibly accessible with so many direct flights to other cities all over the region as well as convenient land crossing to Kuala Lumpur, another popular international gateway, in Malaysia. Singapore was a worthwhile jump-off point to Southeast Asia and a fitting “last stop” for indulging in urban comforts before the journey home.

Top Things to See and Do

Merlion Park — Pretty hard to miss anyway because of its prominent location at the mouth of the Singapore River. Not only could you get a good photo with the Merlion statue, Singapore’s most iconic monument, but there are amazing views to be seen of the Singapore Skyline, Marina Bay Sands, The Esplanade: Theatres by the Bay, and the Singapore Flyer.

Singapore Riverside and Civic District — this relaxing promenaded riverside area is a short walk away from the Merlion Park. Take a stroll down memory lane and get acquainted with the city’s early development and colonial history. A happening nightlife scene can be experienced at Clark and Boat Quay. Chinatown — Experience Singapore’s multi-cultural diversity by taking a walking and food tour of Chinatown. Visit a church, a mosque, Indian and Chinese temples all in one walk. Go on a food adventure and try dishes from Singapore’s different cultural influences at affordable hawker centers of Chinatown.

Marina Bay — Marvel at Singapore’s new urban cape by taking a walk around Marina Bay. Visit Marina Bay Sands, the Helix Bridge, Singapore Flyer, and Esplanade: Theatres on the bay. Amazing overlooking views can be seen from the sky park of Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer.

Gardens by the Bay — an ambitious project set to transform Singapore from a “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden.” The main attractions here are the 25 towering man-made Super trees and two equally extraordinary bio domes.

Singapore Zoo — an impressively maintained zoo where you can find a wide array of animals from around the world. The River Safari is also worth checking out.

Sentosa Island — spends a fun day on rides and themed attractions or relax at the beaches of Sentosa. The island is home to Universal Studios Singapore, the first theme park of its kind to open in Southeast Asia and the second in Asia after Universal Studios Japan.

Bacall Associates: Singapore Trip Day 1 - Transportation Guide To Singapore

Singapore is my second out of the country trip early last year.  This prosperous city-state is so well known because of many Filipinos working here, mostly in tourism and IT industry.  This became memorable for me because of the misadventures we had during planning and the trip itself.  Nonetheless, Singapore is worth visiting I'd love to come back.

What You Need To Know:

• Singapore is one of the 25 countries Filipinos (with Philippine passport) can visit without a visa.  The tourist visa is good for 30 days.

• Immigration officers in the Philippines are pretty strict to Filipinos going here.  A lot of Filipinos visit Singapore as a tourist but they never came back instead start working there.  Most often than not, they process the working permit in Singapore once they got the job.  I hope you already read my Hong Kong series because I already stated the things you need to show to an immigration officer.  But just to refresh, make sure you show you’re:

1.  Fully filled and signed departure / embarkation card

2.  Philippine passport

3.  Itinerary Flight Details - make sure that you have a flight going back to the Philippines

4.  Hotel/Hostel booking

5. Company ID - if you are employed it is best to show your company i.d. to ensure the officer you will come back again.  Be confident.  Officers might ask a lot.

6.  Government ID and/or other supporting documents for self-employed and students.

• Singapore is a multicultural country comprises of Singaporeans, Indians, Malays, and a home to blue collar workers coming from Philippines, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.  English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil are four official language in Singapore.  The influence of Chinese and Malay language is apparent in their informal English they called Singlish.

• Money in Singapore is in Singapore Dollars (SGD).  1 SGD = 34-35PHP as of writing.

Bacall Associates - Vietnam Airlines Recognised as Leading Global

Prized certification marks key developmental milestone for flag carrier after transformative year

12 July 2016 – National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines www.vietnamairlines.com has been certified as a 4-Star Airline by the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax ranking it alongside some of the world’s most reputable airlines, including British Airways, Emirates and Lufthansa. Vietnam Airlines new President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Duong Tri Thanh, accepted the official certification during the World Airline Awards event at Farnborough International Airshow 2016.

Awarded after comprehensive Skytrax evaluation across all customer-facing product and service factors both onboard flights and at airports served by Vietnam Airlines, the prestigious 4-Star Airline certification is recognition for the significant recent improvements that Vietnam Airlines has made to the quality of its product and service standards, as part of its strategic plan to establish itself as the leading carrier for the region.

Last year Vietnam Airlines underwent a dramatic transformation, launching its new corporate identity and beginning a major fleet-wide upgrade to replace its entire fleet of wide body aircraft – significantly enhancing its product offering. 2015 saw Vietnam Airlines become the first airline to operate the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner nonstop between Southeast Asia and Europe, and the first Asian airline to operate both Boeing and Airbus’ modern next-generation aircraft at the same time. A total of 19 Boeing 787s and 14 Airbus A350-900 XWBs will be delivered to Vietnam Airlines by early 2019.

At the same time, Vietnam Airlines implemented a programmed to upgrade service levels to international 4-Star Airline standards – spearheaded by Vietnam Airlines’ new President and CEO Mr. Thanh in his previous role as Executive Vice President. Commenting on the news, Mr. Thanh said “I am honored to accept this highly prestigious accolade on behalf of Vietnam Airlines. This fantastic achievement is testament to the hard work of all of Vietnam Airlines’ dedicated employees, and an important indicator of the excellent progress we are making towards our goal of becoming one of the best-regarded airlines in Asia-Pacific.”

Mr. Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax said “This 4-Star Airline rating is an excellent achievement for Vietnam Airlines and the result of their hard work across a range of product and service areas. Introducing two brand new aircraft types into the fleet in such a short space of time is a difficult task, but the reward for Vietnam Airlines is a fabulous new product in their core long haul market. We acknowledge the considerable change and improvement they have achieved, with a new service concept rolled out in Business Class and an overhaul of cabin staff training procedures – all of which will further strengthen Vietnam Airlines position as a major Asian airline.”

Vietnam Airlines offers the UK’s only nonstop flights to Vietnam, operating daily services from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Flights are carefully scheduled to offer convenient overnight journeys in both directions, and excellent onward connections via its comprehensive network of over 40 destinations in Asia, including 16 within Vietnam 5 in Indochina and the rest in other countries.

Return fares from Heathrow to Ho Chi Minh City currently start from £396 per person, inclusive of taxes. For further information and reservations visit www.vietnamairlines.com or speak to a travel agent.

Bacall Associates Travel Singapore :The True Flavour of Thailand For Families At the Dhara Dhevi

The iconic The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai, situated on a peaceful 60-acre estate in Northern Thailand, offers a magical backdrop in which children and adults alike can absorb Thai culture with a fantastic range of experiences, guaranteeing lasting memories for the whole family.

This fantastical resort, conceived as an ancient walled city, offers a sense of place like few others and this is reflected in its carefully curated activities, designed to immerse guests of all ages into local culture.   Perfect for all the family, from little ones to adults, the resort’s Art and Craft Village offers an array of creative craft activities, from umbrella painting and paper making to bamboo weaving, which is led by a group of local village women who will help guests create beautiful artefacts and traditional toys from the plant’s leaves.

The building’s tiny resident petting ponies and llamas are sure to make a great ice breaker for children who can then choose from a varied range of activities to stretch and stimulate them mentally and physically, whilst offering an insight into traditional Lanna (the ancient kingdom of northern Thailand) and Thai culture.  Classes include Thai dancing and music and traditional Thai games and toys – children can also benefit for Thailand’s rich culture of wellness with mini Thai kick boxing classes and yoga for kids.

A must-try for visitors of all ages is the rice planting: donning a traditional protective tunic, the instantly recognisable Non La hat and waterproof socks, the session will teach budding rice farmers how the grain is grown from seed to harvest and includes the opportunity for all to wade into the squidgy warm mud and plant a few rows for themselves. Children will adore riding the water buffalo, which will obligingly walk little ones through the plantation.

Meanwhile adults can enjoy the Dhara Dhevi Cooking Academy, which stages daily Thai cooking classes, relax in the Jum Sri Hall Library, with one of its 5,000+ books, browse the 20 boutiques in Kad Dhara Shopping Village, or unwind and reboot at the Health and Fitness Centre and legendary Dheva Spa where in depth Ayurveda-based programmes are carried out in 11 spacious treatments suites.

Parents keen to make the most of the wide array of gourmet eating and drinking options at the resort can book the baby-sitting service, which is available on request.  All tastes and nationalities are catered for with international cuisines of the highest calibre, from Japanese dishes at the light and airy Ren; Chinese at Fujian, formal French at Farang Ses and contemporary international cuisine at the Akaligo, which offers views through wall to ceiling windows. There is even a Victorian Style tea salon, the Dhara Dhevi Cake Shop which caters to the sweet toothed serving decadent treats. 

Fabulously chic watering holes include the louche Horn Bar, an after dark cocktail bar, the al fresco Loy Kham Bar which overlooks the serene infinity pool and the Colonial Pool Bar, which centers around the heart of the resort, the spectacular and imposing blue and white tiled swimming pool.

Easily accessible via a 15-minute car transfer from Chiang Mai International Airport, the Dhara Dhevi makes for an immersive cultural experience perfect for crafting lasting family memories.

ABOUT THE DHARA DHEVI:

The Dhara Dhevi is one of Asia’s foremost luxury hotels.  More an experience than simply a hotel, this iconic property represents extravagant Thai luxury at its finest.  Nestling in 60 acres of beautifully landscaped tropical grounds, enjoying a picturesque and secluded setting in the countryside in the North, the resort has established itself as a classic ‘must visit’ for high end travellers to Thailand.  Its location on the outskirts of historic Chiang Mai, a walled ancient city known for its rich history of art and culture, is reflected throughout the resort.  The spectacular accommodation was built in keeping with traditional Lanna and colonial style architecture, set among lush paddy fields.  69 traditional Thai villas each boast a private swimming, or plunge pools, Jacuzzi tubs and separate showers.  54 Colonial Suites featuring separate living and bedroom areas with private terraces overlook the pool, lake or stunning verdant gardens.

Bacall Associates Travel: Vietnam Airlines Announces

Vietnam Airlines Announces Business Performance For First Six Months Of 2016

Hanoi, 22 July 2016 – Vietnam Airlines’ Joint Stock Company (Vietnam Airlines) has announced the company’s business performance from January to June 2016.

In the first six months of 2016, the aviation market grew by 27.2 per cent compared to the same period last year, with a 37 per cent increase in the domestic market. This was despite the difficulties and challenges that Vietnam Airlines was faced with due to economic slowdown, instability and terrorism in Europe and overcrowded infrastructures, especially at Tan Son Nhat international airport.

In responding swiftly to these circumstances Vietnam Airlines has captured the strong growth of the market, adopting effective measures to improve its operations and make good use of favourable conditions. Thanks to these measures, the business has achieved positive results with a high growth rate over the period, exceeding the set targets. Key achievements to note include:

• In the first six months of 2016, Vietnam Airlines operated over 70,300 safe flights (an increase of 10.7 per cent from the same period last year); carried 9.65 million passengers (an increase of 15.5 per cent from the same period last) and saw transport on international routes increase by 6.9 per cent and on domestic routes by 21.1 per cent . The corporation also achieved a freight output of 124,800 tons, exceeding its targets with an increase of 18.1 per cent over the same period last year.

• The company’s total consolidated revenue is estimated at more than 36 trillion VND and pre-tax profits are estimated at 1,600 billion VND, reaching nearly 7per cent of the target set for 2016. The airline’s parent company recorded an estimated revenue of over 29 trillion VND and nearly 1,140 billion VND in estimated profits, reaching over 7 per cent of the target set for 2016.

• Vietnam Airlines also accomplished two major tasks. Its restructuring and acquisition was completed with the signing and receipt of the share transaction payment made by ANA Holdings, who officially became a strategic shareholder on 1 July 2016. On 12 July, Vietnam Airlines was awarded 4-star airline certification at the SkyTrax World Airline Awards event at the Farnborough International Airshow. The airline is now officially a member of the world’s leading 4-5 star carriers and has been recognised as one of the world’s top three most improved airlines.

Vietnam Airlines has achieved these positive results thanks to its efforts in creating groundbreaking developments, taking advantage of opportunities to grow, increasing profitability, improving service quality and enhancing business efficiency.

Over the next six months, Vietnam Airlines will continue to mobilise its resources to ensure safety and security and improve the efficiency of its fleet. It will also coordinate with the airlines of the corporation, its strategic partner ANA and other SkyTeam members in order to introduce to the market further excellent products that are well-priced and comfortable in transit, meeting the quality required of a 4-star service and the increasing needs of passengers.

Vietnam Airlines offers the UK’s only nonstop flights to Vietnam, operating daily services from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Flights are carefully scheduled to offer convenient overnight journeys in both directions, and excellent onward connections via its comprehensive network of over 40 destinations in Asia, including 23 within Vietnam and Indochina, as well as China, Japan and Taiwan.

Return fares from Heathrow to Ho Chi Minh City currently start from £396 per person, inclusive of taxes. For further information and reservations visit www.vietnamairlines.com or speak to a travel agent.

Bacall Associates Travel - Your typical London Adventure Guide

I had seen what most of you hadn’t. Be it the towering heights of Ben’s, the Collection of masterpieces, or the Great museum that held centuries worth of history… That is because I went to London.

I had a lot of help with little time. So I was referred by a friend who previously travelled to London to Bacall and Associates.

From the tower of London (which is a full structure) to the Somerset House, my adventures included a lot of strolling. Feeling like I walked through history itself, their Museums offers artifacts and countless treasures of the past.

Structures that became the Icon of London itself such as the Eye that gives you a view from the skies whereas people are small and the dazzling city seemingly so too. Another is the Big Ben, a clock tower that dates as far as the 1850’s which still stands today, so no need to bring a watch. The Big Ben took 34 years to build.

Another is the tourist spot of the Buckingham Palace, where 11:30 (or earlier to get a good spot as people tend to crowd), disciplined and trained, the changing of guards occur that served as the modern knights of London.

Westminster Abbey. Modernly known as Collegiate Church of St Peter, it is a historical place that held not only royal weddings in the past, but also burials of the kings almost a millennium ago.

The Victoria and Albert Museum. A destination that held artifacts from 5,000 years ago spanning from artworks, costumes, jewelry, ironwork, and photos.

Lastly, the St Paul’s Cathedral the largest and most famous among London’s many churches and one of the most beautiful in the world. The Architectural design that made it proved to be genius and made of hard work, though the Cathedral has a history of a fire that occurred back in the 1666 it was rebuilt.

Bacall Associates Travel - To be lost in the City (of Singapore!)

We all work for something. Be it a want, a goal or dream, that we follow the same routine, drive the same highways a hundred or even a thousand of times, do the same thing over and over again to earn and simply enjoy our lives.

But there will be times when you will just feel tired, I felt tired. I wanted a break, a short vacation, but little I had known that I was out of time.

Summer had grown to a close and I was left with little time to plan, prepare and ready myself. I was supposed to be relaxing, that was then that I found Bacall Associates when I was at my wit’s end.

Working for hours to free up the next days while preparing everything proved to be tiresome. But Bacall fixed everything. In the end, I was only able to bring a few clothes, basic amenities and needs and next thing I know, I was on a plane. They prepared me a schedule that I can chose to follow, contacted hotels and made reservations and basically everything that I needed to do but didn’t have time to.

It was an hour after dawn when I arrived, most attractions are closed for the next few hours, and I had nothing to do. I checked in the given hotel dropped of what little things I had bring and took a walk.

What I had first enjoyed when I arrived at Singapore was the view. Everywhere I look was lush green, the streets were clean and maintained, and the climbing sun was in the background. I followed the detailed advises of Bacall Associates, took a train or two, walk a bit and soon found myself at the market.

As I stroll, I bought off what I didn’t bring, like clothes, bought myself some comfortable sandals (all in which I brought home as souvenirs) and continued to let myself be lost in the city. Had a lunch in a local restaurant I had passed through when I strolled (I’d recommend the Bak Chor Mee) and ultimately enjoyed.

Days went pass as I visited tourist spots like the gardens, the man made waterfalls and a lot more that in the end I felt satisfied. It was relaxing. It was then that I decided that once a year or two, I will take a vacation, god knows where but thankfully there is Bacall and Associates to help me with that.

Lucas P. Cromwell

Bacall Associates - Tips in using Social Media

Tips in using social media to improve your marketing communication plan

Known for their cost-effective integrated public relations, marketing and sales campaigns, Bacall Associates sees great importance in social media because it serves as a great helping tool to a lot of business owners today. It doesn’t only help you in terms of public relations but can also boost your integrated marketing communication plan.

Remember that a goal without a plan is just a wish. Same goes with your business, it's crucial to have a plan first before you begin communicating with the world about your business. This specific plan is called an integrated marketing communication (IMC) plan. It includes different methods on how to communicate your business along with its products and services to your target audience. During implementation, it can also be an effective guideline for your marketing teams to prevent any internal arguments between stakeholders and to reduce any problems.

Similar to your marketing strategy, this plan continues to evolve and once your communication channels keep on growing, you just need to adjust your plan together with it. Your IMC can utilize several different communication mediums, including advertising, public relations, content marketing and social media. Social media, with its purpose to improve communication, is considered vital to any IMC plan nowadays.

These past few decades, social media has been proven effective to the world of marketing, making it an essential communication channel and a worthwhile source of customer information. Bacall Associates has seen the impact of social media on the following areas, which proved that it could enhance your IMC plan.

Market research

You can use social media for your market research. Qualitative and quantitative market research are significant for an integrated marketing communications plan. You can use these sections as a guide for your strategy and tactics as well as identifying your target audience. It is often difficult to gather data on these sections, that’s why the introduction of social media has been a great help to a lot of business owners worldwide. Social media contains a plethora of social media data that can be used to discover detailed information about your target audience. You can also gather qualitative data through focus group-like questions.

Public relations

Using social media to drive public relations could also be an advantage to you. In the past, once a news break out, public relation pros are required to send emails, faxes, and make phone calls to update the reporters that their client is available to make a comment. Today, social media has lessened the stress of PR pros because it provides easy access and great convenience to them. You can achieve relevance and speed with social media, that’s why it’s now possible to get a comment out within minutes of the news breaking. It's important that your audience lives on social media and that your sources are connected to them.

Advertising

You can also advertise your brand using social media. It's evident that there's a massive change in the world of advertising today because of social media. Social media advertising has been around for a short period of time. Not surprisingly, business owners put big advertising budgets on social media because of its ability to specifically target your audience, easily measure your social media advertising ROI, and quickly make changes to your ads. Bacall Associates claims that it is now the right time to include social media in your advertising strategy and budget.

Reporting on your integrated marketing communication (IMC) plan

Using social media analytics to report on your IMC plan is also feasible. Because of the rise of social media analytics tools, it's important that you also include the data available in these tools even if there are already many different ways where you can report on your IMC plan. Social media analytics helps you gather data from blogs and social media websites and could analyze that data to make business decisions.

Tips for an Effective PR Campaign by Bacall Associates Travel

The phrase "With great effort comes great reward" never gets old to Bacall Associates. This phrase serves as their inspiration to provide great services to their clients. They make sure that they're giving their best in everything they do. The same can be applied to you because you just need to exert great effort to achieve effective PR campaign.

Along with other business owners, you want to increase your visibility and reach your target market, right? Then content and execution will be your saving grace. Remember that those are important to make sure that your PR campaign will not fail.

To make your PR campaigns effective, you need to consider the following in order to help you achieve success.

A crystal clear goal

It's apparent that it should be on the top of the list because without a goal, you can't score. You and your audience may become confused if you don't have a clear purpose for your campaign. Your answer to the question, "What do you want to achieve for your brand?” should be definite and clear. Keep in mind that this will be very important to you because this will serve as your steering wheel in driving the road to success.

Right audience

You should reach the right audience for your brand. Considering your potential media outlet's audience and tone is important. Make sure that your content matches them and is appropriate. To target different types of media, you should create different pieces of content such as press releases, content marketing articles, and creative media kits. But remember, spamming irrelevant content is not good for your brand's image, so avoid doing it to everyone on your contact list. Publishing your content may not be enough, so it's better to put more effort on your side and do your best to communicate the right message to the consumers.

Reachable content

It is clear that having a constant interaction with the consumers is a vital part of your campaign, and this is possible if you have reachable content. Nowadays, the power of social media platforms is undeniably changing the world of public relations, especially in countries like Singapore where social media is being used every day by the majority of its people. You can easily share your content through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or LinkedIn, that can lead to an effective communication between you and the consumers. Make sure that your content has a connection with your brand and that the message is not lost. But don't make it all about your brand. For example, tutorials on YouTube regarding beauty or fitness provide the demonstration of the product along with an entertaining and informative experience they can interact with.

Falseimpression

You should definitely AVOID this. Your content may seem flawless, but according to reviews, it can still be misunderstood by some and have different meanings. Do some research and get different perspectives to minimize the chances of your PR campaign gaining attention for all the wrong reasons. Simple phrases, symbols and metaphors, altogether might have a different meaning, making this crucial for international campaigns.

Effectiveness

Measuring your campaign's effectiveness should also be a part of your concern. Think of how you will measure the success of your PR campaign before you begin sending press releases. Having different KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators, is often a good idea according to the experts of Bacall Associates.

Trends

You can better understand the consumers and media by keeping yourself updated with the latest trends, from new apps to the latest publications, and even current affairs. This can help you communicate your message more efficiently, making your brand get the recognition it deserves.

Keep in touch with Bacall Associates if you'd like to discuss your public relations approach because they can greatly help you with your every need.

Bacall Associates - Tips for a Fun and Better Beach Vacation Trip

Beach is probably one of the favorite place of families to go to during vacations. Kids will be super excited when you tell them you're going to the beach, and they will definitely start packing their favorite things to bring with them.

You can enjoy listening to the waves while enjoying your favorite book and laying down on a soft towel under an umbrella. Bacall Associates put together a few tips to consider for your perfect beach vacation.

Location

Obviously, there are a lot of beaches to choose from, and each of them offers unique services. Before booking your trip, make sure to choose the best beach that suits your family's interests. Your family's enjoyment should be your utmost priority. You can ask your close friends or other relatives for suggestions, or you can just browse the internet and trust Google's results. Don't choose a beach that is exclusive for singles or couples if you're planning to have a vacation with your whole family. For a new adventure, you can also choose a 'virgin' beach or a quiet and less crowded beach. Your family will surely enjoy the serenity of such places, and you can do activities on your own without disturbing other people. For example, lots of reviews state that Singapore doesn’t really have nice beaches because it’s only known for its towering steel and glass towers, but it has few beaches that are very beautiful, quiet and peaceful and only the locals know their locations and some of which doesn’t have an officialbeach name. Secret beaches are amazing! But since they are not made to cater tourists, your family need to prepare everything you need by yourselves.

Accommodations

If you're planning to stay for a few days at the beach, then you and your family should have a place to stay in. You can choose between hotels often available at the beachfront, or hotels within walking distance of your beach's location. You don't want to choose faraway hotels, right? Choose the one that is the most convenient for your family, and has a wide variety of beach accommodations perfect for any beach experience you're looking for. You can choose between romantic cottages, full-service resorts, family-friendly hotels, or even campsites. You should ask your family members for their preferred accommodation to have a unified decision.

Activities

Your family will definitely enjoy doing different kinds of activities during your beach vacation, so you should choose a beach that offers an amazing array of activities. Bacall Associates advise you to plan ahead and organize everything beforehand. Ask questions to the staff of the beach to plan the activities you’ll be having. Paying in advance is also an option so that you’ll not bother yourself bringing a large amount of money to the beach. Before booking, don't forget to ask if those services are available during your stay. You can also discuss this matter with your family members so that they know what to expect and what activities to perform on the beach.

Time

Note that choosing the right time is crucial for your beach vacation. You should know that peak season and public holidays mean crowded beaches, and expect traffic and fully booked airports. With these situations in hand, you should be able to make everything right for your vacation. Yes, you have a lot to consider that's why you shouldn't rush planning and take one step at a time. To avoid rainy and very hot seasons, check the weather of the area at different times of the year. Remember that choosing the most convenient time for you and your family is really important.

Packing

Bacall Associates advises you to pack right and light. Girls usually plan to pack their things in advance than boys, but it'll be better if everyone will do this beforehand. With this, you’ll have more time organizing your things and putting everything you need without forgetting anything important. This can result in a less stressful beach vacation. Making a list of the things you need can help you organize your things. Some of the most important things to bring with you include cash, hat and sunscreen, phone charger, reading materials, and of course, an extra outfit.

Bacall Associates has been in the travel arena for decades, so you can definitely trust the tips given above in planning your beach vacation. So what are you waiting for? Start preparing the things you need, and make sure that you will be having a memorable beach holiday with your family.

Bacall Associates - Singapore City Break Guide

An essential guide to Singapore, including advice on the best hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and attractions.

Why go?

Because Singapore is celebrating its 50 year of independence with parties and openings aplenty (singapore50.sg).

Come Q3-Q4, the six-starred Patina Capitol Singapore - with architecture by Pritzker Prize Laureate Richard Meier and interior by Jaya Ibrahim - will debut in two restored heritage buildings in the Civic District.

And in November, the National Gallery will open on the grounds of the city’s most iconic buildings - the former Supreme Court and City Hall; with a combined floor area of 60,000 sqm, it will house the largest collection of South-east Asian art in the world.

Discover for yourself what life is like in one of the world’s most affluent cities. While S$500 a pop meals are not hard to find, it’s completely possible to eat like a king without spending more than S$5 to S$10 per head.

Witness how the locals make the most of their lives in a city known for its draconian laws and apparently “unhappy” citizens. It will change the way you view the little red dot.

When to go

Weather-wise, there is no “best time” to visit Singapore. Known for its year-round warm and humid weather, the city’s temperature hovers between 24C in the mornings and evenings and about 31C in the daytime. From November to January, the temperature dips slightly with the onset of the wet monsoon season during which it’s wise to pack a brolly.

Singapore hosts the world’s only Formula 1 night race, and come September the city revs up for the event (September 18 - 20, 2015). Last-minute hotel reservations can be challenging at this time, especially if you want to stay in a hotel sited along the Grand Prix track, but advance planning will stand you in good stead.

Where to go

To see the real Singapore, veer off the beaten path to the newly gentrified Tiong Bahru. Start with local breakfast of mee pok (flat egg noodles) at 70-year-old stall, Hua Bee. Then, proceed to Tiong Bahru market to observe how Singaporeans procure groceries in the morning. Break for coffee at 40 Hands, peruse some books at hipster bookstore, Books Actually, and when hunger strikes, head back to the market for wallet-friendly hawker fare. If you’re in the vicinity in the evening and want to splash on a good meal, head back to Hua Bee. By night, the coffee shop morphs into Bincho, a modern yakitori joint.

Know before you go

Local laws and etiquette

Singapore is known as a fine city and for good reason – you can be fined, and even caned or jailed – for breaking seemingly draconian laws that the locals have learnt to live with.

Since 1992, when a vandal stuck a piece of chewing gum on an MRT door sensor that resulted in the disruption of train services, the sale and import of chewing gum has been banned in Singapore. You can still chew gum, but be careful to dispose of it properly.

Smoking is banned in restaurants, cinemas and all indoor public spaces. Since mid-2013, the ban has been extended to include public spaces such as overhead bridges and outdoor hospital compounds.

Vandalism is also a punishable offence and so are littering, spitting, jaywalking and failure to flush the lavatory.

Visas

Foreigners holding travel documents from certain countries require a visa to enter Singapore. See the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority website (ica.gov.sg).

Bacall Associates - Tips for a More Effective Social Media PR

These past few years, social media has been playing a vital role in the world of public relations. If you want to maintain good public relations for your company, then you should put a continuous effort to it. Social media shouldn't be only used as a one-time engagement strategy, but should be used in a continuous manner.

As renowned experts in public relations, Bacall Associates would like to share some tips for a better and effective social media PR:

A) You should have a clear answer to the question, "What are your goals?" because having in mind the answers to this question is an important foundation before you begin because they can serve as your guide in achieving your goals. The answers may include strengthening the awareness of your brand, or finding more information about the consumers through two-way communication. Developing strategies to achieve your goals with social media can become easier if you have particular objectives in mind.

B) "Quality over quantity", you've heard this phrase a thousand times before, but Bacall Associates wants you to engrave this phrase into your mind if you want to find success in using social media in your public relations. Is having 50,000 followers on Twitter important if none of them is engaging with you? The answer is no, it isn't important. Don't feel bad if you only have less than 50 followers because if those small number of followers are interested in your business and started initiating communication with you, then feel good about it because they could bring profit to your business. Effective communication is a must, so creating a strategy to further improve your engagement with your social media followers is important. If having too many social media accounts gives you a hard time in effectively communicating with the consumers, then just devote your time to a specific social media platform that you think is the right one for you.

C)  If you want to attract the consumers and build further growth for your business, creating a Facebook page or Twitter account can be a very big help. Here in Singapore, most people are active consumers of social media, and recent study states that 74% of its population uses social media regularly. The power of social media can be very effective in this country. But that aside, look at how your competitors are using these social media platforms and identify how many of their followers are actively engaging with them. You can use this information to determine what you can do differently for the consumers.

D) Nowadays, videos are more attractive than texts. Some users would often play a video than read long pages of content. To bring life to your social media profiles, add images or videos to your business' Facebook and Twitter status updates, and tweets. You can also put web-links and video links. Reviews proved that using images and videos are effective tools in captivating and maintaining the interest of your social media followers.

E) Don’t lose the interest of your followers, you should always keep your social media sites updated. You should regularly add content to those sites, and don't forget to add appropriate keywords and tags.

F) Bacall Associates is also encouraging you to do special promotions, or product discounts to achieve loyalty from your social media followers. Communication is important, so make sure to reply to any of the comments the consumers. Users often get disappointed if their comment is not getting any reply. Prove to them that you and your business are an active and dynamic entities that they could trust.

G) Remember that you cannot avoid complaints, and deleting this kind of comments from your social media accounts will not bring you any good, but just further negativity to your business. You don't want negative publicity, right? So face the complaint the way professionals do. You can send a private message to the complainant and do your best to resolve the problem. Then after giving the necessary solution, you can ask the complainant to update his or her comment, stating that the complaint has been resolved.

H) You can also ask your social media followers on what kind of information they want to see in your sites. You can use their answers as a guide in developing a good quality content that interests them, resulting in a long-term engagement.

I) There are different analytics tools available online that could help you measure the engagement rates between your social media followers. Social media measurement is crucial because you need to know what is working from all the strategies you made. Focus equally on both qualitative and quantitative measurement.

If you have further questions regarding this matter, contact the experts from Bacall Associates and seek their professional help. They can help you with your every PR needs and can guide your business to a more fruitful future.

Bacall Associates - Singapore Travel Guide

I’ve been to Singapore twice (in 2013 & 2016), and spent a total of 7 days in the city — it’s one of my favorite places in Asia!   In this blog post, I am going to give you an overview of the city, and provide travel tips and recommendations for things like culture, attractions, food, nightlife and more. Everything you read is based off my own experiences.

GENERAL THOUGHTS ON SINGAPORE

Singapore is a bustling hub of culture, food, and all around good vibes.  It’s the most modern city in Asia.  It’s vibrant, it’s energetic, and it always leaves me fascinated.

If you think New York City is busy, just wait until you see Singapore.  People are always in a hurry and they walk really fast (they are actually ranked the fastest walkers on earth).  It seemed like everything was happening in fast motion, which always kept me on my toes!

You might be surprised to hear that Singapore is a tiny tropical island, made up of 6 million people (75% Chinese).  It’s located just 80 miles north of the equator — so the temperature is always hot and humid.  It’s tropical location provides 17 nature reserves and more than 1.4 million trees!

The thing that stands out most about Singapore is the extreme cleanliness.

Seriously — the streets are cleaner than my washing machine.

Why is everything so clean in Singapore?

Well, Singapore has some of the strictest laws in the world.  There are street signs all around the city reminding everyone not to litter, smoke, chew gum, run, spit, etc.  If you don’t follow the rules, then you must pay a steep fine.  But nearly everyone obeys the rules, which is why Singapore is also of the safest cities in the world.

Everything from the metros, malls, restaurants and residential buildings are so clean that you can eat off the floor!

Another thing that really impressed me about Singapore was the easiness to get around.

Despite being a densely populated city, the metro system is VERY easy to figure out and there are taxis all around that are pretty cheap to use.

After being in Singapore for just a few hours, I was already confident enough to navigate myself around town.  All the signs are in English (and most people can speak/understand English), so it’s almost impossible to get lost.

Alright, there is a downside…. Singapore isexpensive.  Really expensive to travel.

In fact, the city just took #1 as the Most expensive city in the world by the Los Angeles Times.  Aside from street food, which is reasonably priced, you wouldn’t believe how a beer or alcoholic beverage costs… And if you want to rent a flat, then good luck finding a cheap price!

Bacall Associates - A team that embodies competitive spirit

A team that embodies competitive spirit, optimistic mind and professional attitude

Bacall Associates is a prominent boutique marketing, public relations and sales support agency that specializes in travel at the top end of the market. The company’s interest includes launching and maintaining profile for airlines, destinations, health retreats, hotel groups, luxury developments, resorts, and travel companies around the world.

Bacall Associates has in-depth knowledge about the travel arena since they’re greatly involved in that sector. They can also use a wide range of media and industry contacts and provide a lifestyle edge to their work by taking the message well beyond the travel pages to the luxury consumer.

As a result of working with both national and international clients for more than 20 years, Bacall Associates has acquired tremendous experience and a pristine reputation in the sector. In particular, their experience includes aviation and infrastructure with some of the best hotels in the world, from independent properties to iconic landmarks, such as the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

Bacall Associates also established the best public relations strategies for major tourist boards and travel companies throughout the years and build small niche operators in the marketplace. They have an impressive commitment in achieving the specific PR goals of their clients and driving their business.

Services

Some of the best characteristics of Bacall Associates’ team include creative talent and professionalism. They’re known to many as a group of people who accepts any kind of challenges and ends up exceeding their clients’ expectations.

For Bacall Associates, it’s important to build a strong mutual trust between you and your clients to have a long lasting relationship with them. Its members never fail to show integrity, intelligence and optimism in their work, that’s why they’re also trusted by a lot of people including journalists.

To enhance the company’s campaigns and guarantee the reach of the right audiences for their clients, Bacall Associates brings a lifestyle edge to their work. In particular, they work with brands and influencers, such as fashion houses, food and drink companies, celebrities, and industry insiders.

Bacall Associates can develop innovative concepts and ideas that transcend, yet balance pure media placement by bringing a strong marketing edge to what they do. They often collaborate with upmarket brands and partners, including Aveda, Bentley, Coutts Private Banking, Gossard, Ham Polo Club, Harvey Nicholas, Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon, Quintessentially, and Selfridges.

Most of the reviews about the company affirm that the most cost-effective way to build brand awareness is through Bacall Associates’ integrated public relations, marketing and sales campaigns. It combines high press impact coverage in the leading UK media with regular celebrity endorsements; brand partnerships; targeted promotions and events with an imposing factor.

Throughout the years, Bacall Associates has played a vital role in securing several awards for their clients in order to firmly establish them as world class properties. The company is aware of the need to produce tangible results that could turn into increased sales.

Specifically, Bacall Associates provide the following services that can help a lot of clients in reaching their goals and achieve great results:

Public Relations

- Corporate communications

- Creative brainstorming

- Crisis management

- Event management and launches

- Full service press office

- Media placement and feature building

- Photography

- Product placement

- Promotions and competitions

Marketing Communications

- Brand management

- Copy writing and design

- Database development

- Destination marketing

- Direct mail

- Online promotions

- Publishing (working with a specialist outsource company)

- Sponsorships

- Strategic alliances and third party promotions

Sales Promotion

- Exhibition representation

- Product presentation

- Tour operator introductions

- Tour operator training

The Team

Jeff Bacall: He is the managing director of Bacall Associates. For over 30 years, Jeff has acquired extensive experience in public relations, marketing, and sales that includes both in-house and external consulting for travel and lifestyle firms. In 1991, Jeff was invited to set up and manage the European Sales and Marketing office for Thailand’s domestic hotel group called The Imperial Family of Hotels. The sale of the group led to the formation of Bacall Associates in 1994.

Charlotte Lowe: She studied Business Studies with Marketing at Bournemouth University. She joined Bacall Associates shortly after she graduates. She also gained significant experience on a work placement year during her degree at a sophisticated rewards and incentives agency. Charlotte discovered her love for travel at a very young age.

Zoe Slater: She gained a BA (Hons) in Politics and Modern History from the University of Manchester, and a Masters in Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University. She worked as a freelance journalist for several publications and the Press Association after she graduates in 2009. She became an editor at Wardour where she managed communications projects for clients. In June 2015, Zoe finally joined Bacall Associates after working in The Zetter Group.

Other members of the team include Flora Gandolfo, Claire DaBreo and Nat Frogley. All of them are reliable and diligent individuals who can fulfill the needs of their clients.

Success Stories

Vietnam Airlines: Bacall Associates launched the new direct routes from UK (London Gatwick - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) in December 2011. The company focused on highlighting the destination as a whole and the accessibility brought by the new flights. The campaign had generated 331 pieces of quality press after the first 12 months. It includes main travel items in every national newspaper, national weekend supplement and all the major glossies, as well as some major pieces of broadcast coverage, reaching an audience of over 56 million.

Chiva-Som: Bacall Associates arranged a UK event for Chiva-Som in 2011 at the ultra VIP, 1,500 square meter Louis Vuitton ‘Apartment’ on the top floor of their Bond Street concept store. The company utilized the space to create a ‘pop up spa’ throughout the course of a week, culminating in a gala dinner for VIPs and celebrities. Bacall Associates reached a total of 260 Louis Vuitton private shopping clients, 43 journalists and influencers and 52 VIPs and celebrities. The event ensured considerable press interest, securing six major reviews whilst generating a large number of bookings.

Contacts

You can pay them a visit at 63 Catherine Place, London if you would like to meet Bacall Associates’ incisive team members. You can also give them a phone call at 0870 428 8401, or send them an email at pr@bacall.net.

If you’re eager to discuss your next project, please contact flora@bacall.net. You can also send your CV to pr@bacall.net if you’re interested in career opportunities or an internship with Bacall Associates.

Bacall Associates - 21 years of never-say-die commitment to their clients

Do you want to add more vivacity to your PR campaigns? Do you need more flavor to your marketing? Do you need an upgrade to your campaigns? Bacall Associates in Singapore is the place to be for all your needs! It is a boutique public relations, marketing and sales support agency specializing in travel at the top end of the market.

Bacall Associates is one if the most respected PR companies around the globe. Reviews reveal that its clients are proud to be a part of such thriving company. According to them, Bacall’s competence and professionalism are beyond compare.

The team of Bacall Associates also provides ingenious and fresh story ideas with their impressive ability and superlative drive. They have an in-depth knowledge regarding marketing and sales, public relations, and travel. They’re straightforward and dependable individuals who are dauntless and can face demanding challenges.

The company is always enthusiastic in launching and maintaining profiles for airlines, destinations, hotel groups, luxury development, resorts and health retreats, and travel companies worldwide. Bacall Associates’ clients strongly believe that its nonpareil positive attitude is what makes them a successful company because it allows them to accomplish any difficult tasks with an optimistic mind.

The company also offers great assistance to their clients as well as the expertise in the field of all things luxury. They have the capability of drawing on a broad range of media and industry contacts.

The team of Bacall Associates is also known for their punctuality because they never failed to answer every inquiry of their clients in a timely manner. No wonder why the company has garnered a lot of clients that’s consist of aviation and infrastructure, along with some of the best hotels in the world such as the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

Bacall Associates has a great network to all pertinent media, travel trade and social authorities that’s why they always follow a proactive approach to the market. The company has the perfect method and knows the most effective ways of acquiring the best media response. It also established small niche operators in the marketplace and formed PR strategies for major tourist boards and travel companies.

Bacall succeeded in securing a major consumer award for one of the Hilton’s resort properties. It has an attentive and creative team that’s dedicated in reaching the company’s objectives, and achieving particular public relations goals of the clients and driving the business at the same time. They also deliver a lifestyle edge to their work to add interest to their campaigns and guarantee the reach of the right audiences for their clients.

As previously stated, the company works to a very high standard and stands for their clients in the most professional and positive manner. Clients are amazed with the level of contact that Bacall Associates have within media circles and the company’s efforts in promoting the image and profile of their respected firms. With their outstanding qualities, the company also made a solid relationship not only with their clients, but also with journalists.

Bacall Associates has a strong marketing edge that lets them create innovative concepts  and initiatives that excel, yet balance pure media placement. For the years, they have played an important role in securing numerous awards for their clients to strongly establish them as world class properties.