An evening to remember - Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Kuoni Destination Management Cambodia spoiled the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) 2011 hosts with a surprise event, an ‘Invitation au voyage’,  in January 2011.

The location of the gala evening and dinner venue was kept secret until the last minute. Without knowing where they were going to be taken by a well-organised hotel pick-up service, our staff handed out vintage tickets to guests for a trip down memory lane.

Guests arrived in the dark at the Royal Cambodian Railways maintenance area where they were met by the Guest of Honor, the Minister of Information of the Royal Government of Cambodia, His Excellency Khieu Kanharith and his spouse. Guided by torch lights, guests walked on a red carpet and were led to the platform where a vintage Czechoslovakian yellow train from the sixties waited for them to get on. Waiters from the Cambodiana Hotel served fresh towels and drinks prior to the train departure.

Four uniformed train stewards punched a hole in the vintage train ticket and led guests onto the well-decorated compartments. Everyone was thrilled, a whistle blew in the silence of the night, and the train began its 10-minute ride to Phnom Penh Central Railway Station. Lights in the wagons went off a few seconds prior to the entrance at the station so guests could enjoy a light show on the arrival platform, which was under a ‘winter fog’. When all guests disembarked, the young artists from the Battambang NGO Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) (“Light of the Arts”) began their Circus show.

To the sound of Richard Strauss’ Thus Spoke Zarathustra, guests were then ushered inside the landmark Railway Station to discover a fine dining room set inside the Grand Hall. After a brief address by Asian Trails CEO Luzi Matzig, the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, under the artistic direction of Her Royal Highness Princess Buppha Devi Norodom of Cambodia, performed an excerpt of her latest ballet creation, ‘The Legend of Apsara Mera’. It was followed by fine dining with some more spectacular and stunning shows by PPS artists.

Guests received a CD of the ‘Musique Pinpeat and ‘Chants du Ballet Royal du Cambodge’ as a souvenir, and were treated to an on-going PPS show outside the station as they got onto their buses. Smiles were on all faces, and it was truly an evening to remember.

“You are a star for spoiling us so much during the evening - what a surprise. It truly reflects Kuoni Destination Management Asia-Pacific’s calibre in organising incentives and special events. My team and I just loved it”!
Raini Hamdi, Group Editor of TTG-Asia Media