HONG KONG, 2018-Oct-03 — /Travel PR News/ — Rosewood Hotels & Resorts®, the ultra-luxury hotel group, today (October 1, 2018) adds philanthropist John Wood to its Rosewood Curators program, a carefully selected group of luminaries and leaders who share travel recommendations and insider tips for Rosewood destinations around the world. Wood joins Rosewood Curators on behalf of Rosewood Phnom Penh, the brand’s first property in Cambodia, which opened in February 2018 atop the capital city’s tallest building.
The founder of Room to Read, an organization devoted to children’s literacy and gender equality in education, Wood began his career at Microsoft, where he was working when he first visited Cambodia in 1994. Struck by the devastation that the civil war and political environment had left on the country, Wood was inspired to help the local population rebuild. After embarking on several other trips over the following years, he departed Microsoft in 2000 to found Room to Read. First launched in Nepal, Room to Read now has a presence in 15 countries across Asia and Africa and supports over 30,000 schools and millions of students, teachers and librarians.
Over the course of his many visits to Cambodia, Wood developed a deep appreciation for the country’s culture and people. Today, Wood continues to return frequently to Cambodia and Phnom Penh to further his cause, visit his favorite destinations, and discover new ones. As the Curator for Rosewood Phnom Penh, Wood shares his favorite ways to experience the capital city.
Guided by a notion that one of the best ways to appreciate a destination is through its food, Wood explores Phnom Penh’s rich culinary landscape by seeking advice from locals. He recommends that visitors wander through the Central Market’s barbeque stalls for delicious local fare. Among his favorite meals is the fish amok paired with a cold Angkor beer, and he recommends any spicy curry dish with pork or chicken traditionally found in Phnom Penh. For a refreshing cocktail with a picturesque view, he suggests the riverside bar and restaurant, Foreign Correspondents Club.
While tuk-tuks are a fun way to explore Phnom Penh, Wood advises that walking can be the best way to discover the charming streets and hidden gems of the city. As part of an exploration of the country’s past, Wood recommends that all first-time visitors to Phnom Penh experience the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which details Cambodia’s devastating history and how it became the resilient country it is today.
“Ever since my first visit to Cambodia, I’ve been captivated by the optimism and friendliness of its people. When I saw the determination of the community to rebuild and prosper, I knew I wanted to contribute in a significant way,” says Wood. “It is truly heartwarming to see how the capital city, and the country overall, has progressed and I look forward to helping support Cambodia’s bright future.”
With the belief that learning is the foundation of all possibility in life, Rosewood Hotel Group launched a partnership with Room to Read on International Literacy Day on September 8, 2016. The partnership began with Rosewood’s pledge to fund secondary school education for 100 young women in Siem Reap, Cambodia as part of Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Program. Rosewood continues to implement programs in fundraising, in-kind donations, seasonal initiatives, and on-the-ground practical assistance, as well as encourages support of the cause amongst friends, families, guests, and business partners.
Wood’s complete Curator interview, including his destination and travel tips, can be found on Rosewood Conversations, the brand’s new online travel digital platform.
First launched in 2013, the Rosewood Curator program includes fashion icons Anna Dello Russo and Iris Apfel, prima ballerina Tan Yuan Yuan, designer Zac Posen, Academy award-winning actress Allison Janney, and auctioneer Simon de Pury, among others. To read and watch the Rosewood Curator interviews, go to rosewoodhotels.com/conversations.
About Rosewood Phnom Penh
Rosewood Phnom Penh presents an ultra-luxury hospitality experience in the Cambodian capital. The hotel is located on the top 14 floors of Vattanac Capital Tower in the central business district, with unobstructed views of the city and the fabled Mekong River from its position within the tallest building in the capital. Rosewood Phnom Penh embraces the Rosewood brand’s A Sense of Place® philosophy and reflects the location’s history, culture and sensibilities. It features 175 rooms and suites; five restaurants and lounges, including Sora, a sky bar on a cantilevered terrace; Sense, A Rosewood Spa; a fitness center; a 20-meter indoor lap swimming pool; and meeting facilities that include The Pavilion residential-style meeting and function space. For more information or reservations, please contact your travel professional, the hotel directly at phnompenh.reservations@rosewoodhotels.com or telephone +855 239 36 888.
For more information: rosewoodhotels.com/en/phnom-penh
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About Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® manages 24 one-of-a-kind luxury properties in 15 countries, with 17 new hotels under development. Each Rosewood hotel embraces the brand’s A Sense of Place® philosophy to reflect the individual location’s history, culture and sensibilities. The Rosewood collection includes some of the world’s most legendary hotels and resorts, including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris, as well as new classics such as Rosewood Beijing.
For more information: rosewoodhotels.com
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Contact:
Connie Wong
We Red Bridge
E: conniewo@we-worldwide.com
T: +852 2907 8812
Source: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts