Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel launches first of its kind city tour

Dhaka : Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel has launched an exclusive city tour for local and foreign tourists to visit the historical and iconic places in Dhaka. 
There were 13 foreign tourists who took the city tour on the first day.
The main attraction of the tour is the residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi-32 which is now known as the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. The tour also includes other places in Dhaka, including the National Museum, Bangabandhu Military Museum, and the Shaheed Minar.
Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism inaugurated the special city tour on August 5 through a ceremony organised at the hotel premise. 
Md Mokammel Hassan, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Dr Md Aminur Rahman, Managing Director, Hotels International Ltd, Asif Ahmed, Ex-Acting General Manager, Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka and other high officials from the ministry, Hotels International Ltd and media representatives were also present on the occasion.   
In his inaugurating speech, Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, said, "We want every hotel to organise such tours with unique and different packages."
"Already the process of importing six high-quality tourist buses from Germany is complete. Soon these buses will run on the road and people will gather to take a look. We need to do branding of our historical establishments to help tourism of the country flourish and we have already started," added the State Minister.
Md Mokammel Hassan, Secretary of Civil Aviation and Tourism, said, "The main purpose of tourism is not limited to travelling only, it also extends to human-to-human relations. If you talk about the history of Bangladesh, you have to talk about the history of Dhaka. Tourists can learn about Dhaka's heritage through city tours."
"Tours for local and foreign tourists to visit the historical places of Old Dhaka and Panam City will be arranged soon," he informed.
He mentioned, tickets for the recently launched Padma Bridge tour over the next three months have sold out in advance already.
Dr Md Aminur Rahman, Managing Director, Hotels International Ltd, said, "This latest city tour will operate every Friday and Saturday."
All domestic and foreign tourists can participate in the city tour for BDT 4,500 and BDT 5,000 per ticket respectively. 
The ticket price includes various historical and sightseeing places with lunch or dinner and onboard snacks for tourists.
Robin James Edwards new GM of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka 
Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka appointed its new General Manager Robin James Edwards on August 10, 2022.
Edwards is a strategic and visionary hospitality professional leader with experience of over 43 years. 
His knowledge of hospitality has been broadened by working with leading Hotel and Resort Global Brands like InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Jebel Ali International and Radisson Hotels and Resorts. 
Prior to joining at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka, Edwards has worked as Group Director of Operations, Syahya Hotels and Resorts, Abha, in Saudi Arabia. 
As a Vice President of Operations and General Manager, Edwards has served in several properties in Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, India and China, followed by his role also as General Manager in International Hotels in UK and USA.
In Bangladesh, Edwards had served in numerous Properties which include Radisson Hotel Group-Radisson Blu Chittagong, Bangladesh, among a few. 
Edwards obtained his Bachelor Degree from Leeds University, UK, and he enriched his academic career with a Masters from San Diego State University in USA and a several Diplomas and Certificate Courses from Florida Atlantic University, Cornell University and AHLA. 
This is to be mentioned here that Edwards, the new General Manager of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka, is a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) from AHLA.