NEW GOVERNOR SPECULATION

Who will be the next governor of Siem Reap? The rumour mill is running rife, and the smart money seems to be on Khim Bun Song, the owner of the five-star hotel, Borei Angkor Resort and Spa.

Khim Bun Song is one of four deputy governors of Siem Reap, and he is also a Brigadier General in charge of the Siem Reap Military Command.

But Siem Reap officialdom is remaining tight lipped about who will be Sou Phirin’s successor. Bun Tharith, another Siem Reap deputy governor said, “I don’t know about this matter. But if we get some information, we will surely let Siem Reap residents know.” Stands to reason.

LE MERIDIEN’S XMAS BASH

Le Meridien Angkor hotel is holding its annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony tonight, kicking off at 6.30pm. There’ll be a blessing dance and light refreshments and update information about the hotel’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve gala dinners.

Dennis Kam, the director of sales and marketing also advises that the hotel is selling teddy bears to raise funds for the Kantha Bopha Hospital, and to encourage sales on the night, the hotel will hold a lucky draw. Exciting prizes include two-night stays in Meridien sister hotels in Thailand and Malaysia.

VICTORIA GREEN DAY

Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa will hold its ninth annual Victoria Green Day tomorrow with the theme of, “Plant a tree, plant a hope.” The hotel’s sales and marketing manager Christine Beland says, “This year, our environmental action will consist of planting trees behind Preah Khan Temple, with students from Samdach Ouch High School.”

This is part of an annual project that was commenced by the Victoria Hotel and resorts team in Southeast Asia almost a decade ago to raise awareness of the need to protect the environment in the face of increasing degradation and climate change.

Tomorrow will see a group of volunteers from the hotel itself, plus hotel guests, school kids and local people help plant trees and collecting garbage.

The meaningful activity starts at Apsara Garden at 7am and runs until about midday. For more info, phone 063 760 428

BLACK SHEEP WORKSHOP

A new “management consultancy” firm that seems to be working mostly with NGO’s lobbed in Siem Reap in August, intending to be here for a year.

The cutely named outfit, Black Sheep Consultancy, will hold Business Blitz, a free two hour workshop for NGO’s and businesses on December 8 at the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa.

The pilot workshop will be about branding, and the PR screed says, “The session will focus on how a business or organisation can use branding, what makes up a brand and how to communicate your brand to your customers.”

Michael Horton, chairman and founder of ConCert and the font of wisdom about the weird, wonderful world of the NGO, says, “Black Sheep Consultancy was started in 2012 as a UK registered ltd co.

They are working with a variety of charities and businesses over the year, often for free, as they are keen to work on strengthening sustainable organisations or those NGO's promoting sustainability.”

For information about the workshop, write to [email protected].