Singapore (2010-03-31)

THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) yesterday added all carriers from the Philippines and Sudan to its list of airlines banned from European airspace on the basis of safety assessments by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

In a statement, the European Commission acknowledged the efforts of Philippine authorities to reform the country's civil aviation system and the safety measures taken by Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific. But due to ICAO concerns in November 2009 on Philippine aviation safety regulators, the Commission had to impose an operating ban on all carriers licensed in the Philippines.

PAL, which holds an IATA Operational Safety Audit certification, welcomed the Commission's decision to visit the country to inspect aviation regulators and audit local carriers.

In a statement, the carrier said it was willing to lend a hand to the recently formed Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and its director general Alfonso Cusi, “as the agency strives to professionalise its ranks and regain its international safety rating”.

PAL suspended its services to Europe in 1999.

The US Federal Aviation Administration downgraded the Philippines' safety rating to Category 2 in January 2008. The CAAP was then formed to improve the country's safety record.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-03-31)

SINGAPORE-BASED Discover Holidays saw a drop in numbers this month from its biggest source market, Iran, at the peak of its travel season.

The company received 265 groups with over 8,000 pax to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, compared to its 2009 tally of 240 groups with 9,000 pax in the March peak season alone, accounting for more than a third of Singapore's total Iranian arrivals for the year.

Discovery Holidays' managing director Rodney Yew said traffic decreased because of cancellations to Bangkok due to the political turmoil. Brewing changes in the Iranian economic structure and stagnant air capacity out of Iran have also retarded growth.

“News about how the government is planning to impose changes to its economic policies are making people cautious about spending and travelling. It is also why more Iranian travellers are resorting to last-minute bookings.”

Despite the caution, Yew said his Iranian clients still favoured five-star hotels in Asia, and dining, parties and shopping still featured strongly on their to-do lists.

Demand for cruises out of Singapore is also on the rise. The agency had 500 pax for Star Cruises itineraries ex-Singapore this month, up from 400 last year.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-03-31)

ROYAL Caribbean International's Legend of the Seas made its maiden call at Japan's Miyazaki yesterday and will port at Kobe for the first time today as part of the ship's seven-night Pearls of the Orient cruise from Shanghai.

The 2,074-guest Legend of the Seas is the cruise company's first international ship to call at Miyazaki, home to the famed Miyazaki-jingu Shrine atop Heiwadai-keon Park, and Kobe.

Four more Japanese ports for the Pearls of the Orient cruise will be announced in May.

There are four Pearls of the Orient cruises planned for the rest of this year, with the next scheduled for April 11. According to a Royal Caribbean Cruises (Asia) spokesperson, there are only a few cabins left as of today for the April 11 sailing. A few more places are still available for the June 20 and July 4 sailings.

Royal Caribbean Cruises international representative in Japan Hirohide Kamimura said: “With this ship permanently based in Asia, Japanese guests will be able to enjoy more of the unique and memorable Royal Caribbean cruise vacation experience.”

Jakarta (2010-03-31)

GARUDA Indonesia is reinstating its direct services from Bali and Surabaya to Hong Kong, and adding capacity on other South-east Asian flights.

The airline will fly four times a week between Hong Kong and Bali and thrice-weekly from Hong Kong to Surabaya, from June 1. It also increased its Jakarta-Singapore flights from five-daily to seven on March 29 and has since doubled its daily Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta service. 

Garuda will fly new Boeing 737-800 next-generation aircraft on all new routes and plans to grow international departures by more than 300 per cent to 1,222 weekly by 2014.

Sim Kok Chwee, Singapore (2010-03-31)

EMIRATES will expand its A380 services to China to capture the growing Chinese market.

Emirates’ president Tim Clark pins his hopes for more leisure travel from China on the United Arab Emirates' Approved Destination Status and said: “We believe China’s blazing economic growth justifies a further expansion in aviation links in the near future.”

A380 flights to Beijing will start on August 1 and Shanghai services will begin on January 1 next year.

The airline will also deploy its 517-seat A380 to Manchester on September 1.

Emirates currently operates the superjumbo to Auckland, Bangkok, Jeddah, London, Paris, Seoul, Sydney and Toronto.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-03-31)

INITIATIVES are being put in place to ensure the 2nd World Ecotourism Conference (WEC) leaves a minimal carbon footprint.

With more than 300 delegates expected to attend the July 8-11 event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, conference organisers DiscoveryMICE and the Malaysian Ecotourism Association are pulling out all the stops to make the event as green as possible.

Conference convenor Lee Choon Loong said all partner hotels were chosen based on their proximity – no more than a 10-minute walk – to the conference venue.

He added: “There will be no photocopier on site and any information to be disseminated will be uploaded onto the event's website for download by delegates, who will be informed to bring their own thumb drives. The convention centre will prepare water jugs as plastic bottled water will not be distributed.”

Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2010-03-30)

DEBT-LADEN Viva Macau Airlines hoped to regain its wings by Friday, its chief executive Reg Macdonald told The Standard newspaper in Hong Kong.

The carrier had earlier issued a statement to explain the situation that led to its unexpected grounding over the last weekend after it failed to settle fuel bills.

It said it failed to reach an agreement with Macau’s sole fuel supplier, including prepayment for all weekend flights last Friday afternoon, a situation that prompted the Macau government to pull the airline’s operator’s license. The airline also has an outstanding 200 million patacas (US$25 million) loan with the government.

“Our shareholders had also offered credit guarantees to the supplier. Unfortunately, no agreement could be reached and therefore flights were stopped unexpectedly,” said the statement, which came after the airline had been blasted for not doing enough to help stranded passengers.

The termination of 33 flights to six regional points, including Tokyo, Sydney and Hanoi, affected 4,739 passengers. The airline claimed it was in “active contact” to provide refunds.

Despite the carrier’s expectations for a quick resumption of services, problems continue to pile on. Macau’s civil aviation authorities have received notification from the company leasing aircraft to the carrier that it had terminated the lease contract. The company also requested the authorities to de-register the aircraft.

Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2010-03-30)

SIXTEEN agents have agreed to refund travellers looking to postpone their Easter trip to Bangkok, where a political stalemate and the Hong Kong government's three-week red alert on the Thai capital appear to have spooked the market.

Under the agreed terms, the group will refund payment (excluding visa charges) after deducting a service fee of not more than HK$800 (US$103) for travellers who want to cancel their April 1-5 departure. The deduction for departures after April 6 will be no more than HK$150.

Travellers can rebook their postponed trips in the next six months at the original fare without paying a service fee.

– Full report in TTG Asia, April 2 issue

Singapore (2010-03-30)

INTERNATIONAL arrival numbers are predicted to increase by an average of around 2.7 per cent each year to 2012, according to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

The forecasts show a significant slowing in growth rates from the pre-financial crisis level of seven percent per year.

Overall international arrivals to Asia-Pacific destinations are predicted to grow at just over one per cent in 2010, rising to around 4.5 percent in 2011 and then stabilising at around four percent in 2012.

South Asia is expected to grow the fastest, at an average rate of 4.9 per cent per year over the period to 2012, followed by South-east Asia at 4.8 per cent.

 North-east Asia is predicted to expand at a rate of 2.2 per cent each year over that same period.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-03-30)

FURAMA Hotels International's four new properties in Thailand mark the introduction of the group's FX and four-star Furama brands in that market.

The Singapore-based hotel management company opened the 68-room FX Hotel Bangniang Beach, Khao Lak in February and rebranded the 450-room Nusa Playa Hotel and Spa as Furama Jomtien Beach, Pattaya on March 1.

In May, the 183-room Grand Heritage Chiang Mai will be rebranded Furama Chiang Mai. The Unico Grande Silom Bangkok, which is being renovated to house 280 rooms, will be rebranded the Furama Silom in October.

Furama first entered Thailand in 2008 with three FuramaXclusive boutique hotels and 303 rooms.

According to Furama Hotels and Resorts International Management (Thailand) sales and marketing vice president Tatcha Riddhimat, the group will most likely bring its Thailand portfolio to 10 hotels within the year, with three additional properties in Phuket and Krabi.

Jakarta (2010-03-30)

JAKARTA has set an international and domestic arrivals target of 1.6 million visitors and 6.9 trillion rupiah (US$761 million) in tourism receipts for the year ahead.

Jakarta Tourism Office director Arie Budhiman said the optimistic target was based on the improved national economic projection this year.

Central Board of Statistics data had international arrivals through three gateways in January at 123,072, up 25.3 per cent compared to January 2009. Total arrivals in January and February increased by 10 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Budhiman expects the trend to continue till the end of the year. “We are optimistic tourism revenue will increase by 15 per cent over last year's 4.6 trillion rupiah by year-end.”

He said Jakarta would continue the Enjoy Jakarta campaign for both regional and international markets.

“Culture and tourist attractions are the focus of our promotions, plus bulk shopping, which is popular among travellers,” he said.

Bali (2010-03-30)

THE BALI Hotels Association (BHA), an association of over 100 star-rated hotels on the island, has partnered with the Integrated Police Radio Community Bali (IPRC) to further improve security measures at the resort destination.

IPRC is a relatively new initiative, linking the public via VHF radio to the police. The system is geared to provide reliable communications during emergencies as well as better access to regular police assistance.

The IPRC enables its members to link to the POLSEK Kuta police office around the clock to provide situation updates, assist police in anticipating problems before they arise, track suspicious persons, and exchange security- and safety-related information without delays throughout southern Bali.

The public-private partnership initiative was started after last year's Jakarta bombings with initial equipment such as antennas and base stations donated by the BHA. The system is managed by IPRC, in cooperation with POLSEK Kuta.

Singapore (2010-03-30)

RESORTS World Sentosa's (RWS) resident show, Voyage de la Vie, will make its debut on June 17 at the resort's purpose-built 1,600-seat Festive Grand theatre.

The fast-paced circus theatre production harnesses death-defying circus acts, music, stunning sets and costumes to tell the tale of a young man's rite of passage.

The production is designed and conceived by Mark Fisher, best known for designing the sets for world tours of Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, U2, Tina Turner and Robbie Williams, and for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Torino 2006 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

RWS vice president of entertainment and executive producer for Voyage de la Vie, Andrea Teo, said the show is "Singapore's most ambitious theatre project to date" and the team had been working on it for the past two years.

Tickets for Voyage de la Vie will go on sale from March 31.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-03-30)

MALAYSIAN outbound agents welcomed Shenzhen Airlines' four weekly Xi’an-Shenzhen-Kuala Lumpur service, which began yesterday.

Malaysian Harmony Tours & Travel used to face difficulty getting confirmation in the domestic sector from Shenzhen to Xi’an.

CEO Cooper Huang said the new link was opportune as China's spring season was a preferred travel period for Malaysians going to China. 

PYOTravel.com senior manager (operations) John Chan said his company would increase its  promotions on China, with emphasis on Shenzhen and Xi’an, to take advantage of the additional capacity.

The Xi’an to Kuala Lumpur route is the third opened by Shenzhen Airlines, after five years of operations in Malaysia. Shenzhen and Nanning constitute the other two.

There are 125 weekly direct flights, with 25,154 seats, between China and Malaysia.

Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2010-03-29)

VIVA Macau’s operating license was revoked on March 26, with the debt-laden carrier slammed as uncooperative for doing little to help stranded passengers.

The airline has US$23 million in outstanding government loans and has not been settling its fuel payment.

Chan Weng Hong, Macau’s civil aviation authority president, said: “Since the Viva Macau flight failed to operate due to fuel payment issues on March 26, the government tried to contact the airline and urge it to fulfill its commercial responsibilities and obligations to passengers. It had been extremely uncooperative – it did not provide the necessary information... which resulted in the slow progress in helping affected passengers.”

Some of China Travel Service (Macao's) bookings were affected and the agency had to divert travellers to other carriers. Deputy general manager Huang Can-hui said: “The impact to us is minimal because we seldom book Viva Macau. The profit margin is low and the frequency and choice of destinations are limited.”

Macau Government Tourism Office director and Tourism Crisis Management Office coordinator, João Manuel Costa Antunes, said the government would continue helping Macau residents and tourists stranded by Viva’s grounding.

The public security authority will extend visas by 15 days for holders of Chinese passports and 30 days for other nationalities so transit passengers can arrange alternative flights.

Viva Macau could not be reached for comment.

Raini Hamdi, Singapore (2010-03-29)

UBM Asia has appointed former business development and communications manager of Singapore Cruise Centre, Koh Yong Fong, as project director for its inaugural Cruise Shipping Asia and announced rates for the show, to be held November 16 to 18 in Singapore.

UBM Asia’s senior vice president Michael Duck said acceptance of the show had been good since its launch in Singapore in January, and in Miami in March at its Cruise Shipping Miami, but he said it was too early to share concrete figures.

Rates are US$400/m2 (space only, minimum 12m2) and US$470/m2 (shell only, minimum 9m2), and US$695 per delegate for the conference. A travel agent training and public seminar will also be organised to promote cruising.

Duck said the Cruise Asia shows it organised in Singapore in 1994, 1996 and 1998 were “too early” for their time, with the Asian financial crisis in 1997 derailing infrastructure building while the industry was back-footing post 9-11, its primary concern being how to keep going.

This time, he said, Asia was in stronger economic and political positions, and it was timely to put the show in Singapore and for the city to be the neutral platform for the region's cruise players to get together.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-03-29)

JTB Group has rebranded its corporate outbound arm as JTB Destinations and repositioned the division to sell destinations beyond Japan.

The new division will focus first on courting corporates in Singapore, chosen as the launchpad for the new directive. It will also work closely with sister event house, Meemo, which provides business consultancy services to tourism products and attractions.

JTB Destinations and Meemo deputy managing director Kevin Cheong said: “For starters, we will focus on regional destinations where the JTB Group has existing offices and operations. As such, we will also be contracting with travel suppliers in the region.”

– Read more in TTG Asia, April 2

Bangkok (2010-03-29)

EXOTISSIMO Travel Group, a Bangkok-based destination management company, has launched its own collection of villas for rent in Phuket, Koh Samui and Hoi An.

The collection, under the Luxury Travel by Exotissimo category, features 16 villas, penthouses and apartments, including 15 properties in Thailand (11 on Koh Samui and four in Phuket) and one in Vietnam (Hoi An).

The villas include the one-key, three-bedroom Villa @Redbridge in Hoi An; one-key, four-bedroom Baan Lealay villa Koh Samui, and four units with three- to five-bedrooms each at The Coolwater Villas Phuket.

Louise Nathan, Exotissimo's group product and marketing manager, said its villa collection offered value-for-money accommodation with privacy akin to that of a private home but with the service quality of a luxury hotel.

The company sees the new portfolio catering to all types of travellers, from honeymooners to families and FIT groups. It also plans to expand its villa collection in current and new locations in South-east Asia.

Hong Kong (2010-03-29)

SOFITEL Luxury Hotels has bagged two new management contracts in China.

The Sofitel Lianyungang Suning Galaxy opens in 2013 with 280 rooms, eight conference rooms, a spa and fitness centre, and five F&B outlets. It will be followed in 2014 by the Sofitel Haikou, which will have 398 rooms, a ballroom, eight multifunction rooms and signature Sofitel brands, So Spa and So Fit.

This year, the group will unveil the Sofitel Dongguan Human Oriental and the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-03-29)

THE G CITY Club, the latest boutique business hotel in the Malaysian capital, is training its sights on the business executives and the corporate market.

Opened yesterday, the 180-room hotel is located within the country's first internationally green-rated building, GTower. In keeping with this, the property relies on waste energy from the air-conditioning system to heat up the swimming pool and generate hot water for the rooms, and uses low volatile organic compound paints to reduce toxicity and improve indoor environment quality.

G City Club has four function rooms, two private lounges and three soundproof boardrooms. Each of its guest rooms is equipped with high-speed Broadband on demand, IP telephony systems and IP television.

Raini Hamdi, Singapore (2010-03-26)

HAVING made two back-to-back acquisitions in 2008 – travel.com.au and Asia Web Direct – and a record half-year after-tax profit of A$27.6 million (US$25.1 million) from July to December 2009, the Wotif Group is on the lookout for acquisitions or partnerships that will expand the company further.

Managing director and Group CEO, Robbie Cooke, said: “We do not have money to burn. Having said that, we are looking to acquire or partner players that will expand the online market for us. We have the infrastructure, but not the branding (in some markets) and we need to get the word out further about online booking – so anything that will give us more presence, product and consumer reach.”

The online travel market in Asia was still only two to five per cent (of the overall travel market); in Australia, 13 per cent; in the US, 30 per cent, he said. "Online travel won't go up to a 50 per cent share; there will always be people who want to book by phone or at the retail shop. But with Asia at two to five per cent, the potential is enormous and that's why all the players are looking at the region.”

Expedia’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshasi, recently said Expedia aimed to expand in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, and hoped non-US bookings would account for half of total business in five years, from 37 per cent today.

Cooke also said Wotif was looking to take its new Wotflight website into Asian markets such as Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.

Wotflight, launched in Australia recently, compares airfares in one window, and books and confirms flights from more domestic airlines in one place.

Raini Hamdi, Singapore (2010-03-26)

ONLINE retailer Wotif group expects Singapore – its top selling Asian destination in 2009 – to show continued strength this year on the back of a stronger Australian dollar and the destination’s increasing popularity with regional travellers due to new tourism attractions.

Managing director and Group CEO, Robbie Cooke, said: “Certainly with the rising strength of the Australian dollar, we have seen a growing number of Australians – particularly with Wotif.com, which commands the majority marketshare in the country – travel to Singapore. If these trends continue, we are likely to see a boost in inbound travel bookings, both Australia-sourced and otherwise, to Singapore in the coming years.”

Eighty-two per cent of bookings on Wotif.com are made by Australians, eight per cent New Zealanders and six per cent Asians. The group's Asia Web Direct, on the other hand, attracts 47 per cent bookings from Asia, 11 per cent from Australia/New Zealand and the rest from Europe and the US.

The group sold 3.7 million roomnights, an increase of 22 per cent, from July to December 2009. Sixteen per cent of these roomnights sold were in Asia, an increase of 20 per cent. Singapore was the number one Asian destination in 2009, followed by Hong Kong, Bali and Bangkok.

Singapore (2010-03-26)

ASIA-PACIFIC airlines carried 14.2 million passengers in February, an increase of 16.9 per cent over the same period last year.

Figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) also showed international passenger traffic posting a 14 per cent gain in terms of revenue per passenger kilometre, indicating the relative strength of demand of routes within the region. Average passenger load factor for the month was 79.2 per cent, reflecting stronger demand while available seat capacity was only 2.4 per cent higher than a year ago.

AAPA director general Andrew Herdman said: “The signs of economic recovery which first became evident in the fourth quarter of 2009 have continued to gather momentum. For the first two months of 2010, we have seen a 12.8 per cent increase in international passenger numbers, with prospects for further growth in both leisure and business travel in the coming months.”

Singapore (2010-03-26)

GARUDA Indonesia will introduce an Immigration on-Board service on its new Amsterdam-Dubai-Jakarta route from June 2.

The service will allow passengers to bypass traditional immigration checkpoints at airports by conducting passport checks and visa issuance on board flights.

Passengers from Amsterdam or Dubai who require visas for entry into Indonesia will be able to purchase Visa on Arrival (VOA) vouchers from Garuda check-in counters at both airports. During the flight, immigration officers on the aircraft will conduct passport checks and issue VOAs and a card that must be returned to ground immigration officers before exiting the airport.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-03-26)

SOME corporate incentives and meetings are giving Shanghai a wide berth for the duration of the World Expo, which will run from May to October this year.

Pricey hotel rates are largely to be blamed, say event houses in Singapore that have seen dwindling incentive and meeting bookings for the Chinese city.

Travco World Event general manager Valerie Yee said: “Hotel rates are at least twice as high during the Expo period, and that is too expensive for my clients. Individual business travel bookings are still coming in for Shanghai but we have no bookings at all for corporate events for those months. Clients who had plans for Shanghai have moved their events to Hong Kong, Macau and Australia.”

East West Executive Travellers director for international sales Victor Seah noted that local hotels in Shanghai had joined five-star international hotels in jacking up rates.

“Just as holiday-makers are avoiding Shanghai for those months, corporate clients too, are cautious about taking their events there. I believe they will wait till when the event is over or when hotel rates are back to more affordable and reasonable levels.”

Uber Inc, an events house, has received only one incentive group booking for Shanghai next January. The agency's owner Steven Chiow said: “Corporate movements are going to almost everywhere in Asia, except Shanghai”.

Singapore (2010-03-26)

SINGAPORE saw a third consecutive month of record visitor arrivals in February, according to the Singapore Tourism Board.

Arrivals to the country grew by 24.2 per cent year-on-year to reach 857,000 visitors this February, the highest ever recorded in that particular month. Visitor days were estimated at 3.3 million days, a year-on-year growth of 16.3 per cent over the same period last year.

Indonesia (144,000), China (143,000), Malaysia (69,000), Australia (55,000) and the UK (48,000) were Singapore's top five visitor-generating markets.

Arrivals from China, Malaysia and Taiwan saw increases of 78.7, 50 and 39.2 per cent, respectively, due to the Chinese New Year holiday.

Thirteen of the top 15 markets also registered positive year-on-year growth.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-03-25)

SOME Malaysian agents are crying foul over price undercutting, a culture which, they say, is prevalent in the industry.

Agents fear that if the trend, seen over the last three years, is not halted, Malaysia's image as a quality MICE destination would be jeopardised. Instead, it would be perceived as a cheap destination with poor quality services.

WWM Travel managing director Gin Chee said there were more agents competing for the same MICE market as series tours from China have slowed over the last few years. “These agents portray themselves as being able to handle MICE, but they handle the groups similar to the way they handle series groups. They cut corners and do not deliver on promises.”

Tai Kar Holiday general manager Amanda Lai said the problem of price undercutting arose because some outbound agents from China appointed groundhandlers based on the lowest quotation they received. Malaysian agents complied as Chinese traffic volumes were big and they were desperate for business.

Competition with Thailand further aggravates the problem, she said, as Thailand can offer lower ground costs and more hotel choices.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-03-25)

BUFFALO Tours will start handling the Netherlands’ Fox Vakanties' ground operations in Thailand from April 1 (TTG Asia, March 5 issue).

Buffalo Tours (Thailand) country manager Arabella Lakin said about 24 Fox trips and other FIT bookings were on the books for next month, with the tour operator handling three Fox groups of between 14 and 27 pax in the last two months.

Besides the Fox business, which is estimated to contribute about 7,000 clients this year, Buffalo has won new accounts from the UK, France and Australia.  “We are already ahead of our 2010 target,” Lakin said.

However, she said there remained challenges to overcome, the biggest one being establishing closer relationships with hotels and the industry in Thailand.

“We are still a new, small company. Though we are conducting our business by the book, we still need to earn the industry and hotels' trust.”

Buffalo Tours (Thailand), which was set up in June last year, officially opened its Bangkok office today.

Ollie Quiniquini, Singapore (2010-03-25)

DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DoT) undersecretary for sports tourism and wellness Cynthia Carrion is the chief operating officer (COO) of the newly formed Philippine Tourism Promotions Board (PTPB).

During the March 23 elections for COO, Carrion took seven of the 10 votes of the PTPB board (TTG Asia, March 19), besting Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC) deputy executive director Rosvi Gaetos, among others.

The PTPB had called for a second election, after the first one on March 18 failed to yield a clear majority as required by PTPB bylaws. At the March 18 polls, Carrion garnered four votes against Gaetos' five, with PCVC executive director Daniel Corpuz abstaining.

Under PTPB bylaws, the COO will have a six-year term during which he or she will implement the promotional activities for Philippine tourism. Planning and policymaking remain under the purview of the DoT.

Now that the PTPB has a new COO, the Philippine tourism machinery enters a transition period where marketing activities are transferred from the DoT to the PTPB.

Deurbon Chow, Singapore (2010-03-25)

SINGAPORE-BASED MICE operator Orient Explorer plans to expand its footprint in Asia and Europe by year-end.

The company, which offers one-stop PCO, DMC and secretariat services, is building on its brand equity to enter new markets, and is currently in talks with potential partners from Japan and India to expand its presence to those markets, said executive director John Chua.

The operator has secured contracts as the official DMC for three pavilions at the upcoming Shanghai World Expo.

Orient Explorer currently has offices in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Utrecht.

Sharon Desker Shaw, Hong Kong (2010-03-25)

ACCOR will kick off this year’s roadshow in Hong Kong on April 13, a promotion that has attracted a larger exhibitor contingent from the company’s multiple brands.

Graham Wilson, senior vice president for sales and marketing for Asia-Pacific, described World of Accor, now in its seventh year, as a major investment.

He said the group had targeted to connect with 6,000 clients – corporate and trade, including travel agents, tour operators and event organisers – at this year’s roadshow, against 5,000 last year.

“Each year, new dimensions are added to the event to ensure the experience for some of our largest and most significant clients is fresh,” he said.

World of Accor, he added, underscored the importance the company placed on its trade partners, and will be staging the Hong Kong event in a larger location to accommodate a bigger exhibitor contingent.

The roadshow will head to Seoul after Hong Kong and finish off in Sydney in early August.

Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2010-03-24)

HONG KONG agents have resumed group tours to Bangkok from today after a two-week stop following a Travel Industry Council suggestion to avoid mass demonstrations in the Thai capital.

The decision was reached swiftly yesterday between the TIC and major travel agents based on information provided by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai industry partners that the continuing protests posed negligible risk to tourists.
Today’s resumption comes while Hong Kong's security bureau has maintained a red alert, the second highest level in its warning system.

A bureau spokesman told TTG Asia e-Daily that it considered the red alert as necessary at this stage.

Leading agencies such as Hong Thai Travel Service, however, believe the time is right to restart tours as the protests have been taking place in areas away from group tour itineraries.

Xpress Travel executive director Sunny Wong cited: “Though the red warning is still on, we agents cannot shelve the tours indefinitely as it causes a huge loss.”
Asked if customers could obtain insurance given the red alert, Wong said clients understood the risks. “Our role is to sell travel insurance and would leave the insurance company to answer clients’ queries and concern.”

Bangkok (2010-03-24)

SOME 620 visitors from almost 100 countries have registered to attend a trade fair in Bangkok next week, despite the ongoing political protests.
 
Delegates are expected to enter into business dealings with more than 600 exhibitors from 13 countries, totalling about 1,000 booths, at the Bangkok International Fashion Fair and Bangkok International Leather Fair (BIFF&BIL) from April 1 to 4 at the IMPACT Challenger Hall.

According to Srirat Rastapana, director general of the event organiser, Department of Export Promotion of Thailand, visitors hail from Japan, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, India, Spain, Italy, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Brazil and the US.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said yesterday that the government had approved the extension of the use of the Internal Security Act for a further seven days until March 30, but coverage had been reduced from eight to three provinces (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 11).

While the TAT continues to assure that tourism attractions, airports, shopping malls and MICE venues are operating as normal, it advises that roads around the Parliament House will be closed to traffic from March 23 to 25 during the two-day Thai Parliament meeting that started today.

Raini Hamdi, Singapore (2010-03-24)

AFTER serving his gardening leave, former Ascott Group CEO, Cameron Ong, has reappeared with his own venture, Ariva Hospitality, which has landed a slew of management contracts in China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.

Ong set up Ariva together with Jean-Claude Erne, former Ascott’s senior vice president - product, process and procurement. Both left Ascott in 2008, with Ong’s departure surprising many in the industry as he was seen as being on a roll, pumping the full potential of serviced apartments in the region.

Many expected a comeback in no time. Ariva, which means arrive in French, marks his arrival back into the industry. In China, the company now manages the 320-room Ariva Beijing (a former Novotel), 180-room Ariva Qingdao (formerly an AusHotel) and will manage the visitor experience at the Shanghai Corporate Pavilion Expo 2010.

Two others have been signed in China, including a second 300-room hotel in Qingdao and a 150-room full service apartments in Tianjin. There are also contracts in Hanoi, Manila, Mecca and Medina.

- Full report in TTG Asia, April 2 issue

Singapore (2010-03-24)

GLOBAL Hotel Alliance (GHA) will launch its multi-brand loyalty programme in May, the first of its kind in the industry.

The GHA Discovery programme, modelled after airlines' alliances, will enable customers' membership status and personal preferences to be recognised across all its hotels while earning experience-based awards.

“GHA Discovery is going to offer amazing 'Local Experiences' as its awards, rather than a free night somewhere you may not even want to go. Customers will get their airline miles in all of our hotels, because that is their preferred loyalty currency but beyond that, we'll be offering something that money cannot easily buy,” said director of loyalty marketing Folker Heim.

“You could choose a safari with a National Geographic photographer, a backstage tour of a West End Musical, or even be part of the audience at one of Oprah's last shows. There is really something to suit everybody's taste,” he said.

Offering nearly 300 hotels across 48 countries, GHA comprises Anantara, First, Kempinski, Leela, Mirvac, Marco Polo, Omni, Pan Pacific, PARKROYAL, Shaza, The Doyle Collection and Tivoli.

Singapore (2010-03-24)

TRAVEL agencies' air bookings for Amadeus' distribution business increased by almost nine per cent year-on-year in 2009.

Amadeus IT Holding, the parent company of Amadeus IT Group, announced yesterday that financial performance for the 12 months ending December 31, 2009 generated revenues of 2.46 billion euros (US$3.3 billion).

Revenues grew by 0.7 per cent and 3.6 per cent on a year-on-year basis in Q3 and Q4 respectively, as air travel volumes recovered over the first two quarters of last year.

The company's distribution and IT solutions businesses accounted for 96 per cent of 2009 revenues.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-03-24)

SOMERSET Sukhumvit Thonglor has been enjoying around 70 per cent occupancy for the two months since its soft opening in mid-January.

Slated for a full opening in May, the 262-unit serviced residence now runs at about half its inventory.  Of the total current occupied rooms, about half represent long-stay corporate guests.

Ascott International sales and marketing director Thailand, Sylvia Tan, said the performance proved serviced residences continued to be in demand, especially among the long-stay corporate market.

Tan said the group's seven properties – one Ascott, two Somersets and four Citadines, totalling more than 1,500 units in Bangkok – achieved 84 per cent average occupancy rates, with some Citadines almost putting up the full house sign at 90 per cent.

Though average daily rates across the board dropped by about five to seven per cent, long-term rates remained stable. Daily rates at Somerset start at 2,500 baht (US$77.30) while monthly rates are 50,000 to 70,000 baht.

“Compared to hotels, which are vulnerable to global and local sentiments, (serviced residences) are doing better. The long-stay corporate market remains here because of work commitments,” Tan said.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-03-24)

THE 2nd World Ecotourism Conference (WEC) will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from July 8 to 11.

The conference, jointly organised by DiscoveryMICE and the Malaysian Ecotourism Association, is expected to draw some 400 delegates from various industry sectors such as government, academia, travel and civil societies.

A key objective of the WEC is to support host countries that are in need of a global platform and leverage to champion, position or support ecotourism policies and initiatives that will bring transformational changes for the betterment of their economies, people or environment.

Raini Hamdi, Singapore (2010-03-23)

FORMER Kuoni Group CEO, Hans Lerch, will be running Hotelplan Switzerland – Kuoni’s chief rival – next month when CEO Christof Zuber steps down.

Lerch stepped down as Kuoni CEO in March 2004 and resigned as non-executive director there in September 2006. He is jumping back into the thick of the action at a time when Hotelplan is struggling.

Like Kuoni, Hotelplan sends thousands of passengers to the Far East a year, with Thailand as a major destination.

Appointed vice chairman of Hotelplan last year, Lerch said of his new role in an email: “Christof Zuber, the CEO, decided to step down and the shareholder asked me if I would consider running the company until further notice. I’m extending the mandate I already had to 80 per cent.”

Thomas Stirnimann has been promoted to Lerch’s deputy and still has his hands full with the reorganisation of the group’s Swiss business, according to Lerch.

Asked how he felt joining the rival, he said: ”That’s all very long ago and although some people talk of this as 'switching camp', I don’t view it this way.

“Hotelplan’s figures for the last business year were pretty dismal. My job together with Thomi and the team is to get the company back into profits. Kuoni’s and Hotelplan’s businesses in Switzerland are of a similar size and the two companies are traditionally fierce competitors. This has been so for as long as I can remember and won’t change.”

Sharon Desker Shaw, Hong Kong (2010-03-23)

KUONI Travel will launch a year-round series of charters from Russia to Sanya, a year-round beach destination in China that has attracted a strong Russian following.

Beginning next month, the charters will launch with six flights a week, rising to eight a week in summer, said Kuoni China managing director Veronique Ducassy.

The charters are the first from Kuoni into Sanya and will operate from points mainly in Eastern Russia.

Ducassy said itineraries will focus on beach stays with the possibility of excursions, shopping, spa and dining inclusions in the programme.

The operator has selected hotels across all categories, from international brands to local players for the year-round programme.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-03-23)

WOTIF Group will grow its footprint in Asia by 15 to 20 per cent this year, with a key focus on Thailand despite the ongoing Thai political situation.

Managing director and group CEO, Robbie Cooke, said though bookings for Bangkok in the last three weeks had slowed due to the political tension, with noticeable shifts to Bali, Phuket and Langkawi, the group remained committed to expanding its inventory in the kingdom.

Thailand led in the number of roomnights sold, representing 40 per cent of the total 587,000 in the first half of the group’s financial year (July to December  2009). The group's largest inventory is on Thailand, with 2,000 hotels, followed by Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Vietnam.

According to Cooke, total sales yielded a profit of A$26.6 million (US$24.3 million), with the group relying on 10 per cent commission per transaction. He, however, declined to give a 12-month forecast since the group was a public-listed company.

The group's online accommodation websites attracted 7.5 million visitors per month. Wotif.com drew 3.8 million hits, with 80 per cent from the Australian market. Asia Web Direct’s websites, including Bangkok.com and Phuket.com, had 2.2 million visitors per month, half of whom were travel agents.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-03-23)

MALAYSIAN travel agents who attended the recent ITB Berlin expect a growth in European arrivals this year.

Their optimism stems from the growing number of small- and medium-sized European agencies looking for niche and tailormade tours as well as rising demand for family travel.

Diethelm Travel Malaysia managing director Manfred Kurz expects a 20 per cent increase in business over last year, as medium-sized agencies in German-speaking markets request for more hotel rooms and packaged tours.

"Before, only the big agencies invested in online booking tools. Now the medium-sized agencies are also going in that direction. The challenge for us is to get allotments from well-known beach resorts as they have limited room supply."

Sarawak-based Masama JS Adventure Tours business development manager Marco Wunsch said he received enquiries and bookings for Borneo from a growing number of online travel agents from German-speaking markets who allowed customisation of packages.

Wunsch added that wholesalers were asking for three- to four-day packages to add to their existing nine-day itineraries in order to compete with the flexibility offered by online travel agents.

- Read more in TTG Asia, April 2 issue

Singapore (2010-03-23)

TRAVEL demand will increase this year, albeit not to pre-recession levels, but more companies are cracking down on corporate travel policies, a study revealed.

American Express Business Travel's Managing Travel in the New Normal study on how companies have adapted their travel programmes in response to the financial crisis showed that more than a third of companies would not cover the cost if an employee does not follow company protocol and regularly books travel outside of policy.

“Although the economy is beginning to recover, the attitude of many businesses continues to be not to invest in travel spending,” said president of American Express Global Travel Services Charles Petruccelli.

Conducted among 169 respondents from 30 industries worldwide, the study found that demand for mobile services in managing travel was on the rise, with more than 40 per cent of C-level executives willing to spend on new virtual meetings technologies, and that “even with travel expense under the microscope, travel managers expressed a willingness to spend on technology”.

American Express Business Travel has launched a free online travel management interactive scorecard (www.americanexpress.com/newnormalquiz) to help organisations assess their level of preparedness in managing post-crisis travel.

Singapore (2010-03-23)

AIR China will soon launch a new Premium Economy class on selected domestic routes.

The new class, available on Airbus A330-300 aircraft plying the Beijing-Shanghai and Beijing-Guangzhou routes, will offer passengers an individual entertainment system and seat width 10cm wider than that in Economy.

The airline also plans to acquire 23 311-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft with Premium Economy seating. Twenty seats in the first three rows will be reserved for Premiun Economy passengers.

Anand & Madhura Katti, Mumbai (2010-03-22)

CALIFORNIA'S tourism board has set up shop in India, marking the first foray for any US state in the Indian market.

The California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC), which aims to increase Indian arrivals, will have a presence in Mumbai and New Delhi through appointed representatives Sartha Marketing Consultants.

CTTC president and CEO, Caroline Beteta, said: “India and the US have strong partnerships in technology and IT. We are happy to extend that relationship to tourism by opening our first office here. India has shown significant growth to the US in recent years.''

In 2008, Indian visitors to California numbered 179,000, constituting 30 per cent of total Indian arrivals to the US. Indian tourism spend contributed US$280 million to the state, up 27 per cent over 2007's numbers. Leisure travel is projected to increase by 14.5 per cent in 2011.

On top of leisure and business segments, the CTTC is also focusing on attracting more Bollywood films to be shot in California as it is planning to use the films as key marketing tools in India for B2C promotions.

The board will visit to India again in September, with more travel trade delegates from California.

Ollie Quiniquini, Singapore (2010-03-22)

GENESIS Hotels and Resorts will take over the management of Misibis Bay resort in the Philippines' Bicol region on April 1.

Formerly managed by HSAI Raintree as Misibis Bay Raintree, the luxurious resort will be renamed as Misibis Bay and remain a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

John Tanjangco, Genesis Hotels and Resorts consultant and Bellarocca Resort Island and Spa director of sales and marketing, said all existing contracts of the resort would be honoured. Boutique property Hotel Venezia, in Legazpi City, will also be managed by Genesis from April 1.

Meanwhile, Genesis will open the Midas hotel, formerly the Hyatt Regency Manila, in July. The 217-room property, which has been refurbished to feature British colonial touches, will have a high-rollers' casino, an exclusive ladies floor and meeting rooms.

"Midas will be part of the luxury collection of Genesis Hotels and Resorts. It will first cater to the Asian market and eventually the Europeans. We are looking at an average rate of US$200 to US$650," said Tanjangco.

Ollie Quiniquini, Singapore (2010-03-22)

PHILIPPINE-BASED Quantum Hotels and Resorts has won the contract to manage the 70-room Skyy Hotel, which opens in Bangkok this July.

The group's vice president operations Joey Bernardino said the win made Quantum arguably the first Philippine hotel management company to secure an overseas contract.

Quantum will also open the 94-room Nandana Boracay Resort in July or August and is in talks to manage a sprawling resort in Davao. Bernardino said the Davao property would most likely reopen within the year with 40 existing rooms and an additional 60 to 80 units.

Given its expansion programme, the group, which previously focused solely on serviced residences, is developing an online reservations system that will launch in June.

Bernardino said: “We hope to open at least two hotels a year, grow the market and develop a strong Philippine brand.”

Singapore (2010-03-22)

SILKAIR will increase services between Singapore and India to meet new demand.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the airline will offer daily flights to Bangalore from May 17 and to Chennai from June 14, on Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft.

The new services will complement Singapore Airlines' existing daily services to both cities.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-03-22)

THE ASIAN Federation of Exhibition & Convention Associations (AFECA) launched its inaugural masterclass programme in Singapore today.

AFECA president Edward Liu said the five-and-a-half-day programme is aimed at middle and senior management in the MICE industry with the objective of upgrading skills and raising standards of professionalism in the industry.

AFECA plans to hold the masterclass programme twice a year with the next programme scheduled for the second half of the year.

Update on Bangkok protests

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-03-19)

THE ASSOCIATION of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) said that Bangkok city tours were returning to their pre-protests numbers (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 16).

ATTA secretary-general Jumpol Chadavadh said the number of tourists booking tours to the Grand Palace and the Temple of Emerald Buddha rose to 5,900 on March 18, after falling to 4,500 on March 16 and 17.

Jumpol expects bookings to gradually climb back to the usual level, provided the protests remained peaceful, but tour routes operated by ATTA members still have to be altered to avoid the areas around protest sites.

Meanwhile, a trip by TTG Asia e-Daily to Wat Trimitr, Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, the Temple of Emerald Buddha and the Royal Park found the attractions operating as usual. There were no signs of protests nor was there extra security present.

The Temple of Golden Mountain, near the protest sites, was accessible but it was difficult to pass through to the Maha Jesdabodin Pavillion and the Brazen Palace in the temple behind it.

ATTA members have temporarily suspended the stop at Jesdabodin Park as it is located right next to the protestors' stage.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-03-19)

THE THAILAND Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) reported that the current political protests have derailed some scheduled events.

Costing the country 4,664 visitors and 335.8 million baht (US$10.4 million) in revenue were the cancellation of a 120-pax incentive from India and the postponement to May of five regional and global events.

The data, however, excluded events handled directly by Thai hotels and destination management companies that may have been affected by the turmoil.

TCEB president Akapol Sorasuchart said the country’s goal to increase revenue from international conventions and events by 25 per cent this year had been set back by the current political situation.

He said while the bureau had yet to adjust its growth targets for this year, it had instructed overseas representatives to work harder in convincing planners to push for Thailand.

Meanwhile, TCEB will continue to lobby the government to bid for the World Expo 2020, and to announce the kingdom as a bid contender at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 in June.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-03-19)

STARWOOD Hotels and Resorts is boosting its Asia-Pacific portfolio significantly over the next three years.

The group will add 115 hotels with 38,074 keys across the region, the majority of which will be in China and India.

Starwood will expand its China footprint with 72 new properties, offering more than 28,000 keys on top of its existing 52 hotels. India will get 16 new hotels to complement its current stable of 29.

The group's senior manager, new build and transitions, sales and marketing, Asia-Pacific (excluding China) Kerrie Mulholland said: “We are stepping up (our presence) in secondary cities. The Sheraton brand features strongly in our plans for China (there are 27 new Sheraton properties in the pipeline) because The Great Wall Sheraton Hotel Beijing, our first hotel in China, helped establish the brand firmly among owners and customers in China.”

In India, where international five-star hotels are in abundance and more good four-star ones are needed, Starwood will be developing more of its four-star Sheraton and aloft brands.

All 115 hotels will be new-build properties, with the exception of The Andaman Langkawi, which joined Starwood’s The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts late last year.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-03-19)

THE 284-KEY Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa in Vietnam soft opens today with 37 per cent of its room inventory and some restaurants.

Director of sales Hai Tran said the new-build hotel is Nha Trang's first five-star international hotel. 

When completed in May or June this year, the hotel will have six F&B outlets, a gym, pool, spa and nine function rooms including a grand ballroom. All guest rooms will offer ocean views.

A cooking school featuring culinary programmes on Vietnamese and Asian cuisine will be available for leisure and corporate groups alike.

Jakarta (2010-03-19)

INDONESIA'S Sahid Group is spending 50 billion rupiah (US$5.4 million) to refurbish 500 of flagship Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel's 680 rooms by August.

This marks the property's second phase of renovation, after 120 billion rupiah was spent on the hotel’s facade, lobby area, F&B facilities, meeting rooms and 180 guest rooms.

The group is also expanding its two-star, bed-and-breakfast brand Griyadi, currently with three hotels in Solo, Jakarta and Malang. The Sahid Group plans to have 15  Griyadi properties in Makassar, Medan, Semarang and East Kalimantan by 2013.

Singapore (2010-03-19)

AIR China will launch its first nonstop Beijing-Manila service on March 29.

Flights to Manila will depart from Beijing Capital Airport at 8:00 on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and arrive at 00:55 the next day.

Return flights to Beijing will leave at 06:30 on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and arrive in Beijing at 11:10.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-03-19)

LANGKAWI will host the 4th International UNESCO Conference on Geoparks 2010 from April 9 to 15.

The conference is expected to attract some 500 to 1,000 delegates from 60 countries, said Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) tourism manager Megat Shahrul Azman Abas.

Jointly organised by LADA and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, it is the second Geopark conference to be held in Langkawi after the Regional Conference on Asia-Pacific Geoparks and Business Dialogue 2007.

The whole of Langkawi was accorded Geopark status by UNESCO on June 1, 2007.

Raini Hamdi, Singapore (2010-03-18)

BANYAN TREE Hotels & Resorts is seeking redress under the laws of Bahrain for an outstanding debt of over S$1 million (US$718,187) owed to it by the wind-up Al Areen Desert Spa and Resorts Holdings, now known as Al Areen Holding, owner of Banyan Tree Al Areen.

The owner in turn has turned around to publicly accuse Banyan Tree of mismanagement of the hotel and poor maintenance, forcing Banyan Tree to issue a press statement unequivocally rejecting the accusations.

In the statement, Banyan Tree Holdings chairman Ho Kwon Ping said contrary to allegations of poor management, Banyan Tree Al Areen had consistently ranked number one out of all 73 hotels in Bahrain by TripAdvisor and had won at least 13 awards since it opened in 2007. 

“Having arrived at a settlement agreement over a portion of the disputed debt due from Al Areen to us, we expect that at least the settlement agreement would be acted on in good faith by Al Areen. We regret that the continuing non-compliance of Al Areen to fulfill its contractual obligations under the settlement agreement leaves us no choice but to seek redress under the laws of Bahrain,” Ho said.

The wind-up Al Areen is believed to be one of the many businesses in the Middle East impacted by the global financial crisis.

A Banyan Tree Holdings’ spokesman however said the group remained committed to the GCC region and was interested to explore suitable opportunities.

“Our plans to open in other parts of the Middle East continue to be on track. In January this year, we soft-opened Banyan Tree Al Wadi, a 101-key desert, beach and golf resort in the Ras Al Khaimah emirate north of Dubai. There are also five other projects under development in Abu Dhabi, Egypt and Oman.”

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-03-18)

UNIVERSAL Studios Singapore (USS) at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) opened this morning, marking the final milestone in the soft opening of the integrated resort.

The theme park offers seven zones with 24 attractions, 18 of which are new or unique to Singapore, such as the Far Far Away Castle from the animated movie Shrek, the Madagascar theme park ride and the Battlestar Galactica duelling roller coaster. Some 70 per cent of merchandise at USS are also exclusive to Singapore.

Singapore travel agents said news of the theme park's opening sparked much interest among their leisure customers, especially family groups from the region, who have planned their travel to Singapore to coincide with the opening.

City DMC general manager Wendy Leong said: “We have a few family groups, mostly from Asia but also one from Russia, who wanted to be among the first to visit USS. Interest in the theme park has also brought us many enquiries from corporates who want to hold their family days there.”

To date, RWS has opened four of its six hotels, the FestiveWalk retail and dining promenade, casino and some F&B outlets.

Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2010-03-18)

MACAU will place more emphasis on regional cooperation and pour more resources into developing the MICE industry, according to its new chief executive.

Chui Sai On said, in his first policy address, that cooperation with Guangdong and Hong Kong on conferences and exhibitions would be increased, and a Conference and Exhibition Industry Development Commission would be created together with a designated department to facilitate the development of the industry.

Currently, the Macau Business Tourism Centre serves as the only platform for the  business tourism industry, providing services such as bidding and management of events and special projects.

Trade professionals welcomed the move. DOC DMC Macau CEO Bruno Simões said: “In my opinion, Macau needs more coordination between the (various) government departments that indirectly affect MICE's overall success...Therefore, if the Conference and Exhibition Industry Development Commission works well, we will soon have good news!”

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-03-18)

MANDALA Airlines has become the first Indonesian private airline company and the first non-IATA member airline in Indonesia to receive the IATA Operational Safety Audit certification (IOSA).

The IOSA programme was developed by IATA to provide a common standard to evaluate an airline’s compliance with safety and qualty. The registration process requires a comprehensive audit of operational standards, control processes and safety systems. The registration is audited every two years.

“This has made us the first Indonesian private domestic airline, which has benchmarked itself against international safety standards and has received recognition from IATA through the IOSA registration,” Mandala president director Dion Nurjadin said.

Nurjadin said the airline would expand its fleet and services, with Singapore as the launch destination targeted to start in the middle of this year. Other routes include Thailand, the Philippines, China, Australia and major and secondary Indonesian cities.

Bangkok (2010-03-18)

THE NEW Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is scheduled to open in June.

Located behind the Siam Paragon Shopping Mall in central Bangkok, the hotel will have 303 rooms, all overlooking tropical gardens interspersed with extensive water features. Some 22 rooms will have direct pool access.

The hotel has four F&B outlets, an executive lounge, a 900m2 pillarless ballroom, a spa, a kids' club and business centre.

The Siam Kempinski will also include 98 serviced apartments called the Kempinski Residences Siam.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-03-18)

BESTCITIES Global Alliance has launched a new tool for meeting planners.

Its new website www.bestcities.net provides information on eight cities and a variety of resources and is available for free.

The group will also organise a seminar for association meeting planners in Europe later this year.

The BestCities alliance consists of the convention bureaus of Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Edinburgh, Melbourne, San Juan, Singapore and Vancouver.

Anand & Madhura Katti, Mumbai (2010-03-17)

INDIA’S Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ruled in favour of travel agents in the long-running battle between the agency community and 16 airlines pushing for zero commission in the country.

In an order released on March 12 through the High Court of Kerala, the DGCA ruled that travel agency commission was lawful under Indian and International Air Transport Association (IATA) rules, could not be replaced by transaction fees, and had to be an integral part of airlines’ tariffs.

According to the DGCA, airlines’ argument that IATA resolutions allowed them to reduce commissions were unjustified because agents would be left without any compensation for services rendered.

“The explanation by airlines that they have given freedom to agents to charge transaction fees for passengers does not carry weight as the IATA resolution envisages that compensation should flow from airlines to agents and not from passengers to agents,” the DGCA said.

The DGCA added that transaction fees meant a greater outlay for customers. Unscrupulous agents could charge exorbitant fees and the system could reduce competition among agents if some receive hefty production-linked incentives from airlines.

– Read more in TTG Asia, March 19

Singapore (2010-03-17)

THE INTERNATIONAL Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that January 2010 demand for international scheduled air traffic showed continued improvement.

Compared to last year, January passenger demand was up 6.4 per cent, while a 1.2 per cent increase in capacity pushed load factors to 75.9 per cent (up from 72.2 per cent in January 2009).

The large increases in year-on-year comparisons reflect a steady improvement from the early 2009 fall rather than a dramatic improvement in January. Compared to December 2009, passenger demand grew by 0.5 per cent.

Asia-Pacific carriers saw a 6.5 per cent increase in demand this year compared to 2009. Some 31 per cent of the improved demand since the low of February 2009 was achieved by carriers in the region, which is leading the global economic recovery.

“Airlines have lost two to three years of growth. Demand is moving in the right direction...We can start to see the future with some cautious optimism, but better volumes do not necessarily mean better profits. Passenger yields are still 15 per cent below peak. And we expect 2010 losses to be US$5.6 billion,” said IATA director general and CEO, Giovanni Bisignani.

Hong Kong (2010-03-17)

FRESH from announcing plans to purchase a Hong Kong travel agency, Ctrip is now making new moves in China’s hospitality space.

China’s online travel agency, which early this year made an offer to buy a majority stake in Wing On Travel, plans to acquire minority shares in Hanting Inns & Hotels and BTG-Jianguo to extend its leadership in the mainland’s fast-growing online agency sector.

Hanting operates three different economy brands in China, while BT-Jianguo manages more than 60 hotels on the mainland, focusing on the mid- to high-end range.

Nasdaq-listed Ctrip had earlier increased its stake in Home Inns & Hotels Management.

It has been estimated that China had a little over 30 million online users buying travel services last year.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-03-17)

GARUDA Indonesia has announced its 2009 net profit of 1.009 trillion rupiah (US$109.6 million) with an operating profit of 807.6 billion rupiah.

The net profit represents a 50 per cent increase over 2008's posting of 669 billion rupiah, despite the global economic crisis.

Garuda president and CEO Emirsyah Satar said: “This was achieved through commercial, operational and financial (efforts), developing staff productivity and a number of other efficiencies we have been undertaking.”

Satar said the number of passengers last year increased by three per cent from 10.1 million in 2008 to 10.3 million, while load factor remained flat over the previous year at 74 per cent.

Garuda plans to add 10 domestic and international routes this year, including Amsterdam, Tokyo, Taipei and Hong Kong, and is projecting a 20 per cent increase in passenger numbers.

The airline will also invest about US$100 million for 24 new aircraft, scheduled to arrive this year, and the refurbishment of its six A330-300s to match the facilities available in the new A330-200 aircraft.

Singapore (2010-03-17)

ALOYSIUS Arlando, assistant chief executive (business travel & MICE) of the Singapore Tourism Board, is leaving the NTO for Singex Group.

Arlando, who was tasked by the Ministry of Trade & Industry to head the APEC Organising Committee last year, will join the Singex Group on April 1 as CEO of Singex Venues.

He will helm the operations of Singex Group, which manages the Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Singapore (2010-03-17)

YTC Hotels has denied that it intends to sell the Peninsula brand (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 8).

In a statement to TTG Asia, the Singapore-based hotel group said: “The Board of Directors would like to refute the statement that YTC Hotels has restarted talks to sell the Peninsula name to another hotel group.”

YTC Hotels (formerly known as The Peninsula Hotel Ltd) owns and manages the 307-room Peninsula Hotel in Singapore since its opening in 1974. In 2000, Peninsula and Excelsior, which was built in 1984, were merged in an extensive S$10 million (US$7.2 million) renovation and restructuring project. Since then, the hotel has been operated as a single property under the name Peninsula.Excelsior Hotel, with 590 rooms in two towers.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-03-17)

BENEDICT Jimbau has been appointed marketing manager of the Sarawak Tourism Board, taking over from Mary Wan Mering, who has been seconded to the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage for a two-year period.

Presently the board’s corporate affairs manager, Jimbau will assume his new responsibilities on April 1.

He will be in charge of planning and developing marketing strategies for the board and remains the project director of the Rainforest World Music Festival, a post he has held since 2008.

Bangkok attractions still a draw despite protests

THE ASSOCIATION of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) reported that Bangkok city tours were operating as normal despite the mass political protests that started last weekend.

ATTA secretary-general Jumpol Chadavadh said members continued to operate the three key city tours to palaces, temples and the city's old quarters. However, tour routes have been altered to avoid the closed roads around the protest sites of Ratchadamnoen Nok and Ratchadamnoen Klang.

According to him, the three city tours normally attract about 20,000 tourists a day. Of the total, about 8,000 to 9,000 visitors would book the tour to the Grand Palace and the Temple of Emerald Buddha.

On March 11 and 12, 8,500 and 8,700 tourists, respectively, booked the palace tour. But on March 13, when protesters started occupying the sites, the number dropped to 6,500. As the number of protestors increased, tour participants decreased, to 3,700 and 4,600 tourists on March 14 and 15, respectively.

Jumpol said the drop was normal, given the current political situation, but keeping the tours going demonstrated Thailand's readiness to handle crisis.

"This shows that Thailand is a democratic country. While a protest is taking place, tourists can still go sightseeing around Bangkok."

According to Jumpol, bookings for the city tours are expected to gradually pick up from today.

Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2010-03-16)

HONG KONG’S Travel Industry Council (TIC) has pushed for a week’s extension in the cancellation of package tours to Bangkok after the SAR raised the red alert due to a weekend of anti-government protests in the Thai capital.

Though the TIC’s call to extend the cancellation to March 23 is a suggestion, sources say the majority of members are likely to adhere to it because of the insurance involved in group tours.

Agents, however, are confident Thailand tour bookings for April’s Easter break will not be affected.

“People in Hong Kong and Thailand are used to this sort of political drama and it’s still safe to go as long as you don’t venture into the demonstration areas,” said Ng Hi-on, deputy general manager of China Travel Service’s (HK) package tour department.

Hong Kong Outbound Tour Operators’ Association chairman Peter Kong said Easter bookings were holding up despite reports that the protests may extend for a few more days. “I am the GSA for Oriental Thai Airlines and we have got an average of 200 seats filled up on our daily flights now compared with a full load of 400-500 passengers prior to the crisis.

“I am sure once the red alert is lowered, traffic will rebound swiftly because Thailand is a good destination for Hongkongers.”

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-03-16)

THE MACAU Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has partnered neighbouring mainland China destinations, Zhongshan in Guangdong Province and Zhuhai, to enhance the leisure appeal of Macau.

MGTO head of marketing Betty Fok said: “We may be near but we are each different and unique. Together we can offer a multi-destination itinerary that will offer travellers different experiences. For instance, the varied food culture of Macau, Zhongshan and Zhuhai will be an attraction. Through this packaging, we can enhance the visitor's programme and encourage at least an additional day to their travel plans.”

China International Travel Service of Zhongshan deputy director Icy Huang said Zhongshan's water villages, hot springs and fruit farms add a nature appeal to the typical Macau and Zhuhai itinerary. “There are not many Singaporean visitors to Zhongshan now, but our partnership with MGTO and local travel agents would help boost arrivals, especially of families.”

Singapore's JP International Travel assistant general manager Sam How said the Macau-Zhongshan-Zhuhai trio would appeal more to senior citizens, and not the typical Singaporean family group, because of the strong historical flavour of Zhongshan and Zhuhai's attractions.

However, he said including Zhongshan and Zhuhai will give price-conscious travellers cheaper accommodation options and relief from Macau's pricey weekend and peak season hotel rates.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-03-16)

MALAYSIAN Iran market specialists are anticipating an increase in arrivals during the Nourooz (Iranian New Year) holiday season, from March 18 to April 4.

Se Wac Travel & Tours general manager Mohammad Kiani anticipates a 20 per cent increase in volume over last year for the holidays. He said demand for twinning Kuala Lumpur with Singapore has also increased mainly due to heightened destination awareness efforts by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Grace Holidays general manager Godwin Miranda expects a 30 per cent increase in volume over the same period last year, returning thereby to 2008 levels.

AirAsia X is mounting two charters from Tehran to Kuala Lumpur on March 18 and 19 while Iran Air will fly five charters during Nourooz on the same route in addition to its four weekly scheduled flights.

Hong Kong (2010-03-16)

HONG KONG attraction Ngong Ping 360 has entered the travel agency business, launching an agency, which will operate tours around Lantau island, home to the cable car service.

The subsidiary 360 Holidays will operate guided and education tours to destinations on Hong Kong’s largest island, including Po Lin Monastery, Giant Buddha and Tai O fishing village as well as eco itineraries to Shui Hau in south Lantau.

Tickets will be sold through travel agents and hotels.

The attraction described the agency’s launch as a “key milestone” in its efforts to promote the island, which is home to an increasing range of tourism products, from hotels to retail and Disneyland, but has struggled to draw visitors from a lack of consistent and coordinated promotions.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-03-16)

INDONESIA’S Sahid Group has expanded with the launch of new properties in Jakarta.

The group opened the two-star Sahid Griyadi Blue Pacific and Sahid Lippo Villas Cikarang yesterday.

It also finalised the first stage of the renovation of the Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta – the group’s flagship property – which includes the lobby, public facilities and an additional ballroom.

Also in the group's portfolio is its own Sahid Nurul Iman Mosque in the Sahid City complex, which caters for Muslim weddings.

Next on the cards for the group is the 44-storey Sahid Sudirman Twin Towers, a jont venture with the Pikko Group, slated for operations in 2013.

The mega project will comprise a five-star hotel, residences and offices within one complex.

Business as usual amid protests: TAT

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IMPACT events going ahead as planned

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Revamp for Philippine tourism body

Slow recovery expected for global tourism this year

Dusit gears for European debut

Amari takes Onyx group to ITB

TAT presents facts on Bangkok protests

THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has issued its first "Fact Sheet" on political developments in the capital ahead of a weekend of planned protest rallies, starting tomorrow.

The move to issue the Fact Sheet, as TAT described the document, came as 34 countries issued or updated their travel advisories on travelling to and within the kingdom during rallies by anti-government red shirt protestors.

In the document, TAT explained that the Cabinet's decision to invoke the Internal Security Act for specific areas of Bangkok and seven nearby provinces from March 11 to 23 was a necessary step to ensure law and order.

It also said some preventive measures had been put in place, including setting up checkpoints and patrols in the inner area of Bangkok and nearby provinces.

A few roads around important government buildings will be temporary closed while rapid deployment units have also been arranged to ensure timely responses in case any incident occurs.

"For tourists visiting the kingdom, it should be stressed that foreigners have not been targeted in the ongoing political conflict," the TAT fact sheet stated.

"However, foreigners are advised to be vigilant, particularly in the areas where crowds may gather."

For tourist assistance or information, contact the TAT Cell Centre by dialing 1672.