Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-07-28)

THE UK'S Travelsphere Group has transferred one of its three 2011 accounts to the Far East, which had been handled by the Destination Asia Group for almost 20 years, to Asia World Enterprises.

Destination Asia will continue to handle passengers of Travelsphere's Just You and Page and Moy brands in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. These two brands target the younger, more active clients, aged between 25 and 40, who want new experiences and "participatory" travel, according to Destination Asia Group CEO and group managing director James Reed.

Meanwhile, Asia World will handle Travelsphere clients. Reed described the Travelsphere account as more traditional group tours.

Reed declined to reveal the annual arrival figures for the three Travelsphere accounts but expected arrivals in 2011 from the Just You and Page and Moy accounts to be "in the thousands". This, he said, would result in a significant increase in revenue for the Destination Asia Group.

- Read more in TTG Asia, August 6

Singapore (2010-07-28)

IT&CMA (Incentive Travel & Conventions Meetings Asia) and CTW (Corporate Travel World) have secured a stellar line-up of buyers and delegates to its 2010 shows in Bangkok from October 5 to 7.

The doublebill MICE and corporate travel event has received more than 900 applications from top MICE, corporate travel and association players.

Darren Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media, which organises IT&CMA and CTW, said: "Our exhibitors tell us that, in addition to wooing the MICE sector, corporate travel and association networks are pivotal for business going forward. Thus, our focus this year is to ensure we deliver more of these delegates to the event."

Ng added that stringent validation measures were in place to heighten the quality of buyers and corporate travel managers at IT&CMA/CTW.

An enhanced programme has helped attract procurement managers, planners and decision-makers of big corporations, including Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett Packard, The Body Shop and Mazda.

The International Congress and Convention Association and the Asian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus are co-locating their meetings with IT&CMA/CTW. Specially designed accreditation courses will bring in even more association executives.

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau will fund the participation of 57 local travel agents and DMCs at IT&CMA/CTW.

Karen Yue, Shanghai (2010-07-28)

PEACE Hotel, which closed in 1997 for extensive restoration, reopened today under the Fairmont banner and will welcome its first paying guests tomorrow, July 29.

Fairmont Peace Hotel general manager Kamal Naamani, who was general manager of Fairmont Dubai, said the hotel had seen "huge demand and enquiries about space and rooms from groups and transients".

"The uniqueness of the hotel and its history, and the fact that it is now being managed on an international level, have brought in much demand. We are fairly pleased with what we are experiencing so far."

Naamani attributed the healthy demand to the Shanghai World Expo and the city's positioning as a business and tourism destination. He believed Shanghai's positioning would help sustain room demand even after the Expo.

Room rates start from RMB2,300 (US$339) for the opening and will increase over time. Naamani would not reveal target rates, preferring to let market forces take the lead.

Jin Jiang Hotels, which owns the 270-key hotel, pumped HK$500 million (US$64.4 million) into the renovations. Many architectural aspects were maintained or duplicated to retain the original property's charm. For instance, its legendary Peace Hall has been spruced up to weddings and corporate events.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-07-28)

AGENTS are seeing rising demand for serviced apartments from Indian leisure and business travellers.

Tina Travel & Agencies managing director Adam Kamal said the average size of Indian family groups three years ago was two people hence demand for serviced apartments then was almost nil.

"Now, more Indians are travelling with extended families due to improved connectivity and cheap fares so the average group size has increased to four. Serviced apartments with two bedrooms are more cost-effective compared to booking two rooms in a five-star hotel," he said.

Arokia Das Anthony, managing director of Red Apple Travel & Tours, has likewise seen more Indian business travellers requesting for serviced apartments. "They want the cooking facilities as they are extremely fussy over their meals. (Other facilities) are not important."

Kuala Lumpur (2010-07-28)

THE MELBOURNE Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB) has launched the Melbourne Planner's Guide 2010-2011.

The planner features new and expanded sections on Melbourne's incentive offerings, suggested itineraries and regional Victoria's business events products and services.

Hayley Blumenthal, MCVB director for marketing and communications, said: "(The guide) offers organisers planning a business event with detailed information on more than 100 products and services in the state and information on how MCVB can provide support in securing a business event and boosting delegate numbers."

The guide also includes new information on 'Conferencing in Regional Victoria' and six sample itineraries covering attractions such as the Yarra Valley, Great Ocean Raod, Phillip Island penguin parade, Daylesford spa country and more.

Tumpuan Vacation managing director Zarinah Hashim said the guide cut down research time for quotations to corporate clients. "Many corporate clients want a quotation on the same day so they can present it to their board."

Eric Sinnaya, Morahols Travel managing director, said: "Local corporate companies in Malaysia are beginning to offer incentive travel and don't have big budgets. (The planner) is a good reference point on the facilities in Melbourne and Victoria that suit different budgets and group sizes."

Hong Kong (2010-07-28)

HONG KONG agents can win free flights and Apple iPads by participating in Travelport's Treasure Hunt.

Contestants must register online at www.tptreasurehunt.com then use Google's Hong Kong Street View maps to locate a "treasure". Once they find it, they have to answer a simple question.

The first 20 contestants to answer the first question correctly get a 6GB memory stick as an early bird prize. Other prizes include cinema tickets, Ocean Park passes and an Apple iPad. Upon proper completion of the four-level treasure hunt, agents qualify for the Grand Lucky Draw, which gives away flights for two to Tokyo, Seoul or Bali.

The online contest, created for Travelport by digital agency Profero, runs until August 27.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-07-21)
 
THE SUVARNABHUMI Airport Rail Link will open for commercial operation on August 23, connecting commuters between the airport and the City Air Terminal at Makkasan Station in Bangkok city centre, where flight and luggage check-in services will be available.
 
The link will operate daily from 0600 to 0100 with two train systems, each departing every 15 minutes. Travelling time on the Express Line will take 15 minutes while on the City Line will be less than 30 minutes.
 
The fare structure is not available at press time.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-07-20)

GARUDA Indonesia’s executive vice president finance Eddy Porwanto's resignation while the airline is in the midst of preparing for an Initial Public Offering has fanned rumours of an internal conflict.

Garuda, however, has denied the rumours.

Garuda president and CEO, Emirsyah Satar, said: “I confirm that Pak Eddy Porwanto has resigned from Garuda, but his reason for leaving is that he has a better offer from Rajawali Corporation and not internal conflict.”

Porwanto will join Rajawali Corporation, an Indonesian holding company of diverse industries including resource, property and transportation.

Satar said Porwanto's resignation would not affect the airline’s plan to go public by the third quarter or early fourth quarter of the year.

Jakarta (2010-07-20)

INDONESIA’s low-cost carrier Mandala Airlines commenced four-times weekly flights between Jakarta and Hong Kong on July 19, using an Airbus 319 with 144 seats.

Thrice-weekly services to Macau, using the same aircraft type, will follow on on July 21.

Mandala Airlines president-director Diono Nuryadin expects an 85 per cent load factor on the Hong Kong service within three months of operation.

The carrier now offers four regional services, including flights from Jakarta to Singapore and Balikpapan launched last June.

Atlanta (2010-07-20)

TRAVELPORT has inked a long-term marketing and distribution agreement with Avis Budget Group that will grant Travelport-connected agents access to rates and services offered by Avis.

Avis' products will be available to corporate customers and travel agents who book through Galileo and Worldspan.

Travelport has about 60,000 travel agencies on its worldwide network.

Singapore (2010-07-20)

SINGAPORE has concluded Open Skies Agreements (OSA) with Barbados, Brazil, Jamaica and Rwanda, granting carriers full flexibility to introduce services without restrictions on capacity, frequency or routing.

The OSAs with Barbados and Jamaica are the first between Singapore and the Caribbean. Singapore has already OSAs with Latin America through Peru, Columbia and Ecuador, and an OSA with Africa through Zambia.

Direct links with Singapore will allow businesses in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean to access more markets by tapping on Singapore's connectivity to the Asia-Pacific region.

There are currently no direct flights between Singapore and Latin America or the Caribbean. In Africa, Singapore Airlines operates passenger services to Egypt and South Africa.

Singapore (2010-07-20)

CARNIVAL Australia has joined the Asia Cruise Association (ACA), boosting the young association's membership to 30.

The addition of Carnival Australia will give ACA more ideas to help propel the Asian cruise industry forward.

Jenny Lourey, senior vice president of Carnival Australia, said: “The cruise market in Asia-Pacific is expanding at a rapid rate. We believe that the demand and trend for cruise vacations will continue to grow. This presents abundant opportunities for our cruise industry in areas of professional and commercial development.”

Melbourne (2010-07-20)

THE THEMATIC World Congress on Human Factors in Crises and Disaster Interventions will head to Melbourne for the first time in 2013.

Hosted by the World Psychiatric Association and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the congress is expected to attract more than 1,500 delegates, generating an economic impact in excess of A$6 million (US$5.26 million) for the state of Victoria.

Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2010-07-19)

CHINA yesterday issued a travel warning on Hong Kong, in reaction to a video clip that showed a Hong Kong female tour guide threatening to lock a group of Chinese tourists out of their rooms unless they spend more on shopping.

The incriminating video was recorded by a traveller who joined a tour organised by Golden Win Travel Company last April.

The incident sparked public outrage and triggered an emergency meeting by the Hong Kong travel trade last Saturday. More than 100 representatives of agencies, tour guide unions and shops – members of the Travel Industry Council – converged to discuss remedies.

Golden Win Travel has since blacklisted the female guide.

The latest Hong Kong tourism boo-boo followed the case of a 65-year-old man from Hunan Province who suffered a fatal heart attack in May after arguing with a tour guide in Hong Kong over being forced to shop.

Tour guide groupings such as Hong Kong Tour Guides General Union said 90 per cent
of 1,300 guides for mainland tours survived on commission, without any basic salary. This was believed to be the cause of the problem.

Furthermore, guides were often required to pay in advance for miscellaneous costs, such as wages of coach drivers.

Singapore (2010-07-19)

THE CIVIL Aviation Administration of China and the Transport and Housing Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government have approved Shanghai's Hongqiao International Airport as a destination for scheduled air services between Hong Kong and China.

Tony Tyler, chief executive of Cathay Pacific Airways, which currently operates three daily flights between Hong Kong and Shanghai's Pudong Airport, welcomes the move.

“Shanghai is a very important destination for Cathay Pacific and Dragonair. The new arrangement...will offer airlines more opportunities to further enhance services between the two cities...and ensures Hong Kong retains its position as one of the world's leading aviation hubs.”

However, at press time, the Hong Kong flag carrier has yet to announce new services to Hongqiao International Airport. A spokesperson with the carrier told TTG Asia eDaily that “discussions were being held” on this.

Singapore (2010-07-19)

ABACUS will distribute ACE Travel Insurance products to all Abacus-connected travel agents across Asia via the Abacus TravelSecure booking solution, enabling agents to sell insurance options to customers.

Agents in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, China and Thailand will be the first five markets to gain access to the new insurance content. More markets will be added later.

According to Abacus booking data, non-air income could account for more than half of an agent's income in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok, reporting for TTGmice (2010-07-19)

PHUKET-based OMT Event Planner Organiser claims strong bookings even before its soft launch on July 15.

COO Dave Chang said: “We are getting confirmed conventions, conferences, incentives and teambuilding groups, as well as wedding functions from now until the year-end. (There are) even enquiries coming in for next year.”

OMT aims for at least two big MICE groups of around 150 to 300 delegates each, and several smaller incentives and events per month, for the next 12 months.

Chang, who was general manager of Phuket Receptive, said OMT planned to expand into Khao Lak, Krabi, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pattaya and Bangkok to service inbound MICE groups, and into Asian destinations for outbound events by early next year.

OMT Event Planner Organiser is part of OMT Group of Companies, which has nine other tourism and hospitality-related divisions, including OMT Holidays and Tours and OMT Hotels Resorts Direct Online Booking.

Jakarta (2010-07-19)

INDONESIA’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism will develop 2,000 tourism villages around the country by 2014, and promote special interest tours such as golfing, marine tourism and adventure tourism products, to diversify the country’s product offerings and increase its competitiveness in tourism.

There are 450 tourism villages in Indonesia today.

For a village to qualify as a tourism village, it must be located in an area frequented by regional and international tourists and produce arts and craft. The village must also have tourism appeal based on nature, culture or manmade products.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-07-16)

RUSSIAN hospitality group PGS International has acquired a majority share in Thai-based T Traveller2000, following the group's establishment of PGS Hotel subsidiary in January.

Now rebranded as Pegas Touristik, the agency's Bangkok-based general manager Kubilay Atac told TTG Asia e-Daily the move reflected the group's commitment towards Thailand. There was an unprecedented growth in Russian passengers since Pegas entered the market in the 2005/2006 high season, he said.

He added that Pegas chose to invest in T Traveller2000 instead of establishing a new company due to the long-term partnership between the two and its trust in the Thai partner's resources and operations.

T Traveller2000 was groundhandler for Pegas for five years.

PGS also owns Moscow-based Nordwind Airlines, which operates regular charter services from Russia to European and Asian destinations, including Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand.

-Read more in TTG Asia, July 23 issue

Rahul Khanna, Yangon (2010-07-16)

PEARL Laguna Resort, a subsidiary of Thai-based KR Commercial and Property, is building a US$15 million five-star resort in Southern Myanmar.

When it opens in December 2012, the resort will be the largest tourism development in the Tanintharyi Division. Located in Myeik's Yebone ward, the yet unnamed resort will open in phases. Some 60 rooms will open first, while work on the second phase, involving 40 more rooms, will start next year.

There will be three room categories – standard, suite and superior suite – a convention centre, meeting rooms, restaurants, a pool, gym and shopping centre with duty-free shops.

Jakarta (2010-07-16)

TOURIST arrivals to Indonesia between January and May grew 14 per cent to hit 2.77 million visitors, compared to 2.41 million visitors in the same period last year.

Results are, however, still far behind the destination's target of seven million arrivals.

Further, travellers’ length of stay had fallen 11.62 per cent, from 3.04 days last year to 2.66 days, due to a higher percentage of regional travellers. Asian travellers typically spend an average of three to four days compared to long-haul travellers' 10-day stays.

Despite the results, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is optimistic that the seven million arrival target will be met.

Director general of marketing Sapta Nirwandar said: “We are still optimistic (because) an upsurge (in arrivals is expected) between July and August, and during the year-end.”

The ministry will continue to establish a strong presence in key markets, especially in Europe, with the appointment of a Visit Indonesia Tourism Official (VITO) in the Netherlands. It will also increase the frequency of direct promotions in key markets.

Singapore (2010-07-16)

ABACUS International expects its new distribution and booking system to enable airlines and agents gain new revenue streams through the unbundling of airline services.

According to a Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) report, low-cost carriers started the successful trend of unbundling its costs, such as baggage handling, changing reservation and inflight F&B service, turning it into a major source of income. CAPA forecasted that airlines worldwide would generate US$58 billion in ancillaries this year, or 12 per cent of airlines’ global revenue.

Thomas Chong, managing director of Holiday Tours & Travel in Malaysia said (Abacus') new system would allow the agency to broaden its offerings to travellers.

Hong Kong (2010-07-16)

STERLING Hotels, a member of Preferred Hotel Group, has added 227-key Oriental Hotel Hiroshima in Japan to its portfolio.

Junichi Araki, general manager of Oriental Hotel Hiroshima said the property aimed to increase its market share of foreign guests by up to 20 per cent in the next three years by leveraging on Preferred’s worldwide network.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-07-16)

KLANG, Malaysia will get a new business hotel on October 18.

The 250-room Première Hotel in Klang will feature six versatile function rooms and a pillarless ballroom that can accommodate 1,500 people for a cocktail reception and 880 people for a banquet.

The grand ballroom can be divided into three separate rooms.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-07-15)

SINGAPORE’s JP International has been snapped up by the same group of multinational investors that bought SingExpress Travel in February 2009, Safe2Travel in October 2009, two travel agencies in Australia, one in Macau and over 30 in China.

The identity of the investors remains anonymous but they have appointed SingExpress Travel CEO, Steve Fung, to head the acquisition of more agencies across Asia-Pacific, with plans to rebrand all these agencies under one name by the end of the year.

TTG Asia eDaily understands many of the investors are based in Hong Kong. They are individuals with deep pockets but without any experience in the travel trade. In an exclusive interview, Fung would not reveal their identity or provide more information on them.

But he said the scale of acquisition would be “the biggest ever in the industry” and let on that he was working on a major acquisition in Hong Kong and a possible fourth in Singapore. He will announce acquisitions in Japan and Malaysia by end of this year, and is already in talks with potential agencies in South Korea and Taiwan.

– Find out what Fung’s game plan is, TTG Asia, July 23

S Puvaneswary, Bandar Seri Begawan (2010-07-15)

AIR access to Brunei will improve with a new Cebu Pacific service from Manila and additional frequency on AirAsia's flights from Kuala Lumpur.

Cebu Pacific will start twice-weekly flights between Manila and Bandar Seri Begawan on August 21, while AirAsia will increase its daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to twice daily from August 25.

The move by these low-cost carriers will boost the leisure, meetings and incentives markets, believes Anthony Chieng, managing director of Sunshine Borneo Tours and Travel. It would help companies save money on flights, enabling them to spend more on the ground, he added.

Leveraging on the improved air links from Malaysia and the Philippines, Chieng will do more marketing in these markets to promote leadership and teambuilding programmes  in Brunei.

Fellow inbound operator in Brunei, Travelhub managing director, Adam Tan, said the destination needed more budget hotels to cater to the growing segment of budget travellers to Brunei.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-07-15)

BANYAN Tree Samui is entering the market with a price-based strategy aimed at achieving 60 per cent occupancy in its first six months of operation.

Opened on July 1, the resort is offering a minimum two-night stay with breakfast from 21,610 baht (US$670) nett per night until September 30, as well as a spending credit of at least 18,200 baht nett for use within the resort.

General manager Fredrick Arul said the tactic was devised to entice the market and to compete with rival resorts Six Senses Hideaway, Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui and W Retreat (opening November 1).

Arul singled out the Four Seasons as main rival.

Developed by Thailand’s real estate developer TCC Land, the resort features 78 pool villas, each with a private pool measuring 35sqm, the largest on Koh Samui. It also houses the island’s first hydrotherapy spa, The Rainforest.

The resort is located on a private hill cove near Lamai Beach, a 30-minute drive from the airport.

Rahul Khanna, Yangon (2010-07-15)

Close to 4,500 foreign visitors have been granted visa-on-arrival (VOA) in the first two months since May 1 when the system was launched at Yangon and Mandalay international airports.

Myanmar Marketing Committee chairman Aung Myat Kyaw said the benefits from the VOA were “huge”  for the tourism industry.

He said: “This is a breakthrough for the industry. Although it is still at an early stage, (we think the VOA) will result in a tremendous increase in tourist arrivals in the near future.”

Previously, visas must be arranged in advance before arrival; now it is issued within minutes.

It is also an improvement over the former arrangement that issued VOAs only to travellers booked on tours with a local travel agency.

Karen Yue, Singapore, reporting for TTGmice (2010-07-15)

MATSUMOTO Tourism & Convention Association aims to grow MICE arrivals from Singapore, encouraged by the growing Singapore leisure arrivals into Japan in recent years.

Saburo Ako, secretary-general of the association, which acts as the convention and visitor bureau for the city in Nagano Prefecture, said the city received more corporate meetings than incentives from its top overseas markets Taiwan, South Korea and China. A lack of awareness of the destination for incentives was the reason.

He said the city’s strong appeal among holidaymakers – it is famed for the Matsumoto Castle, well-preserved heritage and old houses, and the Saito Kinen music festival –indicated its potential to grow incentive arrivals.

The association held its first roadshow for the Singapore travel trade on Tuesday.

Singapore (2010-07-15)

SUNTEC Singapore will house the Singapore Garden Festival for the third year running from today till July 22, an event that is expected to attract 300,000 local and overseas visitors.

For a week, the venue will be transformed into a wonderland of spectacular gardens, showcasing the creativity of internationally-renowned garden and floral designers.

The Singapore Garden Festival is not the only unconventional event held at the convention and exhibition centre; it will be used as a sporting centre for six sporting competitions during the Youth Olympic Games from August 14.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-07-14) 

 MALAYSIA will allow foreign tourist guides from South Korea, Japan, Russia and Iran to operate in the country from October. 

 The move aims at easing an acute shortage of guides conversant in the languages. The Tourism Ministry believes it could also attract more tourists from the four markets. 

Local guides and coach operators are worried about the impact but tourism minister Dr Ng Yen Yen at a press conference yesterday countered: “If local guides do not upgrade themselves, they must face competition from outside. It is that simple!”

She said the ministry would trial this for a year before deciding whether or not to continue.

According to the ministry, there are currently 17 Russian-speaking tourist guides, 29 Korean-speaking guides and fewer than 50 Iranian tour guides and Japanese tour guides. In total, there are about 6,000 licensed tourist guides in the country.
 – Full report in TTG Asia, July 23, 2010  

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-07-14)

MALAYSIA’s tourism ministry will proceed with plans to make it non-compulsory for agents to become a member of the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents before they get their licence to operate or their licence renewed.

The new rule will be implemented on November 1. Tourism minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said it was in recognition of the maturity of the local travel industry.
She said: “It is also to allow more competition among associations to serve the needs of their respective members.” The ministry will work with MATTA to ensure a smooth transition.

MATTA’s secretary-general, Joseph Xavier, is confident the new policy will make the association stronger as members will voluntarily join the association they believe in.

• Full report in TTG Asia, July 23, 2010

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok, reporting for TTGmice (2010-07-14) 

DISCOUNTS, handling fee waiver, bonus nights, room upgrades, bidding assistance, immigration fast-track – these are being offered by 108 Thailand Incentives and Convention Association (TICA) members in a bid to win back MICE business. 

 The stimulus campaign, Thailand Offers for Business Events 2010-2011, targets meetings with 50 to 2,500 delegates, but groups must satisfy a set criteria to qualify. 

A meeting must comprise at least 50 delegates, half of whom must be overseas participants staying at least two nights and having one dinner at a TICA member hotel. 

A convention must be held over two days at least and be attended by a minimum of 50 delegates, each booked for at least two nights.  An exhibition must run for at least three days, have at least 20 per cent overseas visitors and exhibitors, and utilise at least 20 per cent of total rented space for foreign exhibitors. 

 The TICA members involved include three convention and exhibition centres, 18 destination management companies, 82 hotels, three professional conference organisers and two airlines, Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways.  The campaign will end March 31.

 Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-07-14) 

MALAYSIA’s hospitality group, Swiss-Garden International Hotels, Resorts & Inns, has expanded its pportfolio to include serviced apartments, with the first scheduled to open in April or May 2011 as an extension of the former Swiss-Garden Hotel Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. 

With the new service apartment wing coming on line, the hotel has been rebranded Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Kuala Lumpur. The new wing will have 478 units of one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as a ballroom and a meeting room. 

 Opening rates will range from RM300 (US$94) to RM350 per night. 

 Swiss-Garden's newly-appointed vice president of business development, Lily Chiok, said the group was also looking at possible residences openings in Vietnam, Thailand – particularly Bangkok – and China. The properties may be owned or managed by the group. 

The group now has six properties in Malaysia.

Prudence Lui, Hong Kong, reporting for TTGmice (2010-07-14)

HONG KONG-based Shanghai Four Seas Travel has dedicated a MICE team in Shanghai following a rapid growth of domestic and inbound MICE business to China. 

The agency's general manager for Greater China Business Travel, Jonathan Kao, said much of the demand was coming from China-based multinational companies and large local firms. 

He said the company’s existing corporate client base required MICE services, a reason why the team was set up in Shanghai. The team will also complement its existing MICE team in Hong Kong, which is headed by Barbara Ho.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-07-13)

THAILAND has roped in more than 30 big-name European and Russian tour operators to bring in 40,000 visitors spending two billion baht (US$62 million) this low season.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is funding the likes of Kuoni, TUI, Thomas Cook, Trailfinders, Tez Tour, CFA Voyage, Expedia.com and Lastminute.com with joint advertisements of a Thailand Today publicity campaign that is backed by attractively-priced holidays from July 15 to September 30.

Thai Airways International is offering low-season net fares on 50 seats per flight on 11 European and Russian routes, targeting repeat visitors from London, Zurich, Rome, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Madrid, Moscow, Oslo, Athens, Stockholm and Paris.

The Thailand Travel Mart will continue the momentum when the promotion ends. The travel event from September 8 to 10 is expected to attract 300 to 400 international buyers.

TAT targets 4.2 million European visitors this year and 4.5 million next year. The country attracted four million European arrivals last year, a 1.77 per cent increase over 2008.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-07-13)

CHINA, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan were the only Asia-Pacific countries that  improved their rankings in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) world rankings for international association meetings organised in 2009.

According to the results released on July 9, China moved to ninth position in 2009 from 11th spot for having hosted 22 more international association meetings. It organised 245 international meetings last year.

South Korea and Malaysia rose a notch to 15th and 31st spot respectively. Taiwan moved to 32nd spot from 35th in 2008.

The ICCA rankings were determined by the number of association meetings hosted by a country.

ICCA Asia-Pacific regional director Noor Ahmad Hamid said: “The rankings are important, as they show the strength of the destination to attract international association meetings to their shores. Those countries that have increased their number of international meetings...have a strategic plan in place in terms of national bidding and concerted efforts by industry players to attract international association meetings.”

Jakarta (2010-07-13)

LUXURY villa and hotel developer and operator Bukit Uluwatu Villa will fully acquire Bukit Lagoi Villa for 100 billion rupiah (US$11 million) for the development of an Alila Villas Bintan, Indonesia.

Bukit Uluwatu Villa managing director Franky Tjahyadikarta said the company planned to develop 50 villas and 12 residence units on the Indonesian island at a cost of 350 billion rupiah.

The development is expected to start this year-end and open in mid-2011.

Bukit Uluwatu Villa, which started trading on the Indonesia Stock Exchange yesterday, is also planning to expand Alila Ubud with 12 villas at a cost of 26.74 billion rupiah, and develop a new project in Manado.

The investment for the 60-room Alila Manado in Tanjung Tarabitan, North Minahasa is estimated to be100 billion rupiah and is expected to open in 2013.

Singapore (2010-07-13)

WITH two integrated resorts grabbing all the attention thanks to their novelty, the Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA) newly-appointed chairman, Kevin Cheong, will be looking at how ASA can be more relevant to its members and industry.

An immediate plan is to strengthen ASA's brand presence, improve internal operations, increase revenue sources and enhance members’ business operations.

Several mid-term strategic initiatives in partnership with government agencies and other trade stakeholders have also been spelt out. These initiatives focus on human resource, knowledge resource development, attraction investor and owner interests, and membership redefinition.

Cheong, who is also deputy managing director of JTB Destinations and Meemo and  represents Sentosa 4D Magix in ASA, is joined by Singapore Zoological Gardens executive director Fanny Lai as vice chairman.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-07-13)

AIRASIA has completed its migration to a new reservation system, New Skies, that allows travellers to book seats for multi-cities in a single transaction – something not possible with the former system.

Powered by Navitaire, the new system also promises to improve operational efficiencies, the savings of which would be transfer to passengers, according to the low-cost carrier.

Further, New Skies can support language characters such as Mandarin, Thai and Japanese.

Hong Kong (2010-07-13)

HONG KONG’s New World Hotels has rebranded as New World Hospitality, marking the group’s first step in repositioning plans.

The group, which manages six properties in China and one each in Manila, Philippines and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, intends to expand its portfolio.

Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2010-07-12)

CHINA Travel Services (CTS) Hong Kong has set up a cruise department in the lead up to the opening of the new cruise terminal at Kai Tak in 2013 which operators believe will herald fresh growth in cruising in the SAR.
 
Li Hoi Tung, who headed the group’s business travel and MICE arm, helms the new department.

Li said: “Though CTS is a latecomer in the cruise segment, we hope to (grow this business through staff training). We plan to explore new cruise products step by step for our Mango website and (brick-and-mortar) branches.”

He added that many agents had ventured aggressively into the cruise business.

“However, for now, it is still a small segment and the manpower in the market is not
well trained. Selling cruises requires a completely different skills set and expertise. The product is like a floating hotel involving accommodation, tours in different ports and even a MICE element,” Li said.

CTS will invite industry experts to train frontline staff and make good use of Travel Industry Council's cruise-related courses.

Jakarta (2010-07-12)

INDONESIA has waived landing and parking fees at Sepinggan, Balikpapan and Sam Ratulangi, Manado airports for airlines from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines in a bid to improve to air access within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The offer was made during a BIMP-EAGA Air Transportation Working Group meeting in Balikpapan last week.

Chairman of the working group, Matnor Hj Salleh, said the waiver would be given to airlines from these countries that intended to commence or increase services to both Indonesian airports.

Free landing fee will be granted for the first year of operations, and discounts of up to 50 per cent will be given thereafter.

Meanwhile, free parking is available to airlines on transit for less than two hours.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-07-12)

INBOUND tour operator Alex Lee, CEO of Ping Anchorage Travel & Tours in Malaysia, will open his first boutique resort this August under Terrapuri Resorts, incorporated last year, of which he is a director and majority shareholder.

Terrapuri Heritage Village Penarik in Terengganu will soft open on August 26 with seven villas. Another 13 are scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2011.

The villas were houses of Malay aristocratic families more than a century ago. Lee has restored and equipped these houses with modern conveniences.

Lee said all seven villas were already booked through to September 1.

His next project in Batu Rakit, Terengganu is a restoration of 12 houses with colonial influences into another boutique resort by 2012.

Lee sees demand for such resorts coming mainly from Europeans, Japanese and Asians.

Bangkok (2010-07-12)

SOME 500 travel agents and media worldwide are being feted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Thai Airways International (THAI) from today till July 16 as part of the two Thai icons’ 50th anniversary and, more crucially, to show the world it’s business as usual in the kingdom.

TAT governor Suraphon Svetasrenie said: “(The familiarisation trip) will show the world that Thailand has returned to normal and is safe for visitors.”

TAT is hosting 250 travel agents and media, including 205 from East Asia, ASEAN and South Asia, and another 45 from Europe, the Middle East and North America. THAI is  hosting 250 travel agents and media from its own key source markets.

Chris Chantalitanon, THAI director for Central, South, South-east Asia and Australasia, said the flag carrier and TAT had extended the validity of the 50th anniversary promotional fares, launched initially for April and May, to September 30.

He said the fare varied, depending on routes, but were generally 20 per cent cheaper than other promotions and 40 per cent lower than normal fares.

Chantalitanon said the flag carrier’s load factor had climbed from about 50 to 60 per cent in April and May to around 72 to 74 per cent to-date. “Bookings should continue to climb, barring further crises,” he said.

Singapore (2010-07-12)

CAMBODIA's flag carrier, Cambodia Angkor Air, has migrated onto the SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service (CSS) solution as part of its regional expansion plans.

The solution allows Cambodia Angkor Air to interline and codeshare with other airlines, while Sabre's reservations system will enhance merchandising and ancillary sales.

Formed in July 2009, the airline, owned by the Cambodian government and Vietnam Airlines Corp, wants to begin international operations within ASEAN and further afield to South Korea and China.

It now operates 110 flights per week using three aircraft. More aircraft purchases will be made next year.

Sydney (2010-07-12)

SYDNEY will have a new entertainment and events complex located close to the central business district by the end of next year.

The Concourse, located in Chatswood, 10 minutes from the central business district and 30 minutes from the airport, will house a 1,000-seat Concert Hall, a 500-seat theatre for product launches and conferences, vast foyers and numerous break-out areas.

The new venue will be supported by a full catering kitchen. It is now accepting bookings for events happening in late 2011 and beyond.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-07-09)

AIR Mauritius is looking for a general sales agent for passengers and cargo in Malaysia, and is inviting bids from interested parties that are well established in airline representation and the travel trade.

The contract of current general sales agent, Maple Travel, will end in the third quarter of this year.

Air Mauritius operates twice-weekly return flights on A330-200 aircraft between Mauritius and Kuala Lumpur via Singapore.

Air Mauritius sales manager, Malaysia, Ravi Chandra Kumar, said the airline plans to increase frequency for summer 2011 to three flights a week.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-07-09)

SOME hotels in Singapore have chosen to maintain or reduce room rates over the coming F1 race season in September, despite a healthier economy this year.

Pacific Arena senior manager for inbound Sharifah Juffry said many hotels, especially non-trackside properties, have reduced rates by 10 per cent over last year to encourage more race fans to book.

Carlton Hotel Singapore resident manager Tracy Ng said: “We are maintaining rates of our existing wing because booking lead time is still not as far out we hope it to be. Our early-bird promotions that expire end of July have so far earned us some corporate bookings for the race days.”

However, guestrooms in the hotel's new wing are priced higher at S$750 (US$544) to $800++ per night, with a minimum booking of three nights, because “the product is more premium”.

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, which performed well for the 2009 race despite the economic woes, has also chosen to maintain its room rates at S$1,870++ per night, with a minimum booking of three nights.

A spokesperson of the luxury hotel told TTG Asia e-Daily that bookings now are on par with last year, with several corporate groups confirmed for the race days.

Taipei (2010-07-09)

A NEW global leadership team has formed for Regent Hotels & Resorts, following its acquisition by Formosa International Hotels Corporation (FIHC) from Carlson Hospitality Group and Rezidor Hotel Group.

Steven Pan, chairman of Regent and FIHC, which is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange and is a leading luxury hotel group in Greater China, said: “Regent was born in Asia, has strong brand recognition in Asia, and is now coming home to Asia.”

Pan intends restore the brand to its former glory with the same global mix of leadership directly linked to the original Regent DNA.

Founder Robert Burns will return as honorary chairman to guide the brand, while former GHM executive vice president Ralf Ohletz has been appointed president.

The new Regent development focus will involve partnering only top developers and owners, creating bespoke mixed use properties and ensuring pride of ownership.

Expansion in China will also play a critical role, along with a return to gateway cities worldwide, including Hong Kong, New York and Shanghai. In the brand’s pipeline are projects in Abu Dhabi, Bali, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Phuket, among others.

Existing Regent properties are located in Beijing, Berlin, Bordeaux, Taipei, Turks & Caicos, Singapore and Zagreb.

Bangkok (2010-07-09)

AMADEUS has rolled out two new ancillary services initiatives to help airlines maximise revenue profitability.

The Amadeus Ancillary Service, piloted by French carrier, Corsairfly, enables airlines to sell ancillary services such as additional baggage allowance, on their website and via travel agencies.

A second initiative is a comprehensive Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMD) solution, which Finnair now implements. EMD is the industry-standard fulfilment solution that allows airlines and travel agencies to sell and track the usage of all ancillary charges.

Amadeus will extend the EMD capability to include Amadeus travel agencies in September and further support interlining between airlines hosted on its server by the end of this year. The GDS has 50 other airlines in its system, including a number in Asia.

Ollie Quiniquini, Singapore (2010-07-09)

CLUB Noah Isabelle resort in Taytay, Palawan, has been acquired by Ten Knots Development Corporation (TKDC), the owner and developer of El Nido Resorts.

The 50-cabana property will be rebranded as Apulit Island Resort when it reopens by the end of the year.

Like its two sister resorts in El Nido, the property will target upscale families, honeymooners and FITs. It will also cater to corporate events and teambuilding activities.

Rates will start from 8,000 pesos (US$172) per person per night twin-sharing in a Water Cottage, including all meals, boat transfers, tours and non-motorised watersports activities.

TKDC is also developing a third resort in El Nido, Palawan. The Pangalusian Island Resort is expected to open next year.

Phuket (2010-07-09)

OUTRIGGER Hotels and Resorts Asia has signed an agreement with developer Vietnamese American Hotel and Resort Company to co-design and manage a luxury resort along the central coast of Vietnam.

Expected to open in late 2013, the new Outrigger Vinh Hoi Bay Resort and Spa will be part of the integrated Vinh Hoi Bay Golf Resort in Binh Dinh province.

It will feature 210 guestrooms and themed suites, 46 private villas offering one- and two-bedroom accommodation, a two-storey Grand Villa, six F&B outlets, a cooking school, a wellness centre and an amusement park for children, among other facilities.

Ho Chi Minh City (2010-07-09)

THE CARAVELLE Hotel has extended its hotel-wide Wi-Fi system to its fleet of cars and will not be charging guests for access.

This is the latest move by the hotel to raise the bar on technology support for its guests. It was the first five-star hotel in the city to offer free Internet access to guests two years ago.

The Caravelle Hotel general manager John Gardner said: “Business and leisure travellers today expect instant and easy access to the Internet. With our hotspot connection in all hotel cars, you are online minutes after touching down. That's especially handy in a city famed for its chaotic traffic.”

He believed the benefits of providing complimentary Internet access outweigh the revenues and complaints that result from squeezing US$10 to US$20 per day (Internet access fees) from guests.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-07-08)

THE WORLD PCO Alliance, a grouping of Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) launched last year, has grown from seven to 15 members.

The new members are Exclusive South America (Argentina), ICS – International Conference Services a/s (Denmark), Colloquium Paris S.A. (France), Keynote PCO (Ireland), CPL Events (Portugal), The Conference Company (South Afica), Creative Destination Management (Thailand) and Congress Solutions International (United Arab Emirates).

At press time, five more applications were awaiting approval.

World PCO Alliance president Anthony Wong said: “We plan to limit ourselves to 30 members as we want to keep the quality and build relationships among members.”

The alliance focuses on capacity building, increasing professionalism among members and helping each other to market their events. The founding members are China Star Professional Programs (China), KW Conferences (India), Congress Corporation (Japan), People-X (Korea), APS Conventions & Events (Malaysia), Ace Daytons Direct (International) (Singapore) and K&A International (Taiwan).

Sim Kok Chwee, Singapore (2010-07-08)

AIR capacity between the Russian Federation and Bali is set to receive a shot in the arm from end-2010.

Aeroflot Russian Airlines has received approval to launch direct twice-weekly services from Moscow to Denpasar while Transaero Airlines’ current twice-weekly B747-400 charter services from Moscow to Denpasar will be converted to scheduled flights.

No announcement has been made about the aircraft type that will be deployed by Aeroflot, whose longhaul fleet includes the Ilyushin IL-96 and Airbus A330.

This capacity injection comes just in time to cope with peak Russian outbound travel to beach destinations in the final week of December and early January.

Sirima Eamtako, Koh Samui (2010-07-08)

THE BACKPACKER paradise of Koh Tao, one-and-a-half hour by speedboat north of Koh Samui, is getting a new pool-villa resort.

Rumleuk Assavachin, owner of 19-year-old Ban's Diving Resort, plans to develop an all-pool villa resort with 50 to 60 keys on a 16,000m2 plot of land, located 10 minutes by car from Ban's on the same Sairee Beach.

Rumleuk said there was increasing demand for high-end pool villas. One of the few upscale resorts on the island commands more than 10,000 baht (US$308) a night for its pool villa.

Rumleuk's pool villa project, now being designed, will open within the next two years.

"I'm looking at outsourcing professional management for the new project to ensure it offers high-end...standards," Rumleuk said.

Meanwhile, the 150-room Ban's will add 20 new rooms next year, which will charge rates of just above 1,000 baht a night.

The resort, which typically runs at high to peak occupancy year-round and fetches room 200 baht to 3,500 baht a night, has been enjoying an annual business growth of 20 to 30 per cent since its opening in 1992.

Singapore (2010-07-08)

SINGAPORE-BASED Pan Pacific Hotels Group will mark its entry in Australia with three hotels - all owned by the group - that will open by 2011.

The 345-room PARKROYAL Darling Harbour (rebranded from Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour) and 196-room PARKROYAL Parramatta (rebranded from Crowne Plaza Parramatta) in Sydney will be the first two to open this November.

The rebranding of these two hotels also mark the re-entry of the PARKROYAL brand in Australia. The first PARKROYAL hotel opened in Melbourne in 1962.

The 486-room Pan Pacific Perth (rebranded from Sheraton Perth) will open in January next year.

Singapore (2010-07-08)

THE ASCOTT Limited has secured contracts to manage two more serviced residence properties in China, furthering its expansion plans for the destination.

Somerset Gaoxin, Xi'an and Somerset Grandview, Shenzhen will open in 2012 and 2013 respectively, growing the group's China portfolio to 29 properties across 13 cities.

The signing of the two new properties came on the heels of the opening of Somerset Riverview in Chengdu, China in April.

Ascott managing director for North Asia, Lee Chee Koon, said: “China is an important market for Ascott. Besides growing in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, we have been expanding rapidly in other cities like Xi'an and Shenzhen where there is high demand for serviced residences.

“Our Citadines Xi'an Central and Somerset Garden City, Shenzhen have achieved strong occupancy of above 80 per cent.”

The group will open Ascott Maillen Shenzhen this year and two more Citadines properties in Xi'an by 2012.

Singapore (2010-07-08)

SINGAPORE Tourism Board (STB) assistant chief executive marketing group Ken Low has passed away.

Low joined the NTO in April 2003 from his previous position as vice president of marketing communications of Citigroup Private Bank.

He was an enthusiastic driver of STB's new YourSingapore campaign, and co-hosted the board's Tourism Industry Conference on March 5.

Low's duties have been assigned to Leong Yue Kheong, assistant chief executive international group.

Arlene Foz, Manila (2010-07-07)

TOURISM Secretary Alberto Lim will streamline the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) operations by cutting costs and replacing special teams in charge of growing markets with tourism attaches instead as a better and inexpensive means to sell the Philippines.

The new DoT chief said he will sit down with his team and work on a new destination branding that focuses on the warmth and genial qualities of the Filipinos as a top sales pitch.

Lim will also beef up infrastructure, add and upgrade major hubs, exploit prime destinations such as Central Philippines and BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asia Growth Area), and work on a strategic plan to fully tap the country's tourism potential.

Acknowledging aviation and seat capacity problems, he vowed to appoint the right people to better deal with the technical and legal issues that needed to be resolved soon.

Lim said he would further study the National Tourism Policy Act, and revise certain rules and regulations to be more specific about executive functions and other issues.