EasyRentCars and KrisFlyer have jointly launched a partnership entitled Earn Miles with Every Ride, allowing KrisFlyer members to earn four miles for every US$1 spent on every car rental before March 31, 2019.
After March 31, 2019, KrisFlyer members who complete a car rental with EasyRentCars will then earn two KrisFlyer miles for every US$1 spent.
A screenshot from EasyRentCars’ website
“Airplanes and cars are two very important forms of transportation,” said Karen Wang, marketing director of EasyRentCars, in a statement.
“We chose to work with KrisFlyer because we believe in the superior service the Singapore Airlines group of airlines provides, and hope to work towards a way to better connect flights to land transportation. We hope to build a healthy transportation ecosystem, thus providing more benefits to our customers.”
Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, Vietnam
This new-build resort along Vietnam’s south-central coastline has opened its doors with 26 one and two-bedroom ocean-facing villas. The spacious villas boast timber sundecks made from locally-crafted wood, oversized bathtubs, private pools and extended low overhanging roofs. Guests will be treated to in-room villa host services and a range of customisable luxury amenities, such as preferred room scents, in-villa wine cellar and an in-villa delicatessen with a selection of charcuterie, cheese and ice cream.
Amenities at the 7.2ha resort include signature resort Sea.Fire.Salt, swim-up bar, the Anantara Spa, a pool and a gym. Private sessions can also be booked with alternative therapists trained in holistic healing. The resort is a 40-minute drive from Quy Nhon Airport and a 15-minute drive from downtown Quy Nhon.
Devasom Khao Lak Beach Resort & Villas, Thailand
Devasom Resorts has planted its second resort in Thailand in Khao Lak, after launching its first property in Hua Hin. The luxury boutique seaside resort offers a total of 69 keys – 24 Seaside Grand Deluxe rooms, 21 Seaside Junior Suite with Jacuzzi bath rooms, 12 Seaside Pool Paradise Suite rooms, eight Beach Pool Villas, two Two-bedroom Beachfront Family Pool Villas, and two Devasom Sky Villas.
There are two F&B options for guests: an all-day dining Takola Restaurant and Wine Cellar, and the Devasom Beach Grill and Bar by the beach. Recreational facilities include a spa, complimentary yoga and meditation sessions, a large two-tier saltwater swimming pool, gym, children’s swimming pool and kids’ club.
Ovolo The Valley, Australia
Ovolo Hotels’ latest opening offers 103 keys across five room categories, all of which serve up a frenzy of rich colour and playful furniture. The design hotel in Brisbane boasts two penthouse suites – furnished with original art pieces by Daniel R Watkins and Gerwyn Davies – aptly named Rockstar. As a brand standard, guests who book directly with Ovolo will receive complimentary Wi-Fi, self-laundry, breakfast, social happy hour, mini-bar and loot bag full of treats.
Facilities on-site include a rooftop swimming pool overlooking Fortitude Valley, gym, sauna and a meeting room. A new restaurant and bar concept is due to launch early next year as well.
Aloft Langkawi Pantai Tengah, Malaysia
The Aloft Langkawi Pantai Tengah has opened along the western coastline of Langkawi Island in Malaysia, a short walk away from Pantai Cenang Beach. The hotel’s 208 rooms each feature a balcony, and mod cons such as complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and 49-inch smart TVs.
Aside from the W XYZSM bar, all-day dining restaurant Nook, and 24/7 grab-and-go refuelling area, recreational facilities include a 24-hour fitness centre, outdoor infinity pool, and for the younger ones, a Camp Aloft programme and Kids Club. For events and functions, there is a 462m2 pillarless ballroom and two meeting rooms.
Radisson Ningbo Beilun, China
This opening by Radisson marks the hotel group’s entry into the port city of Ningbo in Zhejiang province. The 21-storey new-build offers 230 guestrooms and suites, with ample work space and complimentary Wi-Fi. Guests are also offered a choice of dining options, with two restaurants, a lobby lounge and an executive lounge. There are also two 800m2 ballrooms equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology for functions.
What World Dream shares a similar configuration with its sister ship, Genting Dream. As I had previously sailed on Genting Dream, I felt a sense of familiarity while boarding World Dream, and had no trouble navigating the latter that is a 150,695-ton, 18-deck behemoth.
But there are several new features which stand World Dream apart from Genting Dream, including two exclusive shows, Faith and Dulce Habana; an exclusive private dining room, Vintage Room; and a large indoor virtual reality game area called ESC Experience Lab.
The Balcony Stateroom
My twin-bed room was situated on deck eight, where more than half of the floor space is devoted to restaurants and art gallery spaces. I like my spacious balcony, which was approximately half the size of the actual room. There are about 1,040 other similar balcony staterooms, and features and amenities were similar to its sister ship.
Why
In April 2018, Dream Cruises rolled out a new culinary concept, Taste the Dream – Wine and Dine at Sea, by taking six Asia-based celebrity chefs with them to cook at sea. This new element helps to enhance the ship experience.
I attended was a finale session that featured Martin Yan and Hilda Chan, where both chefs cooked up a storm with Dream Cruises chefs and impressed guests with a limited-edition tasting menu.
Martin Yan’s live cooking demonstration
Their four-hands menu, staged on the Saturday night I was on board, ended my journey on a high note. It took place in the Silk Road Restaurant, and there were 25 tables booked out.
It warmed my heart when chefs Yan and Chan greeted guests in person, moving from table to table to interact with guests. I also had my menu signed by Yan when he came to my table.
This gourmet dining experience was not just limited to dinner, as both chefs held a live cooking demonstration in the afternoon that was open to all guests on board.
Guests looking for more private arrangements can book the three-hour chef’s table at the Vintage Room.
When it comes to dining, guests are spoilt for choice as the World Dream had 18 restaurants and bars. Palace Suite guests can also taste a specially created four-course set menu, which other guests can order for an extra HK$512 (US$66) per person (this does not include a 15 per cent service charge).
How
As I embarked on a two-night Weekend Getaway, boarding took place on a Friday night, with disembarkation set at 08.30 on Sunday morning, leaving only Saturday to fully explore the ship. Plan ahead by downloading the Dream Cruise app to view the daily schedule of activities.
I decided to experience the brand-new ESC Experience Lab. With a choice of versatile games, I tried the Finger Coaster and created my own ride-of-a-lifetime rollercoaster, and sat back to experience the full motion with simulated sound and downhill wind effects. Though it was a short ride, it was great fun.
Other activities include a complimentary wine workshop, where Palace Suite guests get priority entry. This hour-long class was conducted in English with Mandarin translation, and during this time I learnt more about the Wynns Coonawarra Estate and created my own blend.
To ease the boarding experience, self check-in kiosks were introduced at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in 1Q2018. Guests only need to scan their travel document to identify themselves for check-in, and the kiosk would automatically print out the cabin card. No group check-ins via the kiosk were available at press time.
Verdict
Riding on the wave of success Genting Dream has generated, World Dream has elevated the entertainment and gourmet experiences onboard to the next level. It’s an ideal short escape for guests to appreciate premium quality and service, and will be especially fun for family groups.
Rates
Prices start from HK$2,240 (US$287) per person, based on double occupancy and excluding gratuities, port charges and visas.
TTG Asia will be taking a long-awaited break from December 14 after a very fruitful year. We’ll be back on January 7, 2019, and we look forward to continue to bring you the most breaking news in the travel trade.
The entire TTG Asia Media team wishes all readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Shinta Mani Hotels has made two senior management appointments in Cambodia.
From left: Kenan Moumin and Amara Colenthier
Kenan Moumin is appointed the general manager of Shinta Mani Angkor and Shinta Mani Shack Angkor. Moumin has experience in the upscale and luxury resort scene, having worked for companies including Starwood and Marriott in Central China as well as AccorHotels, where he was part of the Accor Executive Leadership Program in Australia.
Amara Colenthier is named the villa manager of Shinta Mani Angkor – Bensley Collection. Of French Khmer ancestry, Colenthier is a hotel and restaurant management graduate with experience in the luxury hospitality scene.
Heritage Line is introducing a new ten-suite vessel, Ylang, which will make its maiden voyage on August 17, 2019, plying the waters of Lan Ha Bay.
The 3D2N Senses of Lan Ha journey explores the region of Lan Ha Bay, a quiet extension of the famed Halong Bay, offering on- and off-shore experiences.
Renderings of Ylang
1 of 4
The cruise includes active excursions from cycling to leisure hiking on the island of Cat Ba and visits to a remote Lan Ha Bay fishing village. All excursions are paired with a wellness leitmotif on the vessel, including a free half day for guests to choose from swimming, kayaking or spa and yoga.
Ylang begins her journey from a pier on the small island Cat Hai near the city of Hai Phong (approximately 1.5 hours’ drive from Hanoi).
All 10 suites are dedicated to a particular blossom which typically represents a season in Vietnam. Among these are four Regent Suites with floor space up to 54m2. All Regent Suites are individually designed, and the front facing ones feature a Jacuzzi on their balcony.
Heritage Line has started offering contractual rates to accredited business partners.
Tan: moving away from demographics and taking a harder look at travel motivations
The Philippines will soon adopt a new marketing strategy focussed on psychographics rather than demographics, and anchored on responsible tourism and stewardship.
The new direction, to be complemented by a “refreshed” It’s more fun in the Philippines campaign, is in keeping with changes in global realities that are already shaping travel and tourism, said Tourism and Promotions Board’s (TPB) new COO, Marie Venus Tan.
While in the past, “we looked at (tourists’) demographics – age, propensity to travel, income, where they come from, religion and so on, we are now going to start looking at psychographics – what motivates people”, she told TTG Asia at the sidelines of the Kain Na (Let’s Eat) culinary tourism launch in Davao City last Friday.
TPB’s plans and programmes for 2019 specify that its marketing and promotions focus will be on “people’s interest”, and will shift from “hard sell” to “soft power”, building on culture, gastronomy, Filipino values and the country’s unique national assets.
“The paradigm has shifted to people looking at experiential travel… No longer are people just wanting to go to a hotel and relax at the beach,” Tan said.
She added that the destination has been marketed using the same photos over and over again, and with the same stories. This has put its products in comparison with too many competing offerings not just globally, but also regionally.
“So if we talk about the beach, other destinations (in Asia) will always say, ‘we have the best beach, mountains, waterfall’. All of that is always debatable. So we’re now branching into a new direction that will really bring out what is uniquely ours.”
She said there are many aspects that the destination can anchor on to interest tourists, with further details to be announced at a later time.
“Security is no longer an issue; safety is no longer an issue when deciding where to go because people are now looking at destinations to fulfil their interests. We kept so many things for the Philippines for too long.”
Tan further shared that the TPB’s new marketing and promotion strategy will be anchored on the overarching pronouncements of tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat on responsible tourism and responsible stewardship.
The TPB will also look at trending global interests like nature, food, slow travel, artificial intelligence, climate change, mobile wallet, shared economy, etc.
Strategic marketing directions, the TPB’s 2019 plans showed, would consider factors such as tourist spend and duration of stay
Top row, from left: representatives from Space Market, Tujia, Booking.com Japan, Rakuten Lifull Stay, Ctrip International Travel Japan;
bottom row, from left: representatives from Agoda International Japan, Hyakusenrenma, HomeAway, Airbnb
The Japan Association of Vacation Rental (JAVR) – founded by nine major vacation rental and travel agencies including Airbnb – will soon be launched, with the founding committee working to establish it as a general incorporated association in early 2019.
Its founding committee is made up of Agoda International Japan, Airbnb, Booking.com Japan, Ctrip International Travel Japan, HomeAway, Hyakusenrenma, Space Market, Tujia Japan and Rakuten Lifull Stay.
Representatives from the nine founding companies at the launch of Japan Association of Vacation Rental
The nine founding companies will go on to be on the board of directors, with Yasuhiro Kamiyama, CEO of Hyakusenrenma, and Natsuko Kimura, Japan country manager of HomeAway as the association’s first joint representative directors.
The association will promote Japanese vacation rentals to inbound travellers to Japan as well as to the domestic market.
In collaboration with Japan Tourism Agency, the newly established JAVR will aim to contribute to the development of the tourism industry in Japan and grow vacation rental businesses such as vacation rental, ryokan business utilising residential facilities, vacation rental in the national strategy zone and event vacation rental.
To achieve this, the Vacation Rental Association will work to ensure smooth operation of related projects and “improve cognition” and the institutional environment.
Since May 2018, Japan Tourism Agency has shown support for the founding committee of the association. Before the preparation meeting to confirm the establishment of the association on December 11, discussions with overseas and domestic major vacation rental travel agencies had already been ongoing for over half a year.
India nationals can now enter Myanmar with visa-on-arrival (VOA) at Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw International Airports, as part of the Myanmar government’s move to facilitate easier access for tourists visiting the country.
With VOA, passport holders are not require to obtain pre-arranged approval, and can apply for a visa which will be granted instantly. The fees for the visa on arrival is US$50.
In early October, Chinese nationals from the mainland were also granted VOA into Myanmar, while tourists from Japan, South Korea,Hong Kong and Macau were granted visa-free entry.
The visa relaxation measures were granted in a move to attract more Asian tourism into Myanmar, which this year saw a sharp drop in arrivals from key European markets.
In a statement, Myanmar Tourism Marketing (MTM) reiterated that although 2018 has been a challenging year for the destination, hopes are high that “tourism will bring positive change to this culturally diverse nation”.
May Myat Mon Win, MTM chairperson, commented: “We continue to believe that tourism is a good way to connect people and to bring development and peace all over the country for any race or religion, and we do call to tourists from all over the world to continue visiting Myanmar.”
India nationals can now enter Myanmar with visa-on-arrival (VOA) at Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw International Airports, as part of the Myanmar government’s move to facilitate easier access for tourists visiting the country.
With VOA, passport holders are not require to obtain pre-arranged approval, and can apply for a visa which will be granted instantly. The fees for the visa on arrival is US$50.
In early October, Chinese nationals from the mainland were also granted VOA into Myanmar, while tourists from Japan, South Korea,Hong Kong and Macau were granted visa-free entry.
The visa relaxation measures were granted in a move to attract more Asian tourism into Myanmar, which this year saw a sharp drop in arrivals from key European markets.
In a statement, Myanmar Tourism Marketing (MTM) reiterated that although 2018 has been a challenging year for the destination, hopes are high that “tourism will bring positive change to this culturally diverse nation”.
May Myat Mon Win, MTM chairperson, commented: “We continue to believe that tourism is a good way to connect people and to bring development and peace all over the country for any race or religion, and we do call to tourists from all over the world to continue visiting Myanmar.”
