New hotels: Pullman Luang Prabang, Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur and more

July 20, 2018

Pullman Luang Prabang, Laos
The 16-hectare resort situated 10 minutes away from the UNESCO-listed Old Town features 123 guestrooms, suites and a two-bedroom villa nestled amid infinity pools, watercourses and streams. Lead-in rooms start with the 42m² Deluxe Room and extends to the two-bedroom Villa – complete with separate living and dining areas, garden and pool – which can host up to 50 guests for a cocktail party or 12-seater private dinner.

Facilities on-site include the all-day dining L’Atelier restaurant, two bars, gym, spa, outdoor pool and kids’ club. The property is also home to Luang Prabang’s largest conference centre, which can cater up to 300 guests and whose outdoor patio can also host al-fresco events and pre-dinner cocktail functions.

Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Four Seasons has taken up residence in a new 65-storey building just next to the Petronas Twin Towers. The property houses 209 guestrooms and suites, 27 serviced apartments, and 242 private residences.

Recreational facilities include an outdoor pool complete with private cabanas, a spa with eight treatment rooms, and fitness centre. There are also six F&B venues, ranging from the Cantonese restaurant Yun House to Bar Trigona. For meetings and events, the hotel offers 1,821m2 of flexible event space over two ballrooms and four meeting rooms.

The Mantra Albury Hotel, Australia
This new eight-storey hotel in Albury, New South Wales offers 146 one- and two-bedroom studios and suites, all of which come furnished with a microwave and fridge. Amenities on-site include a restaurant and bar called La Tierra, 24-hour reception, an Internet lounge, and a fully-equipped gymnasium. There are also conferencing and events facilities that can cater for more than 200 people, and an exclusive Sky Lounge available for hire on the top floor with sky lighting, wet bar and lounge seating.

Ascott Harmony City Nantong, China
The Ascott has opened its first property in Nantong, a city along the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China’s Jiangsu province. The property offers 164 apartments, ranging from studio to three- bedroom units. Each apartment comes with a living room, dining area and a fully-equipped kitchen. Recreational facilities include a breakfast lounge, gym, sky garden and indoor swimming pool. A library, conference room facilities and business support services are also available for corporate travellers.

TTGmice bags fifth PATA Gold Award for travel journalism

By TTG Asia

July 19, 2018

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A cover feature on the use of technology to enhance the delegate experience at business events, published in TTGmice’s June 2017 issue, has won the PATA Gold Award 2018, Travel Journalism – Industry Business Article.

Written by group editor Karen Yue, The Technology Experience sought to understand the types of event technology available in the marketplace, the benefits they bring to the delegate experience, and the rate of technology adoption in business events, drawing insights from industry specialists.

TTGmice joins 29 other winners of the PATA Gold Award 2018, which recognises organisations and individuals across the categories of Marketing, Environment, Corporate Social Responsibility, Women Empowerment Initiative, Education and Training and more.

The annual awards also celebrates four PATA Grand Awards recipients in the areas of Education and Training, Environment, Heritage and Culture, and Marketing.

According to a PATA statement, this year’s awards attracted 200 entries from 87 organisations and individuals worldwide. The winners were selected by an independent judging committee consisting of 14 senior executives from the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors.

These awards have been generously supported and sponsored by the Macao Government Tourism Office since 1995.

The awards ceremony will take place in Langkawi, Malaysia, on September 14 during PATA Travel Mart 2018.

Tourism sector awaits clarity on Malaysia’s sales and services tax rollout

By S Puvaneswary

July 19, 2018

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The travel trade is eager awaiting details on Malaysia’s Sales and Services Tax (SST) rate, which is set to be reintroduced on September 1 after the bill is passed in the current parliament session.

Malaysian finance minister Lim Guan Eng had announced that the provision of services has been set at six per cent, while the sales of goods will incur a 10 per cent tax.

Tourism stakeholders voice various concerns as Malaysia plans to reintroduce sales and services tax; Kuala Lumpur skyline pictured

These are the same rates imposed under the old SST structure before it was replaced by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on April 1, 2015.

While Malaysian consumers are currently enjoying the tax holiday after the GST has been reduced to zero since June 1 this year, travel industry leaders are waiting and seeing how the new tax laws will affect the sector.

When contacted, Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners executive director Shaharuddin Saaid said the association is currently waiting for official communication from the government on the SST implementation.

He said: ”We don’t know the mechanism yet, but we hope it won’t be like the old GST system where we have to pay tax of six per cent on the service charge of 10 per cent as that is not fair for hotels.”

Nigel Wong, director of Urban Rhythms Tour Adventures and Travel, said he hopes the SST will not be extended to include services covered in tours and travels, as it had not in the past.

“We hope it remains status quo as far as the travel industry is concerned,” Wong said.

Ally Bhoonee, executive director of World Avenues, shared: “We have to wait for more information from the government on the SST mechanism. At this point, we don’t know how it will affect contract rates with hotels – will the hotels maintain nett rates or revise their rates?”

Driving efficiency for tour operators

By Marissa Carruthers

July 19, 2018

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Elevating the ease of travel planning in Myanmar and improving customer experience was Flymya founder Than Tun Win’s main goal when he launched the company in 2016.

“There was a lack of good comprehensive domestic flight booking websites and travel portals for independent travel agents to upload their packages,” the entrepreneur said. “We wanted to provide a seamless all-in-one portal.”

Than Tun Win launched Flyma to improve the travel booking experience in Myanmar

Since launching, Flymya has worked with more than 300 travel partners, airlines and bus operators, and grown from a team of 12 to more than 100, providing 24/7 support. It has also developed an online event booking and ticketing section, and boasts the largest selection of flights, buses, hotels and tour packages in Myanmar.

The company has quickly expanded its reach in Myanmar and beyond. In early 2017, Flymya snapped up London-based startup Switch.cm, which builds reservations platforms for the hotel and airline industries.

Than Tun Win said: “Hotels in Myanmar and South-east Asia are mainly using extranet and Excel sheets for hotel bookings. We see a lot of potential in providing an easy-to-use property management software and channel manager to help small hotels aross South-east Asia digitalise.”

In December 2017, Flymya expanded its presence further when it bought out smaller rival Go-myanmar.com. Go-Myanmar.com’s popularity online – attracting 3,000 to 4,000 daily visitors, predominantly from Europe and America – combined with Flymya’s regional reputation as a local leader have strengthened its position and put the company ahead of the game globally, said Than Tun Win.

Flymya’s plans don’t stop there. The second half of 2018 will see the company shift its focus outwards, with sights set on regional expansion starting with Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Than Tun Win said: “Flymya believes in helping small tour operators and hotels by giving them better access to platforms and technology, while promoting grassroots entrepreneurship.”

Second Cube capsule hotel rolls into Singapore’s Kampong Glam

By Pamela Chow

July 19, 2018

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CUBE-BOUTIQUE-CAPSULE-HOTEL-KG---QUEEN-DSC00017 — Cube hotel's queen bed

Following the launch of its first outpost in Singapore’s Chinatown, homegrown capsule hotel brand Cube has opened its second property in the city, this time in the Kampong Glam heritage district.

Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel at Kampong Glam offers 56 beds – a mix of singles and queens – in configurations of private group rooms and dormitories nestled within three conserved shophouses.

By bringing a luxury feel to the low-cost backpacker dormitory, Sonia Anya Tay, COO and co-founder of Cube, hopes that the concept will attract fun-seeking and tech-savvy travellers, families and special interest groups.

Furthermore, CEO and co-founder Benedict Choa told TTG Asia that Cube aims to “raise the profile of Kampong Glam as an events street”, as the hotel promotes the character and attractions of the vibrant cultural district it sits in.

Cube’s founders Sonia Anya Tay and Benedict Choa

For example, daily breakfast at its in-house café features one dish supplied from a neighbouring F&B establishment – usually a local halal dish such as nasi lemak or mee goreng – and room configurations are named after Kampong Glam’s surrounding streets.

Each capsule moderates its own temperature and air-flow; is solidly insulated to reduce ambient noise; and is equipped with a universal electrical outlet, safe, vanity area, bedside light, garment space and a digital locker drawer.

Guests are provided with a dental kit, slippers and one towel upon check-in – which are exchangeable daily – and a washing machine with complimentary detergent, as well as work desks, are provided for guests’ use.

Cube’s founders also plan to open another capsule hotel in Chinatown with a family concept by this year-end, and the company also has overseas projects in the pipeline.

IHG heads to Sri Lanka with 307-key InterContinental

By TTG Asia

July 19, 2018

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Colombo-Sri-Lanka — Colombo city at dusk

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Pearl Grand Tower Hotel to bring the InterContinental brand back to the Sri Lankan capital.

Slated to open in 2019, InterContinental Colombo will feature 307 rooms including 47 suites across 42 stories. All rooms and suites will be equipped with top-class modern amenities, and most will have uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean.

InterContinental brand returns to Colombo city (pictured)

Located along Galle Road in Colombo 3 district, the upcoming property will house 1,115m² of meeting and banqueting facilities, with the largest room able to accommodate 400 guests. Other facilities include a business centre, gym, outdoor pool, spa, and six dining options.

Sudeep Jain, IHG’s vice president, development, South-west Asia, commented: “This move is in line with our strategy to grow IHG’s footprint across South-west Asia, and expand the presence of the InterContinental brand in key cities and resort destinations in the region.”

Aviation roundup: Singapore Airlines, Vietjet and more

By TTG Asia

July 19, 2018

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Singapore-Airlines-A350ULR — SIA’s A350-900ULR

SIA makes frequency and aircraft changes to US and Japan flights
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will launch non-stop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles using the new Airbus A350-900ULR aircraft in November.

Flight SQ38 from Singapore to Los Angeles will commence on November 2. The route will initially be served thrice a week, departing Singapore on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Daily operations will commence from November 9 after an additional A350-900ULR aircraft enters service. From December 7, a further three services per week will be added as SQ36, increasing total non-stop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles to 10 times per week.

The A350-900ULR will be configured in a two-class layout, with 67 Business Class seats and 94 Premium Economy Class seats.

With the introduction of non-stop services between Singapore and Los Angeles, SIA’s existing service to Los Angeles via Seoul will cease after November 30. The Singapore-Seoul frequency will be maintained at four flights per day with the introduction of a new Singapore-Seoul return flight from December 1, operating as flight SQ612.

SIA will also increase frequency on the existing Singapore-San Francisco route with three more weekly flights, with effect from November 28. The new services will operate as SQ34, departing every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday to San Francisco to complement the existing daily SQ32 non-stop services.

Additionally, SIA will add a fourth daily service to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from December 28 this year.

The additional Boeing 777-300ER flight to Haneda Airport will increase SIA’s daily services to the Japanese capital, including two daily flights to Narita Airport, to six per day, up from the current five.

SQ630 will depart Singapore at 17.25 and arrive at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport at 01.00. The new SQ639 return flight will depart Haneda at 02.30 and arrive in Singapore at 09.15.

SIA will also operate the Airbus A380 to Osaka daily from October 28, 2018 to March 30, 2019. SQ618 will depart Singapore at 01.30 and arrive in Osaka at 08.45. The return flight SQ619 will depart Osaka at 11.00 and arrive in Singapore at 17.10.

SIA currently operates two daily services on the Singapore-Osaka route, both of which are currently operated by the Boeing 787-10 aircraft.

Vietjet opens new Vietnam connection to Japan
Vietjet has added a second route to Osaka, this time from Ho Chi Minh City.

The Ho Chi Minh City-Osaka route will commence operations on a daily basis from December 14. With an average flight time of five hours per leg, the flight will depart Ho Chi Minh City at 01.40 and arrive at Osaka at 08.30. The return leg will depart at 09.20 and land in Ho Chi Minh City at 13.30.

Meanwhile, the Hanoi to Osaka route, which was announced last month, will fly on a daily basis from November 8 with an average flight time of four hours. The flight will depart Hanoi at 01.40 and arrive at Osaka at 07.50. The return leg will depart at 09.20 and arrive at Hanoi at 13.05.

Cathay Pacific and Brussels Airlines partner up
Cathay Pacific has launched a new codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines, which will see the Hong Kong carrier place its CX code on selected services operated by Belgium’s national carrier between Brussels and seven destinations across Europe: Berlin (Berlin-Tegel), Hamburg, Lyon (Lyon-Saint Exupery), Marseilles, Toulouse, Oslo and Prague.

Cathay Pacific customers travelling on Brussels Airlines codeshare flights will be able to check through their baggage to their final destination, in addition to earning Asia Miles on their trip.

Tickets to and from these destinations must be booked in conjunction with Cathay Pacific services between Hong Kong and Brussels. Tickets for the codeshare sectors are now available for flights departing from July 26.

Qantas and Air New Zealand announce codeshare deal
Air New Zealand and Qantas have entered into a codeshare agreement. Qantas will add its code on up to 30 routes on Air New Zealand’s domestic network, and Air New Zealand intends to add its code on up to 85 routes on Qantas’ domestic network.

Eligible customers will have access to a combined total of 36 domestic lounges on both sides of the Tasman when flying on routes covered by the codeshare agreement.

The codeshare and customer offering will exclude Trans-Tasman flights. Qantas will continue to codeshare on all connecting Jetstar New Zealand services.

Tickets for the codeshare services will be available by the end of July, for travel from October 28.

Hilton surpasses 100 hotels in APAC

By TTG Asia

July 19, 2018

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Hilton_Hangzhou_Xiaoshan_Exterior_FPC — Rendering of Hilton Hangzhou Xiaoshan's exterior

Hilton Hotels & Resorts now boasts more than 100 properties in Asia-Pacific with two latest openings in China last month.

Opened on the same day, Hilton Hangzhou Xiaoshan and Hilton Xiamen became Hilton’s 100^th and 101^st property in Asia-Pacific, marking a significant milestone for Hilton in the Greater China region, its largest market in Asia-Pacific.

Rendering of Hilton Hangzhou Xiaoshan’s exterior

As of 1Q2018, Hilton’s owned and operated properties in Asia-Pacific saw strong year-on- year RevPAR growth of +11.3 per cent, with the highest growth rate of +15.2 per cent in Greater China.

Hilton now operates over 220 properties across 21 countries and territories in Asia-Pacific, and with more than 440 hotels in the pipeline. Manila and Taipei will soon be added into its destination portfolio in late 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Holland America’s Westerdam sails to the Far East for 2018/19 season

By TTG Asia

July 19, 2018

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Holland America Line’s 1,916-guest Westerdam will begin sailing to the Far East from September 2018 through April 2019.

There will be 10 different itineraries ranging from 10 to 31 days, visiting countries such as China, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Westerdam will kick off the season with a 14-day North Pacific Crossing from Vancouver to Yokohama (Tokyo), before beginning its series of voyages across the Far East.

The 16-day Far East Discovery cruise between Singapore and Hong Kong calls at Sanya, China; four ports in Vietnam, including an overnight stay in Halong Bay; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Ko Samui and an overnight at Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand. A 13-day Far East Discovery option eliminates Nha Trang in Vietnam and Sanya, while a 15-day Far East Discovery eliminates the overnight stay in Halong Bay, Vietnam.

The shortest itinerary of the season, 10-day East Asia roundtrip Hong Kong cruise, departs December 10 and explores Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines.

The first cruise of 2019 will be a 15-day Thailand & Vietnam itinerary sailing round-trip from Singapore. Guests will experience four calls in Vietnam, including an overnight in Danang (Hue), and an overnight at Laem Chabang (Bangkok) plus calls at Ko Samui and Sihanoukville.

Westerdam’s 14- or 15-day Taiwan & Japan cruise between Hong Kong and Shanghai features an overnight at Hong Kong or Shanghai, depending on embarkation port, and visits the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

There are also 14-day itineraries available.

Cruising round-trip from Shanghai, the China, South Korea & Japan cruise features two ports in each country, including overnight calls in Shanghai, Tianjin (Beijing) and Incheon (Seoul). The China Explorer from Hong Kong to Yokohama includes two ports in Japan and three ports in China, with overnights at Shanghai and Tianjin (Beijing).

Meanwhile, Westerdam’s Japan Explorer is a round-trip Yokohama (Tokyo) journey with five ports in Japan, including an overnight at Kobe (Osaka); two calls in Taiwan; and a visit to Jeju (Cheju), South Korea.

The final cruise of the season is a Japan and Russia itinerary roundtrip from Yokohama visiting eight ports in Japan and a northerly exploration to Vladivostok. The season concludes with a 15-day spring North Pacific Crossing between Yokohama (Tokyo) and Vancouver, encompassing ports in Japan and Alaska.

Back-to-back cruises can also be booked together to form a longer Collectors’ Voyage that provides a more in-depth exploration of the Asia region. Combining up to two itineraries, the Asia Collectors’ Voyages range from 23 to 31 days.

There is also the Grand Asia Voyage, an 82-day circumnavigation of the Pacific. Departing September 30, 2018, this voyage circumnavigates the Pacific Ocean round-trip from Los Angeles and calls at 33 ports, with six overnight visits.

The 2018 Grand Asia & Pacific Voyage explores Alaska, Russia, Japan, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Australia, several South Pacific islands and Hawaii. Guests interested in expanding their cruise to explore more of the West Coast also have the choice of 89- and 87-day itineraries departing from Seattle, and Vancouver.

For travellers who prefer a shorter vacation, the 2018 Grand Asia & Pacific Voyage features 12 separate segments.

Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel launches three-night deal

By TTG Asia

July 19, 2018

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Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel has rolled out the Iconic Singapore Getaway deal following a recent redesign of its Premier Deluxe Rooms.

Aerial view of Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza

Priced at S$999 nett (US$735), the Iconic Singapore Getaway package includes three nights in a Premier Deluxe Room; a bottle of wine upon arrival; a full buffet breakfast for two at Marriott Cafe; a buffet dinner for two at Marriott Cafe; and complimentary Internet access.

To enjoy the deal, apply promo code “PKS” on the hotel website or email mhrs.sindt.reservations@marriotthotels.com.

New hotels: Pullman Luang Prabang, Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur and more

TTGmice bags fifth PATA Gold Award for travel journalism

Tourism sector awaits clarity on Malaysia’s sales and services tax rollout

Driving efficiency for tour operators

Second Cube capsule hotel rolls into Singapore’s Kampong Glam

IHG heads to Sri Lanka with 307-key InterContinental

Aviation roundup: Singapore Airlines, Vietjet and more

Hilton surpasses 100 hotels in APAC

Holland America’s Westerdam sails to the Far East for 2018/19 season

Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel launches three-night deal

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