WorldHotels has appointed James Koh and Ganessan Suppiah as regional vice president of hotel development and regional vice president of sales in Asia-Pacific respectively.
Based in Singapore, Koh will oversee the portfolio development efforts for the region. He started his career in corporate sales at Raffles International and Grand Hyatt Singapore, before joining WorldHotels as an account manager for the membership services team in Asia-Pacific.
James Koh
He then moved to Shanghai in 2008 and stayed for over seven years to manage the group’s growing portfolio in the Greater China region. Upon his return to Singapore in 2014, Koh joined the hotel development department.
For Ganessan Suppiah, who was recently promoted to regional vice president of sales in Asia-Pacific, he will lead all sales strategies and initiatives in the region out of his base in Sydney.
Ganessan first started off as the director of sales for Australia and New Zealand in 2007, before moving to the UK for his new role as regional director of sales for the UK, Ireland, Nordic and Russia in 2016.
Both Koh and Ganessan have served WorldHotels for over 11 years.
Quantum of the Seas will undergo a refurbishment before her longest homeporting season in Singapore to date
Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has announced that Quantum of the Seas will be back in Singapore for a six-month-long homeporting season from November 2019 to April 2020.
This will be the cruise line’s longest-ever Singapore deployment for a Quantum Class Ship. With this 18-deck high, 168,666 GRT ship which can carry 4,905 guests in total, Royal Caribbean will increase its passenger capacity in Singapore by 30 per cent.
Quantum of the Seas will undergo a refurbishment before her longest homeporting season in Singapore to date
A total of 34 sailings will be offered during the six-month homeporting season, with cruises starting from four nights. Itineraries include four-night cruises to Penang or Phuket; five-night cruises to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Penang and Phuket; a seven-night cruise to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Penang and Phuket (with an overnight); and a seven-night cruise to Bangkok (Laem Chabang) (with an overnight) and Ho Chi Minh City.
The announcement was made by Michael Bayley, RCI’s president and CEO, at a media event held onboard Ovation of the Seas yesterday. “The Asian cruise market has seen tremendous growth over the last few years, and Singapore has been leading growth as one of the most significant cruise destinations and cruise source markets in the region,” he said.
Sean Treacy, managing director Asia-Pacific of Royal Caribbean Cruises, told TTG Asia: “We’ve been growing at a rate of 40 per cent over the last couple of years (in Asia) and I think that we’re just scratching the surface in terms of potential (the demand for cruising in the region). If you look at markets like China, Indonesia and India, less than one per cent of the population is cruising. (For) mature markets like Singapore and the US it’s like 3.5 per cent.”
Breaking the news at a press event (from left): Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Sean Treacy with Royal Caribbean International’s Michael Bayley and Gavin Smith (photo credit: Royal Caribbean)
Treacy added that while Asia has plenty of potential to grow its cruising market, one constraint is the lack of infrastructure.
“When you bring a large cruise ship like Quantum into Asia, there’s only a few ports we can go to. We need to create more infrastructure, perhaps through more joint ventures such as the extension of Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal in Penang, for us to continue to grow and meet demand,” he elaborated.
When asked what he thinks the Asian cruise market will look in 2020, Treacy opined: “I think it’s difficult to predict, but with Spectrum of the Seas coming next year, and with Ovation currently here (in the region), I can see us growing by another 40 per cent.”
Prior to Quantum of the Seas’ arrival in Singapore, she will undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment to offer a refreshed look and enhanced amenities for guests. Current features onboard include the North Star, an observation capsule that rises 92 metres over the ocean; 18 restaurants; a skydiving simulator; and robot bartenders.
Cebu Pacific just launched flights to Batanes in the north of the Philippines
Efforts to lure tourists to less-travelled parts of the Philippines have gotten airline support as Cebu Pacific spotlights flights to secondary cities from Manila, starting with the March 25 launch of its Manila-Batanes route.
Charo Logarta Lagamon, director – corporate communications, corporate affairs, Cebu Pacific Air, said: “The Philippines is more than just Manila and Cebu, and even Boracay. There are so many other places that are ready for tourists, but are not receiving much attention yet.”
Cebu Pacific just launched flights to Batanes in the north of the Philippines
She listed Palawan; the Batanes archipelago, which boasts unspoiled beaches and historical Spanish ruins; as well as Davao, which is “safe to travel in” despite the portrayal of Mindanao in the media.
“Holidaymakers want non-stop flights, so we have partnered with Cebu Pacific to push for more (Philippine) destinations and entice Singaporeans to travel here,” said Zeny Pallugna, senior tourism operations officer, office of tourism development, Philippine Department of Tourism.
Lagamon hopes that greater awareness of these areas will also entice travellers to choose cities like Manila and Cebu as a stopover – en route to other destinations – from which to explore hidden gems in the Philippines.
Cebu Pacific will launch direct flights from Manila to Melbourne on August 14 this year, making the Australian city the airline’s 27th international destination.
Taking place May 2-3, the inaugural Maldives Supplier Expo is expected to welcome over 1,000 decision makers and purchasing chiefs from over 150 resorts and other companies.
About 140 resort/hotel exhibitors and 200 international buyers/media expected at this year’s show
A conference management software has been launched for the supplier expo, allowing suppliers and visitors to request, accept and schedule meetings via a portal on the TTM website. Users can set up to a maximum of 50 meetings within the two days.
TTM will bring back the Hotelier Summit Maldives, where four panel sessions are scheduled to take place, with participation from 150 hotel owners, general managers from resorts and hotels in the Maldives.
The TTM 2018 Gala Night is set to be held on May 2, 18.00 to 23.00 at Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi, and the Tourism Career Fair will take place on May 3, 20.00-23.00.
Among the 100 confirmed exhibitors at TTM 2018 are Adaaran Resorts, Angiri Resorts, Crown & Champa Resorts, Bandos Maldives & Villa Hotels & Resorts Maldives. The show organisers expect to see the attendance of about 140 resort/hotel exhibitors and 200 international buyers/media.
TTM 2018 is supported by Maldives Association of Tourism Industry, Privatization and Corporatization Board, The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation and Association of Travel Agents.
Four Ascott properties to come out of alliance with Ananda Development; Ananda Development's Chanond Ruangkritya (left) with Ascott's Kevin Goh
Ascott is accelerating its expansion in Asia by forging strategic partnerships with developers in China, Japan and Thailand, amid an aggressive expansion expected to drive inventory up 300 per cent year-on-year this quarter.
In China, Ascott has partnered specialty township developer, Riverside Group, to launch serviced residences in Zhejiang, Chongqing and future riverside themed towns in other key cities.
Four Ascott properties to come out of alliance with Ananda Development; Ananda Development’s Chanond Ruangkritya (left) with Ascott’s Kevin Goh
This strategic partnership will start with two serviced residences with a total of 350 units in Zhejiang and Chongqing. It follows Ascott’s contract with Riverside Group to manage the 190-unit Ascott Riverside Garden Beijing which opened in November last year.
In Japan, Ascott has partnered NTT Urban Development Corporation – a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation – and are currently working on two serviced apartment projects in Fukuoka and Yokohama.
Turning to Thailand, Ascott’s alliance with Ananda Development has led to the signing of four properties under the collaboration – Somerset Rama 9 Bangkok, Ascott Embassy Sathorn Bangkok, Ascott Thonglor Bangkok and one more property in Sukhumvit 8. These will offer close to 1,500 apartment units in Bangkok when they open between 2020 and 2021.
Kevin Goh, Ascott’s CEO, said: “Leveraging Ascott’s global network of close to 100,000 corporate clients, we will create significant cross-marketing opportunities across the globe for our properties to maximise returns for our partners. We are confident of achieving our global target of 80,000 units this year, and to double our portfolio to 160,000 units by 2023. We will continue to scale up through investments, strategic alliances, management contracts, leases and franchises.”
Goh added: “Serviced residences are in high demand in many parts of the world. In the first quarter of 2018, we have added over 5,000 units to Ascott’s portfolio – more than 300 per cent growth on a year-on-year basis.”
In addition to the 1,607 units added to its portfolio in January and February, Ascott is adding management and lease agreements for another 14 properties with about 3,400 apartment units across 10 cities in China, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia this quarter. This includes a lease agreement with department store chain, Takashimaya Company to operate the first Citadines Apart’hotel in Osaka.
With China still Ascott’s top source market, making up a quarter of customers, the company has secured eight new contracts across seven cities in China, namely for Ascott Songshan Lake Dongguan, Citadines Songshan Lake Dongguan, Citadines Putuo Xiangyi Shanghai, Somerset Golden Pebble Winery Dalian, Tujia Somerset Centreville Haikou Serviced Residence, Tujia Somerset Jinshan Lake Huizhou Serviced Residence, Harmony City Elite Apartment Nantong and Hotel Purple Hong Kong.
With the additions in China, Ascott will have over 21,500 units in 118 properties across 33 cities in the country.
Millionaires may be jetting off on zero-gravity holidays as soon as 2022, at least according to Orion Span, a Houston-based company that has begun accepting down-payments for “the first luxury hotel in space”.
To buy one of four spots on the Aurora Station, guests need to put down a fully-refundable deposit of US$80,000. Travellers would be charged US$9.5 million for a 12-day stay aboard the space craft.
Space hotel will orbit Earth every 90 minutes
On board, guests will enjoy the sensation of zero gravity and take part in research experiments such as growing food while in orbit. They can stay in touch or live stream with their loved ones back home via high-speed wireless Internet access.
Soaring 200 miles above the Earth’s surface in Low Earth Orbit, Aurora Station will orbit Earth every 90 minutes, meaning guests aboard will see an average of 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.
Prior to take-off, guests will have to undergo a three-month acclimatisation at Orion Span’s training facility in Houston.
The concept of leisure space travel has been generating buzz for years now, especially since a successful landing by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 in 2015 that alerted the world to the feasibility of reusable rockets and by implication, space travel for “the masses”.
Numerous companies have been raising funds to make space travel for non-astronauts a reality, the more prolific of which include Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, StratoLaunch and Bigelow Aerospace.
General manager of Ramada and Days Hotels Singapore At Zhongshan Park, Tony Cousens, has been elected Skal Singapore president for the term ending 2019.
An industry veteran with a wealth of experience in Asia, Cousens has worked with hotel groups including The Jumeirah Group, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and the Wyndham Hotel Group.
A Skal member for more than 18 years, Cousens has taken on many vital roles within the association, including as executive committee member for four years and as vice president in 2017.
In his role, Cousens will be able to contribute to the organisation’s mission statement of maximising networking opportunities and support a responsible tourism industry.
Other members in the committee are vice president, Michelle Sandhu (a self-employed consultant); honorary secretary, Andrew Jeffrey from Insider TV; honorary treasurer, Andrew Chan from ACI HR Solutions; Benoit Badufle from Horus Development & Consulting; Angeline Tang from Avis Budget Group; Ronald Sathianathan from Singapore Polytechnic; Megan Harris from William Angliss Institute and Melvyn Yap from Silverseas Cruises.
KrisFlyer members can choose from participating hotels in Australia, Indonesia, China and more destinations
KrisFlyer members can choose from participating hotels in Australia, Indonesia, China and more destinations
Swiss-Belhotel International hotel guests can now earn one KrisFlyer mile for every US dollar spent during their stay at participating hotels under the chain.
The Stay Happy & Fly Further programme also allows guests can accrue additional KrisFlyer miles when they spend at the restaurant, spa, bar or on other hotel services.
Commenting on the decision to partner KrisFlyer, Gavin Faull, chairman and president of Swiss-Belhotel International, said: “The once-a-year family vacation has been replaced by short getaways, longer holidays and more frequent travel. More affordable and better travel routes with companies such as Singapore Airlines are creating a smaller world, one where people travel and stay in hotels more often.”
Royal Orchid Holidays, THAI's Alisara Kidmai (right) receives the reward from JNTO's Kazuhiro Ito
Royal Orchid Holidays, THAI’s Alisara Kidmai (right) receives the reward from JNTO’s Kazuhiro Ito
Royal Orchid Holidays, the travel arm of Thai Airways International’s (THAI), has been named top agent at the Japan Tourism Award in Thailand.
As part of a ceremony held by Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the award was given in recognition of the airline’s support in promoting Japan’s tourism products and services in 2017.
Following last year’s relaunch of TTG Asia online and e-daily news, we’ve given TTG Asia a refresh – our version of a nip and tuck to iron out the wrinkles and keep us looking youthful, attractive, friendly, interesting and entertaining.
We hope you will like the new look for TTG Asia monthly, but it’s more than just a cosmetic surgery.
The refreshed TTG Asia, featuring more than just cosmetic changes
If you look beyond the re-design, you will see that from this issue on we have revamped and expanded our destination reports to include coverage of more places within a destination; a new focus on innovative tours and activities; and a bigger drive to spotlight travel entrepreneurs or industry players who have a new business model or idea.
Beginning next issue, there will also be new columns, including pages dedicated to customer service and travel technology.
We’ve heard from you that you wish to see more guidance and information on customer service, so we’ve come up with several sections for this new column, including Troubleshoot – a specific issue a travel professional has faced on the job and how it was handled – and Say that again? – client requests that make an agency do a double take.
We’ll also take a look around the world of examples that show why travel agents are still needed – and, hey, why they aren’t – so you can learn from both the good and bad. And if we encounter a great or bad service ourselves while on the job, you can be sure we would be extracting the customer service lessons from it for you.
We want to hear from you regarding the magazine refresh as well as any ideas that you have, so that we can keep improving, keep being your trusted, relevant read since over four decades and in the decades to come.
