Anthony Pang Ming-tung has been appointed as the country manager of Sabre Travel Network in Hong Kong.
In this role, Pang will be responsible for leading sales, tracking performance, business development and agency engagement in Hong Kong. He will also pursue key business opportunities for Hong Kong in line with Sabre’s long-term strategic plan in the North Asia markets.
A veteran in the travel and finance industries, Pang has held various management roles over his 30-year career, with 15 years as the managing director for Global Business Travel in Hong Kong.
More recently, Pang acted as president of CDD International Holdings – a China-based joint venture between China Travel Service, Dorsett Hospitality and Diamond Resorts International – where he set up entities across strategic markets in China, drove sales and directed strategic changes to match market demand.
Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines (JAL) have filed an application with the US Department of Transportation and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism seeking immunity from antitrust laws to create a joint venture (JV).
The antitrust immunised joint venture (ATI-JV) will build upon the codeshare partnership that the two carriers initiated in March, allowing them to coordinate marketing and sales efforts, and share costs and revenue on their joint venture routes.
From left: Hawaiian Airlines’ Theo Panagiotoulias and Mark Dunkerley; and Japan Airlines’ Yoshiharu Ueki and Hideki Oshima first signed a comprehensive new partnership agreement last year in September which took effect in March 2018
In their application, Hawaiian and JAL demonstrate that the resulting efficiency will bring about consumer benefits including lower fares, increased capacity and enhanced consumer choice.
Both airlines estimate that the JV will bring an additional 162,000 to 350,000 passengers to Hawaii and contribute between US$184.5 million and US$402.3 million to the US economy annually, while generating between 1,855 to 4,049 US jobs.
If approved, the ATI-JV would facilitate Hawaiian Airlines’ enhanced access to 34 destinations throughout Japan, including Nagoya and Okinawa, as well as 11 points in Asia beyond Japan. JAL, in turn, will have improved access to Hawaiian’s Neighbor Island network as well as its non-stop flights to Honolulu from Haneda and Sapporo.
Hawaiian and JAL hope to win government approval later this year, allowing them to launch the JV in 2Q2019. If approved, this will be Hawaiian’s first JV, and the first JV in the US that does not involve one of the three largest US carriers.
Marriott is bringing back the W Hotels brand to Sydney, which will be built and developed by Grocon and funded by Greaton Group.
Sydney’s previous W hotel, in Woolloomooloo, now carries the banner of Hong Kong-based Ovolo.
The new W Sydney will be housed in The Ribbon development
Slated to open in 2020, the new-build hotel will be part of The Ribbon, a development said to transform Sydney’s skyline on Darling Harbour.
W Sydney will feature 593 guestrooms, suites and serviced apartments. Facilities include the brand’s iconic pool deck that opens out to views of Darling Harbour; two bars; a restaurant; the brand’s Away Spa; gym, and 925m2 of event space including a grand ballroom.
The opening of W Sydney will mark the third W in Australia alongside W Brisbane, just opened this month and W Melbourne, also opening in 2020. The Australian openings will bring W Hotels close to its goal of 75 hotels by the end of 2020.
TAcentre.com and its B2C arm Asiatravel.com recently launched the world’s first augmented reality (AR) theatrical tour in Israel.
Standing among the ruins of the Hipodromo in the ancient coastal city of Caesarea, the inaugural tour group don the AR goggles to marvel at how this venue was used for chariot races during the reign of King Herod back in its heyday.
The AR technology, developed by Israeli content provider Yaturu, allows for immersive and experiential tours with the help of headsets and cellphone applications through which tourists view pre-programmed stories and acting superimposed on various sites in Israel.
Through this unique technology, the reality of the tourism sites, including their rich history, is enhanced by the 360-degree Hollywood-quality digital visual narratives and sounds, enabling travellers to better appreciate Israel’s history, from its biblical origins to the modern times .
The departure of Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) from the usual convention hall setting in its 2018 edition took place last week to positive reception from show attendees, with sellers and buyers alike lauding the table-top format in a marina venue a refreshing and successful change.
Organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), TTM+ this year took place at Pattaya’s Ocean Marina Yacht Club in a giant outdoor marquee equipped with air-conditioning. Instead of individual booth spaces, sellers were allocated table-top rentals – comprising a table and three chairs each – which was grouped in pairs and arranged in rows of 12 x 14 across the marquee venue.
This year’s TTM+ was held at Pattaya’s Ocean Marina Yacht Club. Photo credit: TAT
The table-top format has garnered a nod of approval from delegates that TTG Asia spoke to at TTM+.
Go Vacation Thailand’s director of business development Tobias Fischer admitted he had initial reservations about the show format and the tight rental space, but when the show got underway his scepticism gave way to approval. “We have to applaud TAT for this fresh idea. I would certainly like more tradeshows to take on this format,” he commented.
Franco Sessini, UK representative for Aksara Collection found the show’s table-top style to be “more productive”, as the open concept allows attendees to see across the entire space at one glance and in turn foster interactions.
“This format is very democratic, as everyone has the same amount of space. Everyone walks the floor, and it’s not easy (for sellers) to be lazy with this format,” he quipped.
Business meetings in session at TTM+ 2018. Photo credit: TAT
As well, the atmosphere at TTM+ this year was decidedly more casual, TTG Asia observed, with many delegates taking the opportunity to trade business attire for resort wear following ‘dress-down’ recommendations from TAT.
The backdrop of sun, sea and yachts at the marina setting made the show a “relaxing” and “fun” affair for La Flora Resorts’ assistant business development director’s Prapaporn Osiri. “We are in the tourism business so tradeshows should be fun like this,” she said.
TAT also made a significant push for its annual tradeshow to be greener this year, reflecting the rising wave of sustainability awareness the travel industry is currently seeing.
“For a country that earns revenue from 35 million tourists, we want to focus on sustainability – and this is the direction we want to take for TTM+ too,” said Tanes Petsuwan, TAT’s deputy governor for marketing communications, when he addressed the media on Wednesday.
Each delegate was given a reusable water tumbler to encourage lesser use of plastic bottles and straws. The event directory was available only in digital format, and sellers were encouraged to go paperless and conduct business using laptops and tablets.
When asked if TTM+2019 would be held in similar format or remain at Ocean Marina Yacht Club, Tanes shared that the show would be hosted in Pattaya for another year but the venue was unconfirmed at press time.
From left: Silversea's Manfredi Lefebvre and Royal Caribbean Cruises' Richard D. Fain
Royal Caribbean Cruises announced last Thursday that it would buy a 66.7 per cent stake in privately-owned Silversea Cruises for about US$1 billion to add ultra-luxury and expedition cruises to its fleet.
“Silversea is a the acknowledged leader in luxury and expedition cruising, two key markets that are poised for growth. Uniting our two companies presents an extraordinary opportunity to expand vacation options for guests and create revenue in strategic growth areas,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, in a statement.
From left: Silversea’s Manfredi Lefebvre and Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Richard D. Fain
The strategic rationale for the partnership includes driving long-term capacity growth in the burgeoning luxury and expedition markets at a much larger scale than what Silversea would achieve independently.
It also allows Royal Caribbean to diversify its portfolio and increase its expedition offerings. The partnership will also leverage on the global footprint of both companies to generate demand and increase vacation and destination options for guests.
Fain added: “We are proud to welcome aboard Manfredi Lefebvre, a visionary leader whose high standards and history of innovation we deeply respect. Manfredi will remain executive chairman of Silversea, continuing to lead its strategy long term.”
In addition, Lefebvre and Fain have also confirmed that Silversea’s CEO Roberto Martinoli will continue in his role, working with the existing Silversea management team.
Including debt, the deal is valued at US$2 billion. Royal Caribbean said it plans to finance the purchase through debt.
The closing is expected to be completed later in the year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup, which kicked off in Moscow last Thursday, may have brought a tourism boon to Russia, but this major sporting event is also having a ripple effect on longhaul summer bookings into Thailand half a world away.
Several sellers in Thailand that TTG Asia spoke to at Thailand Travel Mart Plus – which took place in Pattaya last week – have observed a “slight drop” in bookings for June and July this year, corresponding to the period when Russia hosts the largest football event from June 14 to July 15.
Europeans are generally staying home to watch the World Cup instead of travelling overseas; The official mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup at the Manezhnaya Square in Moscow pictured
“The Russians are not travelling during the World Cup period because they’re staying home to watch the game – this is what we understand based on feedback from Russian operators,” said Solos Faktongphol, sales executive at Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach, for which Russia is a significant feeder market.
“We see slower bookings from the Russian market for the May-June period, but a pick up from July onwards,” he added.
Similar observations were also made of the European market by Tobias Fischer, director of business development, Go Vacation Thailand.
“We can feel less bookings. The Europeans prefer to stay back during the nice summer months to watch the World Cup with friends,” he said.
But trade players in Thailand are not worried, as the fall in demand is expected to be temporary, something that “happens every four years”, Fischer pointed out.
The booking dip, likewise, does not surprise Amr Alsoudani, area director of sales – leisure, South-east Asia at Minor Hotels, which has “introduced tacticals” ahead of the World Cup in anticipation of the downtrend, based on its experience gleaned four years prior.
And Thailand won’t stay a loser for long during the World Cup period. “We predict some last-minute bookings (to Thailand) when their teams get kicked out,” said Alsoudani.
Maldives’ new airline, Manta Air, will take to the skies from October with four seaplanes and three 72-seater ATR planes to destinations including Dhaalu Atoll, Raa Atoll, Baa Atoll and Thaa Atoll from the main Velana International Airport.
Owned by Reollo Investments, Manta Air is expected to serve the group’s 20-plus resorts around the country, including the Kandima Maldives Resort and the regional domestic airport in Dhaalu Atoll, as well as other resorts on the four aforementioned atolls.
Manta Air to take flight this coming October
Reollo Investments COO, Mohamed Khaleel, told TTG Asia: “We are launching this service because the current domestic airline is not up to standard. We want to offer better connectivity and better service (to our clients).
“We are considering reducing the number of seats per aircraft to make it more comfortable for passengers. We are also looking into providing a business class segment,” he added.
Abdulla Ghiyas, president of the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators, welcomes the entry of Manta Air as “more players” are needed amid stronger competition that a growing supply of resorts brings.
Suresh Dissanayake, assistant vice president – sales & marketing at Adaaran Resorts, hopes that the new airline will drive more competitive rates for Maldives holiday packages.
Currently, national carrier Maldivian and Villa Air – which is owned by business tycoon Qasim Ibrahim to service his resorts with a total of 2,000 beds – are the two domestic carriers in the Maldives. Seaplane services are provided by Maldivian, as well as privately-owned Trans Maldivian Airways.
Hotelbeds Group and Spain-based tourist information firm City Expert are joining forces to offer a specialised concierge service within hotels.
The Guest Experience Desk initiative will allow guests booking through Hotelbeds with information about a destination, as well as the sale of activities, tickets for events and transfers.
From left: Hotelbeds Group’s Javier Arévalo and City Expert’s Enrique Ybarra
The new service will begin in Spain’s main tourist destinations including Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Seville, Benalmádena, Málaga, Cádiz, Córdoba and Jerez, among others.
Following Spain, both companies aim to extend and replicate this collaboration model in other popular and emerging destinations internationally, with Dubai as the next target market.
Javier Arévalo, director at Ancillary Bank of Hotelbeds Group, said in a statement: “Traditionally, the information points (or tour desks) have been located in holiday destinations. However, now there are many destinations which are undertaking great initiatives to enrich the proposal for independent travellers who seek to live local experiences… This alliance is a response to the new dynamics of the market.”
Roger Moragues, destination lead for Ancillary Bank at Hotelbeds Group, added: “With the partnership of City Expert, we offer a personalised service to hotel guests that allows them to enjoy a wide portfolio of experiences in destination, assisted by a local team of experts. At the same time we customise our proposal to the hotelier, with the possibility to divert some tasks normally handled by the concierge. ”
The Ancillary Bank business of Hotelbeds Group distributes ancillary products (excursions, event tickets, theme parks, cruises and car rental products) through two sub-brands: Carnect, the car rental distribution specialist that offers more than 500 car rental providers, and Isango! a leading B2C tours and activities website.
Pansy Ho, chair of Shun Tak Holdings, has been bestowed the Chevalier de L’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur by the French President for her contribution in promoting French-Chinese trade, tourism, arts and cultural cooperation and exchange.
Apart from her involvement in organising Le French May, the avid patron of art and culture also brought prominent French art exhibitions like Biennial of the Lions, Edgar Degas: Figures in Motion and A Golden Way of Life – Très’Ors to Macau to make French art and culture more accessible to the Hong Kong and Macau communities.
Pansy Ho and Eric Berti, consul general of France in Hong Kong and Macau
Since her appointment as Ambassador of the Louvre in China in 2012, Ho has been championing French art and culture and advocating French-Chinese trade and tourism. She founded the France Macau Chamber of Commerce in 2008 to network businesses across Macau, Hong Kong and France.
The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), an initiative proposed she proposed, was inaugurated in 2012 as an annual tourism event. Showcasing France as a Partner Country of GTEF 2016, she helped to foster French-Chinese public-private tourism cooperation and exchange, create tourism promotion, investment and cooperation opportunities for tourism stakeholders.
In April 2009, Ho was previously bestowed the honour of Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite in recognition of her commitment to diversity.
The Order of the Légion d’Honneur was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. It is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France.
