The hotel will form part of a mixed-use development
Travelodge’s first property in Vietnam will be a massive 2,497-key hotel debuting under its new upper midscale brand, Skye by Travelodge.
Scheduled to open in 2020, Skye by Travelodge Arena Nha Trang will be the largest property in the company’s hotel management portfolio, according to Wigley Burt, chairman of Travelodge Asia.
The hotel will form part of a mixed-use development
Hotel facilities will include a lodge, all-day dining restaurant, gym and swimming pool. With the hotel part of a mixed-use development, guests will also get easy access to a beach club, performance arena, retail shops and restaurants.
Burt added: “Globally, there are over 1,000 Travelodge-branded hotels across North America, Europe, Australia and the brand will continue to gain momentum across Asia due to a very strong development pipeline.”
Over 12 dozen brands under Wyndham's European vacation rentals business
Amid ongoing plans to separate its hotel and rental business units, Wyndham Worldwide has announced the sale of its European vacation rental business to global private equity firm Platinum Equity for approximately US$1.3 billion.
The deal is attached to a 20-year agreement under which the vacation rental business will pay royalty fees – one per cent of revenue – to Wyndham’s hotel business for the right to use the Wyndham Vacation Rentals endorser brand.
Over two dozen brands under Wyndham’s European vacation rentals business
The European vacation rentals operations will also participate as a redemption partner in the Wyndham Rewards loyalty programme.
Wyndham’s European vacation rental business is said to be the largest manager of holiday rentals in Europe, with more than 110,000 units in over 600 destinations across more than 25 countries. The business operates more than two dozen local brands, including cottages.com, James Villa Holidays, Landal GreenParks, Novasol and Hoseasons.
It generates approximately US$750 million in annual revenue and approximately US$130 million of EBITDA, including allocated costs, Wyndham disclosed in a statement.
Wyndham Worldwide originally announced its intent to explore strategic alternatives for its European rental brands in August 2017, in conjunction with the planned separation of its hotel business from its vacation ownership and timeshare exchange businesses. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has introduced complimentary Wi-Fi to passengers travelling in first and business class, as well as its Suites cabin, joining several other Asian airlines that offer the service free of charge.
The service was rolled out to customers travelling in premium classes on its Airbus A380, A350 and Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft, reported Singapore’s Today.
Up to 100MB in free Wi-Fi available
Passengers flying in Suites and first class are entitled to100MB of free Wi-Fi, while those booked in business class get 30MB.
Members of the airline’s Priority Passenger Service Club, as well as their supplementary cardholders, receive 30MB of free Wi-Fi when they fly economy or premium economy class on these aircraft types.
Murray Aitken has been appointed general manager of Six Senses Duxton and Six Senses Maxwell.
Prior to joining Six Senses, Aitken was running his own hospitality company based in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
The South African has spent the last two decades working in a number of countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Puerto Rico, for hospitality brands including Rosewood, Swissotel, Regent Hotels and Resorts, Raffles Hotels and Resorts and Onyx Hospitality.
The opening of Six Senses’ two Singapore properties marks the group’s entry into city locations. Six Senses Duxton will open on April 15 with 49 guest rooms and suites, followed by Six Senses Maxwell with 120 rooms and suites three months later.
Livery based on 1991 painting by Emily Kame Kngwarreye
Qantas has unveiled a special livery honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians on its latest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, the second time in the airline’s history that the iconic flying kangaroo on the aircraft has been changed to form part of the design.
The new livery is based on the 1991 painting, Yam Dreaming, of the late Northern Territory artist and senior Anmatyerre woman, Emily Kame Kngwarreye. The artwork depicts the culturally significant yam plant, an important symbol in Emily’s Dreaming stories and a staple food source in her home region of Utopia, 230km north-east of Alice Springs. The aircraft itself will be named Emily Kame Kngwarreye in tribute to the artist.
Livery based on 1991 painting by Emily Kame Kngwarreye
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the striking artwork is intended to encourage more people to explore the indigenous elements that form part of ‘the Spirit of Australia’.
The fourth Dreamliner to enter the Qantas fleet, following the arrival of Great Southern Land, Waltzing Matilda and Quokka, the aircraft will enter service on international routes from late March.
Yangon International Airport (YIA) has appointed José Angeja as COO.
In his new role, Angeja has been tasked to look at organisational and management efficiencies to ensure YIA sets the standard as a high-performance airport. He will oversee all aerodrome operations, safety management, terminal services, engineering and construction, long-term master planning and overall business development.
A veteran in airport operations, he brings with him extensive international and regional experience in civil aviation operations, management and aircraft accident investigation from other airports such as Airport of Brazil, São Paulo – Campinas and the Macau International Airport.
He has held a number of key senior roles in similar capacities spanning more than three decades, with extensive experience dealing with ICAO and IATA regulations.
Reed Travel Exhibitions is launching what it says is the largest international B2B event dedicated to LGBTQ+, called PROUD Experiences.
The inaugural will take place in London June 6-8 this year.
The sector is now valued over US$211 billion, according to Reed. “As the world’s biggest creator of travel industry events and exhibitions, we were not surprised when research confirmed that it’s time to pay attention to LGBTQ+ markets as they grow exponentially every year. Developing this first event which will take place in London, PROUD Experiences will bring out the issues, opportunities, solutions and debates that surrounds this demanding sector,” said show director Gareth Baguley.
LGBTQ+ travel a US$211 billion industry
Exhibitors that have signed up include AVRA Tours, Belmond, Conrad and Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts, Corinthia London, The Curtain, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, ME by Melia, The Muse Collection, Nobu Shoreditch, One Fine Stay, Peninsula Hotels, Principal Hotels, SET Hotels, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Soneva, Visit Malta and the region of Valencia.
International buyers focused on booking travel for their LGBTQ+ clients will be attending from all over the world with agencies such as Zoom Vacations, Out of Office, Frosch, PHD Travel, Bon Vivant and Superviagem confirmed to attend.
Dealing with the attitudes, challenges, and opinions that face same sex couples and bisexual/transgender travellers will be at the heart of a Masterclass series of workshops, presentations and debates open to buyers and suppliers.
Some of themes being addressed this year include: a look at the contradiction that is the Asian LGBTQ+ market asking the question: how open for business is it – particularly now the Gay Games has been announced to be taking place in Hong Kong in 2020; the business case for Pride and the growing number of Circuit parties asking the question are they driving up the numbers LGTBQ travellers; servicing the LGTBQ customer with insights from some of the best travel brands who have excelled in this area; lessons on marketing to LGTBQ customers from brands outside of the travel industry; transgender travel and a look at the emerging markets and new travel products aimed at the sector.
London’s top venues, hotels and clubs will all contribute to the welcome for PROUD Experiences, while the area around the Saatchi Gallery known as Duke of York Square, will also join in.
Baguley added: “We hope this show will break down the barriers that sometimes make it difficult to ask those all important questions about LGBTQ+ travel. By bringing the world’s biggest tourism brands, destinations, products and services together with highly qualified buyers from the biggest source markets around the world – not only do we plan to provide an environment to do great business but to help this burgeoning industry mature even future.”
Meanwhile, TTG Asia wishes readers a Happy Valentine’s Day.
Aligning brand portfolio to leading Radisson brand
China’s HNA Tourism Group is renaming Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group as Radisson Hotel Group effective March 5. This follows several new leadership appointments and restructuring it has made since completing the purchase of Carlson Hotels in late 2016, and the change in its legal name from Carlson Hotels Inc to Radisson Hospitality Inc last November.
The company alluded to the name change during its 2018 Investors Day in Frankfurt on January 17, saying it aims “to align its global brand portfolio around its leading brand, Radisson, to drive the expansion plans, and marketing, commercial and operational initiatives”.
Aligning brand portfolio to leading Radisson brand
The plan was built on 25 business initiatives focused on portfolio management; brand & product; marketing, sales & revenue management; organisation, talent & reputation; best systems; cost advantage and scale, according to the Investor Day outline.
As part of the new global brand architecture launch, it will reposition 30-35 of its hotels with a total capex of 140 million euros (US$172 million) to 150 million euros. The company will also invest 75-80 million euros in fixtures, furniture and equipment and key money in new hotels,
The business development strategy will focus on net opening of 13,000 new rooms. As part of a renewed asset-right growth strategy, the group will also focus on entering new lease agreements in mature markets.
A Radisson Hotel Group launch presentation is slated at the International Hotel Investment Conference in Berlin this March. It will be followed by an ITB launch night on March 7 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Berlin, where the invitation is for partners and media to witness “something BIG – “a memorable celebration of a new era of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group”.
In addition to cash incentives announced last year, the Indonesian government is extending sales and marketing support to airlines to bring seat capacity up to a level that can handle its targeted 17 million international arrivals for the year.
To meet the desired capacity, the destination needs to add 1.1 million seats (over the year) to its existing four million. Speaking to airlines at a roadshow in Jakarta, Arief Yahya, Indonesia minister of tourism, said he was hoping for 600,000 seats to be added to Bali, 350 to Jakarta and the rest to other international gateways in Indonesia.
Lion Air is one airline that will be helping to increase Indonesia’s seat capacity by launching new routes
Arief said: “The government is providing incentives to the airlines in the forms of marketing communications, sales missions and travel marts and fairs.”
In response to the call, Angkasa Pura II airport authority said it was ready to add 790,000 seats, by increasing slot availability, seat capacity and service quality, such as through optimising digital services in various airports.
Meanwhile, Edward Sirait, president director of Lion Air Group, said the airline was in the process of finalising six new flights from China to Indonesia, including to Lombok and Batam. The airline is also planning to fly to South Korea from Bali and Jakarta.
He said: “Flights between Bali to Busan and Seoul Incheon will start in June, while the existing charter services between Batam and Busan, as well as Batam and Incheon, will soon become regular services.”
Similarly, Garuda Indonesia is adding services to China and Australia. The airline on January 30 launched twice-weekly Denpasar-Xi’an and thrice-weekly Denpasar-Zhengzhou flights, operated with Airbus 330-300.
Beginning May 4, Garuda will up frequency on its Jakarta-Perth route from four to five times a week, according to its president and CEO Pajala Mansury.
PTAA estimates sales from the fair were up 30 per cent
The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) has a happy problem: an oversubscription of its Travel and Tour Expo (TTE), which this year saw the largest number of organisations in attendance over its 25- year history.
The three-day fair, which took place last week, saw 400 organisations in attendance, a 21 per cent increase from last year. In the 2011-2017, the number of exhibitors grew 30 per cent.
PTAA estimates sales from the fair were up 30 per cent
Marlene Dado Jante, PTAA president and TTE organising committee chair, told TTG Asia that the over 16,000m2 SMX Convention Center Manila had become small for the growing number of local and foreign exhibitors and travellers lured by heavily discounted airfares, hotels, tours, and new destinations.
The organisers are looking into ways to circumvent this, such as by holding TTE in two different locations and making the annual event twice a year.
“In November last year, when we held our exhibitors briefing, we had at least 60 companies and organisations waitlisted. It was a significant number that we had to address because we want the TTE to host as many industry players as we can,” Jante said.
There is also a surge in the number of participating countries this year, including, amazingly, first-timer Kingdom of Lesotho.
Simultaneous with TTE was the third edition of the International Travel Trade Expo (iTTE), the B2B component which allows PTAA members to have pre-appointed meetings with international tourism companies and NTOs.
