Encouraged by a growing demand for snow and ski holidays among Singaporeans, three organisations have come together to produce the city-state’s first snow- and ski-focused travel fair from August 4 to 6, with the first day being reserved for trade buyers.

The Singapore Ski and Snow Open – to be held at Snow City – is organised by Singapore-based SportQuest snow sports academy and ski travel specialist, and supported by both Follow Me Japan, a Japan travel specialist in Singapore, and Club Med.

The trade day will see six exhibitors representing resorts and destinations specialising in snow and ski experiences across the world, with Asia being the main focus. Club Med, as a major partner, will showcase its ski resorts across the world, including its second ski property in Japan – Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido – opening this December.

Explaining the motivation behind the launch of this specialist travel fair, Risa Nishimura, managing director of Follow Me Japan, told TTG Asia: “According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of Singaporeans who made snow and ski trips to Japan had grown from 27,000 in 2012 to 72,000 in 2016. Follow Me Japan alone recorded 2,000 snow and ski travellers last year – all being high-end travellers.

“As many of snow and ski enthusiasts plan their trip themselves, there is untapped business potential for travel agents in Singapore,” she added.

In particular, travellers can benefit from the expertise of travel agents who understand the mechanics of a snow and ski programme, said Emeline Tan, founder of SportQuest.

“For instance, some (FITs) would buy pricey daily ski passes but end up playing only at the foot of the slopes because they don’t know how to ski and did not book a trainer to teach them (the basics). Specialists like us will also know which ski resorts offer free play to children under the age of seven, bringing further savings to the family,” she explained.

Also seeing strong interest among Singaporeans, SportQuest has gone from running only seasonal ski programmes to year-round ones now. “Singaporeans are even booking their trips a year ahead,” Tan said.

Sharing the same observations, Club Med Services’ sales director-Singapore Diane Limouzineau said that half of all bookings originating from Singapore are for Club Med’s ski resorts. Of all Singapore bookings, 80 per cent are family groups. “Singaporean guests at our ski resorts are also loyal repeaters,” she added.

Expedia has made a US$350 million primary minority investment in Indonesia-based OTA Traveloka, an investment that is expected to deepen both parties’ cooperation on global hotel supply.

East Ventures, Hillhouse Capital Group, JD.com and Sequoia Capital also contributed funding over Traveloka’s last two funding rounds, bringing the total investment amount to approximately US$500 million within the last year.

As Expedia continues growing its presence in Asia, Traveloka represents “the clear online travel leader in Indonesia, and is expanding aggressively throughout South-east Asia”.

Traveloka has partnerships with more than 100 domestic and international airlines, serving more than 200,000 routes worldwide. It also has the largest direct accommodation inventory and provides more than 40 payment options for consumers in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, with 24/7 assistance from local customer service in their native languages.

Ctrip and the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau have entered into a strategic partnership to cooperate on areas including product development and promotion, big data as well as marketing innovation.

As part of the deal, Osaka Tourism Bureau will issue one- and two-day city travel coupons through Ctrip. The coupons will entitle Chinese tourists to subway rides across Osaka, in addition to admission to popular local attractions.

(From left) Ctrip’s Zhang Rong; Osaka’s mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura; and Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau’s Hiroshi Mizohata

As well, Ctrip users are expected to get more choices of hotels with Miyako Group, Hankyu Hanshin Hotel Group and Keihan Group, among others, which are cooperating with the Chinese OTA to launch exclusive products for its users.

The OTA will also design more “hotel+x” packages for users visiting Osaka.

Hiroshi Mizohata, director of Osaka Tourism Bureau, added: “Given that Ctrip is the preferred outbound travel portal for Chinese visitors, we hope to work with Ctrip to attract more Chinese tourists and enhance the visibility of Osaka. There is great potential in the Sino-Japan tourism market.

“At present, China has become the leading client source for Osaka tourism, and Chinese tourists are very important to us,” he added. According to Zhang Rong, Ctrip’s vice president and general manager of hotel business, one fifth of Chinsese tourists to Japan booked their trips through the OTA.

A deal for 10-15 Even properties in Australia and New Zealand, inked between The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Pro-Invest Group last year, has kicked off with the signing of an Auckland hotel.

IHG’s first planned property outside of North America under the wellness band, the 200-room Even Hotel Auckland is scheduled to open at the corner of Albert and Wyndham Street in the heart of the New Zealand city.

It will “bring the outdoors inside” with energising workspaces, dining and social areas as well as natural outdoor spaces. Fitness facilities, in-room exercise zones and fresh, organic foods are cornerstones of the brand, and a partnership is already in place with Australia’s THR1VE, which will design nutritious menus with supply ethically-sourced food.

Jan Smits, CEO Asia Middle East & Africa, IHG said: “Wellness travel is a global phenomenon and a US$563 billion industry today… I believe that the Even Hotels brand will be a key driver in market share growth in New Zealand and Australia.”

IHG currently has 32 hotels operating under four brands across New Zealand and Australia – InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express – with a further 14 in the pipeline including Hotel Indigo.

Myanmar will welcome its first property under Okura Hotels & Resorts come 2020.

Located on the site of a former museum in the city downtown, the 390-room Okura Prestige Yangon will be part of a mixed-development. It will offer banquet halls, conference rooms, an all-day dining area, a Japanese restaurant, a lounge bar, plus an executive lounge with views of the Shwedagon Pagoda.

In a statement, Toshihiro Ogita, president of Hotel Okura, said that the group is keen to add three to five more hotels in Myanmar over the next five years. In total, the group plans to expand its global portfolio to 100 properties, primarily in Asia, by 2020.

Sunway Hotels & Resorts has appointed Mac Marketing Service as its GSA in Toyko, a move that it expects would boost room nights by about 40 per cent in 2018.

Albert Cheong, CEO of Sunway Hotels & Resorts, said the company is looking to leverage the consultancy’s extensive network in Japan and “develop new opportunities from untapped segments like senior travellers and student groups”.

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat

“Our partnership will help expand Sunway’s network as we tap into the targeted wholesale leisure, tour series, incentive and corporate segments from Tokyo (and) Osaka, and foster opportunities in second-tier Japanese cities,” added Matsui Yoichi, managing director of Mac Marketing Service.

Sunway’s five-star wellness properties include The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Smaller travel agencies in Sri Lanka are beginning to feel the pinch after SriLankan Airlines scrapped agent commissions since July 1.

Sasi Ganeshan, managing director of a travel firm, foresees that smaller ones are likely to fold up. “More people are buying online where the rates are cheaper than what we offer sans commission,” he explained.

The five per cent commission, which has been in force for decades, was originally intended to be phased out from April this year but was delayed after appeals from agents.

Agents have since introduced a service fee which varies depending on the the fare. P Muralitharan, director at Pan Global Travels, said while the sum is nominal, clients are questioning the rates and some now prefer booking online.

A spokesperson for Ceycan Travel and Tours added that while some “‘faithful” clients still purchase tickets through the agency, “it’s becoming very competitive and challenging to keep our heads above water”.