Hotels, casinos, celebrity restaurants and family-friendly attractions often go hand in hand at Asia’s integrated resorts. TTG Asia speaks to travel agents to find out what’s hot and what’s not at these destinations

SINGAPORE

By Paige Lee Pei Qi

Marina Bay Sands

WHAT’S HOT Home to a 2,561-room hotel, a 120,000m2 convention centre, a casino, some 300 retail and F&B outlets and three 57-storey towers that have been hailed as an architectural marvel, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) has been a key icon in the city skyline since its launch in 2010.

Tour East’s senior vice-president sales & marketing international market Judy Lum said: “The success of MBS is really the amazing design of the building itself. This, together with the infinity pool on the rooftop that gives an illusion of a swim in the clouds, has made MBS the bucket list item (of many travellers).”

MBS’ central location that is easily accessible by public transport also makes it a top draw among tourists, pointed out Daniel Goh, manager at Siam Express. “Moreover, MBS is within walking distance to another tourist attraction, Gardens By The Bay.”

WHAT’S NOT High room rates and stringent booking conditions make MBS, already one of the world’s most expensive integrated resorts, a harder sell for travel agents. Said Goh: “There are additional hotel booking conditions for (travel agents). For example, name changes are not allowed after the cut-off date of about 30 to 45 days prior to check-in, and they are not flexible with their cancellation policy.”

Star Holiday Mart general manager, Dominic Ong, agreed: “They have inflexible policies and the premier rate does not provide a (full) luxury experience. Hotel guests may find it too crowded because apart from the house guests, there are crowds that come for the shopping and attractions nearby.”

Resorts World Sentosa

WHAT’S HOT Resorts World Sentosa’s (RWS) compelling selection of attractions – including South-east Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park, Adventure Cove Waterpark, Dolphin Island and the SEA Aquarium – keeps the destination constantly on the radar among families.

Tour East’s senior vice-president sales & marketing international market Judy Lum commented: “The resort has numerous types of hotels that cater to various markets and price brackets, and they are constantly coming out with activities to attract the family market.”

Daniel Goh, manager at Siam Express, said: “There is the matter of convenience too as theme parks are located within 
the premises, which plays an important role in attracting tourists. Secondly the room rates are also reasonable and easy transportation makes RWS very accessible.”

WHAT’S NOT As gaming makes up a major component of its overall revenue, RWS has a tendency to “place priority on markets more inclined to gaming”, observed Lum.

Star Holiday Mart general manager Dominic Ong agreed: “RWS is very market-focused and certain nationalities will get the most attention, hence there is a case of limited inventory to split between the leisure tourists, MICE clients and gaming (visitors).”
For Goh, on the other hand, the main factor that hinders him from selling RWS to clients is the crowd, as the public areas in the hotels are often overcrowded.

MALAYSIA

By S Puvaneswary

Resorts World Genting

WHAT’S HOT Resorts World Genting’s (RWG) attractiveness will be further enhanced when the destination rolls out new products in the coming months, as part of the RM5 billion (US$1.2 billion) Genting Integrated Tourism Plan Investments announced in December 2013.

When Genting Skyway opens in mid-2016, the new 2.8km cable car system will link the mid-hill Awana Hotel to the hilltop. It will comprise 106 gondolas and carry up to 2,000 passengers per hour.

Saini Vermeulen, executive director, Within Earth Holidays, said: “(Genting Skyway) will provide repeat visitors to RWG a different route and scenery by cable car. It is also fast, thus reducing the queue during peak periods.”

Inbound agents are also looking forward to the opening of two large shopping outlets: Sky Avenue (2H2016) and Genting Premium Outlets (end-2016).

Confidence Travel & Tour executive director, Law Wai Shyang, said: “(The shopping outlets) will bolster demand from China and make it easier to sell. Demand slowed down over the last two years, mainly due to the closure of the theme park, a main highlights for families.”

As well, the world’s first Twentieth Century Fox World theme park is slated to open at the end of 2017. The 10ha family-friendly destination will boast attractions themed around movies such as Ice Age, Rio, Epic and Aliens vs Predator.

WHAT’S NOT Delay in the opening of the much-anticipated Twentieth Century Fox World, originally set for 2016, had upset the marketing plans of Luxury Tours Malaysia, which had used the theme park as a main draw in  multiple packages.

The company’s manager Ganneesh Ramaa, said: “We had to redo our marketing strategy where the emphasis was not on Genting. Apart from the casino, there are not many activities for overnight tourists. There is very limited indoor amusement activities for children. Our challenge is how to keep families who wish to stay overnight at RWG occupied.”

Ally Bhoonee, executive director of World Avenues, added: “Genting brands itself as a City of Entertainment but it has not kept its tag line. Major construction work is currently in progress and a lot of shopping outlets and attractions are closed. The casino is still open but this does not appeal to our main market segment of Middle East tourists.”

MACAU

By Prudence Lui

Sands Resorts Cotai Strip Macao

WHAT’S HOT The addition of the first ‘live-action-role-play’ theme park Planet J, the Monkey King – a Mythical Theatre Show and the 3,000-room Parisian Macao later this year will spur a wave of new entertainment, hotel and dining opportunities for Sands Resorts Cotai Strip Macao, with approximately 9,000 rooms, 600 luxury boutique stores, 100 dining outlets, and 120,000m2 of meeting and exhibition space.

Michael Wu, managing director of Hong Kong-based Gray Line Tours, is confident that the new attractions will help to “pull repeat traffic from Hongkong, especially for families with kids” while enabling tour operators to enhance the Macau travel experience by combining historical sightseeing with more entertainment elements.

WHAT’S NOT The Parisian Macao is set to inject 3,000 keys into Sands China’s inventory in Macau, but the trade is ambivalent of the new hotel’s impact on room rates.

“Gaming still plays a key role, so the additional 3,000 rooms may (draw) the high-spending gamblers rather than leisure traffic,” said Ng Hi-on, director of CTS International Science-Technology & Culture Exchange in Hong Kong.

City of Dreams Macau

WHAT’S HOT Already home to diverse attractions like The House of Dancing Water show extravaganza, Michelin-star restaurants and three hotels, the City of Dreams (COD) will complete a massive 300,000m2 retail expansion this year.

WHAT’S NOT Information regarding the COD’s retail expansion project is still scare, but trade players reckon that a new mall with simply F&B and retail outlets will not be attractive enough due to similar establishments in the city.

Said W Travel’s managing director, Wing Wong: “The city’s malls are dominated by luxury shops that target high spenders from China. If COD’s new facility caters to high spenders, I don’t think general tourists can afford the items there.”
Wa Ou Tourismo’s marketing manager, Elvis Li, agreed: “The House of Dancing Water has been up and running for a while and many tourists from China and neighbouring countries have seen it. It’s time for (COD) to create something new or have more facilities for kids.”

THE PHILIPPINES

By Rosa Ocampo

Solaire Resort & Casino

WHAT’S HOT A sophisticated ambience, quality F&B outlets and a convenient location make Solaire Resort and Casino popular with local and foreign travellers alike, said Pia Alfonso, outbound leisure officer of JTB Asia Pacific Philippines.

The rooms, many of which have arresting views of Manila Bay, are more spacious and attractive than other integrated resorts in town. Public areas are tastefully adorned, with giant chandeliers, curated artworks and gleaming marble adding to its luxury vibe.

Under Solaire’s management, the restaurants are gaining reputation for delicious food, reliable service and well-trained staff, add Alfonso. Red Lantern, in particular, is popular for its high-quality Chinese cuisine and attentive wait staff.

Solaire’s other advantage, according to Alfonso, is its location in the Manila Bay area, near the Mall of Asia, making it easily accessible from business districts like Makati and Bonifacio Global City.

WHAT’S NOT Solaire’s expensive rates are reflective of its quality and service, but its designer stores, which are understandably  targeted at high rollers, could be intimidating for the usual tourists, according to industry feedback.

Following the intensive marketing blitz  and series of inspection trips that accompanied its opening three years ago (March 2013), Solaire appears to be giving less focus on marketing but more on service and quality, opined Alfonso.

Resorts World Manila

WHAT’S HOT Resorts World Manila (RW Manila) has crafted a reputation for mounting local productions and harnessing local talent, puting up regular entertainment acts for diverse audiences.
“They should be doing more of that. Their shows are more accessible and the audience really appreciate that,” said TravelExperts consultant Arnie V Bayag.

The resort is a pioneer in staging local musicals like Bituing Walang Ningning, based on the well-loved movie of the same title. It also has a pool of foreign dancers and acrobats, and brought in big-ticket foreign acts like Chris Botti and Sting.
What’s also hot, pointed out Bayag, is last year’s opening of the 10,000m2 Marriott Grand Ballroom, which has hosted a number of RW Manila’s bigger shows.

The 480-key Belmont Hotel Manila also opened last year, bringing the complex’s inventory to 1,707 rooms, including the 713-key Remington, the 172-key Maxims and the 342-key Marriott Manila.

WHAT’S NOT While the resort is located near Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) just opposite Terminal 3, the area is prone to traffic congestion due to the ongoing construction of the skyway that will link NAIA to various points in the metro, said an industry source.

RW Manila was initially promoted as a destination for travellers to pass time before flights, but access – which requires walking to Terminal 3 and taking a short taxi ride to RW Manila – is rather complicated as the area is chokeful of elevated highways and the roads are not well planned, the source added.

City of Dreams Manila

WHAT’S HOT City of Dreams (COD) Manila’s three hotels – Crown Towers, Nobu and Hyatt – offer accommodation and attractions to different market segments, said Marlene Insigne, manager – tours division, Southeast Travel Corporation.

COD’s quality clubs are a pull factor for Insigne’s clients. Chaos boasts world-class DJs and high-tech sound and lighting effects, which can cater to different parties and events. Pangaea, on the other hand, is favoured by a more mature audience due to its exclusivity and lavish interiors.

Meanwhile, the educational and interactive DreamPlay by DreamWorks, according to Insigne, plays the role of an “equaliser” for the casino, attracting families with kids. The recent reduction in its entrace fees has made the attraction even more affordable, she added.

DreamPlay’s professional calibre in handling children further elevates its status as a family destination, observed Bayag. “Parents would be very comfortable in going there with their kids or leaving their children in that safe and secure place as they shop or snack,” he said.

WHAT’S NOT As the latest entrant in Manila’s integrated resorts scene – COD just celebrated its first year anniversary in December – trade members opined that it’s too early to assess its weak points.

AUSTRALIA

By Rebecca Elliot

Crown Melbourne

WHAT’S HOT Crown Melbourne occupies two blocks of the city’s most prestigious real estate on the south bank of the Yarra River, near to the CBD and major attractions.

“It is the location, available entertainment and the lunch specials they have that’s hot about Crown,” said Nayaz Noor, CEO of Safir Tours.

It’s no wonder that acclaimed chef Heston Blumenthal chose the largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere for his latest venture. While Dinner by Heston Blumenthal may be the new headline act, it’s still Crown Melbourne’s “fabulous selection” of restaurants – including Nobu, The Atlantic and Rockpool Bar & Grill – that make it stand out, said Joanne Alderman, managing director of The Conference Connection.

WHAT’S NOT Despite the property’s size, moving large coaches in and out of the driveways of all three hotels – Crown Metropol, Crown Promenade and Crown Towers – can be somewhat of a challenge, according to Alderman. Roads surrounding the complex are some of the city’s busiest, making peak hour a little hectic.

It may boast some of the best tucker in town but be prepared to give the credit card a workout, agents cautioned. Restaurants also “tend to be on the expensive side of the scale,” said Alderman. “Some are open to working with group business, others not no much.”

INDIA

By Rohit Kaul

The Deltin, Daman

WHAT’S HOT Marketed as India’s largest casino integrated resort, the four-hectare Deltin, Daman boasts 176 rooms, four gourmet restaurants, three bars, 743m2 of high-end retail space and a luxury spa.

Arun Anand, managing director, Midtown Travels, said: “F&B options like the Emperor Restaurant, which serves Pan Asian cuisine, is popular among guests. The Deltin’s whiskey lounge also finds many takers.”

Anand added that the poolside is also popular among guests seeking a get-together with live band performance or for drinks at its pool bar.
The Deltin, Daman is also known as a wedding venue, which can host between 20 to 2,000 pax. Guests looking to host weddings in an opulent venue away from the hustle and bustle of the city will find property suitable, said Rahul Gupta, owner, Designed Holidays.com.

WHAT’S NOT “There is not much to do in Daman besides visiting the city and its beaches, so one has to confine himself in the hotel.  The prices of the drinks in the hotel restaurants are considered on the higher side by some visitors,” said Anand.

Other agents find the property’s location a disadvantage. “The hotel is a little far from the beach,” said Jayendrasingh Jhala, managing director, Transline Tours & Travels.

This article was first published in TTG Asia, March 4, 2016 issue, on page 20. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe.

Offering a more immersive local experience and lower hotel rates than its counterparts in the city, suburban hotels are gradually growing in popularity among foreign visitors, discovers Paige Lee Pei Qi

The emergence of suburban hotels into Singapore’s hotel landscape over the past few years has drawn foreign travellers with their offer of a different experience away from the tourist belt.

According to the latest statistics from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), there were about 14 million room nights available as of November 2015, a seven per cent year-on-year increase, with hotels in suburban areas contributing most to the increase.

The April 2015 launch of Genting Hotel Jurong, sister property to Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), marks the first major hotel in the growing Jurong Lake District. The 557-room hotel is a 15-minute drive from Tuas Checkpoint, which connects Singapore to Johor Bahru in Malaysia.

“We hope (the hotel) will infuse new energy and vibrancy into this thriving business and lifestyle hub,” said Chow Keng Hai, vice president of rooms at RWS.

Genting Hotel Jurong has enjoyed a “very healthy occupancy rate” driven by both leisure and business travellers since its opening, with a strong demand from Malaysia and Indonesia, added Chow.

Likewise, the new 443-key Park Hotel Alexandra has been enjoying an average occupancy rate of 70 per cent since its soft opening in June 2015, according to its general manager Angeline Tan.

“Many travellers are increasingly looking for immersive experiences be it on business or leisure travel, and there is more to shopping and sightseeing in Singapore,” observed Tan, who counts Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, China and Malaysia as the hotel’s key target markets.

Tan believes that the historical flavour of the Alexandra-Bukit Merah area lends to the property’s unique selling points.  “The hotel overlooks the lush verdant green belt of the Southern Ridges on one front and the heritage enclave of Queenstown on the other. The area itself is full of history,” she added.

Katong’s Peranakan heritage, on the other hand, is a stronger drawcard for Grand Mecure Singapore Roxy located on East Coast Road. Said Jennifer Narcis, the hotel’s director of sales & marketing: “We are located within the rich cultural district of Katong where traces of Peranakan history are found. The hotel is also a short walk away to the scenic East Coast Park.”

Meanwhile, Capri by Fraser, Changi City’s location in the far eastern corner of Singapore will enable travellers to seek out “Changi’s rich history and its great historical sites”, opined Choe Peng Sum,  CEO of Frasers Hospitality, which launched the 313-key hotel residence in 2012.

For example, Choe highlighted how the hotel’s new cycling expedition in East Coast Park on complimentary bicycles, led by the hotel’s general manager, is a hot favourite among the guests.

Commenting on Village Hotel Changi Singapore, Arthur Kiong, CEO of Far East Hospitality, said: “The hotel offers guests a breath of fresh air that is unlike the densely populated urban city centre. It provides guests off-the-beaten-track experiences that enables them to experience the best of Singapore and live like a local.”

For visitors interested to see a slice of rustic Singapore, the hotel offers the Ubin Adventure package that provides complimentary bikes to explore Pulau Ubin, an island located a short ferry ride away.

Apart from the immersive experience, the strongest pull towards these suburban hotels is their competitive hotel rates, which can be 10 to 15 per cent lower than city hotels, inbound travel agents told TTG Asia.

Hardeep Singh, director of sales and operation in Chariot Travels, said: “These (suburban) hotels are attractive because city hotel rates are high in Singapore, and the good thing about them that they usually provide shuttles to the city so (location) is not a problem at all.”

On the other hand, Siam Express’ manager Daniel Goh has not received special requests for suburban hotels as they are perceived to be “inconvenient” by his clients.

This article was first published in TTG Asia, March 4, 2016 issue, on page 28. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe.