WHILE most international hotel chains command multiple brands to target different market segments, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts is sticking to a single brand growth strategy.

Andrew Langdon, senior vice president Asia, explained that being “the only single-branded international hotel (group) in the world” means they are the only ones giving property owners the confidence that their properties are being managed exclusively.

“You cannot be too greedy. You do what you do best,” said Langdon, adding that the singular focus is the “key differentiator” for Mövenpick as an upscale hotel brand.

Mövenpick currently operates eight properties in Asia (four in Thailand and one each in Singapore, China, Vietnam and the Philippines) with 11 more in the pipeline, including the opening of Mövenpick Pattaya last week and Mövenpick Boracay and Mövenpick Bali in the second half of 2016.

CATHAY Pacific’s sister airline Dragonair will be rebranded as Cathay Dragon to better position itself for the mainland China market.

The rebranding will see a redesigned livery for Cathay Dragon, featuring a Cathay-style brushwing logo, to appear first on one of its Airbus A330-300 aircraft in April before being introduced to the rest of its fleet.

Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon will continue operating independently under their own licenses.

TRAVEL search engine Skyscanner has analysed flight data from the last three years to find out the best times to book flights for the top 10 most-searched destinations by Singapore travellers.

It was found that the cheapest fares will be available, on average, 20 weeks in advance, with the fourth and second week of February being the cheapest and most expensive time to travel respectively. Meanwhile, September and December are the cheapest and most expensive months to travel respectively.

According to Skyscanner’s data, January would be the cheapest month to travel to Hong Kong and Indonesia, with roughly 12 and 10 per cent savings each, when booked 20 and 18 weeks in advance respectively. Travel to Australia and South Korea would be the cheapest in May, with around 15 and 9 per cent savings each, when booked 17 and 19 weeks in advance respectively.

September would then be the cheapest month to travel to the Philippines and Thailand, with estimated 5 and 9 per cent savings each, when booked four and 14 weeks in advance respectively.

For travel to Malaysia, November would be the cheapest month with 7.5 per cent savings when booking only a week in advance. July would be the cheapest month to travel to Taiwan with around 12 per cent savings when booked 20 weeks in advance.

March will be the cheapest month to travel to the UK with 11 per cent savings while October would be the cheapest for travel to Vietnam with around 12 per cent savings, both when booked 19 weeks in advance.

See the full data on Skyscanner’s website here.

AIRLINES operating in the Asia-Pacific recorded a 7.9 per cent increase in international passenger traffic to 276.3 million people in 2015, according to preliminary figures by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). This is an increase from the 4.9 per cent rise recorded in 2014.

Longhaul markets prospered on the back of improved economic conditions in selected advanced economies, while travel demand within Asia also grew solidly despite slowing economic growth and regional currency weaknesses.

Boosted by lower oil prices which resulted in more competitive fares, the average international passenger load factor jumped 1.4 percentage points to 78.4 per cent for the year.

“The outlook for air travel markets in 2016 remains broadly positive, although there are some significant risk factors to consider, including increased uncertainty over the regional economic outlook. Asian airlines are closely monitoring market developments, whilst continuing to invest in future growth opportunities,” said Andrew Herdman, director general, AAPA.

SINGAPORE’S Chinatown Heritage Centre has reopened following a revitalisation of its three three-story shophouse premises located at 48 Pagoda Street.

The reopening sees new features including a gallery on post-1960s Chinatown; more in-depth collection of personal stories from the Chinatown community; deeper exploration of the area’s multi-ethnic clan associations, nightlife, festivals, and heritage businesses; multimedia soundscapes; interactive story panels; olfactory experiences of opium, traditional Chinese medicine and spices; and new tours.

“In the refurbished centre, visitors will be able to walk through a recreated 1950s shophouse and a bustling 1960s Chinatown street market scene. The learning experience will be enhanced with multi-sensory features such as sounds, scents and mood lighting,” said S Iswaran, minister for trade and industry, who graced the relaunch.

Kenneth Lim, director of cultural precincts development, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “As Chinatown evolves and increasingly discerning visitors seek more authentic and in-depth experiences, we saw the need to rejuvenate the Chinatown Heritage Centre to reflect the dynamic nature of the precinct, including that of a new generation that is continuing the legacy of their forefathers.

“We hope that the centre will be a living interpretive centre that will inspire visitors to explore the precinct at a deeper level, and for the locals to gain a deeper appreciation of their heritage.”

Admission is free for Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 60 and above until July 31, after which, a concession rate of S$11 (US$7.7), or S$16 for tours, will be charged. Standard admission costs S$15 for adults and S$11 for children while tours cost S$20 for adults and S$16 for children.

By Nadra Iwani