Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line

GLOBAL cruise operator Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Holdings is strengthening its Asian comeback efforts with plans to build its inaugural ship devoted to Chinese customers.

NCL yesterday announced at the CruiseWorld China summit in Shanghai plans to launch its first purpose-built ship customised for the China market in 2017. Currently under construction, the new ship is designed specifically to suit the preferences of Chinese guests.

With a capacity for 4,200 guests, the new ship will the be the second of NCL’s Breakaway Plus class which features the line’s unique Freestyle Cruising.

“Our new purpose-built ship for China will have characteristics that are authentic to NCL and yet distinctively Chinese in all of its sensibility,” said Frank Del Rio, CEO of NCL.

More details, including the ship’s name, homeport and accommodation, will be provided later. NCL will receive its first Breakaway Plus class ship, the Norwegian Escape, on October 22, 2015. Two additional ships in this class are on order for delivery in 2018 and 2019.

The Miami-based line has also opened offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai to bring its main NCL brand, alongside Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, into the Asian market.

Out of its fleet of 21 ships, four – namely the Norwegian Star, Oceania Nautica, Oceania Insignia and Regent Seven Seas Voyager – will be deployed to Asia for 2016/17 itineraries.

Speaking to TTGAsia e-Daily, NCL’s senior vice president and managing director, Asia, William Harber, said: “Asia accounts for only a single digit of the group’s business and what’s exciting about Asia is the growth potential. Two key factors contributing to the growth are awareness of great products and more people being able to afford to cruise.”

Harber added that the three brands do not compete with one another for resources within the company as they cater to distinct consumer segments.

Looking ahead, he revealed that more emphasis will be placed on growing the ‘fly-cruise’ market for all three brands.

Credit: Naumi Hospitality

SINGAPORE-BASED Naumi Hospitality is marking its entry into Australia with the purchase of Rendezvous Hotel Sydney Central in a A$38 million (US$27.7 million) acquisition deal that took effect on October 6, 2015.

The 116-room hotel, located in Sydney’s CBD, will continue to operate under the management of Rendezvous Hotels.

Situated 25 minutes from Sydney Airport, the 32-year-old hotel has a restaurant and bar, two conference rooms for up to 80 guests and a heated rooftop swimming pool with views of the CBD area.

It is also a stone’s throw away from Railway Square, Darling Harbour, Chinatown and the upcoming Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct.

Gaurang Jhunjhnuwala, CEO for Australia and New Zealand, Naumi Hospitality, said: “Following our foray into New Zealand with our Auckland property, this continues to affirm our commitment towards the aggressive growth of the Naumi brand into leading markets, especially Australasia.”

(From left) Nijaporn Charanachitta, director and senior executive vice president, Italian-Thai Development Public Co.; Peter Henley, CEO, Onyx Hospitality Group; Trinh Thanh Huy, chairman, HB Group; Olga Safronova, investment director, HB Group.

THAILAND-BASED Onyx Hospitality Group has signed an agreement with HB Group to manage Ozo Hoi An, marking the group’s first foray into Vietnam.

Scheduled to open in late 2016, the 364-key beachfront resort, located in the New Hoi An City area, is part of a master development which includes a retail complex, dining and entertainment village, residential apartments, villas and recreational facilities.

Guest rooms will feature linen beds, high-speed Wi-Fi, flexible workspaces equipped with multimedia panels and built-in connectors, black-out curtains and sound proofing.

Amenities include signature all-day dining restaurant Eat, a gym, beach pool and deck, plus a range of retail shops and independent F&B outlets. Guests can also make use of interactive lecterns containing original insider destination content, free drinks in the evenings and paperless check-in and check-out facilities.

Peter Henley, CEO of Onyx Hospitality Group, said: “Vietnam is one of the region’s fastest-growing travel destinations, and we are excited to have Ozo Hoi An as part of our continuing expansion plans. With the increasing popularity of Vietnam’s South Central Coast among regional and international visitors, we have identified a gap in the market for a select service hotel like Ozo.”

The first Ozo-branded hotel opened in 2013 and is now currently available in five locations in Asia including Hong Kong, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Colombo and Kandy. The group also has several more Ozo hotels in the pipeline in locations such as Penang, Iskandar and Xiamen.

Credit: 123rf

SINGAPORE Airlines has unveiled Amsterdam as the inaugural destination for its new-generation Airbus A350 fleet, with services expected to begin by April 2016.

The airline expects to take delivery of 11 A350-900s in the aircraft’s first year of operation, with the inaugural plane due for delivery in January. In addition to a total of 63 confirmed orders, the airline also has purchase options for 20 additional A350s.

Prior to the start of the Amsterdam services, the aircraft will be operating on select Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur flights on a temporary basis, for crew training purposes.

Lee Wen Fen, senior vice president, marketing planning, Singapore Airlines, said: “Our investment in the A350s is in line with Singapore Airline’s longstanding commitment to operate a young and modern fleet. The highly efficient new aircraft will offer us the potential to open new routes, enhancing our network and further strengthening the Singapore hub.”

Additional A350 destinations will be revealed in the coming months.