Wanda International Resort Complex opens in Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna

October 1, 2015

Credit: Wanda Hotels & Resorts

WANDA Hotels & Resorts has recently unveiled its Wanda International Resort Complex in Xishuangbanna, consisting of three hospitality operators – Wanda Vista, DoubleTree by Hilton and Holiday Inn.

Located in the north-west corner of Jinghong city in the Dai autonomous prefecture, the resort covers 5.3km² and is a 15-minute drive from Gasa International Airport.

The resort complex includes a theme park, a rainforest recreation and adventure park, a commercial centre, the Dai Show Theatre, a hospital and a new resort village.

Taking up an estimated 29ha in the east wing of the complex, the three luxury resort hotels comprise the five-star Wanda Vista Resort Xishuangbanna, the five-star DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Xishuangbanna, and the four-star Holiday Inn Resort Xishuangbanna.

The 151-key Wanda Vista Resort Xishuangbanna comprising villas, suites and detached private villas is the 11th property the resort launched under the Wanda Vista brand. Each room is at least 137m² and comes with a private pool, tropical garden and open terrace.

Recreational facilities include a 40m by 8m outdoor swimming pool, a children’s playground, a fully-equipped gym, the luxury Shui Spa and a Buddhist pagoda.

The hotel has three restaurants, the Mekong specialty restaurant, which offers Thai cuisine; Zhen Chinese Restaurant, serving Cantonese and Yunnan specialties; and Café Vista, which offers all-day dining with an a-la-carte menu and international buffet.

A 4,000m² conference centre equipped with the latest AV and lighting facilities is also available for event needs.

The 412-room DoubleTree Resort is the Hilton group’s first hotel to open in Yunnan. Each room includes a private balcony.

The hotel has three restaurants including Joy, which offers all-day dining, and Tailwind, which serves Cantonese and local Dai cuisine. Other amenities include a lobby lounge, a bar, a 660m² grand ballroom, fully-equipped gym, a hair and beauty salon, outdoor swimming pool and children’s pool.

The Holiday Inn Resort Xishuangbanna consists of 415 guest rooms and suites which are furnished with local Dai handicrafts.

Food options include the Ji and Xiang Chinese restaurants while facilities at the resort include a lobby lounge, T-shaped outdoor pool, a gallery hall, a fitness centre and a 2,300m² conference area.

Safehotels branches out to raise venue security in Asia

By S Puvaneswary

October 1, 2015

SAFEHOTELS Alliance, which had created the Global Hotel Security Standard, will establish local representation partners in China, India and throughout South-east Asia by 2016.

Its only presence in Asia today is in Thailand, represented by Bert Van Walbeek, vice president business development Asia Pacific.

The local partners will measure the security features of hotels and conference venues, such as locking systems to availability of first aid equipment, and issue a certification that remains valid for a year.

The alliance has certified 200 hotels so far, with most of them being in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

CEO Hans Kanold explained the company’s expansion into Asia is driven by demand from travel managers and hotels that insist on having a global standard in security.

He explained: “One of the weaknesses is that hotels may comply to local standards but there is no one enforcing it. Hotels may also be weak in training and general safety awareness among staff. Hardware maintenance may also be lacking.”

The Global Hotel Security Standard is recognised by ICCA and Kanold is working on getting it recognised on the buyer side, such as travel managers, tour operators and travel agents.

Geoffrey Fordham, senior vice president, engineering, Safety & Security, Onyx Hospitality Group, believed that a global certification can “give confidence in our own internal systems”.

Fordham added: “We also get very detailed requests for proposals on safety and security to the extent that we have to name the person responsible for (those aspects).”

Underscoring the importance of safety, Geetha Arekal, Asia Pacific travel lead at Unilever Industries, said: “In our RFP we want to know how a hotel measures safety and does it match with our requirements. One bad feedback will wipe a hotel from our RFP.”

Read more reports from the ground in our IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2015 Show Dailies.

Russian outbound to Asia holds despite rouble’s tumble

By Paige Lee Pei Qi

October 1, 2015

DESPITE the dramatic plunge of the Russian rouble in recent months, business travellers from the world’s largest nation are still travelling to Asia due to its affordability, according to Russian buyers interviewed at IT&CMA this year.

Svetlana Lysenkova, director of Moscow-based Beneluxclub, told TTG Asia e-Daily that outbound corporate travel bookings this year had climbed 10 to 20 per cent against last year.

Lysenkova said: “It is just so much cheaper to host events and incentives in Asian countries like Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam compared to Europe.

“The value of the rouble did drop but companies are still travelling, and all the more now do they need to find destinations that are cheap and Asia is a good option.”

Although the weak rouble meant pricier airfares for overseas flights, Lysenkova said that had little impact on clients’ overall expenditure, as the low costs of hotels and activities in Asia were helping to keep budget within control.

Outbound corporate travel bookings have also escaped unscathed from the rouble’s tumble for Korotkikh Oxana, deputy director of Altair Travel in Moscow.

“It is a lot more expensive to hold events in Europe so clients will always opt for Asia,” Oxana said, adding that Bangkok is her top-selling destination.

“There are very good hotels and meeting facilities in Bangkok and they are very affordable. There are also good leisure activities to go along with corporate events,” she added.

Explaining the Russian market’s enduring love for Asia, Andrey Sliozberg, director of Actis Group in St Petersburg, said: “Russians are big on exotic and cultural destinations, and Asia provides that.”

He remarked that Chiang Mai, Phuket and Koh Samui are some of their favourites.

While his clients remain keen on Asia, Sliozberg admitted that a weakened buying power meant that Russian companies will have to work with tighter budgets. As a result, he has to negotiate with suppliers for competitive deals.

“It is also possible to provide four-star hotels instead of five-star ones should the clients have a limited budget, and we can always eliminate some of the extra activities to bring down costs,” he said, stressing that the rouble fall is not a big problem and Russian companies are not quitting their trips.

Despite the buyers’ positive sentiments, Thai sellers at the tradeshow said business from Russia had been severely dented as a result of weaker buying power.

Thidarat Prapasrang, assistant director of sales with Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort, said the Russian market had declined by at least 30 per cent this year, compared to 2014.

“It has affected our resort very much because Russia is our top source market and groups often stay up to three weeks,” Thidarat said.

To encourage the Russians to keep coming, Thidarat said the resort is now developing exclusive room promotions just for the market.

Phuket Panwa Beachfront Resort’s senior sales manager for MICE, Chaiyapat Intanin, has also seen plunging traffic from Russia. Hence, as of this year, the resort has removed restrictive conditions around corporate bookings, such as minimum-night stays and compulsory gala dinners.

Chaiyapat added: “We want to be as attractive as possible to get the Russians to come back to the resort.”

Read more reports from the ground in our IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2015 Show Dailies.

Singapore among world’s most Muslim-friendly cities for tourists

By TTG Asia

October 1, 2015

The Sultan Mosque in Singapore’s Kampong Glam during night time. Credit: 123rf

SINGAPORE has been ranked as one of the top three shopping destinations for Muslim tourists, according to the MasterCard-CrescentRating Muslim Shopping Travel Index 2015 (MTSI 2015).

The report also revealed that S$36 billion (US$25.3 billion) and S$26 billion were spent on shopping and dining respectively for the whole of last year.

Out of 40 cities listed in the MTSI 2015, Singapore came in third with a score of 71.6 , followed by Kuala Lumpur at second (73.3) and Dubai at the top spot (79.5).

The 40 international cities were scored against a set of metrics which included suitability as a shopping destination, Muslim-friendly services and facilities and ease of travel. Each criterion was then weighted to make up the overall index score.

In total, Asia-Pacific contributed 14 cities out of the 40.

Singapore was also named the top non-OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) travel destination in a list which includes major cities like London, Paris, New York and Barcelona.

MasterCard and CrescentRating also launched the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2015 earlier this year, which showed that in 2014, the Muslim travel segment was worth S$145 billion with 108 million Muslim travellers representing 10 per cent of the entire travel economy.

This is forecasted to increase to 150 million visitors by 2020 and represent 11 per cent of the market segment with its market value set to grow to S$200 billion.

Travel spend optimisation takes priority as global financial crisis looms

By Mimi Hudoyo

October 1, 2015

Credit: 123rf

TRAVEL managers are looking to optimise travel budgets instead of simply slashing them as a likely global financial crisis looms.

Amarnath Lal Das, general manager India Travel, Accenture, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “We cannot change travel policy every time, although we do review them from time to time. What we are doing now is to move cautiously and focus on cost/spend optimisation.

“Say, I have a one-day meeting. I will go and return (on the same day), thus saving room cost. Downgrading myself from a five-star (hotel) to four-star will also get me savings.”

Alvan Aiau, vice president global sales & program management, Asia Pacific of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, noted that companies are no longer just fixated on travel expenses.

“Globally companies are tightening (travel budgets), but they are also thinking about what returns will they get from business trips.

“You can cut cost and stop travelling, or you can think about what that trip will bring to the company, what the return on travel investment is.”

Aiau said Carlson Wagonlit Travel has done a study on the return on travel investment. “It gives companies insights on whether travellers achieve what they set out to do on their travels,” he said.

“We have found that when travellers plan in advance and plan more meetings in a single trip, they usually achieve their objectives. This is about maximising the purpose of their travels.”

Aiau added that a lot of companies are in the business of people and a trip is necessary to achieve business objectives.

“Cutting cost and enforcing travel policy strictly helps but travel managers must now look beyind that,” he added.

For Credit Suisse, a consolidation of hotel partners is taken to help achieve savings.

Lena Khoo, regional head of travel, Asia-Pacific of Credit Suisse, revealed: “We have consolidated the number of hotels in our programme. Having fewer hotels means we can put more business into each property, thus giving us greater power to negotiate for better discounts.”

Khoo is also finding ways to trim hotel expenses by removing breakfast from room deals and have her travellers pay for their first meal of the day with their per diem allowance.

Offering a different view on business travel during uncertain economic times, Chris Reynolds, senior partner of 3SIXTY Global, a UK-based consulting group specialising in global travel programmes, said spend have actually been increasing.

“(Corporates are) driving down prices but the volume is up,” he said. “For salespeople the best way to get out of a business crisis is to sell more. Hence, they are travelling more to get more business.”

Reynolds added that people prefer to meet in person for the first time and, from his experience, video conferencing and virtual meetings “never took off”.

He opined that companies could find savings in cutting down non-essential internal meetings.

“I have a client whose internal meetings – employee travelling to meet another employee – made up 60 per cent of total travel spend. This is the sort of expenditure companies need to cut,” he shared.

Reynolds cautioned that companies must consider how travel budget adjustments during difficult economic situations would impact employee satisfaction, as it was also important to retain talents.

Read more reports from the ground in our IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2015 Show Dailies.

The Ryokan Collection widens portfolio, logs strong growth from SE Asia

By Dannon Har

October 1, 2015

Lounge area of Kifu no Sato ryokan. Credit: Kifu no Sato

TOKYO-BASED The Ryokan Collection group of Japanese inns has added several establishments to its portfolio this year, as it attempts to add value and broaden options amid growing demand from overseas guests.

The group made the announcement in Singapore while on the first stop of its roadshow through South-east Asia, a region accounting for increasing guest stays at its luxury inns based in off-beaten locations around Japan.

Heading the entourage was Hiroki Fukunaga, founder and CEO of The Ryokan Collection, who spoke exclusively to TTG Asia e-Daily about the group’s strategies and new initiatives.

“This year, we have decided to come to Singapore and Bangkok as we have seen a significant increase in guests from South-east Asia, especially from Singapore and Thailand,” he said.

According to Fukunaga, Singapore has chalked up a 55.2 per cent increase in the number of guests staying at its properties during the January-July period in 2015 compared to the same period last year. In 2014, a total of 918 guests from Singapore had stayed at one of its properties.

Still, “85 per cent of ryokan business comes from domestic customers, with an increasing but limited number of international travellers,” added Fukunaga.

Private bath area in Kifu no Sato ryokan. Credit: Kifu no Sato

With the inclusion of six new members this year, the collection now has a total of 32 independently-owned ryokan-styled hotels under its portfolio, with an average inventory size of 25 rooms.

“Our inventory is very small, so we have to reach very selected customers, somebody who is looking for something exclusive, experiential,” he explained.

Besides widening its portfolio, new initiatives such as a loyalty scheme will be launched by this year-end to entice more customers as well as encourage return visits.

Under the loyalty programme, guests can earn a one-night complimentary stay upon completion of 10 separate stays at three or more of The Ryokan Collection’s properties within a period of two years.

“In our own research, about 10 per cent of our customers already achieve this (benchmark),” Fukunaga said, adding that they are seeing a similar amount of repeat guest visits.

“Our main attraction are the meals and the best ryokans are the ones that serve the best food. Those keen on authentic Japanese cuisine will come back again,” he said, describing the profile of repeat visitors.

Hilton Worldwide bolsters APAC leadership team with four new appointments

By TTG Asia

September 30, 2015

HILTON Worldwide has internally promoted and appointed four new people to its Asia-Pacific leadership team.

Ben George was promoted to senior vice president, sales and revenue management, Asia-Pacific, on July 23, 2015. His new role reflects the integration of the leadership of sales and revenue management to drive greater synergy. Prior to this, George was vice president, revenue management, Asia-Pacific.

Michael Slaton’s appointment as vice president, finance, Asia-Pacific, took effect on August 1, 2015. He was previously stationed in the US as vice president, finance, global brands and commercial services. In his new role, Slaton is responsible for all finance and accounting operations and for ensuring financial compliance throughout the region.

Rupert Hallam was promoted to vice president, sales, Asia-Pacific, on July 23, 2015. He is in charge of leading all sales initiatives, as well as building the capability of sales teams across the region. He was most recently the regional director of sales, South-east Asia.

Lastly, Stephen Russell will be promoted to vice president, operational effectiveness, Asia-Pacific, with effect from October 1, 2015. He will be responsible for leading the region’s hotel teams in optimising operational synergies and driving efficiency. He was previously the senior director, finance, pre-opening and growth delivery, Asia-Pacific.

A market for same-day tours

By S Puvaneswary

September 30, 2015

WHO Sabah-based Borneo Trails Tours & Travel is a decade-old inbound tour company helmed by general manager KL Tan, who is also vice president – inbound of the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents.

Borneo Trails’ tour packages are reflective of Tan’s personal interests in nature, conservation and responsible tourism. In 2011, he expanded the business to include the Borneo Nature Lodge in Sukau. The environmentally-friendly lodge is located along the Kinabatangan River, where visitors can go on nature walks in the surrounding forest and spot endangered mammals such as the orangutan and proboscis monkey.

WHAT Tan’s most recent venture was the development of a mobile-friendly portal, WonderfulBorneo.com, to sell Borneo Trails tour packages online.

The unique feature of this portal is the same-day tours tab, which allows same-day departures upon confirmation of bookings. Same-day tours include city tours of various combinations focusing on shopping, iconic attractions, nightlife and cuisine, in addition to cultural tours and visits to nearby islands.

Tan said: “We are able to conduct same-day tours because we have our own guides and vehicles. With the new website, tourists will be able to choose from a wide variety of tours, make payment online using their credit cards and get instant confirmation.”

WHY In recent years, the industry veteran noticed a growing preference among travellers to search for travel destinations and tips on their smartphones. At the same time, Tan also noticed an increasing number of requests for same-day tours.

He said: “These are mainly FIT and families from Australia, Singapore and the UK who have already booked their hotels but don’t have any tour arrangements. Realising that this is a new and promising segment, I decided to create a mobile-friendly website to cater to what I believe will become (a) mainstream (preference) in a few years’ time.”

TARGET There are currently around 20 tour packages available for same-day bookings. Tan plans to progressively expand the number of products and offerings that can be purchased and instantly confirmed online.

Universal Studios goes local at annual horror event

By Dannon Har

September 30, 2015

Credit: Universal Studios Singapore

UNIVERSAL Studios Singapore (USS) will be presenting the fifth edition of its annual Halloween season scarefest, Halloween Horror Nights 5 (HHN5), running from October 2 for 14 nights across five consecutive weekends.

This year, the main theme revolves around local horror lores such as the True Singapore Ghost Stories novels by Singapore author Russell Lee, with four haunted houses featuring locales such as a HDB block and MRT train.

Guests will also get to meet familiar characters from the novels, feel their way through pitch-black darkness and journey through the underworld at these venues.

There are also the three scare zones; Hungry Ghosts, a hidden village with cursed villagers; conTERMINATED, a quarantined sector where diseased inhabitants fight for their survival; and The Invaders, where extra-terrestrial inhabitants have taken over Earth after crashing their space probe.

Selected rides and attractions will remain open during event nights. There will also be a special screening of feature film Scared Shrekless at the Shrek 4-D Adventure.

For delegates attending ITB Asia this year, HHN5 will be one of the stops on the welcome itinerary.

“Last year we hosted them at SEA Aquarium, this year we wanted to do something a little more unique, so to do the event in USS with haunted houses just gives a different spin to the event that you really can’t get anywhere else,” said Jason Horkin, vice president of attractions at Resorts World Sentosa.

Explaining how the experience differs for the delegates, he said: “The most different thing is it will be private. It won’t be in the throng of the crowds and they will be able to take their time to see everything.”

“Plus they will be having dinner in the theme park, it will be a party, different from the usual guest experience.”

According to Horkin, general attendance at the event has tripled since the first few years, thus the allocation of 14 nights, the most number of nights yet, for the event.

HHN5 begins at 19.30 on all selected nights till October 31. Tickets are now on sale for S$68 (US$48).

[Sponsored Post] Record users of engagement platforms at IT&CMA, CTW Asia-Pacific

By TTG Asia

September 30, 2015

IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2015 has confirmed that the number of international destinations, Convention Visitor Bureaus (CVBs) and corporate companies choosing to leverage on the event’s multi-engagement platforms is at a record high.

From sponsored networking functions, media briefing slots and education tracks, more organisations than ever before are acknowledging the value that these platforms provide in terms of fulfilling engagement and awareness building objectives to a captive audience.

Maureen O’Crowley, executive director, MICE Division, Seoul Tourism Organisation speaking at a luncheon.

Headlining the sponsored networking functions was Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)’s anticipated ‘Heaven Unveiled. A Night in Paradise’ Opening Ceremony and Welcome Dinner yesterday evening. Filled with pure indulgence, delegates were treated to a spectacular evening of unrivalled Thai cuisine, and a side of Thailand never seen before.

Said Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, President of TCEB, “As the host of the Opening Ceremony, TCEB had the opportunity to present our 2016 global branding campaign “Thailand CONNECT… Our Heart, Your World”, and showcase Thailand as Asia’s top business events destination. The Opening Ceremony represented the start of the trade show, as well as the beginning of many new relationships and partnerships for the delegates. In turn, the exposure we had received was tremendously beneficial.”

6 other destinations, CVBs and Corporates including Seoul Metropolitan Government, Dubai Business Events, Frasers Hospitality, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, Oakwood and HRS have secured hosted luncheon, dinner and coffee break sessions today that delivered a curated attendance of buyers and media that fit their respective target profiles.

In addition to that, Singapore Tourism Board is co-locating its hosted luncheon on 1st October, in conjunction with IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2015 to a select group of local buyers.

On the motivation behind their exclusive luncheon for 30 Southeast Asia buyers, Karina Lance, Senior Manager, Sales and Convention Services of Dubai Business Events said, “Dubai city is constantly evolving. Therefore, the Dubai Business Events sponsored luncheon is a platform for us to further develop relationships with our clients, and provide them with new updates on the offerings in the business events field. We look forward to connecting with Asian MICE meeting planners and decision makers during the networking lunch.”

Said its Chief of Marketing and Promotions of Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, Susan Del Mundo, “The sponsored dinner will be our platform to re-intensify our campaign and build a momentum for the Philippine MICE industry. We hope to garner more interest among the high quality meetings and incentive travel organisers to explore Philippines – currently positioned as one of the top Asian countries with emerging economy.”

“We are looking forward to the 2015 show to cement our presence in the Asia-Pacific region. We are sure this year will deliver another inspiring event, that offer several opportunities for us to engage with our clients and build new relationships,” Craig Ryan, Managing Director, Asia Pacific of Oakwood WorldWide said.

Meanwhile, TCEB, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Indonesia Convention Exhibition, India Tourism, and Thai Airways International took advantage of the scheduled media briefings to announce their latest developments and campaigns to the international attending media – underscoring the importance of IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific as a global publicity stage.

The huge sponsorship support was also extended to the education programme, with Carlson Wagonlit Travel sponsoring CTW Asia-Pacific Session 1 “Megatrends in the Corporate Travel World” where industry experts shared about the emergence of the sharing economy, both in the accommodation and transport sectors, and how it could reshape the future of corporate travel.

“We are proud to be both sponsor and participant in the session, where we identify today’s most significant trends and highlights their impact on our industry. We care deeply about our clients’ futures and the innovations which will shape them. By sharing our knowledge and expertise, we ensure we are constantly innovating and developing the industry for the future,” Alvan Aiau, Vice President, Sales & Program Management, Asia Pacific of Carlson Wagonlit Travel said.