Credit: Skyscanner

THE Japanese are the biggest fans of F1 in Asia-Pacific, according to Skyscanner’s flight searches, but prospects of a roaring eighth Singapore Grand Prix this weekend are as cloudy as the haze that has enveloped the region.

Skyscanner’s data shows the biggest spike from Japan (up 346 per cent) in compound annual growth rate in flight searches was made from January to August 2012-2015 to travel during the F1 week. The next four F1 fanatics are Taiwan (up 127 per cent), Thailand (up 123 per cent), Hong Kong (up 105 per cent) and Malaysia (up 93 per cent).

Skyscanner does not believe these fanatics will stay away. Since F1 tickets sell out way in advance, travellers from the biggest fan areas won’t be searching for flights over the past two weeks, as they would have already made all their bookings earlier.

But with the haze reaching unhealthy levels starting late last week, Skyscanner has seen “a significant spike in outbound travel search from Singapore and affected neighbouring countries such as Malaysia”, according to Pamela Knaggs, marketing manager, Skyscanner Singapore and Malaysia.

“Our data indicates that there was an increase of 50.6 per cent and 21 per cent for flight searches out of Singapore and Malaysia respectively, week on week (i.e. from September 1-6 to September 7-13 for travel during the same week). While we don’t foresee tourist arrivals during the F1 weekend taking a major hit, it is evident that Singaporeans are actively planning their last-minute getaways during this period, with Thailand being the top outbound destination,” she added.

Luxury Tours & Travel Singapore director, Michael Lee, said his agency had received a handful of cancellations and a few calls of concern about the haze. “This is expected because the haze situation will cause their itinerary to change. Some of them have called to defer their trip to another period when the haze is cleared.”

Jaclyn Yeoh, director of Siam Express, said only a travel advisory will cause a “visible impact”.

“But so far there is no travel advisory and flights are still coming in so the situation is not that serious yet. Also, F1 will still be proceeding so it sends us the sign that things are still okay,” she said.

Additional reporting by Paige Lee Pei Qi

Golden Tulip Galaxy Banjarmasin. Credit: Louvre Hotels Group

LOUVRE Hotels Group (LHG) is accelerating its expansion in China and South-east Asia following its acquisition by Shanghai-based Jin Jiang Holdings International (JJ) in March 2015.

The group has been granted a 2.5 billion euros (US$2.8 billion) line of credit by Chinese bank ICBC over a three-year term to accelerate its development strategy through organic development, innovations, renovations of existing hotels or external growth.

With its Chinese shareholder’s support, LHG will launch Campanile economy hotels in China, with the first opening in Shanghai planned for this year-end and a target of 500 hotels in the next five years. It is also planning to convert a JJ hotel in Shanghai into the Golden Tulip brand.

In Thailand, where LHG has five Golden Tulip and Royal Tulip Hotels currently in operation and development, the group has plans to add 30 Tulip Inn economy hotels around the country.

There are also plans for further expansion of four- and five-star hotels and resorts in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. In addition, there is an interest for strategic investments in the hotel sector through portfolio acquisitions.

The portfolio in Thailand is managed under a partnership with BHM Asia out of Bangkok.

Credit: 123rf

OPERATORS handling the Singapore market usually benefit from the school holiday season, but the haze, coupled with yesterday’s ‘red shirt’ rally, had resulted in low demand for tours from the city-state.

Richard Ng, business development director of Dream Holidays Planner in Singapore, has received cancellations of four group bookings due to the bad haze and the rally. However, he still sees demand from day-trippers heading to Johor for shopping and dining.

“While there are bookings in October, if the haze continues, clients may cancel and we will give them a full refund,” said Ng.

Raaj Navaratnaa, general manager of New Asia Holiday Tours & Travel in Johor, saw a 60 per cent drop in bookings from Singapore compared with the same period a year ago.

He said: “The build-up to the rally, with its racial undertones, has not helped. Due to safety and security concerns, many Singaporeans have made plans to travel to alternative destinations within this region.

“For those who go for tours in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Malacca, we will proceed with the same itinerary but reduce outdoor activities,” he added.

However, Harminderjit Singh, managing director of Ipoh-based RA Jits Travel & Tours, said demand had dropped only slightly from Singapore due to the haze.

He said: “Those who had made bookings earlier are still continuing with the tours. As a precaution, my company has cut down the tour hours by an hour to 1.5 hours as the haze tends to worsen in the evening.”

Credit: La Residence Hotel & Spa

PACKAGES whose prices can make the eye tear are appearing, their sellers confident that the super-rich don’t so much as sneeze when China coughs.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Asia-Pacific recently designed a mighty US$100,000 package anchored on the F1 race in Singapore this weekend. A 10-night, three-destination adventure for two pax, sold on a first-caller basis which takes the pair to its Bali resort for three nights, followed by four nights in its Singapore hotel and a three-night pitstop in its Maldives resort post-race.

The chain worked closely with many partners and parties to ensure the package is worth its price – even tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who brought F1 to Singapore and owns the Four Seasons in the city, gave his support, according to a spokesman. In Singapore this weekend, the package will include helicopter city tours, VIP table seating, VIP access to the Amber Lounge after-party and VIP Deck concert passes.

Luxury planners who missed selling the Four Seasons package can turn to Quintessential Collection Vietnam’s US$20,000 package available till December 22. This includes two nights in each of the collection’s five luxury products, The Reverie Saigon, The Nam Hai, La Residence Hotel & Spa, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and a Paradise Peak cruise vessel – working out to a princely US$2,000 per night per person.

Transfers are in Bentleys and Rolls Royces, while exclusives include portraits of the client painted by a distinguished Vietnamese artist; quiet time spent with scholar Phan Thuan An at his house, where a royal dinner also awaits; a private dinner cruise along the Saigon River; and an afternoon with City Treasure Hunt’s Rosemary Cook, a highly informed expat who provides day-long tours that incorporate furniture, home decor, antiques and fashion.

“Anyone can visit Hue, but to understand it and know it on any sort of meaningful level, you have to talk to the right people,” said Phan Trong Minh, La Residence’s general manager. “Mr. An is a fountain of knowledge, and the cooking techniques his wife uses are generations-old.”

Said Quintessential Collection Vietnam’s managing director, Jim Sullivan: “Increasingly, (there is) a cohort of travellers to Vietnam that wants to travel in a Rolls Royce or a Bentley, that has the resources to indulge in Vietnam’s most refined opportunities, and that wants to interact with some of the country’s most compelling personalities.

“Vietnam does a really good job serving the the budget-minded traveller – and a great job on the high-end. We’re trying to fill another niche with this package – a niche that’s just opening up as Vietnam matures from a stop on everyone’s bucket list to a holiday destination.”

He believes at least 15-20 of these packages will be sold. Asked where the demand is coming from, Sullivan said: “The days of Good Morning, Vietnam are over. There is now a stratum of really capable five-star properties in Vietnam, and then there is yet another stratum – the quintessential stratum that comprises properties that are not only the best properties in their destination but among the best in the world.”

For more on the ‘quintessential stratum’ people, look out for the next issue of TTG Asia Luxury, out December 1.

Parkroyal Parramatta King Room. Credit: Pan Pacific Hotel Group

PAN Pacific Hotel Group has revealed major refurbishments at four of its properties across Asia-Pacific, namely the Pan Pacific Perth and Parkroyal Parramatta in Australia, Parkroyal Yangon in Myanmar and Parkroyal on Beach Road in Singapore.

The renovations, amounting to over US$35 million, will apply to the hotel rooms, amenities and public spaces, and are done as part of the group’s efforts to maintain its industry competitiveness.

Bernold O Schroeder, CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, said: “This latest phase of refurbishments will enable our hotels to be further distinguished by their premium class of hospitality and augment the significant customer affinity already enjoyed by our brands.”

The 486-room Pan Pacific Perth, located along Swan River, has unveiled 132 remodelled guest rooms and suites complete with marble bathrooms with new lighting features and designer fittings, as well as a revamped lobby boasting pod-style reception counters and a new water feature.

On the east coast of Australia, the 196-room Parkroyal Parramatta has embarked on a 15-month extension project to make it the largest hotel in Parramatta – boasting 286 guestrooms – when it reopens in mid-2016.

The hotel’s refurbishment plans includes the construction of a new seven-storey tower with a Club Lounge, 40 Club Rooms, 50 Premium Rooms and a gymnasium. Four new meeting rooms will also be added to bring the hotel’s total event spaces to 12. Renovations will include extending the existing Bar:30 restaurant and bar into Phillip Street to create an al fresco dining area.

Parkroyal Yangon. Credit: Pan Pacific Hotel Group

The 334-key Parkroyal Yangon has recently completed a comprehensive refurbishment, including a rebranding of the all-day dining restaurant into Spice Brasserie, a relaunching of the former Music Club into Club 5 and an introduction of the new Si Chuan Dou Hua restaurant. Rooms have also undergone upgrading in the form of new fittings and fixtures.

In Singapore, the 346-room Parkroyal on Beach Road has introduced 130 newly refurbished Premier Rooms as well as the 104m2 Executive Suite which features a private bedroom and bathroom with walk-in wardrobe.

The Orchid Club Lounge has been expanded to accommodate a F&B area with an open kitchen that serves a daily specialty dish a la minute, among other cuisines.