AIMING to groom a new generation of start-ups focused on travel commerce, Travelport today announced the development of a seed-stage investment and mentorship programme.

The programme will be handled completely by Travelport experts with start-up experience and mentorship background, running in four-month cycles with up to four start-ups accepted in each cycle.

Participants in the programme will have access to Travelport’s experienced staff of product managers, designers, developers and coaches across the world as well as to its APIs, software development kits and data feeds.

Travelport will also provide office space and other practical support services under the programme, which is similar to Travelport’s own in-house incubation scheme.

At the end of each cycle, the start-ups will be given the chance to pitch their innovations to senior Travelport executives, investors and other potential business development partners in the travel industry.

Jason Nash, head of marketing and product incubation, said in a statement: “We’re serious about redefining travel commerce and we know there are some highly talented developers and travel start-ups out there who are also looking to have a positive impact on the travel commerce landscape.

“Our programme is different because we’re running it completely in-house with dedicated experts which really demonstrates how involved we want to get and our level of commitment to taking the most successful ventures forward.”

Application details can be found on Travelport’s website here.

AirAsia Group also launched its own incubator programme for start-ups in the travel, payment and retail verticals in April this year.

ACCOR has announced the opening of Sofitel Xining and The Sebel Xining, its first Sebel property in China.

Located in the west of Xining City, both Sofitel and The Sebel are just 30 minutes from Xining Caojiabao Airport, 15 minutes from the old town and 20 minutes from the high-speed train station.

Sofitel Xining offers 492 rooms and suites, and three restaurants to cater to all tastes. Nabe is Xining’s first full-service Japanese restaurant, while Le Chinois serves Chinese haute cuisine and local specialties, with private dining rooms for special occasions. All-day dining outlet Kwee Zeen features Chinese, South-east Asian and European food.

For meetings, the hotel’s function rooms have a total capacity of 2,500m² for up to 1,000 pax.

Leisure options include an indoor pool, gym and spa that specialises in traditional oriental rejuvenating treatments. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

For The Sebel Xining, each of the 197 apartments has a fully equipped kitchen, living area and bathroom. A direct connection to Sofitel Xining provides guests access to the hotel’s facilities.

The hotel complex is part of the Xining Xin Hua Lian City Complex, which comprises a five-star hotel, high-end shopping centre, office buildings and residential towers.

To celebrate the openings of both properties, guests can enjoy one night in a Sofitel Luxury Room at RMB1,088 (US$176) or a Sebel Superior Apartment at RMB988.

This includes free buffet breakfast for two, RMB100 F&B credit at restaurant outlets and late check-out. Packages are valid until June 30.

SINGAPORE-BASED budget carrier Jetstar Asia will be relocating its Kuala Lumpur operations to the new klia2 terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) effective July 8.

The new terminal for LCCs is less than 2km from the KLIA Main Terminal, but passengers transferring from the Main Terminal must clear immigration and pick up their checked bags before moving on to the next flight at klia2.

However, flight schedules, groundhandlers, check-in facilities or check-in timings remain unchanged, and Jetstar Asia’s straight-to-gate web check-in services will continue to be available in the new terminal.

Travellers who have booked travel between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur on and after June 2 will receive an updated email itinerary indicating the new departure terminal.

For more information, visit Jetstar Asia’s website.

SINGAPORE Airlines’ regional wing, SilkAir, today added one more Australian destination to its network – Cairns.

The thrice-weekly service operates on a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with both business and economy class seats.

Saturday flights travel direct to Cairns and return via Darwin, SilkAir’s only other Australian destination, while Monday and Thursday services fly to Cairns via Darwin but are non-stop to Singapore on the return leg.

Commenting in a press release, Cairns Airport CEO, Kevin Brown, said: “The connectivity with Singapore that the new SilkAir services provides will be a great boost for the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef destination.”

“This Singapore service is a key link in our international network, giving holiday visitors from Asia and Europe a new option for easy access direct into Cairns,” he added.

“It also offers convenient new options for local people to travel overseas, whether to enjoy Singapore as a destination in its own right or to connect through to other destinations.”

DHIGURAH island in the Maldives is set to become home to the largest tourism project in the country, with 14 room categories and 15 F&B outlets when completed.

Speaking at the Hospitality Investment Conference Indian Ocean in Colombo last week, chairman and managing director of Sun Siyam, Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, announced plans for new properties in the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

This included the 600-room resort on Dhigurah island currently in development, to boast 14 different room categories, 15 F&B outlets, family-friendly accommodations, and an underwater restaurant and wine cellar when it is finished.

Sun Siyam will also expand across Sri Lanka. In addition to the existing Sun Aqua Pasikudah, it will develop an over-water villa resort in Kalpitiya.

The project comes at the perfect time for overseas expansion of Maldivian brands, Siyam said.

“The Maldives has a form of home-grown service culture and industry know-how that is currently not being fully utilised to its full potential domestically, and certainly not on the international stage… Maldivian hospitality can create desire and demand in any region,” he added.

According to Siyam, international travellers are seeking authentic experiences, making it no longer necessary to recreate a Western travel experience in the Maldives, but instead something that is “truly Maldivian”.

Siyam launched his first Maldivian resort in 1998 and manages the The Sun Siyam and Sun Aqua brands, with three luxury properties in the Maldives and one in Sri Lanka.