Full steam ahead for cruising

May 19, 2015

New and bigger ports are in the works in East Asia – TTG Asia checks them out

Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal

Hong Kong | Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
Jeff Bent, managing director, Worldwide Cruise Terminals

What are the latest plans for expansion and development? Our retail shops, main restaurants and banqueting facilities, which opened in September 2014, now host some 20 events per month and cater to 4,000 people per day.

Later this year, the government will auction a plot for a 500-room hotel adjacent to the cruise terminal. We expect work to begin on a new dual two-lane road.

What’s the passenger volume and growth in 2014, as well as expected figures in 2015?The passenger throughput is expected to grow from 100,000 in 2014 to 220,000 in 2015. The figure may even grow to 310,000 in 2016.

What’s the number of ships calling and homeporting in 2015 and 2014? Are there any new ships homeporting for 2015/2016? We had a total of 28 ship calls (in 2014), of which 17 were homeporting or turnaround calls. In its second full year of operation in 2015, the number of ship calls will grow to 56, of which 44 will be homeporting or turnaround calls.

What are the top challenges as a cruise terminal operator in the current climate? The top challenge is still visa restriction, although this continues to improve incrementally as more countries grant Chinese travellers visa-free access.
While 170 countries and territories currently have visa-free access to Hong Kong, it is encouraging that now US and Canadian citizens can receive 10-year visas to visit China. To spur growth from overseas source markets, we hope that the Chinese ports can offer 72-hour visa-free access for (more) nationalities, similar to what is available at many Chinese airports.

Any strategies to woo cruise ships? Our current focus is to continue to educate cruise lines on the potential of nearby source markets.

China | Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal
Wang Younong, general director, Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Port Terminal Development

What are the latest plans for expansion and development? The second phase of Wusongkou Port expansion is underway: one 100,000- and one 160,000-tonnage berth will be added to the current two berths. When completed by end-2016, four cruise (ships) will be able to berth at the same time.

We are also developing a Smart Port mobile app to enhance cruise embarkation, disembarkation and pre-cruising experiences. Through the app, guests can read pre-trip instructions, check real-time port information including the surrounding traffic and parking situations, and take a virtual tour of the cruise ship before boarding.

What’s the passenger volume and growth in 2014, as well as expected figures in 2015?2014 was another record-breaking year – Wusongkou welcomed 1.1 million visitors on 216 docked cruise ships. In 2015, 288 cruise ships are scheduled to dock in Wusongkou and over 1.5 million visitors are expected.

What’s the number of ships calling and homeporting in 2015 and 2014? Are there any new ships homeporting for 2015/2016? In 2014, five homeporting cruise ships made 205 departures, while 11 cruise ships called on Wusongkou. During the 2015 season, three more cruise ships, Costa Serena, Skysea Golden Era and Quantum of the Seas chose Wusongkou as their homeport; a total of 280 docks has been scheduled.

What are the top challenges as a cruise terminal operator in the current climate? The fast-surging cruise demand in Yangtze River Delta area excites and challenges us to improve our infrastructure, facilities and services to better serve cruise lines and passengers.

Our latest VIP express programme is designed to engage the surrounding Baoshan District community into the development: passengers staying in selected hotels in Baoshan District can check into cruises at their hotels.

Any strategies to woo cruise ships? We are offering soft incentives by providing quality services and leveraging the local development policies into our port development. For example, we are currently facilitating the collaboration between cruise companies and supply companies in Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone. Hopefully homeporting cruise ships can soon start fast, cost-effective provisioning operations at Wusongkou.

Japan | Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal
Masa Enari, manager for cruise promotion, Port and Harbour Bureau, City of Yokohama

What are the latest plans for expansion and development? We are planning to remodel both the Shinko Pier and the Daikoku Pier to attract more cruise ships to Yokohama Port. The new terminals are scheduled to open in 2018.

What’s the passenger volume and growth in 2014, as well as expected figures in 2015? Our terminal handled about 172,000 passengers in 2013 and 226,000 passengers in 2014. We are expecting a similar number of passengers in 2015 (as 2014).

What’s the number of ships calling and homeporting in 2015 and 2014? Are there any new ships homeporting for 2015/2016? The number of cruise ships that called at Yokohama was 152 in 2013 and 145 in 2014. We anticipate a similar number as 2014 for this year.

Yokohama has been the home port for the Aska II since 2006 and the Diamond Princess started her turnarounds at our port and arrived here more than 20 times in 2014. The Diamond Princess is expected to make turnarounds in Yokohama at least 10 times in 2015.

What are the top challenges as a cruise terminal operator in the current climate? The cruising market is booming in Asia, so the competition among domestic ports has become increasingly keen.

Any strategies to woo cruise ships? We offer discounts on port charges and subsidies – 500,000 yen (US$4,172) each time for foreign cruise ships of more than 50,000 tons docking at the port.

South Korea | Busan International Cruise Terminal
Junwoo Choi, director of global marketing team, Busan Port Authority

What are the latest plans for expansion and development? The terminal will be closed from 2016 to 2018 to carry out expansion work and permit vessels with a gross tonnage of 220,000 to dock.

What’s the passenger volume and growth in 2014, as well as expected figures in 2015?Some 244,935 passengers transited through Busan port in 2014, a 21.9 per cent increase from 2013. We are expecting 280,000 passengers in 2015.

What’s the number of ships calling and homeporting in 2015 and 2014? Are there any new ships homeporting for 2015/2016? There were 110 ships in 2014 and 109 in 2013, and we are expecting around 134 in 2015. Ten ships used Busan as their homeport (including partials) in 2014, but there were none in 2013. We are expecting four vessels to homeport in Busan in 2015, including partials – the Costa Victoria will be using the port for turnarounds and the Diamond Princess for partial turnarounds.

What are the top challenges as a cruise terminal operator in the current climate? High costs. As the size of vessels get bigger – and which shows no signs of slowing – we need to continue to make huge investments in infrastructure.

Any strategies to woo cruise ships? Busan port offers 30 per cent discounts on port dues for cruise vessels and there are some incentives from the local government for travel agencies, but this varies according to different circumstances.
There are also several services for passengers, such as shuttle buses from the terminal to the city centre, tour guides and so forth.

Taiwan | Port of Kaohsiung
Huang Kuo-Ying, president, Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan International Ports Corporation

What are the latest plans for expansion and development? A 15-storey passenger terminal building is being constructed at Kaohsiung Port Pier 19-20. This 80,000m2 floor area also features two basement floors for parking. The project plan started in 2000 and will be completed in 2017. The total cost is NT$4.5 billion (US$146 million).

Once completed, this will expand existing space by joining Pier 18 and Pier 21 to offer 575m in length and 10.5m in depth, making it suitable for mega vessels of 225,000 tons like Oasis of The Seas.

In return, this will elevate service quality with handling capacity per hour to reach 2,500 passengers and foster the city’s goal to develop as a homeport for international cruises.

What’s the passenger volume and growth in 2014, as well as expected figures in 2015?In 2014, Kaohsiung Port received 133,789 international passengers (in and out) and the figure is expected hit 150,000, demonstrating 15.2 per cent growth.

What’s the number of ships calling and homeporting in 2015 and 2014? Are there any new ships homeporting for 2015/2016? In 2015, we expect to welcome 53 ship calls this year, up from 46 last year.

Any strategies to woo cruise ships? We’ll enhance our berthing and immigration facilities to improve the efficiency, so visitors may spend more time on sightseeing and travel. If (satisfied) visitors share positive feedback with others, more cruise companies will be attracted to Kaohsiung.

What are the top challenges as a cruise terminal operator in the current climate?Constructing a cruise terminal and passenger immigration facilities is very costly, and operators need to figure out how to leverage the port image and the city’s offers to generate more economic returns – this is our current challenge.

As the cruise pier is right next to our general and bulk cargo dock area, this causes traffic issues when coach buses and lorries proceed in and out simultaneously and the traffic exerts pressure on cargo operations and passenger transportation.

This article was first published in TTG Asia, May 15, 2015 issue, on page 15. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe

Additional reporting from Prudence Lui, Li Xu, S Puvaneswary, Paige Lee Pei Qi, Mimi Hudoyo and Rosa Ocampo

Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok welcomes Samir R Wildemann

By TTG Asia

May 19, 2015

SAMIR R Wildemann has been appointed general manager of Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and senior vice president operations South-east Asia for Kempinski Hotels.

A 28-year veteran hotelier, Wildemann has held a number of senior hotel management positions in five-star hotels.

The German national was most recently pre-opening general manager, general manager and corporate executive officer of The Okura Prestige Bangkok.

How to target the middle-class tribes

By TTG Asia

May 19, 2015

THE travel industry loves the travelling middle class, but to better predict customer behaviour and attract spend, the Collinson Group has identified specific tribes within this homogeneous-seeming demographic.

The customer behavior expert, Collinson Group, has outlined four distinct groups of middle-class consumers across 4,400 consumers in Brazil, China, India, Italy, the UAE, UK and US: the Mid-life Modernists who are the most prominent in Singapore, the Prudent Planners, Stylish Spenders, and Experientalists.

The Mid-life Modernists are characterised by their enthusiasm for technology and as a tribe are well-represented in Singapore and India. Gadgets are their biggest indulgence and would recommend their favourite brands on social media.

On the other hand, the Prudent Planners formed the biggest group in the entire sample at 41 per cent and cite spending time with family as their biggest indulgence. Loyalty programmes are especially important for this group.

Both Prudent Planners and Mid-life Modernists, who together account for 69 per cent of the global middle class, would appreciate more flexible travel-related rewards. This includes being allowed to transfer loyalty programme points to family members, access to lounges or priority seating for family.

Stylish Spenders, as the name suggests, appreciate the finer things in life. Common in China and the UAE, this high-spending group is a fan of branded products and will splurge to travel in style and for bragging rights.

Travel brands can target Stylish Spenders by offering exclusive opportunities to attract this group, said the Collinson Group. Mandarin Oriental Hotels Group and Delta Air Lines both have invitation-only clubs for these folks.

On the other hand, the Experientialist tribe looks for unique, intangible experiences that cannot be bought by money. Prevalent in China, the UAE and UK, this group enjoys being immersed in a different culture and spends on holidays and dining out.

Marketers can reach them by expanding rewards and benefits offered in their programmes to include more international content, such as priority access to the best restaurants in the world or chances to experience cultural events.

Best Western enters Bogor in West Java

By TTG Asia

May 19, 2015

BRINGING a new midscale accommodation option to Bogor, West Java is Best Western International which continues its rapid expansion throughout the Indonesian archipelago.

Located a 15-minute drive from the Bogor Presidential Palace and Botanical Garden, the Best Western Bogor Icon offers 345 rooms.

Guests will find comfortable bedding, mini bars, room service, international satellite channels and free Wi-Fi in their rooms, and within the 16-storey building, an all-day dining restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre.

For meeting planners, the hotel also comes equipped with a ballroom for more than 1,000 guests.

“Best Western International’s Indonesian expansion strategy is now in full swing, and Best Western Bogor Icon is another excellent addition to our fast-growing collection of hotels across the country,” said Ron Pohl, Best Western International’s senior vice president of brand management in a statement.

Best Western Bogor Icon is the company’s 14^th hotel in Indonesia and its sixth in the West Java and Jakarta region.

Tri having a whorl of a time in Sri Lanka’s Lake Koggala

By TTG Asia

May 19, 2015

Credit: Tri Sri Lanka

OPENING this autumn, new luxury hotel Tri is a spiral of 10 suites around an island hill flanking Sri Lanka’s Lake Koggala.

The hotel is 1.5 hours from Colombo International Airport and 25 minutes from Galle Fort, while a seaplane service lands directly on Lake Koggala.

Inspired by the spirals of the Fibonacci sequence, Tri comprises eight suites, three with private pools, nestled into the landscape and a further two elevated atop a central water tower.

Guests will also find living walls, green roofs, solar arrays, recycled wood and local materials utilised across the property in a nod to eco-friendliness.

Facilities include the Beach Club & Restaurant on Kabalana Beach, a treetop Yoga Shala with treatment rooms and steam cavern, library, dining room and 360º viewing deck.

A 21m cantilevered pool with multiple decks and terraces is another centrepiece to the hotel.

Robert de Niro-backed Nobu Hospitality reaches for Asia and beyond

By Rosa Ocampo

May 19, 2015

dn190515-deniro-nobu — On stage at the press conference for the official grand opening of the Nobu Hotel at City of Dreams Manila are, from left to right: Hollywood film producer and Nobu partner, Meir Teper; Melco Crown Entertainment co-chairman, James Packer; chef Nobu Matsuhisa; Melco Crown Entertainment co-chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho; multi Academy Award-winning actor and Nobu partner, Robert de Niro; and chief executive of Nobu Hospitality, Trevor Horwell. Credit: Nobu Hospitality

On stage at the press conference for the official grand opening of the Nobu Hotel at City of Dreams Manila are, from left to right: Hollywood film producer and Nobu partner, Meir Teper; Melco Crown Entertainment co-chairman, James Packer; chef Nobu Matsuhisa; Melco Crown Entertainment co-chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho; multi Academy Award-winning actor and Nobu partner, Robert de Niro; and chief executive of Nobu Hospitality, Trevor Horwell. Credit: Nobu Hospitality

ACTOR-CUM-HOTELIER Robert de Niro and business partners, chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Hollywood producer Meir Teper, yesterday launched Asia’s first Nobu Hotel in the City of Dreams Manila, where they also outlined a “selective expansion” strategy for the brand.

Speaking to media at the event, Nobu Hospitality CEO, Trevor Horwell, said the hotel has seen over 80 per cent occupancy since February’s soft opening and Nobu Restaurant is also doing well, buoyed by the local market. While gaming business is currently subdued in Asia-Pacific, he expects an upsurge over time with marketing efforts by the integrated resort and the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Nobu Hospitality will continue to grow the brand outside of Asia in a form different to their first prototypes of hotels within casino complexes as in Manila and Las Vegas.

The focus instead will shift to stand-alone “city hotels in gateway cities…and maybe a resort at some point”, said Horwell, though he does not preclude partnering Melco Group again.

The company is on task to open nine Nobu hotels across three continents in the next 24 months. This year it will launch hotels in Miami, Malibu and Riyadh; London, Chicago and a yet undisclosed destination next year; in 2017, Cabo in Mexico, and another one whose location has not been revealed.

Nobu Hospitality is understood to be looking for opportunities in Asia-Pacific as well.

It was also revealed at the same event that de Niro is no longer involved in the development of a five-star hotel and restaurants in major hospitality, dining, and cultural destination, Project 179 at The Bund in Shanghai, due to disagreements.

“It would have been a great project,” he said, comparing the development to Tribeca, the New York neighbourhood where he first started his restaurant businesses.

India opens floodgates to Chinese tourists with e-visa scheme inclusion

By Rohit Kaul

May 19, 2015

INDIA announced last week that Chinese nationals would finally be included in its e-visa scheme, a move greeted with cheers from tour operators here.

Prime minister Narendra Modi revealed this when addressing students at Tsinghua University in Beijing last Friday.

Reacting to the news, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) said that the announcement will greatly boost tourist arrivals from the growing market of China.

“We have been pleading for e-visas to important markets like China, the UK, Italy and Poland, as these countries provide tourists all year round but were not included in the earlier announcements,” said president Subhash Goyal, who said double-digit growth in the next two years is possible if e-visas were extended to these countries.

India had launched e-visas last November, with China conspicuously absent from the list.

“This year is (marketed as) Visit India Year in China. With the e-visas extended to Chinese tourists, India’s Ministry of Tourism should look to promote products like the Buddhist circuit, which can appeal to them,” Ranjan Kumar Mishra, managing director, Eastern Voyage, toldTTG Asia e-Daily.

Mahesh Sharma, India’s minister of state for tourism, also said the country is happy to host Chinese tour operators to India.

Last year, 676,000 Indians visited China, while only 174,000 Chinese travelled to India.

New credit report for hospitality firms measures risks of biz transactions

By TTG Asia

May 19, 2015

HOSPITALITY firms in Singapore can now assess the level of risk they undertake when working with different business partners, according to the new Hospitality Credit Report launched today.

The brainchild of both the Hospitality Alliance Singapore and Singapore Commercial Credit Bureau (SCCB), the SCCB Hospitality Credit Report provides hospitality companies in Singapore with key business information and an in-depth analysis of their business partners’ risk profiles.

These are presented in the form of summary tables and tabulated information for easier reading for both credit and non-credit professionals.

Audrey Chia, CEO of SCCB, explained in a statement: “The nature of business intelligence is constantly evolving and it has become ever more important for hospitality firms to step up their risk management efforts in order to be at the forefront of the industry.

“The all-new SCCB Hospitality Credit Report essentially provides a holistic credit assessment based on data which reflects their historical performance as well (as) their propensity for delinquency in the payment of dues.”

A major feature in the report is the Payment Rating that measures overall payment performance of business partners by benchmarking a business partner’s payment performance against other businesses in the industry.

The SCCB Hospitality Credit Report is available to members of the seven key associations under the Hospitality Alliance Singapore – the Food and Beverage Management Association of Singapore; Association of Rooms Division Executives (Singapore); Association of Singapore Housekeepers; Singapore Chefs Association; Association of Bartenders & Sommeliers Singapore; Hospitality Purchasing Association; and the Society of the Golden Keys Singapore.

Cheong Hai Poh, chairman of the Hospitality Alliance Singapore and president, Food and Beverage Management Association of Singapore, commented: “There is a common misconception that risk management poses more of liability than a long-term investment for firms which results in it being sacrificed. The launch of the Hospitality Credit Report will help raise the awareness of the importance of credit risk management and due diligence among members of Hospitality Alliance Singapore.”

JW Marriott opens property in China’s Zhejiang

By TTG Asia

May 18, 2015

SITUATED at the heart of the Yangtze River Delta, the new 228-room JW Marriott Hotel Zhejiang Anji opened today.

An hour’s drive from Hangzhou’s city centre, the hotel is close to several attractions, such as Anji Grand National Bamboo Forest, where the Oscar-winning film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, was filmed.

Accommodation options start from the 45m² Deluxe Garden Rooms to a range of luxurious suites.

Guests can choose from three F&B outlets: Man Ho, the fine dining Chinese restaurant featuring 17 private dining rooms; JW Kitchen, an all-day dining restaurant; and the Lounge.

Events can be held at the 573m² Grand Ballroom, which seats 380 guests banquet style, and five meeting rooms each accommodating up to 80 guests.

The hotel also offers state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a heated indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi.

Turning sweet 16, 100% Pure New Zealand tells a different story

By TTG Asia

May 18, 2015

MOVING on from Middle Earth and its furry-footed inhabitants, Tourism New Zealand marked the 16^th anniversary of its 100% Pure New Zealand campaign with a new direction, logo and slogan.

The new message, Every day a different journey, spotlights the diversity of activities and attractions available throughout New Zealand and is captured in a new commercial that will be aired online through New Zealand’s priority markets starting July 1.

Kevin Bowler, chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, commented: “For the next phase of100% Pure New Zealand, we’ll be emphasizing our story of closeness and diversity – how our amazing landscapes and activities are all within easy reach.”

https://youtu.be/kWOwe_n-2Gw

Complementing this directional change is a new 100% Pure New Zealand logo, designed by a leading typographer Kris Sowersby and carved on native Kauri timber in a traditional way by artist Rangi Kipa.

The new logo will be used in all Tourism New Zealand activities including marketing, display advertising, exhibitions and on newzealand.com.

How the new logo came about is explained in a video by the NTO.

Andrew Fraser, director of marketing,Tourism New Zealand, said: “We wanted it to come from our place, the opportunity to actually use one of our leading font designers to help design something that reflects us as a people and us as a nation – this was really important.”