BEST Western International has secured a second property in Cambodia, having taken over the management of a hotel now branded the Best Western River Palace Hotel, Phnom Penh.

The 59-key hotel is situated on the banks of the Tonle Sap River.

Glenn de Souza, vice president of international operations for Asia and Middle East, Best Western International, said: “This exciting city is fast becoming a regional hub for business and leisure travel, and the position of the Best Western River Palace Hotel means we are now at the very heart of Phnom Penh’s growth.

“Combined with our existing hotel in Siem Reap, this opening also means Best Western is now present in Cambodia’s two leading destinations,” he added.

Best Western River Palace Hotel features two F&B outlets: Palace Seafood Restaurant for Khmer and Western cuisine, and the Riviera Lounge Bar. It also comes with a fitness centre, a spa offering Cambodia’s only Turkish hammam, meeting space and VIP rooms, and a business centre.

Guestrooms overlook the river and feature free Wi-Fi and walk-in showers, among other amenities.

ARRIVALS to Malaysia are on the rise with 10 per cent year-on-year growth recorded for 1Q2014 at 7.1 million, over 6.5 million for the same period last year.

According to statistics from the Immigration Department of Malaysia, Singapore remains Malaysia’s largest source market by a large margin with 3.5 million arrivals in Q1.

In contrast, Malaysia’s second-largest source market, Indonesia, sent 676,328 arrivals. China takes third (520,466), followed by Thailand (333,131), Brunei (296,119), India (172,899), Australia (156,662), Japan (149,859), the Philippines (144,932), and the UK (125,814).

Malaysia’s growth comes in the face of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines’ flight MH370, which led to a suspension of Visit Malaysia Year promotions in China (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 28, 2014).

Unsurprisingly, South-east Asian countries accounted for 72.1 per cent or 5.1 million arrivals. Vietnam took tops for the highest growth of 30.1 per cent.

On the medium-haul front, South Korea saw the highest growth rate with 37.1 per cent. Medium-haul markets provided 20.1 per cent of arrivals or 1.4 million tourists.

Longhaul markets sent 0.5 million tourists or 7.9 per cent of total arrivals. The number of arrivals from Russia grew the fastest at a rate of 25.3 per cent.

CEBU Pacific Air (CEB) will tap the Filipino expatriate market with the introduction of its routes to Kuwait and Sydney that will begin this September.

Beginning September 2, CEB will operate the only direct service between Manila and Kuwait thrice a week.

On September 9, the LCC will commence four-times-weekly services from Manila to Sydney. Airbus A330-300 aircraft will be deployed on both routes.

“Our trademark low fares will allow our kababayans abroad, the global Filipinos, to visit home more often, as we had done in other destinations before, and at the same time attract Australian tourists into our shores,” said CEB president and CEO, Lance Gokongwei.

The airline is running an introductory offer from today until June 19 to mark the launch of these routes, for travel until December 31 this year.

Fares from Manila to Sydney start from 4,999 pesos (US$114), including fare, fuel surcharge and other fees but excluding the Philippine Travel Tax. Meanwhile, tickets to Kuwait start from one peso, exclusive of all other charges.

Visit www.cebupacificair.com for more information.

STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is set to launch the Four Points by Sheraton Puchong and Le Méridien Putrajaya by 2015, having signed a management agreement with IOI Properties Group for both.

“Malaysia’s strong economic growth and healthy tourism arrivals present us with a very exciting growth opportunity,” said Matthew Fry, senior vice president, acquisition & development, Asia-Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

“Starwood’s development in the fast-growing districts of Puchong and Putrajaya will enable us to cater to Malaysia’s growing middle class and the increased number of business and leisure travellers in the market.”

Four Points by Sheraton Puchong, scheduled to open in 4Q2014, is located within Puchong in Selangor. Situated in the town’s new business district, the hotel is 32km from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and a 20-minute drive to the Kuala Lumpur city centre.

The 249-key hotel will feature 1,100m2 of meeting space, a swimming pool, two F&B venues including the signature The Eatery, a fitness centre, free Wi-Fi, free bottled water and free coffee, among others.

Le Méridien Putrajaya is slated for a 2015 opening and will provide 350 guestrooms, two restaurant concepts, a fitness centre, spa facilities, a swimming pool and over 1,630m2 in events space.

It allows guests easy access to the city’s commercial and retail areas, including the IOI City Mall that will open later in 2014.

INDIA’S Ministry of Tourism is convening a high-level meeting and rolling out an international PR campaign to dispel the country’s negative image as a female-traveller-unfriendly destination and restore confidence among foreign tourists.

First in this two-prong strategy is a meeting that will gather the country’s tourism ministers and private sector delegates to discuss measures to improve the safety of foreign tourists. According to a ministry source, the meeting will take place within the next two months.

The ministry is joining hands with public-private partnership body, Experience India Society, to revamp India’s international image through a PR campaign that will be launched in the UK, Germany, Japan and the US for starters.

Speaking at a meeting with the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) last week, tourism minister Shripad Yesso Naik said: “I am aware that the tourism industry in India is concerned about the safety and security of tourists, especially women. It is one of our topmost priorities to address this concern. We will soon work out a PR strategy to create a positive image of the country.”

The campaign blueprint will be finalised today and TTG Asia e-Daily understands that it will include fam trips for media and single female travellers, and advertising, among others.

However, Rajan Sehgal, managing director, Arrivals Air Services, felt more remains to be done. “A mere PR plan won’t help the cause. We need to have all hotels having women-only floors, and to sensitise our taxi drivers and tour guides towards respecting women travellers. Apart from male security personnel, we also need female security personnel so that female travellers feel comfortable.”

Sarab Jit Singh, senior vice president, IATO, emphasised the importance of timing, saying: “Half-baked and half-hearted approaches will not yield any result…It is important that the PR plan is approved on time and that there are no delays.”

BOOKINGS to Thailand are being cancelled in droves because of Spain’s unwarranted travel advisory that should be dropped, says the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies (CEAV).

CEAV president Rafael Gallego said that the security situation at most Thai resorts is normal and called the travel advisory, which was issued in May following the coup, “exaggerated”.

He also urged Spanish authorities to revise the document “to avoid a situation of generalised concern among travellers, which is seriously prejudicial to the travel consultants sector”.

Major tour operator to Asia La Cuarta Isla, part of the Barcelo Group, said the warning is affecting not just current bookings but also reservations for the peak month of August and later in the year.

Product manager Natalia Sanchez said: “Cancellations are coming in all the time. We reckon it’s between 30 and 35 per cent so far.

“All the travel consultants are saying the same thing – that it is because of the travel advisory.”

She added: “Thailand is our number one destination in Asia and for the Spanish market as a whole. But now people are switching to countries like Vietnam and Indonesia instead, and also to the Caribbean.”

UPDATE (June 17, 2014) : Spain has since withdrawn its travel advisory against Thailand but warns its citizens to remain careful while travelling there

GHM has been cleared of claims of mismanagement at The Setai Miami by property owner Lehman Brothers after two years or arbitration proceedings in Florida.

The ICC International Court of Arbitration last week ruled that the allegations brought against GHM were groundless and ordered damages to be paid to the hotel company for improper termination of the hotel management agreement.

In March 2012, Lehman Brothers forcefully took over The Setai Miami with claims that GHM was mismanaging the property.

However, Lehman’s own expert during the trial admitted that GHM had “achieved RevPAR levels 76 per cent higher than the competitive set”.

In its findings, the Tribunal rebuked Lehman for seeking excuses for termination of the agreement. Lehman is expected to make full compensation to GHM within 30 days of the ruling.

GHM president, Hans R Jenni, said in a media statement: “Needless to say, we are very pleased with the Tribunal’s conclusion, along with the complete and total legal victory. More importantly, it vindicates GHM of the wrongful accusations and upholds our reputation as a hotel management company of the highest repute and calibre.”