From urban planner to tour guru

July 15, 2019

An urban planner by profession, Manuel Wu gave up his government job and started Macau Explorer Cultural Travel in 2014.

At that time, nobody believed the travel agency could survive in what’s regarded as a sunset industry with online travel habits at the fore.

However, Wu felt there was still a market for offline booking of in-depth local cultural tours that deviated from mainstream sightseeing-and-shopping tours.

Wu mused: “What prompted such a career shift was my passion for travel. It was nurtured during my stint with the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau. One of my duties was to receive overseas diplomats or consuls who came to the enclave for exchange. I showed them around the city and observed numerous fast-paced sightseeing tours and hop-on, hop-off coaches in the market, which did not immerse visitors in the local culture.”

He then became determined to walk visitors into Macau’s 400-year history.

Being new to the business, he skilled himself by enrolling in an inbound tour guide course before leaving his full-time job.

He recalled: “I also volunteered to take groups in my leisure time to really feel the pulse of tourism. The experience was rewarding and reinforced my decision to join tourism.”

The company began with two cultural routes before custom-made tours took off in recent years. Today, itineraries cover history, nightlife, the Historic Centre of Macau and gourmet themes.

Apart from leisure, overseas MICE visitors also opt for local experience outside of meetings, leading the company to create tour ideas like DIY Portuguese egg tart classes.

He observed a gap in the market when it comes to one-stop services for both business events, as well as tours that fit with the specific interests, needs and schedules of delegates.

“That’s why many come to us for new ideas when planning overseas exchange or study tours. We do all the sourcing including for (special) requests i.e. incinerator visits and childcare services.”

Wu has kept his head down in the past five years to build the business and a professional team, with special emphasis on tour guides. The company started to break even from last year, and Wu now sees ‘intangible’ services and professionalism as key assets to sustain business.

Wu explained: “It might be very easy to copy our itineraries but not our software like intangible services and professional standards.”

Six Senses plants flags in France and Costa Rica

By TTG Asia

July 15, 2019

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The_view_from_one_of_the_standard_guest_villas_at_Six_Senses_Papagayo — Rendering of a villa at Six Senses Papagayo

Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas will open new properties in France’s UNESCO-listed Loire Valley, and Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula.

The resort in France will be situated within the Les Bordes Estate, a 560ha site in the Sologne forest, home to Les Bordes Golf Club. The development will incorporate equestrian and tennis centres, an organic farm, an art gallery, a petting farm, a swimming lake with beach, watersports, and biking and walking trails. Although the golf club’s two 18-hole courses are private, hotel guests will have access to a new Gil Hanse-designed par three course and a new golf practice facility.

Rendering of a villa at Six Senses Papagayo

Six Senses Loire Valley will boast 88 guestsuites and villas, of which 70 villas will be up for private ownership, with the opportunity to also include them in the resort’s inventory.

Other amenities on-site include an all-day restaurant and lounge bar, speciality restaurant, and a meeting and conference centre. There will also be outdoor event facilities such as walled gardens and lawns.

Six Senses Loire Valley is expected to open in May 2022.

Over in Central America, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has teamed up with US-based The Canyon Group to develop its first resort in the subcontinent.

Six Senses Papagayo will be part of the 930ha Papagayo Peninsula, a mixed-use luxury development. Conceptualised by London-based architect John Heah, the property will comprise 41 pool villas, alongside 31 residences available for sale to owners who are seeking access to resort-life experience.

The highlight of the resort will be Six Senses wellness programming along with a spa and fitness centre. There will also be an organic farm located in the property including fruit, vegetable and herb gardens.

Hotel Indigo introduces shoppable hotel rooms

By TTG Asia

July 15, 2019

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InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) Indigo Hotels is bringing the retail and shopping experience in-room with the introduction of Shop the Neighbourhood.

Shop the Neighbourhood, which highlights local stories that inspire the design of each property, allows guests to use social media to purchase in-room items from artists and craftspeople.

Shop the Neighbourhood, with Hotel Indigo

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Examples include hand-selected items from celebrity milliner Gladys Tamez (Hotel Indigo Los Angeles – Downtown), Trabi Safari (Hotel Indigo Berlin – East Side Gallery), Hilary Grant (Hotel Indigo Dundee), Les-Ottomans Home Design (Hotel Indigo Venice Sant’Elena), street artist Lee Quiñones (Hotel Indigo Lower East Side New York) and Muzen radio (Hotel Indigo – Bangkok Wireless Road).

Henry Reeve, IHG’s director of interior design in Europe, said: “Each of the 100 or so hotels in the Hotel Indigo portfolio is completely different. We work tirelessly with local businesses and artisans to ensure that the heart and soul of each Hotel Indigo truly represents the neighbourhood in which it resides.”

Hotel Indigo continues to expand in 10 new countries, including Peru, Australia, UAE (Dubai), New Zealand, India, South Korea, Japan and Vietnam.

HK hospitality tech company bags seven-digit sum in MindWorks-led Series A

By TTG Asia

July 15, 2019

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Hong Kong-based hospitality guest servicing platform, StayPlease, has raised a seven-digit-US-dollar sum in a Series A round led by MindWorks Ventures.

StayPlease plans to use this funding to further expand its presence in Asia as well as enhance features such as guest profile management, hardware integration, and voice recognition.

The guest servicing software for hotels is now used in over 20,000 hotel rooms across 25 cities

StayPlease already has a portfolio of international hotel brands counting InterContinental Hotels Group, Dusit International, Onyx Hospitality, Swire Hotels, Far East Hospitality, CItizenM, and Langham Hospitality.

The company’s founder and CEO, Alan Sun, previously worked as an IT executive in Macau and oversaw the development of several multi-billion-dollar casino resorts, where he witnessed difficulties particularly when attempting to integrate several complex incumbent systems into one platform.

Sun founded StayPlease in 2012 with the goal of providing hotel solutions that were well-integrated and built with the latest cloud and mobile technologies.

In a statement, StayPlease said it decided to make its service management solution accessible to hotels beyond the five-star category.

In 2018, StayPlease almost tripled its number of hotel clients, room count, and revenue, and is now operational in over 20,000 hotel rooms across 25 cities around the globe.

With continued innovation, StayPlease now also encompasses its own brand of cloud PBX solutions, which includes voice recognition technologies to further enhance the in-room guest experience.

Commenting on the latest MindWorks funding, Sun said: “MindWorks is a great investor who has the knowledge and existing networks in travel and hospitality. Their support to Hong Kong startups like us will push us to the forefront as an international technology brand.”

Bangkok’s World Gourmet Festival celebrates 20th edition

By TTG Asia

July 15, 2019

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Bangkok’s longest-running international culinary celebration – the World Gourmet Festival – is back this year for it 20^thedition, taking place at the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel from September 2-8, 2019.

Sixteen chefs from nine countries, with 13 Michelin stars among them, will each host two dinners in the hotel’s Biscotti, Madison, Spice Market and Shintaro restaurants.

The star-studded culinary lineup features names like Wolfgang Becker from Becker’s Restaurant in Trier, Germany (two Michelin stars), Alan Geaam from Alan Geaam in Paris, France (one Michelin star), and Hideki Ii from Shirosaka in Tokyo, Japan (one Michelin star).

On September 6, Taiwanese chefs Kai Ho and Richie Lin will join local chef Ian Kittichai, whose restaurants include Issaya Siamese Club in Bangkok, Tangerine in Singapore and Spot in New York City. The trio will prepare a six-hands collaborative dinner of six courses.

In a first for the World Gourmet Festival, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel will showcase the City of Angels’ street food on September 5, when Bangkok’s popular street vendors will prepare their fare in stalls around the Parichart open-air garden courtyard. Exclusive fringe events in the hotel’s iconic lobby and Aqua Bar will also return, including the World Gourmet Brunch on September 8.

There will also be masterclasses conducted by visiting chefs. Attendees will have the opportunity to see and taste specially prepared dishes form the chef’s World Gourmet Festival menu. Joining the lineup will be Dutch chef Roger van Damme from Het Gebaar in Antwerp, Belgium, who will be presenting a masterclass of his four desserts in the Lobby Lounge on September 5 and 6.

Adaaran Prestige Vadoo

By Feizal Samath

July 15, 2019

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Location
The resort is just eight kilometres and a 15-minute speedboat ride from the Velana International Airport in the capital of Male. As the gateway to the South Atolls, the resort has its own exotic reef teeming with vibrant aquatic life.

It is currently the resort closest to the anticipated nine-island integrated resort, Crossroads Maldives, due to open in late 2019. The mega-development is within sight of the resort.

Adaaran Prestige Vadoo

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Rooms
Stepping into one of its water villas, I was pleased by how the bed was placed, which allows guests to wake up to a sunset view.

The resort offers 50 water villas each with a personal butler. The villas come complete with teak floors, large comfortable beds, sun decks and plunge pools.

I also enjoyed the complimentary Wi-Fi, tea and coffee and the fruit basket. The refrigerator came stocked with a couple of complimentary beers and chocolate bars, which are replenished daily. The bathroom is one of the largest I have seen in a hotel, with twin washbasins, a rain shower, and a Jacuzzi.

An added touch of luxury? Guests can opt to have a sumptuous breakfast served on their private sun deck.

Facilities
Its all-inclusive package means there’s little worry about incurring additional expenses – except when it comes to using the spa, or chargeable activities like fishing or dining at the resort’s Japanese restaurant.

The inclusions are ample, from gourmet-style fare at the Farivalhu Fine Dining restaurant, to free-flow beverages at the Kandolhi bar. Apart from the three main meals, high tea is served at 17.00, with the option of having it brought to your villa.

At a cost, the spa offers a range of treatments and massages including a Balinese traditional massage and an Asian foot massage, while activities include scuba diving, snorkelling, jetskiing, wakeboarding, fishing expeditions and other activities.

Occasionally the resort stages special entertainment like Balinese dance and DJ nights. All activities and entertainment for guests are packed on this one-hectare property.

F&B
The facility has a fine dining restaurant, a Japanese restaurant and two bars, presenting al a carte menus with Eastern, Western, Mediterranean, Indian and vegetarian food.

Our favourite item from the special menu was the grilled rack of New Zealand lamb with mushroom risotto, sautéed greens and garlic oil. Other delightful dishes were the buttered calamari, fish and chips wrap, classic Caesar salad, and steamed filet of reef fish served with seaweed and ginger-soy dressing.

With the all-inclusive package you also have a choice of mixing your meal with an Indian soup, a vegetarian salad, fish and chips and a Mediterranean dessert.

The Japanese restaurant is well-known, sometimes attracting guests from other resorts. Its menu features dishes such as sushi platter; ebi tempura maki (batter fried prawn in a roll of Japanese seasoned rice); teriyaki lamb cutlets; and salmon donburi (grilled salmon steak served on seasoned Japanese rice with house special sauce).

Service
Pleasant, efficient and courteous with your personal butler just a call away after you settle into a comfy villa.

Verdict
Despite the many options for high-end Maldivian resorts, this one is definitely on my list for a second visit.

No of rooms 50 water villas
Rates US$1,040 for the month of August, on a double-occupancy, all-inclusive basis; US$1,005 for September and October, on a double-occupancy, all-inclusive basis
Contact details
Tel: (960) 66 40375
Email: res.vadoo@adaaran.com.mv

Vikram Mujumdar takes helm at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort

By TTG Asia

July 15, 2019

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The Westin Desaru Coast Resort has appointed Vikram Mujumdar as general manager.

Prior to his latest role, Mujumdar was most recently task force general manager at The St Regis Vommuli Resort on Dhaalu Atoll in the Maldives, and was earlier general manager at W Seoul Walkerhill in South Korea.

He joined Marriott International in 1999 as revenue analysis manager at the cluster revenue office in Boston, and has since been with the company. Over the years he has held various key management roles with Marriott across the world, including Marriott hotels in the UK and Singapore; the Sheraton Grande Laguna in Phuket; The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection hotel in Phuket, as well as the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers in Bangkok.

Mujumdar first began began his hospitality career as a management trainee with Oberoi Hotels and Resorts in India, before working his way up through the ranks to hold management roles at the company.

New hotels: Aston Kartika Grogol Hotel & Conference Center, SureStay Plus by Best Western AC Luxe Angeles City and more

By TTG Asia

July 12, 2019

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Aston Kartika Grogol Hotel & Conference Center, Indonesia
Archipelago International has added the Aston Kartika Grogol Hotel & Conference Center to its portfolio. Located in Grogol, West Jakarta, the hotel offers 189 keys across four categories and facilities such as a rooftop restaurant, fitness centre, spa, swimming pool and executive lounge. The hotel is also equipped with a ballroom that can accommodate more than 2,000 guests in cocktail-style – the biggest in the West Jakarta area – and eight smaller function rooms.

SureStay Plus by Best Western AC Luxe Angeles City, Philippines
Best Western Hotels & Resorts has opened its first SureStay-branded property in the Philippines. Located on Surla Street – one of the main thoroughfares in downtown Angeles City – the hotel is surrounded by the SM City Clark mega-mall, PAGCOR casino and Fields Avenue walking street. There are 56 guestrooms available, as well as facilities such as an outdoor pool, restaurant, complimentary daily breakfast and Wi-Fi.

The Royal Park Canvas Ginza 8, Japan
The 14-storey property – flying the Royal Park Hotels flag – stands in the midst of Ginza, Tokyo’s high-end shopping district. There are 121 keys here across five room types, and includes two concept rooms each with its own special theme, named the Ginza Modern (inspired by an apartment from the 1930s) and Creator’s Stay (a minimalistic space).

Amenities on-site include a tea salon and bottle shop on the first floor; a music library on the second; the Canvas Lounge and Kitchen which acts as a communal space; as well as the all-day dining restaurant Opus curated by Michelin-starred chef Yusuke Namai on the rooftop.

Port Muziris, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, India
Marriott International has opened Port Muziris, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, in Kochi, marking the debut of the brand in India. The art-driven hotel in the Kerela port city boasts 54 rooms, including two Executive Suites, and stands a mere 300m from the Cochin International Airport. Recreational amenities include a swimming pool, pool bar and fitness centre. Other amenities include a 1,649m² banquet and meeting space, and two F&B venues – all-day dining outlet Lila’s Kitchen, and Kettle for quick bites and drinks.

Royal Caribbean celebrates 50 years with $50 deal

By TTG Asia

July 12, 2019

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FlowRider-&-Skydiving-Simulator — FlowRider and Skydiving simulator on the Spectrum of the Seas, the first of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Ultra Class cruise ship

Royal Caribbean International is kicking off its 50^th anniversary celebrations with the launch of discounts, along with a special marketing campaign –Stop Wondering, Start Wandering.

With every guest booking, a second guest can sail at just S$50 (US$37), and children aged 11 and below can cruise for free. HSBC credit card holders can enjoy an additional five per cent discount on their cruises. Terms and conditions apply.

FlowRider and Skydiving simulator on the Spectrum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean launched the 50^th anniversary promotions ahead of Voyager of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas commencing their South-east Asian sailings. Both ships will are also set for refurbishment by year-end.

Customers can choose from Voyager of the Seas’ seven sailings from October 21 from Singapore, ranging from three to five nights to ports such as Phuket, Melaka, Penang and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang).

Quantum of the Seas will be offering 34 sailings over six months starting from November 16, also from Singapore. Her itineraries include four-night cruises to Phuket and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), five-night cruises to Phuket, Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) and Penang, and a seven-night cruise to Bangkok (Laem Chabang) (with an overnight) and Ho Chi Minh City.

The marketing campaign will be launched in print, out-of-home, radio, TV commercial and digital formats. The campaign will highlight the brand’s first-in-industry innovations over the years, ranging from the FlowRider, Ripcord by iFly skydiving simulator, Zip Line, Ultimate Abyss slide and Bionic Bar to its latest, the SkyPad VR bungee trampoline.

Sri Lanka approves concessions for airlines to hasten tourism recovery

By Feizal Samath

July 12, 2019

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Sri Lanka has announced concessions including reduced ground handling charges and relaxed visa requirements for a six-month period to provide a fillip to its battered tourism industry.

Cabinet approval was granted on Sunday for reduced charges for ground handling, aviation fuel and embarkation levies for six months to facilitate tourism recovery after the Easter Sunday attacks. Sri Lanka has one of the highest ground handling charges in the region.

Sri Lanka hopes moves will help tourism sector grow; sunrise over the Sri Lankan jungle

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority chairman Johanne Jayaratne told reporters this week that with a reduction in these levies, overall airline operations costs would drop to about 20 per cent to 25 per cent at the country’s two international airports, bringing it on par with other Asian airports.

“This has been an ongoing problem for the past 12 years, and these three components have to come down to encourage tourism to grow. From the response I’ve received in the past 24 hours (from Tuesday), the airlines have been very positive (about the concession). We expect to see a definite increase in flight frequencies,” he added.

At least 250 people died including 50 tourists in coordinated bombings blamed on Islamic extremists at three churches and three luxury hotels on April 21, triggering a sharp drop in tourist arrivals and airline frequencies amid security worries.

Arrivals plummeted 70 per cent year-on-year in May, and 57 per cent in June.

Welcoming the concessions, Emirates area manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Chandana de Silva said the airline is on track to a four flights a day frequency from this month after cancelling flights ad-hoc for about a month or two.

Emirates is Sri Lanka’s second largest operator after national carrier SriLankan Airlines.

The government is also reviving an earlier effort to offer visa-on-arrival facilities to citizens of 39 countries, now to be implemented from August 1. The implementation of visa-on-arrival, initially intended to be effect on May 1, was suspended after the April 21 crisis.

“Due to the Easter Sunday terror attacks, we had to temporarily suspend it until the country bounced back to normal. We are now reviving it,” said tourism minister John Amaratunga.

The countries included in the visa-on-arrival scheme are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand and Switzerland.

While 29 airlines were serving Sri Lanka offering 300 flights per week just before the attacks, the number of flights dropped to 239 flights per week after the incidents.

From urban planner to tour guru

Six Senses plants flags in France and Costa Rica

Hotel Indigo introduces shoppable hotel rooms

HK hospitality tech company bags seven-digit sum in MindWorks-led Series A

Bangkok’s World Gourmet Festival celebrates 20th edition

Adaaran Prestige Vadoo

Vikram Mujumdar takes helm at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort

New hotels: Aston Kartika Grogol Hotel & Conference Center, SureStay Plus by Best Western AC Luxe Angeles City and more

Royal Caribbean celebrates 50 years with $50 deal

Sri Lanka approves concessions for airlines to hasten tourism recovery

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