StayWell Holdings is set to launch Park Regis Menteng at the end of 2020, the second property under the brand in Jakarta and third in Indonesia.
As the first new-build Park Regis in Jakarta, the hotel will serve as a showcase for the new generation Park Regis design and concept, StayWell Holdings said in a statement.
A rendering of the upcoming Park Regis Menteng
When open, the hotel will offer 126 guestrooms, an all-day-dining restaurant, four meeting rooms, rooftop swimming pool, bar and gymnasium.
Park Regis Menteng is located near corporate and government offices, public and private hospitals, industrial estate and major shopping centres – which StayWell says are demand generators for short-term accommodation.
Simon Wan, president and director of StayWell Holdings, commented: “As the third StayWell Holdings property to open in Indonesia under the Park Regis brand, we expect Park Regis Menteng to match the success of Park Regis Arion in Jakarta and Park Regis Kuta in Bali, with Park Regis Seminyak (Bali) to open soon.”
MGallery Hotel De La Coupole, Vietnam
The first international luxury hotel to open in Vietnam’s Sapa, the Bill Bensley-designed property offers 249 modern rooms that overlook the surrounding mountains and valley. Amenities include one restaurant, a bar and a patisserie, a heated pool, fitness centre, spa and kids club. The resort also has several function spaces, including a 435m2 ballroom that can host up to 570 guests theatre-style, and six meeting rooms and four boardrooms for smaller gatherings.
DoubleTree by Hilton Taipei Zhongshan, Taiwan
The first Hilton property in downtown Taipei stands 350m from the Zhongshan MRT train station. This 14-storey hotel boasts 106 guestrooms include 11 suites, all of which come furnished with DoubleTree Sweet Dreams Sleep Experience bedding, a 49-inch HDTV, Nespresso machine, separate bathtub and shower, and high-speed Wi-Fi. Some rooms have outdoor balconies as well. Guests will also have access to a 24-hour rooftop fitness centre, a lobby lounge and the all-day dining restaurant Alley. There is also a 68m2 meeting room which can hold up to 45 pax.
Wyndham Casablanca Jakarta, Indonesia
The rebranded property – formerly known as Park Lane Hotel Jakarta – offers 280 rooms and suites, including one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a Presidential Suite. The five-star hotel offers facilities such as a large lagoon-style outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi and children’s wading pool, gym, as well as a spa. There are also two F&B options – the Riva Bar & Grill, and all-day restaurant Café One – and 13 flexible function rooms.
Premier Residences Emerald Bay, Vietnam
Managed by AccorHotels, the latest opening on Phu Quoc island features 745 stylish rooms, suites and two-bedroom penthouses. The resort is also home to three restaurant and two bars, while leisure facilities include a fitness centre, the Emerald Spa, yoga studio and outdoor pool that overlooks Khem Beach.
Novotel Haikou Xinbudao, China
The first Novotel in Hainan province is located on Xinbu Island, a newly developed area in the north-east part of Haikou city. The U-shaped building features 141 guestrooms which include 15 Deluxe Rooms that come with balconies. Square, the hotel’s sole restaurant serves local and international buffets, and a-la-carte menu choices. Other leisure amenities include a lobby bar, gym, kids’ club, outdoor swimming pool and tennis court. For events, planners can avail either of the three meeting rooms such as the 800m2 pillarless ballroom for up to 600 pax, or the six VIP private rooms within the Square restaurant.
Bedsonline has announced the extension of its +3 per cent commission campaign until end-January amid “unprecedented demand”.
The well-received campaign, according to Bedsonline, was extended with the discontinuation of all its retail platforms (GTA, TravelCube and Travelbound) in nearly all markets just round the corner.
Alistair Rodger, retail travel agents director at Hotelbeds, said: “This promotion has prompted the last remaining travel agents from our legacy brands – TravelBound, TravelCube and GTA – to move over to the Bedsonline platform during the last few weeks.
“In nearly all of our markets we will shut down booking capabilities at the end of January. So ensuring that all agents from TravelBound, TravelCube and GTA have smoothly transitioned onto the new Bedsonline platform is essential for us. Old bookings will be modifiable, of course, but all new bookings have to take place on the new Bedsonline website.”
Rodger said that the transition is “almost complete now”, but urged agents who have not yet made the change to contact their account manager.
The new and enhanced Bedsonline platform – which incorporates the accommodation portfolio and best features of the TravelCube, TravelBound and GTA retail brand offering – has a product portfolio of over 170,000 hotels globally available (with over 90,000 of those directly sourced; 24,000 transfer routes and 18,000 activities; plus 140,000 cars available for hire.
Komodo National Park, currently under assessment due to ecological concerns, may soon be closed, a move that could potentially affect a large part of the local economy including tourism businesses.
The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) provincial governor is proposing to close Komodo National Park to visitors for a year. Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat reportedly said the closure was needed to protect against the extinction of the Komodo dragons, which have dwindled in numbers and suffered from the lack of preys within the park.
Padar Island in Komodo National Park
Viktor was quoted by local media as saying that the NTT government intends to make the necessary arrangements to set things right at the park so the Komodo population and natural habitat can recover and grow.
According to a statement issued by the Indonesia Ministry of Tourism, there is a conservation fund of 100 billion rupiah (US$6,897) for the park, part of a regional budget allotted to cultivating livestock such as ox, deer, lamb and pigs, which Komodo dragons feed on.
While awaiting decision by the relevant authorities, the travel trade is now put in the spot without concrete information on the park’s closure.
Abed Frans, NTT chapter chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA), told TTG Asia that he is not opposed to closure for conservation purposes, but the travel trade was bemoaning the lack of details on the drastic decision, which will heavily impact travel businesses and the NTT economy.
Abed said: “This announcement is too sudden. There were no discussions with associations, travel trade, or the community. This is a confusing one-sided decision. Surely, we need details – like when the plan will be implemented and what programmes the government will do to reorganise the Park – because 70 per cent of the community livelihood relies on the national park. ”
Abed further confided that he had been receiving queries from ASITA members, clients and and guests, but was unable to provide the answers.
Similarly, Emil Bei, director of Flores Trail Wisata, said he received many questions from business partners seeking clarification and certainty. A cruise operator in Europe, with whom Flores Trail Wisata had a prior agreement to do nine cruise calls until June, had became hesitant about calling at Labuan Bajo following the rumours.
“Questions such as when the Komodo National Park will be closed and for how long are hanging over our heads,” he said. “Stakeholders should be made aware of the details of the plan as they have to manage bookings that will be displaced during the period.”
Meanwhile, Sebastian Ng, managing director of Incito Vacations, believes that the Komodo National Park will not be closed anytime soon. “(The authorities) need to do some studies and research before making such a decision. Moreover, Komodo National Park is one of the priority tourism destinations for the central government.
“It is our job to tell clients and guests that it is just a rumour,” he said, adding that the closure is not official until confirmed by the relevant authorities.
Quoting Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Antara News Agency said there are plans to hold a meeting with the East Nusa Tenggara government this week.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry will request an explanation from the NTT Government regarding the closure plan.
“We will listen to what the regional government wants, then hear from the Ministry of Tourism, as well as from the Ministry of Forestry itself and continue to see what the transition period looks like and how to (go about doing it). There are ways,” she said.
She further shared that the director general of Natural Resources Conservation and Ecosystems will study the legal aspects.
NTT Regional Tourism Office reposted figures that show visitor arrivals to Komodo National Park in 2018 totalled 176,830, of which 69 per cent were international. The number was up 48 per cent over 2017.
In line with the rapid arrivals growth, the park’s revenue increased from 29 billion rupiah in 2017 to 32 billion rupiah last year.
In 2019, the Philippines’ history will receive greater attention as the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) lines up a series of heritage-focussed activities, a departure from the more popular sun, sand and sea highlights.
Taking the spotlight is a two-year campaign entitled Philippines500, Celebration of Quincentennial Circumnavigation of the World. It will run till 2021, which will coincide with the 500th anniversary of Ferdinand Magellan’s discovery of the Philippines.
Ferdinand Magellan Shrine, Cebu City, Philippines
TPB’s 2019 work programme obtained indicated that the campaign will target “global mainstream markets” including millennials, foodies and balikbayans (Filipinos residing abroad)”. The goal is to “boost awareness of the Philippines and entice other Spanish-speaking (tourists) to visit” the only Spanish-speaking nation in South-east Asia.
TPB will also showcase the 75th anniversary of American general Douglas MacArthur’s landing in Leyte which saw the Allied forces winning the largest naval battle in history, ending the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II (WWII), in October this year.
This marketing push given to Philippine’s colonial history has been well received in the country’s travel trade.
Rajah Travel’s chairman and president Aileen Clemente said that historical milestones are a big tourist draw, and suggested “(identifying) significant events in the Philippines and (planning for) it several years down the road”.
Rajah Travel is one of a handful of agencies that offer itineraries centred around WWII’s events. Its Salute To Valor: WWII Tales of Courage tour – which started in 2015 – highlights the historical value of Palawan and its role in WWII.
New offerings this year include the Calamian Islands (including Coron whose Bay has 11 Japanese shipwrecks); the former leper colony of Culion; and wildlife sanctuary with African animals, Calauit.
Celebrate TLC’s managing director-operations Simon Ang said: “We need to make people realise that we are more than beaches, sun and sea.” He added that Binondo (Manila’s Chinatown), the oldest and biggest in the world, is another historic area that could highlighted.
One of the first to package tours to Binondo, Ivan Man Dy – founder of Old Manila Walks – will take things a step further by bringing tourists from Hong Kong and China this February on a tour that coincides with the Manila Art Deco Weekend.
Malaysia has again extended the temporary 15-day visa exemption for tourists from China and India to the end of 2019.
Agents handling these markets welcomed the continuation of the exemption, most recently planned to cease on December 31, 2018, saying it would help Malaysia compete better with Thailand and Indonesia – the former offers visa on arrival while the latter offers visa exemption to Chinese and Indian tourists.
Friendly visa policies will help the destination better compete against neighbours, agents say
K Thangavelu, president of the Malaysian Indian Tour & Travel Association (MITTA) as well as Grandlotus Travel Agencies managing director, said: “There is plenty of direct air connectivity from China and India to Malaysia. Airfares are also very competitive on these routes.
“The continuation of the 15-day visa exemption, which has been extended on a year-to-year basis from October 1, 2015 for Chinese tourists, and from April 1, 2017 for Indian tourists, is a good move by the new government because the hassle of getting a visa has always been a hindrance to travel. If the Malaysian government doesn’t offer this, we may lose both these big markets to neighbouring Indonesia and Thailand.”
Uzaidi Udanis, president, Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, said the extension of the visa exemption was timely in view of the upcoming Chinese New Year period, which is also a peak travel period for Chinese tourists.
He said: “I was in Hunan recently and our trade counterparts there were concerned whether the exemption would be continued. It is good that the government is announcing this (ahead of the peak season) as this is a selling point for Chinese tourists who have yet to decide on which medium-haul destination to choose.
“On our part, we are helping boost awareness on Malaysia in China by organising the Malaysia-China Spring Festival Carnival in Kuala Lumpur on February 16 to showcase the Malaysian Chinese culture and heritage. Hunan TV will broadcast this event to their viewers in China. We hope this activity will also help to create more interest in Malaysia and in turn, encourage more Chinese tourists to Malaysia.”
Bobby Eng, general manager, Sunflower Holidays, shared that the extension of the visa exemption will help him sell Malaysia to corporate incentive or meeting planners.
“In the past, the process of obtaining a visa took about five working days. It was a hassle especially for organisers who had to coordinate with participants from different parts of the country. Now individuals planning to travel to Malaysia can register online for the 15-day visa exemption – the approval is fast and the system is user friendly,” Eng remarked.
Jhingran: hotels must be careful when choosing technology
In some ways, hotels today have hardly changed from those a hundred years ago. Guests will still walk into a lobby, check in at the reception, dine at the hotel restaurant and ask the concierge for city recommendations. Yet hidden from the guests’ view is a web of technologies that facilitate their stay from the moment they book to the moment they leave.
Jhingran: hotels must be careful when choosing technology
VR for sales presentations
One of the most interesting pieces of technology that we employ is virtual reality (VR). We use an Oculus Go VR set that essentially allows travel agents, meeting planners and guests from around the world to view our rooms and facilities almost as if they were here. While PowerPoint files and images are all very well they cannot provide the same immersive experience that true VR can.
Every hotel is unique, and all hoteliers will want to show off every nook and cranny to potential guests and agents, that is what Oculus Go allows us to do. Meeting planners and travel agents are able to travel throughout our hotel and view our facilities as if they were there. This matters because each agent will have their own requirements from the size and style of rooms, the size of the lobby, number of swimming pools to the shapes and sizes of the meeting rooms.
Equipped with this new technology, we have already seen results. We have seen an increase in the number of travel agents visiting our property after viewing it through the VR headsets, site inspections and contracting has also improved. Agents are not going to spend their time viewing a hotel that they do not think fits the needs of their guests and the Oculus Go headsets allow us to bring the hotel to them first. When they do come and visit, they feel like they are returning to a hotel they have already visited!
Training technology
Oculus Go is not the only technology that brings results. We train our staff in language and upselling skills using Boost’s mobile learning solutions. Since we started using Boost we have increased upselling revenue by five per cent and have received positive online reviews on the quality of English language skills that our employees possess.
This has also generated better relations with travel agents as they understand that our staff can speak the language of their guests – if their guests are happy then they are happy. Importantly as a leader, my employees are simply more confident and have acquired new language and upselling skills that they will take with them throughout their careers.
Revenue management
We also use LodgIQ as a revenue management tool which provides analysis of anonymous Big Data to extract revenue insights. This allows us to manage our room inventory in a much more efficient way. Importantly, it has improved our partnerships with travel agents as we are able to provide more rooms at more flexible price points.
Technology does not (and cannot) replace good service, rather it must be seen as an enabler. General managers need to be careful when choosing what technology to employ. Sometimes, technology is at its best when it is hidden.
Australia India Travel & Tourism Council (AITTC) and Northeast India Tour Operators Association (NEITO) have signed an MoU to promote tourism to the north-eastern states of India.
According to a statement from AITTC, the two main purposes of the agreement are to enhance destination knowledge among Australians and to facilitate the establishment of a suitable ‘travel & tourism connect’ between Australia and north-east India.
Elaborating, AITTC chairman Sandip Hor said: “At present, the North East frontier of India comprising of eight states is not so well known to the majority of Australians. With this MOU in place, we are aiming to utilise the knowledge and expertise of (NEITO) tour operators to update Australians with more information about the states. This will include all tourism related information like transportation, accommodation, what to see, local culture, festivals, weather, etc.
“And while doing so a relationship will be established among India focussed outbound tour operators in Australia with inbound operators in Northeast India, thus establishing a travel and tourism connection between them.”
Citing data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, AITTC said India is one of the most popular destinations for Australian travellers. However, travel to the eight north-eastern states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim – remains limited.
Hor said the region’s many attractions have great potential to add a new dimension to international tourism growth in India, with examples counting Assam’s Brahmaputra River Cruise, the Kaziranga National Park, Tripura’s Royal Palaces, Sikkim and its Himalayan draws and Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival.
Australia India Travel & Tourism Council (AITTC) and Northeast India Tour Operators Association (NEITO) have signed an MoU to promote tourism to the north-eastern states of India.
According to a statement from AITTC, the two main purposes of the agreement are to enhance destination knowledge among Australians and to facilitate the establishment of a suitable ‘travel & tourism connect’ between Australi
1 of 2
Tsomgo lake in east Sikkim, India
Middle two: Consul general of India in Sydney Shri B. Vanlalvawna (left) and AITTC's Sandip Hor
a and north-east India.
Elaborating, AITTC chairman Sandip Hor said: “At present, the North East frontier of India comprising of eight states is not so well known to the majority of Australians. With this MOU in place, we are aiming to utilise the knowledge and expertise of (NEITO) tour operators to update Australians with more information about the states. This will include all tourism related information like transportation, accommodation, what to see, local culture, festivals, weather, etc.
“And while doing so a relationship will be established among India focussed outbound tour operators in Australia with inbound operators in Northeast India, thus establishing a travel and tourism connection between them.”
Citing data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, AITTC said India is one of the most popular destinations for Australian travellers. However, travel to the eight north-eastern states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim – remains limited.
Hor said the region’s many attractions have great potential to add a new dimension to international tourism growth in India, with examples counting Assam’s Brahmaputra River Cruise, the Kaziranga National Park, Tripura’s Royal Palaces, Sikkim and its Himalayan draws and Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival.
Vietjet launches Hanoi-Tokyo, HCMC-Van Don
Vietjet has launched daily flights between Hanoi and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. The flight departs from Hanoi at 12.55 and arrives in Tokyo at 08.00. The return flight takes off at 09.30 and lands in Hanoi at 14.00. This is the LCC’s third service to Japan after Hanoi-Osaka and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)-Osaka.
The LCC also began its first flight connecting HCMC and the new Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh province, home to Halong Bay, on January 20. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, the flight departs from HCMC at 07.00 am and arrives in Van Don at 09.15. The return flight takes off at 09.50 and lands in HCMC at 12.05.
JAL to fly to Bengaluru
Japan Airlines (JAL) will launch daily flights between Tokyo (Narita) and Bengaluru during the summer of 2020. Flights leave Narita at 18.25 for arrival in Bengaluru at 00.05 the next day. They then depart Bengaluru at 02.45 to arrive back at Narita at 14.55. JAL will use its Boeing 787-8 aircraft on this route.
PAL goes to Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Delhi
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has announced that it will this summer commence new routes to Hanoi, Phnom Penh and New Delhi from its Manila hub.
Flights between Manila and Hanoi will operate four times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) starting March 31, 2019 with PR595 departing at 22.25 and arriving at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport at 12:45 the following day. Return flights via PR596 leave Hanoi every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 01.45 and touch down in Manila at 05.30.
Flights between Manila and Phnom Penh will operate five times weekly (Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday) starting April 1, 2019 with PR521 departing at 22.10 and arriving at Phnom Penh International Airport at 23.45. On the return, PR522 leaves Phnom Penh every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 12:45 and touches down in Manila at 04.20.
PAL is targeting April 2019 as the start of the New Delhi service. The new route is slated to run four times weekly between Manila and New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport using brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft.
To serve the strategic goal of strengthening the Philippines as a network hub, PAL is also increasing flight frequencies to the following destinations this summer:
• Cebu to Nagoya: from four times weekly to daily
• Manila to Osaka (nonstop): from seven to 11 weekly
• Manila to Bangkok: from 21 to 25 weekly
• Manila to Kuala Lumpur: from seven to 11 weekly
• Manila to Jakarta: from seven to 10 weekly
• Manila to Los Angeles: from 14 to 17 times weekly
• Manila to San Francisco: from 10 to 14 times weekly
• Manila to New York JFK: from five times weekly to daily
• Manila to Toronto: from five times weekly to daily
• Manila to Sydney: from seven to nine weekly
• Manila to Brisbane: from four to five weekly
• Manila to Taipei: from 10 to 14 weekly
• Manila to Doha: from four to five weekly
Hainan Airlines introduces flights from Shenzhen to Vancouver and Dublin
Hainan Airlines is launching twice weekly flights between Shenzhen and Vancouver on January 28, the first nonstop connection from the Chinese city to Canada. Operated using a Boeing 787-9 wide-body aircraft, flights depart Shenzhen on Mondays and Fridays at 12.20 for arrival in Vancouver at 08.50. On the return, flights depart Vancouver at 10.50 and arrive back in Shenzhen at 16.20 the next day.
The airline is also planning to launch flights to Dublin starting February 25. The route, with two round trip flights weekly on Mondays and Fridays, will be serviced by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. HU755 departs Shenzhen at 01.30 to arrive in Dublin at 07.00. HU756 then leaves Dublin at 09.00 for arrival back in Shenzhen at 05.30 the following day.
Finnair opens routes to Sapporo, ups Hong Kong frequency
Finnair will operate twice-weekly flights on a new route to Sapporo, Japan for the winter 2019/2020 season, from December 15 to March 27.
Finnair will also increase flights to Hong Kong during winter 2019/2020, with double daily flights to Hong Kong continuing from the summer 2019 season throughout the winter season.
Alistair Rodger, retail travel agents director at Hotelbeds, said: “This promotion has prompted the last remaining travel agents from our legacy brands – TravelBound, TravelCube and GTA – to move over to the Bedsonline platform during the last few weeks.
In some ways, hotels today have hardly changed from those a hundred years ago. Guests will still walk into a lobby, check in at the reception, dine at the hotel restaurant and ask the concierge for city recommendations. Yet hidden from the guests’ view is a web of technologies that facilitate their stay from the moment they book to the moment they leave.
VR for sales presentations
One of the most interesting pieces of technology that we employ is virtual reality (VR). We use an Oculus Go VR set that essentially allows travel agents, meeting planners and guests from around the world to view our rooms and facilities almost as if they were here. While PowerPoint files and images are all very well they cannot provide the same immersive experience that true VR can.
Every hotel is unique, and all hoteliers will want to show off every nook and cranny to potential guests and agents, that is what Oculus Go allows us to do. Meeting planners and travel agents are able to travel throughout our hotel and view our facilities as if they were there. This matters because each agent will have their own requirements from the size and style of rooms, the size of the lobby, number of swimming pools to the shapes and sizes of the meeting rooms.
Equipped with this new technology, we have already seen results. We have seen an increase in the number of travel agents visiting our property after viewing it through the VR headsets, site inspections and contracting has also improved. Agents are not going to spend their time viewing a hotel that they do not think fits the needs of their guests and the Oculus Go headsets allow us to bring the hotel to them first. When they do come and visit, they feel like they are returning to a hotel they have already visited!
Training technology
Oculus Go is not the only technology that brings results. We train our staff in language and upselling skills using Boost’s mobile learning solutions. Since we started using Boost we have increased upselling revenue by five per cent and have received positive online reviews on the quality of English language skills that our employees possess.
This has also generated better relations with travel agents as they understand that our staff can speak the language of their guests – if their guests are happy then they are happy. Importantly as a leader, my employees are simply more confident and have acquired new language and upselling skills that they will take with them throughout their careers.
Revenue management
We also use LodgIQ as a revenue management tool which provides analysis of anonymous Big Data to extract revenue insights. This allows us to manage our room inventory in a much more efficient way. Importantly, it has improved our partnerships with travel agents as we are able to provide more rooms at more flexible price points.
Technology does not (and cannot) replace good service, rather it must be seen as an enabler. General managers need to be careful when choosing what technology to employ. Sometimes, technology is at its best when it is hidden.