Complementary events join forces to draw visitors to Singapore’s Marina Bay

May 30, 2018

Organisers of events taking place in Singapore’s Marina Bay precinct have taken to strategic partnerships in hopes that their complementary offerings could boost visitor numbers.

Artbox Singapore and the DBS Marina Regatta have synchronised their calendars and are now running concurrently on two consecutive weekends – May 25-27 and June 1-3 – in hopes of drawing more visitors to the precinct, said Leonard Tan, senior vice president, group strategic marketing & communications, DBS.

Visitors at this year’s Artbox. Photo credit: Artbox Singapore’s Instagram @artbox_singapore

DBS, which has been a sponsor of Artbox since its debut last year, has this year extended its annual Marina Regatta for another weekend to compliment its partner, shared Tan.

He elaborated: “This area was an opportunity. Artbox has a good mix of foreign and local vendors, and the DBS Marina Regatta attracts overseas racing teams as well. We’ve got 98 teams this year. It’s a good mix to activate the entire Marina Bay and make this a vibrant place, and this helps to beef up our appeal in the region.”

Last year’s single-weekend regatta garnered more than 40,000 attendees, and this year’s is expected to bring in even more in conjunction with the crowd from Artbox, said Tan.

Artbox is an outdoor food and retail concept brought in from Thailand by local organiser Invade. Last year’s event saw 600,000 attendees, 14 per cent of which were tourists.

This year, Artbox has expanded its fairground space by 280 per cent to 1.3ha and expects to attract 700,000 guests.

Lee Haoming, co-founder of Artbox Singapore and head, strategy of Invade, said: “The bulk of our visitors are 20-35 years old, but we are surprised to see that a lot of families came by as well. So this year, we created more games for the kids to make it more wholesome and family-friendly.”

He added: “We’ve got a lot of vendors from Malaysia and Indonesia signing up as well. It’s no longer just Thai and Singaporean vendors. We want to create a platform for different entrepreneurs and designers in the Asia region to showcase what they have and exchange cultural creativity.”

Lee told TTG Asia that the event will be brought to a regional scale. Artbox Kuala Lumpur is almost confirmed for November, and other countries such as Taiwan and Indonesia are being discussed.

SIA now NDC-connected with Skyscanner partnership

By TTG Asia

May 30, 2018

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Singapore Airlines (SIA) has launched its first New Distribution Capability (NDC) connection following its agreement with travel search and booking site Skyscanner.

NDC was conceived by IATA to address some of the industry’s current inventory distribution limitations by supplementing the capabilities of third party channels to match those of the airline’s websites.

A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 taking off from Changi International Airport

Customers who choose to purchase SIA flights through Skyscanner will be able to do so directly, instead of having to be referred to the SIA website to complete a booking. Other capabilities such as the ability to select seats and the availability of personalised offers will be implemented progressively.

Direct bookings on Skyscanner are currently limited pending testing but are expected to be rolled out progressively within the next few months.

SIA recently obtained its Level 3 NDC Certification, which covers both Offer and Order management, under which an airline takes full control of the way fares are offered to customers as well as the booking, payment and ticketing processes once customers have chosen a fare that they wish to purchase.

Moving forward, SIA will further develop its NDC capabilities to offer other ancillary services and personalised offers for its customers.

“With an NDC Level 3 Certification, we will also be seeking out even more connections with travel partners to improve distribution through SIA’s third-party sales channels,” said Campbell Wilson, senior vice president sales & marketing.

Hugh Aitken, senior director strategic partnerships at Skyscanner, added that the engine’s direct booking capability could benefit customers by minimising friction, as well as airlines, who will be able to better showcase up-sell options with an airline-branded checkout flow.

Mekong Kingdoms’ Gypsy sails between Luang Prabang and Thailand

By TTG Asia

May 30, 2018

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Mekong Kingdoms’ two-cabin river cruiser, Gypsy, has made its maiden Mekong voyage, with three- and four-day sailings between Luang Prabang in Laos and Thailand’s Golden Triangle launched earlier this month.

The 41m-long, two-cabin vessel features a communal mid-ship lounge, bar and dining area, as well as a separate veranda-style lounge with an al fresco panorama deck at the bow of the boat. Cabins are fully air-conditioned and consist of king bed and twin bed configurations, each with an en-suite shower and vanity, a hair dryer and personal safe.

Cruising from near the world renowned Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in Chiang Rai to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang, the ship will stop at villages and attractions along the way.

Daily shore excursions include guided jungle treks; mountain biking in Ban Houy Phalam; freshwater fishing; a traditional weaving workshop at Ban Baw; Laos whisky tasting; a visit to a little-known elephant camp in Pak Beng; and the Pak Ou caves – with its limestone karst formations and Buddha images left by pilgrims over the centuries.

Activities are also available on board, including yoga, folk dancing, Laos language classes, weaving workshops and cooking lessons.

Rates (per boat, for up to four guests) start from US$5,450 for a 4D3N cruise from Luang Prabang to the Golden Triangle in Thailand; and from US$6,950 for a 3D2N cruise from the Golden Triangle to Luang Prabang.

Rates include all on board meals; welcome reception with canapés; soft beverages, water, beer, selected wines and coffee and tea; Wi-Fi; shore excursions, English guide, entrance fees and transfers; on board activities; return airport or hotel transfers; and gratuities. Children aged four years and under travel free.

Sydney comes to life in vivid colours

By TTG Asia

May 30, 2018

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The 10^th anniversary of Vivid Sydney will bring the city to life in a colourful showcase of lighting, sound and other creative presentations from May 25 to June 16.

Kicking the festival on was the Lights On moment at the Sydney Opera House, created by Australian artist Jonathan Zawada and featuring digital sculptures of everyday objects and natural specimens in motion.

This year, the Vivid Sydney lights will come on in nine precincts across Sydney including Barangaroo, Chatswood, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Kings Cross, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Taronga Zoo and for the first time, Luna Park.

Dusit appoints Eric Piatti as GM of first Singapore property

By TTG Asia

May 28, 2018

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Dusit International has appointed Eric Piatti as general manager of Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore, the Thai hospitality company’s first property in the country that is slated to open in 1Q2019 within the Laguna National Golf & Country Club.

Piatti brings to his role more than 30 years of senior management experience at luxury hotels in the US, Switzerland, Japan, China, India, Egypt and Thailand.

Prior to joining Dusit, he spent five years as general manager of Swissôtel Nai Lert Park in Bangkok, and was previously the general manager of Swissôtel Beijing and Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers in Cairo.

Rosewood Phnom Penh

By Marissa Carruthers

May 28, 2018

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TTG_ROSEWOOD — 37th floor sky bar is the highest in the city

37th floor sky bar is the highest in the city

Location
Rosewood Phnom Penh occupies a prime spot in the capital’s burgeoning business district, spread across the top 14 floors of the city’s highest building, the iconic 188m-high Vattanac Capital Tower. The hotel is conveniently situated a heartbeat away from Phnom Penh’s major attractions.

Rooms
The hotel’s 175 spacious rooms, including 37 suites, each carry the hotel’s signature timeless style that seamlessly blends contemporary with classic, while epitomising chic urban living. The residential-style rooms all have floor-to-ceiling windows, each boasting uninterrupted views across the capital and beyond.

I stayed in a Premier River Room, an expansive 50m² space that comes furnished with a soft king-sized bed, 55-inch TV, Nespresso coffee machine and mini bar. Custom art pieces delicately dot the walls and living space, and an adjoining large marble bathroom with a tub and separate walk-in shower rounds out the sophisticated yet comfortable space.

F&B
There’s no shortage of food and drink offerings, with the property’s pièce de résistance being Sora – the sky bar on the 37^th floor. Holding the title of Phnom Penh’s highest bar, it is perched on a platform overlooking the city and offers unparalleled views of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, iconic Central Market, Olympic Stadium and more. Sora is undoubtedly the best spot in the capital to enjoy a cocktail while the sun sets on the city, with beats of the resident DJ playing in the background.

On the food front, Iza is an izakaya-style restaurant that takes Phnom Penh’s Japanese cuisine to a new level. The delightful range of options take in a robatayaki and irori charcoal grill open kitchen serving barbecued meat, seafood and vegetable skewers, a noodle corner, and sushi and sashimi counters. Yakitori and tempura is also on the menu.

The Living Room is a more casual affair, with a relaxed vibe and intimate feel, ideal for breakfast, lunch and evening appetisers. Brasserie Louis is another great spot for breakfast with a view, business lunches or evening meals, while The Whiskey Bar provides an excellent setting for a nightcap.

Steak and seafood restaurant Cuts is slated to open on the 38^th floor this summer.

Facilities
The property features an art gallery showcasing the work of renowned local artists, and a state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness centre on the 33^rd floor. A swimming pool and spa will open this summer.

The hotel’s 992m² of event space, which takes in three salons for up to 300 guests and The Pavilion – the latter a multipurpose venue made up of The Dining House and Conservatory will be fully operational by 3Q.

Service
The hospitality of the staff is in keeping with the hotel’s standards – high service with a welcoming smile that makes each guest feel as if they are staying in a stylish home away from home.

Verdict
Rosewood is a fantastic addition to Phnom Penh’s hotel scene and sets a high standard for any luxury development that follows in its wake.

No. of rooms 175
Rates From US$250, excluding taxes and service charge
Contact details
Tel: (855) 23 936 888

Philippine destinations not winning from Boracay’s closure

By Rosa Ocampo

May 28, 2018

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el-nido-palawan — While seen as an alternative, El Nido does not have the capacity to absorb Boracay volume in the summer peak season

While some South-east Asian beaches are potentially benefitting as alternative destinations with Boracay’s closure, Philippine destinations do not seem to be among the winners as they are either operating at capacity this summer high season or are simply not appealing to travellers.

“I talked to travel agents and they said tourists go to Vietnam instead – particularly Phu Quoc island and Danang,” said Christine Urbanozo-Ibarreta, president of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA).

While seen as an alternative, El Nido does not have the capacity to absorb Boracay volume in the summer peak season

Boris Travel general manager Irene Maliwanag confirmed that there were many foregone opportunities for the Philippines since Boracay was closed for rehabilitation a month ago, especially for new bookings that were easy to cancel in favour of other countries.

While longhaul tourists from the US, Canada and Europe who have already booked Boracay months ahead and therefore have no choice but to stick to the Philippines, only a few have emerged as preferred destinations in lieu of Boracay.

Tourists’ preferred destinations like El Nido in Palawan and Siargao are already fully booked, but these clients are not swayed towards Bohol and Malapascua in Cebu, said Maliwanag.

A number of foreign tourists, meanwhile, have skipped visiting any local destinations entirely, pointed out Rajah Tours president Jojo Clemente.

As well, the increase in tourists, she noted, has led to a price hike in El Nido for products including downmarket hotels and tricycles, which doubled from 50 pesos (US$1) to 100 pesos, according to Maliwanag.

Hotels in Puerto Princesa in Palawan have not seen increase their rates as they have a smaller market share than El Nido but the Underground River – which raised its entrance fee from 1,800 pesos to 2,000 pesos three months before Boracay closed – has again increased the fee to 2,200 pesos after Boracay’s closure, excluding the environmental fee.

Japan Airlines’ new longhaul LCC to take off in 2020

By TTG Asia

May 28, 2018

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Japan Airlines (JAL) is launching a new international LCC to offer medium to longhaul flights.

The new LCC business will be a consolidated subsidiary of the JAL Group and plans to operate flights from Narita International Airport to select destinations in Asia, Europe and the Americas, the airline said in a statement.

JAL eyes a larger slice of the budget air travel sector, which has been slow to take off in the country

In the first stages of its establishment, the as-yet unnamed carrier will operate two Boeing 787-8 aircraft and is targeting to launch commercial flights from the summer of 2020 when Narita Airport is scheduled to complete enhancements to its facilities.

The LCC business is part of JAL’s 10 Year Grand Design medium-term strategy to accelerate growth through innovation, while contributing toward Japan’s target to welcome new inbound visitors in the next three years and beyond.

Sharper strategies needed in face of Airbnb competition, hoteliers told

By S Puvaneswary

May 28, 2018

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kuala-lumpur-3 — MATTA wants prompt assistance for agents forced to shoulder additional costs

Hotels have to relook their distribution and marketing strategies in order to better compete with Airbnb providers for market share, said speakers at a session addressing Airbnb’s impact on hotels, serviced residences and OTAs at the recent Hospitality Malaysia Conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Hanley Chew, CEO of Berjaya Hotels & Resorts, suggests for hotels to focus on right visitor segments. “While Airbnb providers are in direct competition with hotels for the leisure FIT segment, they are not in competition for group travel and the meetings segment.”

Industry players bring different sides to the topic of whether hotels should go head to head with Airbnb

He added that with “the sharing economy here to stay”, hotels may want to choose to strategically co-exist with the competition rather than simply regard them as a threat.

On the sidelines of the session, he told TTG Asia that Berjaya Hotels & Resorts views Airbnb as a partner and is considering ways of collaboration with the home sharing platform.

Said Chew: “When Airbnb operators have rented out the property they have, there is no more means for them to make money until the property or room is vacated. We are looking at the option of giving them a small number of rooms in our hotels which they can sell on the Airbnb platform.”

On the other hand, Yann Gouriou, COO and co-founder of online travel portal Traveliko, opined that hoteliers should rethink the way they promote their products to appeal to millennial travellers, whose expectations greatly differ from that of the earlier generations.

He said millennials are keen on experiential travel and living like a local, which is what Airbnb is selling. Guests could talk to the owners for advice on what to do and where to go. In comparison, hotels have adopted a cold approach, and have removed the human touch by focusing too much on technology.

He added: “Hotels have rerouted the customer from speaking to a human on the hotel side to talking to the portal. Hotels have gone backwards and they have to bring back the human touch, the romance.”

In 2017, Airbnb hosts in Kuala Lumpur shared their homes with more than 507,000 guests, which is a 135 per cent increase from the previous year. Airbnb is not regulated by Malaysian law and operators do not need a license to operate or pay taxes.

Hilton strikes up alliance with Country Garden to deepen China reach

By TTG Asia

May 28, 2018

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Hilton has entered into a strategic partnership with Country Garden Hotels Group to manage the Chinese property developer’s hotels primarily under its DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn brands.

The partnership will an initial six hotels owned by Country Garden now trading or in the pipeline as Hilton-branded properties.

The partnership was formalised during a signing ceremony attended in Shanghai by Hilton’s Christopher J. Nassetta (third from left) and Country Garden’s Xie Shutai (third from right)

New hotels included in the partnership deal include DoubleTree by Hilton Hainan Lingshui, DoubleTree by Hilton Guangzhou Zengcheng and Hilton Zhengzhou Xingyang.

“Country Garden is a widely admired property developer and we are thrilled to be extending our partnership with them,” said Hilton CEO Christopher J Nassetta in a statement. “Through this partnership, we have an opportunity to bring Hilton’s signature hospitality to even more locations across the country.”

Country Garden has an existing portfolio of over 120 hotels in trading, under construction and in planning.

Hilton currently has 470 hotels either trading or under development in China, with 266 being actively under construction.

Complementary events join forces to draw visitors to Singapore’s Marina Bay

SIA now NDC-connected with Skyscanner partnership

Mekong Kingdoms’ Gypsy sails between Luang Prabang and Thailand

Sydney comes to life in vivid colours

Dusit appoints Eric Piatti as GM of first Singapore property

Rosewood Phnom Penh

Philippine destinations not winning from Boracay’s closure

Japan Airlines’ new longhaul LCC to take off in 2020

Sharper strategies needed in face of Airbnb competition, hoteliers told

Hilton strikes up alliance with Country Garden to deepen China reach

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