THE travel trade is optimistic that ailing national carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will turn around under the leadership of the newly appointed CEO-designate for MAS NewCo, Christoph R Mueller.

While Mueller’s contract with Ireland’s Aer Lingus ends May 1, 2015, discussions are ongoing for Mueller to assume the post of CEO prior to that date, but no earlier than March 1, 2015. MAS NewCo plans to commence operations on July 1, 2015.

Mueller’s role will be challenging, given that MAS were dealt two back-to-back blows earlier this year – one flight’s disappearance and another’s downing over Ukraine. The airline also posted net losses of RM576.1 million (US$165.98 million) in Q3.

Adam Kamal, deputy president 2 of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, said: “Mueller is the first foreign CEO at the helm. I think we need someone with an international perspective. Hopefully the government will give him a free hand to perform his duties and turn the airline around.

“Industry players are still comfortable using our national carrier due to its all-inclusive fares and wide network. The airline will have no problem getting support from travel consultants.”

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president, Hamzah Rahmat, said: “We expect our national carrier to turn around with Mueller’s vast experience. We want the airline to return to its glory days as soon as possible.”

Malaysian Indian Tour and Travel Association president, K Thangavelu, also said the government and politicians ought to give Mueller a free hand to revamp the airline, “otherwise it will be back to square one.”

Thangavelu pointed out that managing an Asian airline could be very different from Mueller’s current experience because of “differences in tradition, politics and cultures. “He has to adapt very quickly.”

Justifying the choice of candidate, Khazanah said in a statement that Mueller was the best candidate with a strong record of transformation and turnarounds in the aviation industry.

Among his key accomplishments, Mueller has demonstrated particular strength in strategic and financial planning, as well as structural repositioning of companies in difficulties, including implementing change programmes and adopting new technology, distribution and retail solutions decisively.

The line-up of key leadership in NewCo will also include Malaysia Airport Holdings advisor, Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid, as chairman of the Corporate Reskilling Centre scheduled to be launched on April 1, 2015.

VIETJET has announced plans to launch flights connecting Russia’s Vladivostok with Vietnam’s Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Danang, Hue and Phu Quoc.

Inaugural flights between Hanoi and Vladivostok will begin in May 2015, with three round trips per week. The flight duration is approximately four hours.

Passengers travelling from Singapore will also be able to connect to Vladivostok via Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Vietjet offers daily flights from Singapore to HCMC where travellers can easily connect to other cities within Vietnam via the airline’s network of domestic flights.

Daily flights to HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport depart Changi International Airport at 12.40 (local time).

In the near future, Vietjet also plans to expand its flight network from Vietnam to other regions within Russia.

Since Vietjet started operations three years ago, the airline has doubled its commercial fleet, currently operating 25 domestic and international routes.

INSIGHT Vacations has appointed Signature Tours by Creative Travel the general sales agent for its Europe and US escorted tours.

Signature Tours, established in 2009, is the outbound holidays division of India-based DMC Creative Travel. With its appointment, Indian customers will have access to Insight’s luxury travel journeys across 40 European countries.

Insight CEO, John Boulding, said: “We are excited that Signature Tours will come on board as our GSA to help us spread the word for our luxury tours and exciting itineraries for Europe, the Mediterranean, North America and Canada.

Sandeep Kapur, senior vice president, Signature Tours by Creative Travel, said: “The Indian market has many fine players in the outbound space, however Insight Vacations will create a new segment of premium & luxury group travel across Europe and the US, something that is missing from the Indian market so far.

“From Insight’s collection of Gold itineraries, for those looking for a step up in luxury and refinement, to their in-depth regional tours, off-the beaten track Country Road journeys, special interest or gastronomic holidays, we are excited to introduce such a wide range of itineraries and travel styles for our customers who seek authenticity and expert knowledge in their travel experiences.”

Additionally, Bollywood star Lisa Ray, who has Indian and European ancestry, has been appointed the new global brand ambassador for Insight’s Exotics and Gold Collections.

Earlier in October, Insight released its 2015 Europe, Britain, Eastern Mediterranean and Morocco brochure including a luxury collection of Insight Gold escorted journeys. The programme includes four new European Gold itineraries that are, for the first time, all-inclusive of evening dining, sightseeing excursions and Signature experiences.

Early bookers are offered discounts of up to 10 per cent when booking before February 12, 2015.

HOTEL companies are taking a bolder approach in applying new technologies to enhance the guest experience but the industry needs to also stay true to its roots as a service provider, said speakers at this week’s PATAcademy Human Capital Development programme.

Justin Malcolm, general manager of Aloft Bangkok-Sukhumvit 11, shared that the brand has literally rolled out robot butlers at the Cupertino property in Silicon Valley in August this year, and parent company Starwood Hotels and Resorts has begun introducing keyless entry to its W Hotels and Aloft hotels in the region.

Thirty out of 300 rooms at Malcolm’s hotel are categorised as Touch Rooms, coming with Fingi devices that allow keyless entry, control of in-room amenities, connection to guest services, and acts as a local phone number and free wireless hotspot for the traveller who wants to be connected all the time.

PATAcademy, which concluded yesterday, saw a host of speakers talking about possible technologies that could come into play in the next few years, from Beacon technology to wearables to artificial intelligence.

“If you go back 10 years, Starwood was not a technology leader. Most of our hotels were still registering people with hard keys and paper,” said Malcolm.

“But as a company we formed a global centre of excellence two years ago, filled with academics, IT experts, project leaders, and we have a huge stream of project plans in the making, SPG Keyless being one of them. Tech within the hospitality industry has not been tapped. We’re only starting to see what’s coming up.”

However, he cautioned: “We should never get to the stage where we replace human interaction. Technology should enable and make processes that have taken too much effort become seamless, or connect us globally to make us better service providers.”

Sudhir Abdul Rahman, senior vice president, information services, SilverNeedle Hospitality, said the recently opened Next Brisbane hotel also uses the affordable Fingi system to allow express check-ins alongside traditional check-ins and self-service check-in kiosks.

“The variation of business travellers cannot be narrowed down and we cater to all of them,” he said. While SilverNeedle is considering technologies such as facial recognition, Sudhir said hotels have to be tactical about technology and its use.

“We’re active on social media right now but are we getting the mileage out of it? Are we just reacting or are we really engaging with our target audience?”

Other hotels have employed technology to go green. Prasanna Welangoda, senior events and media executive, Jetwing Hotels Sri Lanka, said: “Jetwing Yalla, which opened in January this year, draws 40 per cent of its electricity from solar energy. We focus a lot on going green.”

THE UK, Australia and Canada have issued travel advisories this week to caution citizens visiting Sri Lanka of potential election violence at the upcoming presidential poll on January 8.

“Political rallies and election campaigns in Sri Lanka have occasionally turned violent. Travellers should avoid any political gatherings or rallies,” the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in its advisory.

However, Sri Lankan travel industry members said large-scale violence is unlikely and that business for the traditional peak season is looking good.

“These are routine advisories issued ahead of any election. Bookings are great (for December) and I don’t expect any election violence deterring arrivals,” said Hiran Cooray, president of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka.

Rumy Jauffer, managing director of the state-run Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, told TTG Asia e-Daily that arrivals would reach the targeted 1.5 million this year, with China closing in on the UK’s position as the second-largest source market, after India.

“Chinese arrivals have been showing triple-digit growth for the past few months,” he said.

Furthermore, India and China don’t issue travel advisories like their western counterparts.

According to the latest data for January-November 2014, Indian, UK and Chinese arrivals rose 16.3 per cent, 4.9 per cent and 137.6 per cent respectively year-on-year.

THE first DoubleTree by Hilton property in Melbourne was launched recently in the heart of the city, opposite the iconic Flinders Street Station.

Previously known as Citigate Melbourne, the 180-key DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne – Flinders Street is owned by M&L Hospitality and managed by Hilton Worldwide, and had just undergone a multi-million-dollar refurbishment.

The hotel is within easy walking distance of Federation Square, Melbourne’s famous laneways, restaurants, bars and shopping, and the vibrant arts and entertainment district centred around the Yarra River’s south bank.

Facilities include two meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 140 people, a fitness centre, a business centre, a lobby bar and a restaurant.

THE Virgin Group has ventured into the cruise line business, announcing yesterday the formation of Virgin Cruises with two new purpose-built ships.

The company, led by Tom McAlpin as CEO, is a partnership with Bain Capital and will be based in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.

McAlpin said: “Opportunities like this do not come often, so I am very excited to lead this business and introduce the Virgin brand to the cruise industry.”

Stephen Pagliuca, a managing director with Bain Capital, said: “We know that thanks to the strategic vision laid out by our collective team, Virgin Cruises will help reshape consumers’ expectations of what a cruise experience can be.”

At press time, the company is yet to confirm its date for commencement of operations, citing competitive reasons.

AVANI Hotels & Resorts has added its first hotel in Thailand, the 568-unit Avani Atrium Bangkok, in a commercial and retail area in the Asoke-Sukhumvit area.

Previously operating as Atrium Bangkok, the property has undergone a US$8 million refurbishment over the past 12 months.

The top levels of the 23-storey hotel are Executive Floors, with rooms boasting a 40-inch LCD TV, DVD player and upgraded amenities, in addition to Executive Lounge access for breakfast, complimentary evening cocktails and canapés, and other privileges.

F&B options include Pantry, a casual venue serving drinks, snacks and light meals; Public, an all-day-dining restaurant; and Benihana, a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant due to open in early 2015.

Other facilities include a swimming pool, gym, aerobics studio, beauty salon, and steam and sauna chambers.

Corporate guests benefit from seven configurable and well-equipped meeting, boardroom, function and ballroom venues for 10 to 400 people.

RESORTS World Malaysia today launched the first phase of its RM5 billion (US$1.45 billion) Genting Integrated Tourism Plan (GITP).

Lee Choong Yan, Genting Malaysia’s president and COO, said the first phase of GITP will include the completion of an additional 1,286 rooms to the First World Hotel in 1H2015.

Sky Avenue, Sky Plaza shopping mall and a new cable car station are scheduled to open in 2016.

Malaysian-born and international Hollywood star Michelle Yeoh was also announced as Resorts World Genting’s brand ambassador.

On appointment of Yeoh, Lee shared: “As a Malaysian Michelle Yeoh has successfully penetrated the international movie scene and is today an internationally acclaimed actress and producer. In many ways, her courage, resilience and strength in remaining at the top of her industry mirrors our business.

In 2013, Resorts World Genting attracted 19.6 million visitors. It is targeting 30 million by 2020.

Launched in December 2013, GITP involves the development and enhancement of the infrastructure, products and services at Resorts World Genting. It is expected to propel the resort into the next 50 years.

GITP includes the previously announced Twentieth Century Fox that will open in 2016.

ZUJI yesterday introduced two new online platforms, ZUJI Exclusives, a website that provides travel deals exclusive to Singaporeans; and ZUJI Passport, an online source that shares content written by the OTA’s travel specialists.

ZUJI Exclusives, a click away from the ZUJI Singapore site, offers packages in a voucher-based format and varies greatly from the OTA’s current sales method.

After purchasing a voucher, the user will then proceed to enter a live web chat with ZUJI employees to select dates and other details for his/her trip.

The OTA also offers a “21 days no questions asked” refund policy up till the point before the user reaches the live web chat, and also a price promise that if a user can find a cheaper version of the exact same product that the OTA offers, the holiday will be free.

The online content hub and mobile-supported ZUJI Passport is for all travellers and shares information such as travel tips and unique adventure recommendations by ZUJI travel specialists to enthuse readers into booking a holiday at these destinations.

Commenting on how this will help ZUJI differentiate itself from competitors, Chua Hui Wan, CEO, ZUJI Singapore, told TTG e-Daily that the company is currently the only OTA that offers voucher-based products.

The OTA launched a mobile site recently and expects to introduce a mobile app in 2015.