NOW almost wrapping up its 30^th year of operation, Ascott today announced it has added 25 properties globally and opened 14 to date in 2014.

The group recently opened the 185-unit Ascott Kuningan Jakarta, which it acquired for S$90 milion (US$68.5 million) under a conditional agreement with Ciputra Adigraha.

A contract has also been secured from Canh Hung Hai Thanh Corporation for managing the 222-unit Ascott Waterfront Saigon. Located in Ho Chi Minh City, it will be the first Ascott-branded residence and its 13th property in the country when it opens in 2016.

Commenting on plans for the future, Lee Chee Koon, CEO, Ascott, said: “Globally, we have opened 14 properties with over 2,000 apartment units so far this year and will be opening Somerset Vientiane, our first serviced residence in Laos, on December 9. More properties such as Citadines LiZhiWan Guangzhou and Somerset Grandview Shenzhen will open before end-2014.

“We will continue to seek opportunities in key cities in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf region to achieve our target of 80,000 apartment units worldwide by 2020.”

WHILE Tianjin has often been marketed as a day trip option from Beijing, its tourism bureau is seeking to reverse this by drawing attention to its lower prices as well as historical and cultural assets.

Tianjin’s accommodation is cheaper than Beijing’s, and the city is just 30 minutes away from Beijing by high-speed rail. Meanwhile, construction of the Light Rapid Transit system linking the city will be completed next year.

Tianjin Airport too, offers a wide range of flight routes like Beijing, but minus the inconveniences of full flights and delays.

Tianjin Municipal Tourism Bureau director Ma Ben Zhong noted Tianjin’s significance in contemporary Chinese history, where the last emperor Puyi, first Republican president Yuan Shi Kai, and various warlords had left their mark.

While Beijing has been renowned for China’s ancient heritage, Tianjin is noted for historical sites from the late Qing dynasty and early Republican era.

The nine foreign concessions in Tianjin also offer plenty of historical significance to the city’s tourism. Tianjin’s Culture Street, Hai river cruise and Tianjin Eye are also widely popular attractions.

Tianjin Port, located in the Binhai New Area, offers unbeatable sceneries. Other attractions in the vicinity include an aircraft carrier theme park and a Russian-themed street.

Tianjin also draws tourists for its ‘industrial travel’ products, such as an Airbus 320 assembly facility, biological and pharmaceutical sector, textile industries and breweries.

Article by Zhong Yun. Translated by Ong Yanchun from the original TTG China e-Daily article, December 1, 2014.

CHANGI Airport Group (CAG) on Monday inked an agreement with the Maldives Airport Company Ltd (MACL) to help expand and develop the country’s Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

MACL managing director, Ibrahim Bandhu Ibrahim Saleem, said the expansion will enable the airport to accommodate 9.6 million passengers by 2030, up from the current 2.5-2.6 million.

Saleem added the expansion and commercialisation of the airport is a strategic initiative that will support the fast-growing tourism industry as well as expansion of trade activity.

“We believe CAG will be able to bring world-class planning and operating experience to the Maldives and support MACL in the successful delivery of this important milestone,” he said at the ceremony.

Local media reports in Male cited CAG’s CEO, Lim Liang Song, as saying: “We will give the best advice on practices and processes – the airport has to be moved by the emotions and vision of the government as well as MACL.”

In late 2012, the government cancelled a management and operation contract with India’s GMR due to a dispute over concessions.

The Maldives is expanding its regional airports, currently numbering 10, with some being upgraded to international status. The country received 1.3 million tourists last year.

THE 11^th edition of the Aviation Festival Asia will take place at Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre from February 12-13, 2015.

Aviation Festival Asia 2015 will be co-located with five events: the 11^th annual World Low Cost Airlines Congress, the 2^nd annual Aviation IT Show Asia, the 2^nd annual AirXperience Asia, the Air Retail Show Asia and the inaugural Aviation Interiors Show Asia.

For 2015, more than 1,000 delegates are expected at this mega aviation event, including senior executives from airlines and airports across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

The show will feature over 150 booths, 100 airlines and 40 airports, in addition to an Aviation Pavilion, roundtable discussions, plenary keynotes featuring aviation superstars and one-to-one partnership sessions.

Confirmed speakers in 2015 include Lim Ching Kiat, senior vice president, market development, Changi Airport; Calum Laming, vice president guest experience, Etihad Airways; Dominic Nessi, deputy executive director & chief information officer, Los Angeles World Airports; and Piya Yodmani, CEO, NokScoot; among others.

For more information, visit www.terrapinn.com/aviationfestivalasia.

WITH an eye to grow the number and value of business incentive groups and conferences from Thailand, Tourism New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) today signed a new Tourism Industry Partnership in Bangkok to streamline the visa application process.

The partnership has selected three key travel agencies – Global Link International, Green Line Travel and Big World Holiday – which will offer their business events clients faster processing time and reduced paperwork. Processing will be reduced to three days and the requirement to provide evidence of funds and employment will be deemed to be met through a letter of support issued by the agency.

INZ area manager, Antony Harris, said: “For INZ this is about being able to work closer with trusted partners to facilitate high-value clients going to New Zealand. We are looking forward to working closer with (consultants) to improve customer service and take advantage of opportunities to grow the business events sector.”

Tourism New Zealand’s regional manager, Nick Mudge, added: “We have selected (consultants) based on their ability to bring high-value visitors to New Zealand. We’re seeing increasing interest from the business events sector out of Thailand and look forward to being able to grow this more rapidly as a result of this agreement.”

The country is focused on attracting more high-value conference and incentive visitors, and is set to open three new conferencing facilities by 2018 to meet demand.

For more information visit http://businessevents.newzealand.com.

BANGKOK-based DMC Diethelm Travel has established a new department, Diethelm Design, to create individual itineraries for travellers who wish to undertake the journey of a lifetime.

Led by Sam Vincent, a travel industry veteran with more than 20 years of professional experience, the new division works with selected partners to craft the highest-quality services and travel experiences in Asia.

The new division has been launched in response to market needs for supplying innovative high-end travel services to individuals and specialist groups, shared Vincent.

“Diethelm Design has been formed as an integral but very individual part of Diethelm Travel to satisfy the desires of travellers who have long dreamed of a journey that goes beyond the usual travel itineraries,” she said.

“Operating as a close team and working with partners we have known and trusted for many years, we design and build a completely individual journey that is inspiring, exciting, and at the same time, completely practical.

“No matter how exotic the travel desire, no matter how remote the destination, we will turn it into reality.”

Further information can be found at this link or by contacting Sam Vincent at sam.v@diethelmtravel.com.