THE only Formula One (F1) night race, 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, returns from September 19 to 21 this year. It will be accompanied by the Grand Prix Season Singapore, a host of lifestyle events spanning September 12 to 21.

Jean Ng, director, sports, Singapore Tourism Board, commented: “We are heartened with the continued support of our industry stakeholders. Their diverse suite of lifestyle offerings has made Grand Prix Season Singapore 2014 an even more dynamic and exhilarating season for locals and visitors to enjoy around the clock in close proximity to the Marina Bay Circuit.”

The festivities will take place at various venues across the island. Party animals can head over to the Amber Lounge close to Millenia Walk, the Podium Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia, Singapore, or the brunch party at Marina Bay Sands’ Bacchanalia.

Gastronomic events rolled out specially for F1 season include Ujong at Raffles Hotel Arcade, Artichoke and Nuvo, while retail highlights include the Kapok culture and lifestyle store that made its debut at the new National Design Centre this year.

The much-anticipated concerts accompanying the race will star headliners like Mayday, Robbie Williams, Jennifer Lopez, the Pet Shop Boys, John Legend and Ziggy Marley.

Meanwhile, race sponsor Singapore Airlines is holding a Light Up The Night Carnival on Saturday, August 16.

Held between 14.00 and 22.00, the carnival will be held at the Singapore F1 Pit Building at Marina Promenade, featuring go-kart racing, driving race simulators or learning how to change an F1 car tyre. Free movie screenings for children, UV and body painting, as well as models of race legends from Madame Tussauds Singapore, and an actual-sized F1 car will also be part of the event.

Admission is free and visitors stand to win tickets to the F1 race.

MARRIOTT International has launched Courtyard by Marriott Bali Seminyak, the second property in Bali under the brand.

The 290-room hotel offers easy access to Seminyak beach and the Oberoi dining scene. Robert Stark, market vice president for Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, Marriott International, said: “We are delighted to be opening our second Courtyard-branded property in Bali, in one of the most popular areas for business and leisure travellers – Seminyak. Our growth in Indonesia is of great importance to Marriott International, and we look forward to expanding the presence of the Courtyard brand.”

Each of the hotel’s rooms and suites come with a private balcony or garden terrace, a 42-inch smart TV, comfortable working desk with chair, iPod dock and modern amenities. Family Suites feature living and dining areas, and connecting doors to another deluxe room, ideal for family holidays.

Other facilities within the hotel include an expansive lagoon pool, Kids Club, a 24-hour fitness centre, Zanti – The Retreat, high-speed Internet access throughout the property, and meeting and break-out spaces for up to 350.

Valet services and shuttle transport from the resort to the beach and Oberoi Eat Street are also available.

There are two F&B outlets – the all-day dining Seminyak Kitchen, and the Pool Bar and Lounge for light bites and cocktails.

AIRASIA X is expanding further into China with the introduction of its latest direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Chongqing as its sixth destination to China after Hangzhou, Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’An.

The longhaul affiliate of AirAsia Group will commence four-weekly flights into Jiangbei International Airport, Chongqing beginning February 13, 2015 and will be the only airline servicing direct flights between the two cities.

Bernard Francis, commercial director of AirAsia X, said in a press release: “The addition of the Kuala Lumpur-Chongqing route enables us to further strengthen our route network into China. AirAsia X is very positive about our growth in China, and the addition of this new route will further fortify the point.”

In conjunction with the launch of the new destination, AirAsia X will be offering promotional all-in, one-way fares to Chongqing from RM199 (US$62) on economy seats and RM799 on its business class.

Bookings are open until August 10, 2014 for travel between February 13, 2015 and July 31, 2015.

Separately, AirAsia will reintroducing four-weekly direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Clark in the Philippines beginning October 17, 2014.

FAR East Hospitality (FEH) and joint venture partner Toga Group have expanded into Germany and Denmark via a series of acquisitions, a year into the collaboration.

The two companies will jointly purchase 50 per cent interests in a portfolio of companies from Toga Accommodation Fund (TAF Property Companies).

The latter holds three hotels – Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Checkpoint Charlie, Adina Apartment Hotel Frankfurt Neue Oper and Adina Apartment Hotel Copenhagen.

Additionally, FEH is also to take up a 50 per cent stake in a separate portfolio of companies from Toga Group, which owns the Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof under Toga Property Companies.

Lucas Chow, Far East Orchard’s group CEO and managing director, said in a release: “We are delighted that Far East Orchard has made its first asset acquisitions in Europe, continuing our expansion plans from the string of hospitality transactions in Australia last year. We believe that this transaction sends a strong signal of our capability to rapidly seize opportunities and leverage on the synergies offered by our joint venture partner, Toga Group.”

All four properties are worth a total of 107.1 million euros (US$143.2 million), and currently operate under the umbrella brand of Adina Apartment Hotels by Toga Far East Hotels, the joint venture company between FEH and Toga Group.

Arthur Kiong, CEO of FEH, said: “The acquisition of these four hotels in Germany and Denmark will further strengthen our foothold in Europe and sets the platform for us to pursue more opportunities for the group in the future. We are optimistic of Europe’s ability to attract tourist arrivals globally as Europe remains the world’s largest tourism region. Our European properties will stand to benefit from the growing optimism of the recovering European economy.”

MYANMAR Airways International (MAI) is commencing thrice-weekly scheduled flights to Osaka and Seoul this October.

“Last year, we started flights to Japan and South Korea as regular charter flights but from October we will fly as scheduled flights directly from Osaka to Yangon. The number of Japan visitors to Myanmar is rapidly increasing and this is why we decided to start scheduled flights,” said Aye Mra Tha, general manager, MAI.

“Passengers flying by MAI’s Japan and South Korea routes will also get visa on arrival at Yangon International Airport. So far that facility is only offered to passengers coming by MAI’s Cambodia and Guangzhou routes,” she added.

Meanwhile, plans are afoot for tie-ups with other airlines and to refresh MAI’s fleet.

Said Aye Mra Tha: “There are also ongoing discussions to ally with international airlines in order to expand our operations worldwide. At present, we are talking with All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and Korean Air.”

She also refuted speculation that ANA will purchase a stake in MAI after cancellation of plans last week to buy into Myanmar carrier Asian Wings Airways, saying MAI would remain 100 per cent owned by KBZ Group of Companies and expand its global network via partnerships.

At the same time, the airline will sell its existing four Airbus 320s and buy four new ones to refresh its fleet, she said.

CHINA’S third-tier cities will find a friend in PATA China Panel of Experts (PCPE), which was formed in late June to provide destinations at different stages of development guidance in creating a sustainable tourism industry.

Bo Wu, regional director, Greater China, PATA, said the panel comprises the director-generals of the tourism bureaus of Shandong, Fujian, Henan, Shaanxi and Sichuan; UNWTO tourism experts; international private sector consultants and PATA members, and is a 10+1 expert consultancy model.

“The aim of the panel is to advise third-tier cities in the different provinces, which are in different stages of development, on how best to allocate their resources.”

PCPE held its first meeting and consultation in the coastal city of Yantai, Shandong on June 28, with the venue also the panel’s first case study.

Yantai hopes to develop into a coastal leisure destination, having recently bought a ship from Costa Cruises to operate to South Korea.

Wu said that challenges for the city include hotel inventory and air access.

“The economy in Yantai is strong. It is well-known for its centuries-old wine history and agriculture, but it now wants to diversify into tourism,” he elaborated. “Winter in Yantai can drop to -10°C, -20°C and the panel suggested tourism activities that revolve around festivals and recommends the introduction of a food festival.”

Leshan in Sichuan is another third-tier city seeking the panel’s advice.