STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts has opened Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park situated in the city’s new tech hub.

Owned by real estate developer Prestige Group, the hotel offers 191 guestrooms including 13 suites.

Brian McGuinness, senior vice president, specialty select brands for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, commented: “Pioneering initiatives in music, design and technology have positioned Aloft as the must-have brand for the next generation of travellers, and we’re quickly gaining traction in the Indian market among the country’s young and tech-driven society.”

The hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout its grounds, a plug-and-play connectivity solution for the in-room LED TV, a fitness centre and a swimming pool.

F&B options include the one-stop, 24-hour grab-and-go outlet Re:fuel by AloftSM and the café-style restaurant, Nook.

Meeting space at Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park spans a total of 933.7m2 including a 411m2 banquet hall and seven meeting rooms equipped with the latest generation of audio-visual hardware and an outdoor terrace Backyard for business meetings or social gatherings.

Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park has launched an opening offer starting at Rs6,499 (US$108) plus taxes inclusive of breakfast, valid from Sundays to Thursdays. For Fridays and Saturdays, rates start at Rs5,489. SPG members can earn double StarPoints for this offer.

HARBOUR Grand Kowloon has appointed Yngvar Stray as its new general manager, effective May 2014.

The Norwegian-born hotelier brings with him 30 years of experience within the industry, having worked for international five-star luxury and lifestyle hotels in Asia.

He was most recently general manager of Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund.

SUN International is ramping up global sales and marketing efforts by appointing three additional regional representatives, including one for North and South Asia.

Its Asian representation is handled by SG Luxe Collection, a new firm set up by former Raffles International executive, Shiela Gomez, and based in Singapore.

Sun is an established player that has within its portfolio some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts in Africa, a destination Gomez said is growing rapidly for the Asian travel market.

At the same time, Sun has come up with a new campaign it believes will appeal to luxury travellers. The Sunlux Collection strings a ‘golden triangle’ linking three of its most luxurious properties, The Table Bay, located within the Victoria & Albert Waterfront in Cape Town, Sun City’s The Palace of the Lost City nestled in an extinct volcanic crater surrounded by the Pilanesburg big five nature reserve, and The Royal Livingstone, set against the stunning backdrop of Livingstone’s Victoria Falls, Zambia.

Gomez anticipates a very positive response to the new Sunlux marketing campaign. “Africa is on the bucket list of many high-end travellers across Asia and we are delighted to be working with the Sun International team on introducing their newly branded, high-end Sunlux Collection to discerning travellers across Asia. We are very excited about this partnership,” she said.

The other two new trade representatives are Elite International Luxury Hotel Representation for the US, Canada and Mexico and 3Sixty Luxury Marketing for the UK/Eurozone.

The three additions fortify the existing network of representatives based in India, Brazil and Australia.

THE inking of an air service agreement between the Philippines and Myanmar is likely to pave the way for LCC flights on the Manila-Yangon route, which travel consultants are keen to capitalise on for niche holidays.

Following the May 20 signing, Philippine-based LCCs Cebu Pacific Airways, Tigerair and Philippines AirAsia have applied to the Civil Aeronautics Board for 1,260 seats for a weekly Manila-Yangon route.

AirAsia Zest is keen on a seven-times-weekly service while Philippines AirAsia also wants to fly from points outside Manila to points outside Yangon.

Travel consultants welcomed the LCCs’ plans while noting that Myanmar is pricey because both accommodation and transport options are limited.

Pearl Brion, product specialist, Rajah Travel, noted that inbound to Myanmar is controlled. “For now, Myanmar is not for mass tourism; it’s more for niches like cultural immersion and adventure.

“However, budget flights will be a big boost to Myanmar and will complete the opening of tourist destinations in Indochina.”

Hanna Padilla, managing director, RDV Voyage Travel Agency, said: “Myanmar opened up recently and is not yet ready for mass tourism, but I think it is going to change very fast as everything changes very fast in Asia”.

Padilla added: “Myanmar is a very specific travel category, attracting travellers who will stay one or two weeks immersing in its cultural and natural attractions unlike mass tourists spending 2D/3N shopping, eating and sightseeing in say, Singapore or Hong Kong”.

MSC Cruises will add Mumbai and Kochi to its itineraries from 1Q2015 on MSC Orchestra’s maiden voyage from Dubai.

The vessel will sail 33 nights from February 21 via India and through the southern hemisphere to Fremantle in western Australia.

The company’s executive director – emerging markets, Antonio Paradiso, said at a recent road show in New Delhi: “India will regularly feature in our itineraries when we add four new vessels to our current fleet of 12 by 2018.”

Country head for India, Amit Mathur, noted that India is an emerging market for the cruise segment. “We see a huge demand for cruise tours to Europe from the Indian market, having recorded 30 per cent year-on-year growth in 2013.

“We are now focusing on packages to Dubai-Abu Dhabi-Oman, and three- or four-night cruise packages to South Africa.”

New Delhi-based Carnation Travel Services managing director, Rajesh Sethi, said: “Indians are increasingly opting for cruises and any world-class vessel dropping anchor in Indian ports is going to boost this segment by at least 20 per cent immediately.

“Indians (usually) travel to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska and Singapore for cruises, so the ease of boarding the vessel from the home country will be an encouraging factor.”

Kolkata-based Gainwell Travel & Leisure general manager, Seema Ahmed, suggested: “More cruise vessels will come to Indian ports if we build some international-standard cruise terminals. With our large coastline, it should be a cakewalk.

“Inviting more cruise companies to call on Indian ports will increase international tourist arrivals by 25-30 per cent over the short term.”

INDIA’S Riya Group Enterprise has entered the Middle East market with the opening of an office in Dubai last week.

The new branch in Deira on Port Saeed Road has begun commercial operations and is the company’s 10th overseas office. It is expected to serve clients in the region and help make inroads into the Middle East.

Flight bookings, holiday packages, travel insurance and visa services are some of the travel products the company is offering initially.

Chairman and managing director, GMJ Thampy, said: “The establishment of our first branch in Dubai complements the deepening of our presence in the international arena. Constant requests from our clients based outside the UAE have prompted us to expand.”

Head – Middle East, George Thomas, said: “Dubai is the first step in our expansion plans for the region. The Middle East in general and UAE in particular play a key role in our future growth plans.”

The company also has offices in the US and Canada. With more than 50 branches across India, Riya’s turnover now exceeds US$1 billion.

FRHI Hotels & Resorts recently unveiled a host of new appointments across the globe. Within Asia, Swissôtel Resort Phuket named Jeff Ross as general manager and Raffles Hainan has a new director, sales and marketing in Tim Xue.

Ross joined the company in 2010 as director of operations and was later hotel manager at Swissôtel the Stamford Singapore. Before joining FRHI, Ross was with Starwood Hotels & Resorts where he held a variety of positions from F&B manager to hotel manager.

Xue joins FRHI with more than 15 years of experience in sales and marketing roles at various hotels in Shanghai. He was most recently director of sales and marketing of Dalian New World Hotel.

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) has opened the first property under its Even Hotels brand in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Even Hotels is a US-based brand launched in 2012 with an explicit focus on lifestyle and wellness to meet the growing demand for wellness-minded travellers to maintain their health routines during a trip.

Kirk Kinsell, president, the Americas, IHG, said: “We know that for the travelling public, the ability to maintain their health routine while on the road is becoming more and more important, and Even Hotels provides the tools and encouragement to make healthier choices while on the road at an approachable price point.”

Key to the brand are features such as: a Simple.Natural.Good F&B promise; natural eucalyptus linens for a cooler sleep; a three-zone Athletic Studio; spin and yoga classes; regular community runs in the morning led by the hotel’s general manager; and an In-Room Training Zone workout using the Even Hotels Trainer, among others.

Four more Even Hotels are in the IHG pipeline at the moment, with two to be located midtown Manhattan, one in Brooklyn, New York, and the last in Rockville Maryland.

IHG has identified the Washington DC area, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Portland, Seattle and Los Angeles as key markets.

POP-UP dining event Stories: A Pop Up Restaurant has been cancelled due to “lukewarm response”, says the organiser.

Originally scheduled to take place at the defunct Tanjong Pagar Railway Station on June 26 to 29, it was meant to be the first in a series of events that would see guests dine in a historic venue with a matching thematic menu devised by a celebrity chef (TTG Asia e-Daily, April 29, 2014).

Tickets were priced from S$188 (US$150) to S$248.

MyPrivateChef, the organiser of Stories, was a recipient of Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) Kickstart Fund that supports innovative lifestyle concepts.

Crystal Chua, founder and director of My Private Chef, said in a statement: “It is with deep regret that we have to cancel the first chapter of Stories at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. Unfortunately, sales performed below expectations and we are unable to proceed with the event as planned. We thank you for your understanding and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Members of the public will receive a full refund of their ticket price by respective ticketing partners.

PUTTING an end to months of speculation, Air India is set to become the 27th member of Star Alliance on July 11, announced India’s civil aviation minister at a news conference yesterday.

Minister, Ashok Gajaputhi Raju, said: “Air India’s entry into Star Alliance would facilitate its access to a vast global network, offering it wider reach and seamless transfers for its travellers. The alliance will benefit Air India in terms of adoption of global best practices and branding. The extensive Star Alliance network will strengthen Air India’s overseas operations, linking it to its extensive domestic network.”

Air India’s formal induction will take place on July 11 alongside the unveiling of the Star Alliance logo and livery on the carrier’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner and an Airbus A320.

The Indian flag carrier adds 400 daily flights and 35 new destinations in India to the alliance network, bringing Star Alliance’s market share in the country to 30 per cent.

Vishal Bhadola, associate manager, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) India, commented: “Air India can now generate more revenue due to a wider network to sell through more codeshares and more feed/de-feed options for transfer traffic.

“CAPA estimates a two to three per cent increase in Air India revenue once the integration is complete as the alliance will help its network…Air India will also save costs as it will get access to shared resources at airports worldwide such as lounges, manpower, equipment, etc.”

While welcoming the move, Rajji Rai, chairman of Uniglobe Swiftravel, cautioned: “Air India needs to raise its service standards if it wants to make the most of being a part of Star Alliance network.”

Air India’s entry into Star Alliance, a longstanding ambition that was put on hold for three years, was put into motion when alliance members unanimously endorsed its entry in May (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 5, 2014).