Vana Nava water park to make a splash in Hua Hin

June 6, 2014

VANA Nava Hua Hin Jungle water park will debut in Hua Hin come end-October, hot on the heels of the Cartoon Network Amazone water park that is due to launch in July in Pattaya.

“We decided to open a water park in Hua Hin because the attractions are not diverse enough in this leisure destination,” said Usa Boonchalakulkosol, director of sales and marketing at Vana Hua Hin.

The one billion baht (US$30.7 million) integrated development is split into three phases, with the water park marked for the first phase while an InterContinental Hotels Group property and a 400-room residential condo are slated for the second.

Located in Hua Hin city centre near InterContinental Hua Hin Resort and Cicada Market, the 3.2ha jungle-themed water park boasts over 19 attractions designed by Canadian water park specialist, WhiteWater West.

Highlights include Thailand’s first Abyss slide, a surf shack with a surf simulator, a 1,600m2 wave pool, a multi-level aqua course, a 345m lazy river and an events plaza. Other facilities include an open-air concert venue, F&B outlets, massage pavilions, souvenir shops and lounges.

Besides catering to families and leisure vacationers, the water park can also be used as a corporate teambuilding and events venue, with the Tree Top Lounge and VIP Event and Meeting rooms available for private rental.

When asked about the similar product coming up in Pattaya, Usa pointed out the different strengths in each attraction. She said: “Hua Hin and Pattaya attract different market clientele, and we also view more water parks in Thailand as healthy competition.”

While pricing details are still not available at press time, Usa affirmed that the attraction’s management is already devising plans to package the destination with Hua Hin hotels and offer incentives for travel consultants, in addition to organising media/trade fam trips and participating in travel trade shows to drum up awareness of the new attraction.

Coming soon: visa-free travel for Malaysians to the US

By S Puvaneswary

June 6, 2014

VISA-free travel to the US may become a reality for Malaysian citizens in 18 months’ time or less.

Malaysian daily The Star today reported home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi saying he was confident that the immigration department will be able to meet the conditions necessary for Malaysia to qualify for the US visa waiver programme (VWP) “sooner than expected”.

Travellers from countries under the VWP can enter and remain in the US for up to 90 days for tours or business.

Desmond Lee, group managing director of Apple Vacations & Conventions, said: “Getting a US visa currently takes four to five working days. But waiting for one’s turn at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to get called for a face-to-face interview can take between two to three hours. This part is a hassle for many.”

He added that applicants have to pay close to RM580 (US$180) for a visa, which is non-refundable even for a rejected application.

Anticipating stronger interest among Malaysians for holidays in the US once visa-free travel is introduced, Lee said his company will create more awareness of destinations on US coast at the upcoming MATTA Fair in Kuala Lumpur this September.

This is a new destination for the company, which has always promoted west coast cities s such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas.

Separately, Brand USA is gearing up to launch an all-new culinary campaign in Asia. The NTO will bank on the US’ gastronomic offerings to entice Asian travellers to visit (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 5, 2014).

Banyan Tree branches into serviced apartment space with Cassia

By TTG Asia

June 6, 2014

BANYAN Tree Hotels & Resorts yesterday raised the curtain on Cassia, a new brand of extended stay accommodation with properties already in development in five destinations.

Cassia signals the hospitality group’s foray into the serviced apartments sector, where the brand is meant to straddle the niche sector in between hotel and apartment.

Ho Kwon Ping, executive chairman of Banyan Tree Group, said: “Cassia merges three of the group’s strengths – hospitality, design and real estate – to set the stage for hotel residences of the future.”

“The extended stay segment has been overlooked in recent years so we took the opportunity to innovate and create a hospitality product that meets the demands and needs of today’s travellers.”

Banyan Tree’s new brand of serviced apartments are already in development in Phuket, Bintan, Beruwala (Sri Lanka), Gold Coast and Lijiang. Another seven are slated to come up in Brisbane, New York, Japan, the Seychelles, Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Lang Co (Vietnam).

Cassia will offer one- and two-bedroom units that come with flexible living and dining areas, ranging in size from 35m2 to 55m2. Public spaces will encourage interaction through activities, games and a daily social hour while the residents can unwind at the Chill Chill Spa.

Other facilities include a pool, gym, activity room, bar, convenience mart, laundry and home delivery options.

Units are also open for purchase with prices starting at S$180,000 (US$143,668) for a 35m2 one-bedroom apartment.

Cassia is the third brand under the Group after Banyan Tree and Angsana.

Reliance branches into AMC work

By Raini Hamdi

June 5, 2014

RELIANCE Conventions & Events Malaysia has started to branch into the AMC business with Malaysian Oil & Gas Services Council as its first client.

General manager KC Fu said many associations in Malaysia are “maturing” and need to focus on strategy rather than day-to-day management in order to add value to the organisation.

“Membership in associations is dwindling and the younger members do not want to see an archaic association structure. A lot of young medical doctors, for example, are visionary and dare to speak up. An old-school association is not appealing for them. The older members are becoming more receptive to the forces of change; they know if they can’t attract the younger members, their association will face a natural death.

“In terms of our AMC services, we don’t get into these strategic aspects, but we aim to take away the administrative and non-critical workload, so that the association is free to focus on strategy,” Fu said.

Among the services offered in its two-year contract with Malaysian Oil & Gas Services Council are managing the association’s membership database, automating billing of membership fees and renewals, and website content and social media management.

In a profit-sharing model with the council, Reliance is re-engineering the website so that its content will engage anyone seeking information on the oil and gas industry and not just the association’s members. The wider audience will then enable Reliance and the association to create advertising opportunities in the portal, thus giving the council a new revenue stream, said Reliance’s director of operations, Rahul Bharadwaj.

“If they were to do this themselves, it would involve a huge investment in technology, aside from the need to have the expertise/knowledge,” Bharadwaj pointed out.

“By appointing us, they save money as there is no longer the need to hire 10 to 20 administrators to run the association, they have a new revenue stream and they have the opportunity to build better content to share with their members as well as to attract a newer crowd.”

However, Fu said the PCO business is actually more lucrative than the AMC business. “That said, if you are working so closely with an association, you have the first right of refusal for managing its conferences or events. An AMC is like an extended arm of the association – we would know the people, the culture, the politics, etc, so it is easier to manage the expectations, unlike a PCO who comes in from the cold. By the time it understands the association, it’s close to conference time.

“So while it’s not as lucrative as PCO business, an AMC is a long-term, strategic move that will in the end reap benefits,” said Fu.

Meanwhile, the latest study by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers shows 44 per cent of its members are already offering AMC services.

Thai MICE industry urges action from NTOs

By Greg Lowe

June 5, 2014

MICE specialists are calling on relevant authorities to do more to restore confidence in Thailand as a meetings destination after the country’s recent coup d’etat devastated the sector.

Incentive travel has been hit hardest and although the previously nationwide curfew has been eased in key tourist destinations Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui, trade sources are reporting cancellation rates as high as 50 per cent with new bookings falling off the cliff.

Stephen McEvoy, managing director of Asia World Enterprise, called on the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) to take substantive measures to restore confidence in the nation.

“With past disasters TCEB has always come up with an initiative to market the destination,” he said.

“This normally involves a major fam trip which brings over top buyers from around the world… It really works. We get to do what we do best and show that the destination is safe.”

Thanwa Phongpreeda, product manager at Discovery Holidays, said the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) needs to do more to promote the country as a MICE destination to complement efforts made by TCEB.

He said: “When I travel overseas I’m shocked to discover than many buyers still don’t see Thailand as a MICE destination. They know about Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, but they still don’t know about us. TAT must do more.”

TCEB has a number of ongoing promotions targeting the MICE market, but currently has no plans to hold an ad hoc fam trip. Its major corporate and media event, Connections+, has been postponed from mid-year to October.

Reed Exhibitions introduces CDATF in Wuhan

By TTG Asia

June 5, 2014

REED Huabai Exhibitions is teaming up with China Commerce Association for General Merchandise to launch the first China Daily-Use Article Trade Fair (CDATF) in Wuhan, part of its strategy to boost its presence in China’s second-tier cities.

Previously exclusive to Shanghai, the inaugural Wuhan edition will be held from November 6-8, 2014 at Wuhan International Expo Center. The show will span a floor area of 15,000m2 and bring more than 10,000 trade visitors as well as buyers including representatives of major department stores across the cities and townships in Hubei province.

CDATF Wuhan will focus on kitchenware, dinnerware, household electrical appliances, home arts and crafts, fitness, outdoor and gardening products.

From its location in Wuhan, Central China, the tradeshow is also geographically placed to tap the markets of nine surrounding provinces – Hunan, Jiangxi, Henan, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Guizhou, Anhui, Jiangsu and Hubei.

CDATF Wuhan is Reed Exhibitions Greater China’s (parent company of Reed Huabai Exhibitions) 10th show in its Gift & Homeware cluster to be held this year.

“Reed Exhibitions will set up formal and informal alliances with local governments and associations, based on our brand name, sales know-how, extensive databases, marketing expertise, strong networks and profound industry knowledge,” said the company’s vice president, Gary Liu.

“CDATF Wuhan enjoys great support from the Wuhan Commerce Bureau and Wuhan Commercial Federation. Wuhan International Expo Center is a great facilitating partner, providing comprehensive services and creating an environment that is conducive to brisk business and onsite comfort.”

The 108th CDATF is scheduled to be held in Shanghai at the end of July.

Last-minute traffic surge for Thai properties following curfew lift

By Xinyi Liang-Pholsena

June 5, 2014

ALTHOUGH the lifting of curfew at Thailand’s three popular tourist destinations of Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui is barely days old, several Thai hoteliers at the Thailand Travel Mart Plus are already reporting immediate benefits.

“Our OTA bookings came back immediately for our Pattaya properties – Siam Bayshore Resort & Spa and The Bayview. Both hotels saw a pick up of 15 per cent in OTA bookings yesterday, compared with our daily average of 30 bookings,” said Pawich Chokkanlayanee, sales manager of The Sukosol, Bangkok, who added that OTA bookings have fallen 50 per cent since the curfew was introduced.

“These bookings are mostly Asian FITs, a signal that shorthaul visitors are just waiting for a comeback,” he added.

Although the curfew still remains in place for Bangkok, The Sukosol, Bangkok has also rolled out a Book Today Stay Today promotion to entice shorthaul visitors visiting the capital via last-minute fare promotions from regional LCCs such as Scoot and AirAsia, according to Pawich.

While no discernible surge has been observed for overseas bookings in the last two days for Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach, the resort’s assistant director of sales Jitlada Chahomchuen revealed that the lifting of the curfew led to an immediate hike in domestic bookings.

“Bookings rose some 30-40 per cent for the domestic market, mostly Thai corporate groups. After the curfew lift was announced, it made those who were still considering Phuket make their decision easier,” Jitlada remarked, adding that the Thais’ understanding that the current political situation does not entail major safety concerns is a factor in the quick return of bookings.

Welcoming the curfew lift, Nattaya Chitchonthan, group director of sales and marketing of Sugar Marina Phuket, said: “The curfew had not affected much of our operations. Some clients cancelled their reservations initially but returned later to make bookings again after seeing it was business as usual in Phuket.

“The number of advance bookings we’re getting for July and August are making us hopeful. After all, July and August are deemed the ‘high season’ of the low season with the number of school holidays in Asia.”

Four Seasons takes luxury up a notch with Extraordinary Experiences, private jet

By Gracia Chiang

June 5, 2014

FOUR Seasons Hotels and Resorts is ramping up the glam factor through its own brand of curated, immersive activities, each one unique to the Four Seasons property in a destination.

Four Seasons Hotels Thailand spokesperson Nicola Chilton told TTG Asia e-Daily: “We noticed that our guests are very sophisticated travellers. When they travel they either want to learn or experience something (about the local culture). It’s our way to open up that access that otherwise they may not be able to do on their own.

“Right now every property has one exclusive experience. The further along we go the more we will develop. We’ve launched 30 experiences on the microsite so far. We have 92 properties so there will be 92 experiences that we will gradually be rolling out.

“In our Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Thailand, it’s elephant trekking to see the sunrise. In Budapest, you have a private dinner for two on the stage of an opera house with a string quartet playing to you.” The collection of exclusive experiences can be viewed and booked online at FourSeasons.com/ExtraordinaryExperiences.

Four Seasons also announced earlier this year that it would begin operating the industry’s first branded private jet service in February 2015.

The hotel company had already been operating custom jet experiences since 2012 but this service has since evolved based on feedback from guests who demand more immersive experiences, said Susan Devins, vice-president, sales and marketing, Asia-Pacific.

Four Seasons has retrofitted the interior of the jet and journeys will come with in-flight staff, a dedicated onboard concierge, leather flatbed seats, globally inspired cuisine and in-flight Wi-Fi. Seat numbers have been reduced to 52 for a more private experience.

In 2015, the Four Seasons Jet will embark on its maiden around-the-world itinerary, followed by an arts-themed trip and the second around-the-world tour.

Devins said the first itinerary in February will cost US$119,000 per pax.

“Asia is featured heavily in the two around-the-world itineraries. There are stops in Bora Bora, Sydney, Chiang Mai, Mumbai, Taj Mahal, Tokyo, Beijing and the Maldives. There is only one seat left on the February itinerary.”

The Four Seasons Jet, including staff and crew, can also be privately chartered.

STB partners Felivway for exclusive F1 race experiences targeting Chinese

By Gracia Chiang

June 5, 2014

THE Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is aiming to catapult the city-state to a top-of-mind luxury lifestyle destination in a first-of-a-kind tie-up with a Chinese premium travel agency, kicking off this September during the Formula One season.

STB will collaborate with Felivway to create exclusive products for high-end Chinese travellers to Singapore, with itineraries comprising race viewing, upscale hotel stays, Michelin-starred dinning and VIP access to private parties, among other privileges. Conversations are still ongoing with Singaporean suppliers interested in participating.

More significantly, these groups will be accompanied by well-known personalities and key opinion leaders on their trips, lending the star factor.

Felivway deputy general manager, Kate Ni, told TTG Asia e-Daily that these will be great networking opportunities for the who’s whos of China, including self-made entrepreneurs.

“More high-end customers are not only looking for high-end facilities, they care more about who they can travel with and what they can learn from the trip,” she observed.

Ni said that the parent company of Felivway, lvmama.com, is the second largest OTA in Shanghai after Ctrip. Known for its themed experiences and celebrity-led tours, the Felivway brand was established in end-2012 to court luxury clients.

Besides several fixed departures, Felivway will also tailor-make itineraries for individual clients. For example, some might even want to combine their trip with doing business in Singapore, explained Ni.

As the first of such collaborations between STB and Felivway, similar products could also be extended to other key events held in Singapore, such as the WTA Championships, World Gourmet Summit and Art Stage, shared STB area director, Eastern China, Kwan Su Min.

Describing to TTG Asia e-Daily how the Chinese luxury travel market is coming of age, STB chief representative regional director, Greater China, Edward Chew, said: “Previously many of the high-end travel planners (in China) were embedded within large travel companies, but now we see a lot more pure-play luxury travel agencies who are into customised and tailor-made holidays. This is therefore a good time to engage these high-end service providers, as they reflect a growing sophistication in tastes of the target market.

“Singapore is better known as a business city to the Chinese than as a luxury lifestyle destination. In spite of this though, if the travellers are looking for a three- or four-day break, Singapore has a lot to offer in terms of high-end luxury experiences.”

Chew added that STB is also becoming “more aggressive in promoting Singapore as a mono destination”. Commencing next week is a series of mono-Singapore promotions for this summer season up until August.

US banks on Asia’s food obsession in new culinary campaign

By TTG Asia

June 5, 2014

BRAND USA is kicking off a new culinary campaign next month to entice travellers from Asia-Pacific to explore the US’ gastronomic delights.

As part of the initiative, the NTO is rolling out a high-quality culinary guide to the US and a social media campaign in multiple markets including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Reene Ho-Phang, managing director of Brand USA Taiwan & Hong Kong told TTG Asia e-Daily: “To Asians, food is not just for consumption. It means prosperity, abundance and even healing. With the economic boom, Asians are fast venturing outside their shores to have a taste of other countries’ food offerings. Through the Brand USA Culinary Guide, we hope to rekindle the fondness of America through Asians’ palates.”

Chefs from the country’s Diplomatic Culinary Partnership will travel to the US embassies in Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to launch the campaign during Independence Day celebrations.

Ho-Phang commented: “Unknown to most visitors, the culinary landscape of the US embodies the abundance of native and immigrant influences that reflect its cultural diversity, storied history and rich travel experiences.”

She said that the culinary campaign is expected to further propel with the strong inbound travel to the US from Taiwan and Hong Kong, and noted that with a fourth terminal to come up at Singapore Changi Airport in 2017, Singapore-US travel is predicted to rise in the coming years.