SRI LANKA has denied permission for the opening of casinos at three planned luxury resorts in Colombo, including one by Australian casino baron James Packer, following widespread objection.

The ban was announced on April 24.

Opponents say the casinos are not in line with the country’s conservative Buddhist culture and could promote prostitution. Although Sri Lanka has a number of operational casinos, opponents claim the upcoming casinos are Las Vegas-type projects aimed at attracting high-rollers from India and the rest of Asia.

The casinos form part of mixed-use developments that were approved with special 10-year tax concessions and investors were promised on the outset that approvals extended to casinos.

Packer’s Crown Investments group has not responded to the ban but TTG Asia e-Daily has learned that Packer’s local partner, Ravi Wijeratne, flew to Australia last week for urgent consultations on whether to proceed with the US$1.3 billion project.

Packer has said in the past that he would not proceed if casinos are disallowed.

The other two projects involve local businessman Dhammika Perera and the country’s largest hotel operator, John Keells Holdings (JKH). JKH said last week that it has begun construction at the site which also includes a conference facility for 2,500 pax, to become the largest such facility on completion in a few years’ time.

ETIHAD Airways has launched a game-changing product for its Airbus A380 aircraft – the world’s first three-room cabin comprising a living room, bedroom and ensuite shower.

Unveiled at a global media launch in Abu Dhabi on May 4, The Residence will be located in the forward upper deck cabin on only the A380 and comes with either single or double occupancy and a personal butler that has been trained at the Savoy Butler Academy in London.

Each Etihad A380’s The Residence will boast different colour palettes, table marquetry and custom carpets for an mid-air boutique experience.

The announcement is part of Etihad’s initiative to redefine and rename its cabin classes.

Etihad has allocated the upper deck of the A380 to its premium cabins, including its First Apartments. These are fully private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed, a chilled mini-bar, personal vanity unit and wardrobe.

The First Suite class on the airline’s Boeing 787 aircraft will come with new features including a chilled mini-bar.

Meanwhile, its Business Studio and Economy Smart Seat classes will be available on both Etihad’s A380s and the B787s.

The carrier’s entertainment system has also been upgraded to the latest Panasonic eX3 for improved gaming, HD quality and video touchscreen handsets that offer an extra screen. All A380 aircraft will be fitted with full mobile and Wi-Fi service while the B787 will have Wi-Fi.

James Hogan, president and CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “These new living spaces will raise inflight product and service standards to their highest level yet in commercial aviation and alter air travellers’ expectations of inflight comfort and luxury forever.

“Etihad Airways’ A380 and B787 will deliver the most advanced airline cabins in the industry, while meeting all weight, range and cost targets at our desired seat count. This will allow us to offer products unparalleled in quality and style, yet at competitive prices across all three cabins.”

CARLSON Rezidor Hotel Group has named the first three member hotels of its luxury Quorvus Collection, which itself was unveiled to the world in February (TTG Asia e-Daily, February 20, 2014).

Speaking at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai, The Rezidor Hotel Group president and CEO, Wolfgang M Neumann, said The May Fair Hotel London, the G&V Royal Mile Hotel Edinburgh and the Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait would form the collection’s first properties.

“These three unique hotels lay a strong foundation for the further development of Quorvus Collection. The Edinburgh and Kuwait hotels will join the Quorvus Collection immediately and we anticipate The May Fair joining the Collection later in the summer of 2014,” Neumann commented.

The May Fair Hotel is owned and operated by Edwardian Group London and was first opened by King George V in 1927. It offers 404 guestrooms and suites, a 201-seat private screening room, a spa, and the May Fair Bar that has hosted some of London’s most extravagant society events.

Located on the corner of George IV Bridge, Victoria Street and The Royal Mile, the G&V Royal Mile Hotel Edinburgh features 136 rooms and suites, award-winning Italian restaurant Cucina and the Fashionista Bar G&V. Meeting facilities include three modern event spaces, a breakout area and a city spa.

The Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait is part of the Symphony complex in Kuwait’s main shopping and entertainment district of Salmiya. Occupying an 18-storey high building, the hotel’s 169 rooms and suites offer guests views of the Arabian Gulf. Other facilities include Italian restaurant Cucina, Luna for Arabic food with a Mediterranean twist, Choco Café for coffee, a Six Senses Spa, and six event spaces ranging from boardrooms to a ballroom.

Neumann said Carlson Rezidor aims to grow the Quorvus portfolio to 20 hotels in operation and development by 2020, “through conversions and newly built urban hotels and resorts”.

The Quorvus Collection takes its name from the Southern sky Corvus constellation featuring the five brightest stars.

GARUDA Indonesia has launched new domestic and international routes to expand its network and meet growing market needs.

The new daily domestic services which commenced on May 1 were Medan-Surabaya, Palembang-Denpasar, Makassar-Jogjakarta, Surabaya-Ambon and Denpasar-Banyuwangi-Surabaya.

These routes are operated with CRJ-1000 NextGen aircraft with 96 seats in two classes, except for the Denpasar-Banyuwangi-Surabaya service which uses ATR72-600 with 70 seats, single class.

Erik Meijer, executive vice president marketing and sales, said: “With the expansion of the Indonesia domestic network, Garuda continues to support the connectivity between regions in the country to grow the economy, businesses and tourism in these destinations connected.”

An international route linking Makassar-Medan-Jeddah three times a week also commenced on May 1. Garuda has deployed a Boeing 747-400 with a capacity of 457 passengers in two classes for the service, which is meant to cater for umrah pilgrimage travellers from Makassar and Medan areas.

With this new service, travellers from Makassar and Medan do not need to transit in Jakarta, making their trip to Jeddah more convenient, said Meijer.

In the mean time, the airline will upgrade the current Jakarta-Abu Dhabi-Amsterdam to a direct service as of May 30, making the Dutch capital its hub for Europe and beyond (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 19, 2014).

Garuda will therefore be able to connect Indonesia and Europe within a total flying time of 15 hours.

The carrier will continue to serve the Jakarta-Abu Dhabi leg, a codeshare with Etihad Airways.

BRUNEI flag carrier Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) has placed a firm order with Airbus for seven aircraft plus three options as it embarks on the latest phase of its fleet modernisation programme.

The carrier has signed for seven Airbus A320neo aircraft and three options, to be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines and to feature a two-class premium layout.

When delivered, the aircraft will be deployed from capital Bandar Seri Begawan on the carrier’s Asian network.

Dermot Mannion, deputy chairman of RBA, said: “RBA has successfully operated the A320 family of aircraft since 2003. We are confident this latest Neo version will bring even greater levels of efficiency, with 15 per cent less fuel and a significantly reduced impact on the environment. At the same time, the new aircraft will offer unmatched levels of in-flight comfort, longer flying range and significant underfloor cargo capability.”

RBA last month announced that it will resume flights to Bali from July 26 with four weekly departures (TTG Asia e-Daily, April 25, 2014).

LUXURY resort developer FPD Asia has unveiled plans to develop its next resort property One Eleven Lombok on 50ha of beachfront land on Ekas Bay, Lombok.

FPD Asia partner, Michal Tyles, commented: “FPD Asia believes that now is the time to enter Lombok and support the government of Indonesia in promoting new destinations throughout the archipelago of Indonesia. ”

The property will be developed in two phases. The first consists of the construction of 21 villas, main resort facilities, a retreat offering yoga and spa treatments, and several restaurants introducing farm-to-table produce from the resort’s own farm.

One Eleven Lombok will be officially launched at the end of the first phase, which is expected to take 18 months to complete. The second phase will see the remaining 40 villas built.

Occupying 30ha, the resort’s private villas range in size and configuration from one to five bedrooms each, and will come with a private swimming pool.

FPD Asia has appointed renowned Indonesia-based architect and designers Andra Martin and d-associates led by Geogorious Supie, for the project.

David Beevers, head of hotels & hospitality of FPD Asia, said: “Since the opening of our One Eleven Resort in Bali, we have been delighted with the response we have received from our guests, the growing number of new guests and most importantly, repeat guests. This has confirmed to us that we have our philosophy right and the expansion of the One Eleven brand is justified.”

“One Eleven Lombok is much larger than our property in Bali but we will ensure the same design and service philosophy is carried to Lombok where the promise of privacy and personalised service is assured,” he commented.