The onslaught of the Covid-19 virus has forced many organisers in Singapore to postpone or cancel highly anticipated events, but rock festival Singapore Rockfest II is pushing through in March with its full line-up and enhanced safety measures.
Scheduled for three programmes on March 5, 24 and 27, the event will feature top-billing rock bands such as Scorpions, Whitesnake and Slipknot. To accommodate additional safety measures, event organiser LAMC Productions has made several adjustments, including a shift in venue.
Singapore Rockfest II, featuring top-billing rock bands such as Scorpions (pictured), will go on as scheduled next month
“We changed the venue from Fort Canning Park to Star Theatre in order to add on temperature checks and contact tracing. The venue has stepped up to provide hand sanitising, thermos-scanners and more,” explained Lauretta Alabons, LAMC Productions’ founder.
“By continuing the event, we want to send the message to all businesses and tourists that Singapore is safe and they should not have doubts about coming here,” she shared.
A “large portion” of ticket sales comes from foreign nationals, who either live in Singapore or are visiting from overseas.
To incentivise more tourists to make the trip here for the show, LAMC Productions is reaching out to attractions for partnerships on tourist packages, revealed Alabons. For instance, the company is in discussions with Sentosa Island to develop “extra benefits” for visitors.
She added that the most important aspect for the organiser is to maintain constant and open communication with event partners. “We update the bands, vendors and our partners on the number of reported cases in Singapore and who has been discharged. It’s important to properly communicate with everyone, and make the fans comfortable.”
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG) have decided to launch HITEC Asia this December in Macau.
HITEC Asia joins other HITEC conferences in Europe and the US, a series of events that bring hospitality professionals together for education, networking, best practices, innovation and exclusive marketplaces.
HITEC Asia will launch in Macau this year; HITEC Minneapolis 2019 pictured
“The HITEC brand of conferences is celebrating its 48th year and has become known as the place to learn about and purchase hospitality technology around the globe,” said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe.
“After years of requests from stakeholders to bring the HITEC brand to Asia, HFTP is excited to announce this event and also very pleased to have HTNG as co-producers for this new venture.”
HITEC Asia is expected to attract over 300 hoteliers and feature some of the best technology suppliers in the region. It will also conduct educational seminars presented by global experts and leading-edge innovation pitches from regional start ups.
“HTNG has been successful in the region for over a decade solving industry standards problems and developing best practices,” said HTNG CEO Mike Blake.
“Due to the strength of HFTP’s HITEC brand and HTNG’s success and network in the region, we mutually decided that our nonprofit organisations could make a much larger impact by teaming up for a stellar conference and exhibition,” Blake added.
Backyard Travel, an online boutique tour operator specialising in insider tours throughout Asia, has launched a new tour package offering an adventure into the northern islands, cities and rainforests of Malaysia.
The 12-day Jungles and Gems of Northern Malaysia tour begins in the foodie destination of Penang, with two days immersed in the colourful culture of George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Backyard Travel launches 12-day Northern Malaysia tour, which includes a tour of George Town; Cathedral of the Assumption in George Town, Penang pictured
The itinerary also takes guests to Kuala Kangsar, the royal town of Perak, to explore the majestic sultan’s palace and visit local workshops; as well as Lenggong Valley, another UNESCO site, to experience cultural activities and an overnight homestay, as well as a night trek along the jungle trails of Belum Rainforest Rainforest.
The last four days of the tour will be spent relaxing on the shores of Malaysia’s beaches.
During the East-West Monsoon (from March to October), the journey continues to the remote and largely undeveloped Perhentian Islands in the Gulf of Thailand.
From October to March, in the dry, cool season, the tour heads to Langkawi in the Andaman Sea.
Backyard Travel general manager Trystan Trestchenkoff said: “Peninsula Malaysia is full of cultural and natural treasures to discover, yet it’s still quite unknown on a global scale. This tour provides a look at the little ‘hidden’ treasures of the region, from fascinating UNESCO sites to breathtaking tropical islands.”
Bangkok Airways has partnered AXA Insurance to roll out a new travel insurance scheme for passengers on the airline’s domestic and international flights.
Under the Bangkok Airways’ Protective Wing travel insurance plan, passengers will benefit from both outpatient and inpatient coverages, and will not be required to make advance payment for medical expenses at more than 39,000 hospitals and clinics worldwide.
Bangkok Airways’ passengers can now be insured via the airline’s Protective Wing scheme
In addition to full airfare refund protection in case of flight cancellation, passengers will also be fully compensated for any loss or damage to their baggage and personal effects, including sports equipment and musical instruments, up to 20,000 baht (US$630) per policy.
Passengers can purchase the Protective Wing travel insurance plan while they are processing their booking, or after booking their flights at www.bangkokair.com.
Singapore’s flag carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) has imposed a hiring freeze and is deliberating other measures, including asking staff to go on voluntary no-pay leave, reported The Straits Times (ST).
Following major flight cuts due to the Covid-19 epidemic which has choked Asia’s travel demand, the carrier is facing an excess manpower situation of more than 500 cabin crew members and some 50 pilots, said the report.
Singapore Airlines suspends hiring among other cost-cutting measures amid Covid-19
In response to queries from ST, SIA had said that amid Covid-19, “a general recruitment freeze has been implemented for all ground positions, and non-essential duty travel has been suspended”.
The airline also added that they are closely monitoring the situation and will not hesitate to take any additional measures if the need arises, but stressed that they will not do anything “that compromises the SIA Group’s long-term competitiveness”.
The report also quoted SIA CEO Goh Choon Phong as saying in a note to SIA staff on Tuesday that following the outbreak, the group – made up of SIA, SilkAir and budget carrier Scoot – has temporarily suspended more than 3,000 flights from February to end-May, which accounts for 9.9 per cent of the group’s scheduled capacity.
He further shared that the airline has also taken other cost-cutting measures, including the deferment of selected capital expenditure and tightening of discretionary operating expenditure.
Radisson Hotel Group will debut Radisson Riyadh in 4Q2020, a 471-key property that will be connected to King Khalid International Airport.
Various room types will be offered along with serviced apartments and villas.
Radisson Riyadh will rise in the capital of Saudi Arabia come 4Q2020
Facilities include an all-day dining restaurant, two specialty restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool, and indoor pool, separate fitness studios for men and women, a spa, and 2,600m2 of conference space.
In a press statement, Elie Younes, executive vice president & chief development officer, Radisson Hotel Group, said Saudi Arabia is one of the eight key focus countries for the group in EMEA.
“We align our plans along those of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 which aims to significantly increase the contribution of tourism to the country’s economy,” said Younes.
Vietjet is offering 50 per cent discount on ticket fares for all its routes from now until February 29, 2020.
The promotional fares can be bought by applying the code “BOOKNOW50” to get 50 per cent discount on all domestic routes within Vietnam and Thailand, as well as international routes connecting Vietnam with destinations all over Asia, including Malaysia, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
Vietjet offers half-price air tickets
The promotional tickets, which is applicable for travel from now till April 27, 2020, are available via Vietjet’s website, mobile app and Facebook page.
Bangkok-based Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has appointed Bryan Gabriel as CCO.
In his new role, Gabriel will oversee the group’s sales and marketing department, implementing the most effective ways and systems to support the brand’s expansion.
Having worked with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for 15 years, Gabriel was most recently the head of commercial for America at IHG.
He has also served in a variety of other leadership roles with the hotel group, including the director of sales and marketing at InterContinental Jakarta, general manager of Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island, and director of commercial for IHG South West Asia.
An array of attractively priced domestic tour packages were put up for sale at the 10th ASTINDO Travel Fair in Jakarta last weekend, all in a bid to encourage Indonesians to continue exploring and travelling amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
Some of the value deals available included a 3D2N Bali tour package by Santika Hotel and Citilink Airlines with subsidies from ASTINDO that went for just 2.3 million rupiah (US$168), and another to Yogyakarta for 1.6 million rupiah.
Tourism and Creative Economy Board’s Nia Niscaya (third from left), Ministry of Transportation’s Novi Rianto (fourth from left) and ASTINDO’s Elly Hutabarat (fifth from left) pose with sponsors at the opening ceremony of the 10th ASTINDO Travel Fair 2020 (Photo credit: Kurniawan Ulung)
Determined to keep prices affordable, Sjahrul Firdaus, director of operations of The Indonesian Travel Agents Association (ASTINDO), said the association had voluntarily offset the price difference in airline tickets when fares were higher on certain dates or schedules.
New tours were also created just in time for the travel fair. Zahra Tour launched a new golf package to Bandung, West Java, while Kanomas Tour crafted a celebrity tour in partnership with local artists such as comedian-presenter Indra Bekti.
Regional governments are also doing that part to entice domestic travellers. Belitung, for instance, is creating more festivals that locals can partake in.
Isyak Meirobie, vice-regent of Belitung, told TTG Asia that Chinese tourists made up 20 per cent of the destination’s total arrivals. To make up for the loss of Chinese tourists during the Covid-19 crisis, he will rely on festivals and experiences, such as batik- and ceramic-making courses and cooking classes, to draw travellers from across Indonesia.
The Pesona Bedulang Belitong Nusantara festival on February 29 is one such example.
“It will introduce the tradition of local wisdom-based bedulang (communal) eating to travellers,” Isyak explained.
To further spur domestic travel interest, ASTINDO’s secretary-general Pauline Suharno said bank partner BCA Bank doubled the value of its cash-back to one million rupiah this year for transactions made at the fair, in addition to offering zero interest installments and travel insurance for packages bought on the spot.
Nia Niscaya, deputy of marketing at the Tourism and Creative Economy Board, who attended the opening of the ASTINDO Travel Fair, is expecting at least 13 per cent decline in foreign visitorship to Indonesia as a result of the outbreak.
The push for domestic travel will not only help make up the arrival shortfall and bring about much needed local economic stimulation, Nia said it could also drive home the message to the world that Indonesia is safe and hence boost traveller confidence.
ASTINDO is upbeat about the travel fair’s performance, projecting a transaction value of up to 253 billion rupiah from the Jakarta edition alone. While official attendance figures are not yet available, the event had targeted 150,000 visitors who got to meet with 150 travel trade players, including 50 travel agents, 16 major international airlines, and NTOs from nine countries.
ASTINDO chairman Elly Hutabarat explained that the travel fair this year had fewer participating airlines and NTOs compared to 2018 because of a deliberate reduction in exhibiting slots for sellers that failed to perform last year.
“This fair is for selling, not branding,” Elly emphasised.
The ASTINDO Travel Fair was also held in Palembang last week, and will head to Padang, Bali, and Surabaya from March 6 to 8.
Accor has signed a global partnership with Visa to launch a new co-branded payment card which will leverage the latter’s global payment capabilities to provide enhanced payment experiences to ALL-Accor Live Limitless loyalty members.
Members who apply for the new ALL Visa card will be able to use it for everyday purchases where Visa is accepted.
Accor partners Visa to offer payment card for its loyalty programme members
Accor will be collaborating with Visa’s partner financial institutions and banks in key markets across Europe, North and South America, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific to issue the new ALL Visa card.
Members can earn tailored rewards based on customer preferences and boost their loyalty points when staying at an Accor property or when making purchases.
Sébastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of Accor, said: “This new initiative will provide unmatched benefits to our members and reinforce the success of our ALL loyalty programme by increasing our member base, driving additional engagement and giving each member incentives to stay with us more frequently and easily.”
