Global designer residence and hospitality company, Yoo Worldwide, has ramped up its expansion in the region with the appointment of Krongsak Paramacharoenroj as the group’s associate director of business development – South-east Asia.
Based at the company’s Bangkok’s office, he will report to Rich Millar, Yoo Worldwide’s vice president of business development – Asia Pacific.
In his new role, Paramacharoenroj has been tasked with driving the expansion of Yoo across South-east Asia.
Following his graduation, Paramacharoenroj oversaw the development of two restaurants and two boutique hotels in Thailand, before joining real estate and hospitality consultancy, C9 Hotelwork. There he worked on various consulting assignments for leading property developers and international hotel brands.
Cross Hotels and Resorts has expanded its presence in Vietnam with the signing of a hotel management agreement for the X2 Vibe Halong Bay, in collaboration with Halong Bay Hotel Joint Stock Company, a subsidiary of Vietnamtourism – Hanoi JSC.
Set to open in late 2023, the 470-key, 39-storey property will be located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, less than 60km from Van Don International Airport and a few hours from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.
Rendering of X2 Vibe Halong Bay, the group’s fourth property in Vietnam
Catering to both leisure and MICE travellers, the hotel will house facilities like an outdoor swimming pool, meeting and function rooms, an all-day dining restaurant and a fully-equipped gym.
X2 Vibe Halong Bay will be Cross Hotels & Resorts’ fourth property in Vietnam, following the debut of X2 Vibe Viet Tri Hotel last August, and the signing of the luxury X2 Hoi An Resort & Residence (open 2020) and Away Hoi An (open 2021).
Cross Hotels and Resorts currently operates 24 hotels across three distinct brands in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) has appointed Taleb Rifai, former secretary general of the UNWTO, as a special advisor to the organisation.
In his new role, Rifai will provide guidance and vision to ATTA’s work in empowering a global travel community to deliver experiences that protect natural and cultural capital while creating shared economic value, starting with the MENA region around the momentum created by three years of AdventureNEXT in Jordan.
Photo credit: UNWTO’s Flickr
Together with ATTA’s executive team and advisory board, Rifai will assist the organisation and its members to navigate the evolving tourism landscape as they continue to address relevant industry issues and position adventure travel as a force for good.
Rifai served two terms as secretary general for the UNWTO from January 2010 through December 2017. His focus in the position was on the travel and tourism industry’s contributions and responsibilities in a rapidly growing and changing global environment.
Prior to his work with UNWTO, Rifai held a number of other positions, including assistant director with the International Labour Organization, several ministerial portfolios in the Government of Jordan, CEO of Jordan’s Cement Company, director of Jordan’s Economic Mission to Washington, DC, and director general of the Investment Promotion Corporation in Jordan.
Princess Cruises is seeing energetic adoption among Asian travellers since it began homeporting in this region six years ago, with almost 400,000 Asian guests cruising with the company in 2018.
Stuart Allison, senior vice president, Asia Pacific Commercial & Operations, who has described Asia as the company’s “key strategic market”, revealed that the current cruise season has recorded a 15 per cent growth in business for cruises starting or ending in Singapore.
Princess Cruises’ Stuart Allison (above) sees opportunities aplenty for the company to attract more travellers in Asia, even as the company records strong growth in the region
Laying out Princess Cruises’ plans for the coming season as well as years forward, Allison told TTG Asia: “We are continuing our deployment which will have us cruising to China, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore in the year ahead. We are also having five ships being built over the next six years, one of which – Sky Princess – arrives next month.”
“We are in the midst of our biggest growth period we have ever seen,” he remarked. “Asia’s growth is key for us, not only to support our new fleet but also our existing 17 ships operating around the world.”
Allison noted that there is a sea of opportunities for Princess Cruises to attract more Asians to cruise within the region, as “people generally favour cruising from their doorstep” and many Asians like travelling within the region.
He observed that as Asian cruisers level up, they look to farther regions which Princess Cruises can offer through its popular Alaska land and sea combination as well as new sailings to the Baltic on the Sky Princess and the Mediterranean on the Enchanted Princess, which is the next ship to launch after Sky Princess.
“Princess Cruises is the number one Alaska cruise in the world, so travellers who want to cruise Alaska often go with Princess. As well as having our own ships in Alaska, we have trains that pull up along the ship to take passengers into the wilderness of the national parks where our lodges are,” he elaborated.
Despite the robust performance, Allison pointed out that the cruise penetration is still low in Asia, with Asians accounting for under five per cent of the total outbound travel.
To get more Asians onboard, Princess Cruises is gathering “as many advocates as we can find to beat the cruising drum”, said Allison. Investments in travel agent engagement include the company’s Princess Academy online training course, which has 800 travel agencies and 8,000 consultants registered across Asia today.
Agencies that are on Princess Cruises’ portal, OneSource, can register their staff for the Princess Academy. A course participant will have to complete all modules and tests – with 40 courses available on product and sales – to eventually reach the top, and gain the Commodore rank. Commodores are rewarded with a free cruise trip.
“What we find, consistently across the world, is that travel agencies with Commodores within their staff are typically better sellers of our cruise products. While it is a big commitment for travel agencies to have their staff do our programme, the return is significant. They will get more cruise business,” said Allison.
Today, there are around 4,000 Commodores across Asia, 200 of which are in South-east Asia.
Allison also stressed the need to repeatedly remind travel agents of the high commission potential from selling cruises.
“Within the commissionable price for cruises, there is travel, accommodation, most of the main meals, entertainment, etc. The actual opportunity for the agent to earn a commission on all that is much greater than from a land programme, where he probably only gets a commission from the flight and hotel,” he said.
When asked how much travel agencies could potentially make from cruise commissions, Allison said: “Let’s say, on average, a cruise of six nights in Asia costs US$150 a day. In a market of four million cruisers, that’s a US$3.6 billion piece of business. If agencies earn an average of one per cent commission, that’s US$300 million to US$400 million in commission potential. I would want a slice of that myself!”
Accor has introduced Greet, touted as a new community-based, responsible and non-standardised economy brand that seeks to serve travellers looking to make a positive impact on the planet.
Created in early 2019, Greet was designed to meet growing demand among travellers for a high-quality and affordable hotel experience, while simultaneously seeking to add meaning to their purchases and reduce their impact on the planet, said Accor in a statement.
Accor's new responsible brand, Greet
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The Greet concept addresses this dual challenge through a flexible business model for partners, and a totally new hotel experience for customers, it added.
The brand was designed to serve consumers, partners and investors in search of an alternative adventure incorporating non-standardised hospitality, according to Accor, which claims that one of the brand’s key strengths is the freedom and great flexibility it offers to hotel owners under its banner.
The only guidelines are that greet hotels must include a number of the brand’s key features, including its logo in the common areas, a large table d’hôte for communal bonding, and ensuring that 20 per cent of rooms can accommodate between four and six people. Each greet hotel owner is also required to meet the following eco-friendly directives: Salvaging objects sourced via second-hand networks or from eco-responsible suppliers, upcycling unusual decorative items, and repurposing these objects.
Franck Gervais, AccorHotels’ CEO Europe, said: “With the launch of greet, our aim is simply to provide an ideal solution to independent hotel owners by offering a brand that combines the regeneration of existing hotel structures with cost control, both in terms of renovation and redevelopment of the spaces.”
An ecosystem has therefore been introduced to assist hotel owners in their policy of renovating and upgrading their assets, said the company, adding that partnerships with key organisations will enable each hotel to turn their approach to giving second chances into a reality.
Hence, Greet has joined forces with several leading charities, including Emmaüs, which will enable owners to source second-hand furniture and designs made using recycled items, as well as Valdelia – an eco-organisation providing a comprehensive solution to collect, recycle and re-use old furniture from all types of organisations – which will strengthen the connections with these networks. Another flagship partnership has also been launched with “L’atelier Consommateur & Citoyen”.
“These partnerships are essential as they help to turn our commitment to giving second chances into reality, both for our franchisee partners and our customers. greet is an inclusive brand, where the community genuinely plays a key role. We firmly believe that by working together, by creating synergies at both the national and local level, that we will be able to have a positive impact on our society,” Gervais said.
With the opening of its first Greet hotel in the heart of the Burgundy vineyards in April this year, Accor Group hopes to open 300 greet hotels throughout Europe by 2030, notably in Marseille, Lyon Perrache, Paris, St-Witz, Rennes, Bourges and St-Germain-en-Laye.
Sabah is keen to showcase its abundance of culture and nature offerings to the trade when the PATA Adventure Travel Conference and Mart 2020 (ATCM 2020) takes place in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah next year, announced Iskandar Mirza Mohd Yusof, senior director of corporate communication division – Tourism Malaysia, at PATA Travel Mart 2019 in Nur-sultan, Kazakhstan yesterday.
Marking the first time the ATCM is hosted in Malaysia, Iskandar is hopeful that the event will bring greater media publicity to Malaysia as a destination for adventure travel and sustainable tourism, while giving a boost to the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign.
PATA Adventure Travel Conference and Mart 2020 will take place in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah next year (Pictured: Kota Kinabalu City Floating Mosque)
The three-day niche event, which will be held at the Sutera Harbour Resort from February 12-14, 2020, is hosted by Tourism Malaysia in partnership with Sabah Tourism Board and Malaysia Airlines.
Bringing together tourism professionals in adventure travel and responsible tourism, the one-day conference is designed to support PATA’s vision for the responsible development of tourism, while the one-day travel mart helps promote, build and strengthen business and networks for delegates.
Noredah Othman, general director – Sabah Tourism Board, shared that sustainability and conservation have always been top priorities for the state, with existing wildlife rehabilitation centres like Sepilok, as well as the government’s push to increase the number of marine national parks in the country.
Driven by global air traffic growth, Airbus has forecasted the number of passenger and freighter aircraft fleet will more than double to almost 48,000 worldwide by 2038. At present, there are nearly 23,000 commercial aircraft globally.
In its annual global market outlook, Airbus also predicted that traffic will grow at 4.3 per cent annually, resulting in a need for 550,000 new pilots and 640,000 new technicians.
Airbus forecasts need for over 39,000 new aircraft in the next 20 years
Of the forecasted 47,680 fleet needed by 2038, Airbus further breaks it down to 39,210 new jets and 8,470 existing ones.
By updating fleets with latest generation fuel efficient aircraft, Airbus said that it will largely contribute to the progressive decarbonisation of the air transport industry and the objective of carbon neutral growth from 2020 while connecting more people globally.
Reflecting today’s evolving aircraft technology, Airbus has simplified its segmentation to consider capacity, range and mission type. The new segmentation gives rise to a need for 39,210 new passenger and freighter aircraft, according to Airbus’ latest Global Market Forecast 2019-2038. Of these, 25,000 aircraft are for growth and 14,210 are to replace older models with newer ones offering superior efficiency.
Resilient to economic shocks, air traffic has more than doubled since 2000. It is increasingly playing a key role in connecting large population centres, particularly in emerging markets where the propensity to travel is amongst the world’s highest as cost or geography make alternatives impossible, said the firm.
Today, about a quarter of the world’s urban population is responsible for more than a quarter of global GDP, and given both are key growth drivers, Aviation Mega Cities will continue to power the global aviation network. Developments in superior fuel efficiency are further driving demand to replace existing less fuel efficient aircraft.
“The four per cent annual growth reflects the resilient nature of aviation, weathering short-term economic shocks and geo-political disturbances, ” said Christian Scherer, Airbus’ CCO and head of Airbus International. “Globally, commercial aviation stimulates GDP growth and supports 65 million livelihoods, demonstrating the immense benefits our business brings to all societies and global trade.”
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has signed a deal to manage a luxury hotel in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province in China.
Slated to open in 2022, Mandarin Oriental, Nanjing will be located on the Qinhuai River and in close proximity to popular tourist attractions, including the Gate of China, the Confucius Temple quarter and the Old East Gate.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group inks deal to manage a luxury hotel in Nanjing, set to open in 2022 (Pictured: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s Paul Massot and Hongkong Land’s Ling Changfeng)
The 106-key hotel will feature a spa, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, as well as three restaurants and bars, including an all-day dining option, a Chinese restaurant and a lobby lounge. There will also be a range of meeting facilities, including a large ballroom.
Mandarin Oriental, Nanjing will form part of a wider mixed-use development owned by Nanjing Shengxiangyuan Property Development, an affiliated company of Hongkong Land, in partnership with China Merchants Group and Country Garden Group.
In addition to the hotel, the development will comprise premium retail space and residential luxury homes.
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort Opened on September 1, 2019, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is located on the Maamunagau island, at the southern tip of Raa Atoll. The island is located near Maldives’ only UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and home to Hanifaru Bay, and is a 35-minute seaplane transfer from Male International Airport.
The property’s 81 beach, lagoon and overwater villas and residences are each equipped with their own private terrace and pool. The resort also features six gastronomic concepts including The Retreat, an adults-only enclave with a private bar and its own infinity pool; a signature AVI Spa with six overwater treatment villas; and a Planet Trekkers Kids Club.
The Prestige Hotel, Malaysia The Prestige Hotel, an independent bespoke luxury hotel, has risen within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Georgetown. The 162-room hotel offers four room types: the standard deluxe room, the premier deluxe suite, the loft suite, and the deluxe trio room which features a smaller bedroom for a child travelling with parents, for additional privacy.
Other facilities include events pavilion and terrace, outdoor gazebos, an all-day dining restaurant, function rooms which can host indoor events for 110 guests; a rooftop infinity pool, and a fully-equipped gym. The hotel also features a dining and retail arcade that houses the Glasshouse Restaurant, San Francisco Coffee, a fine dining restaurant, local clothing brand, dessert café, florist and pharmacy, amongst others.
Conrad Tianjin, China Conrad Tianjin has opened within the heart of the Nankai District, as part of the premier Luneng Ecological Zone. The hotel comprises 375 guestrooms, including 29 hotel suites. Conrad Tianjin also provides 50 one- to three-bedroom residences to cater to long-stay business travellers.
F&B options at the 10-storey hotel include an all-day dining restaurant Brasserie on G, Chinese restaurant Ying which also offers private dining rooms, the hotel’s signature restaurant Bam Bou, and bar lounge Cha.
Hotel facilities include a 24-hour fitness centre, a heated indoor pool, a kid’s pool and dedicated playroom, a 2,665m2 meeting space, a 1,068m2 grand ballroom which can accommodate up to 950 guests in a banquet setting, as well as nine flexible meeting rooms.
The Okura Tokyo After four years of renovation work, the iconic Hotel Okura Tokyo has reopened as The Okura Tokyo, the new flagship hotel of Hotel Okura.
The new 508-key, 2.6ha luxury property houses two separate properties: The Okura Heritage, which offers “traditional luxury”, and The Okura Prestige, which offers “contemporary luxury”. The smaller of the two buildings is the 17-storey Okura Heritage Wing, which has its own reception and features 60m2 guestrooms. Facilities making its return are the Yamazato Japanese restaurant and the Chosho-an tea ceremony room.
The larger 41-storey Okura Prestige Tower houses 50m2 standard-size rooms and a duplex suite comprising a 730m2 living space with three bedrooms, a two-story-ceiling living room and event-ready theatre. Also, the bathroom of the master bedroom will feature a Ne-Yu bed bath and Utase-Yu waterfall bath.
Dining facilities include the hotel’s reborn teppanyaki restaurant, Sazanka; an all-day dining restaurant, Orchid; and Chinese restaurant Toh-Ka-Lin. As well, there is the Okura Fitness & Spa, and the Okura Museum of Art, originally established in 1917 as Japan’s first privately operated art museum. The Okura Prestige Tower is equipped with banquet facilities, including The Heian Room which boasts an AV system and can accommodate up to 2,000 people.
Why
Jalan Bukit Bintang (Bukit Bintang Road) is one of the liveliest areas in the capital with a vibrant nightlife. This is where tourists come to shop, drink and dine. Despite being a frequent visitor to this area for business meetings and shopping, I seldom lingered to explore its offerings. But thanks to a good guide, I was introduced to new aspects of this vibrant city. What were once dingy, narrow alleys and timeworn buildings have now been transformed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall into artsy, Instagrammable spots.
One of the 70 exhibits, Rotated Room, at the newly-opened Museum of Illusions Kuala Lumpur
What
This walking tour is about 2.5km long, which makes it suitable for people of all ages. The meeting point is befittingly The Federal Kuala Lumpur, the city’s first international class hotel which was constructed for the Independence celebration in 1957 to house foreign dignitaries who had come to witness Malaysia gaining independence from British rule.
We took a lift up to the hotel’s 18th floor, which offered sweeping panoramic views of the city. Our tour guide, Jane Rai, pointed out historic buildings and shared stories of how the city’s predecessors built up business empires and contributed to the rapid growth of the city.
Following a leisurely stroll through modern shopping malls, where we also sampled authentic local food, we ventured out on the streets to admire the colourful backstreet murals and explore the area where the early settlers built their homes.
A highlight for me was the Museum of Illusions Kuala Lumpur, a new attraction in the city comprising more than 70 exhibits that play tricks on one’s eyes. One exhibit, The Ames Room, made my friend appear to shrink and swell before my eyes as she paced back and forth in the room.
How
This heritage walking tour is part of a series of ‘Kuala Lumpur Heritage Walks’ available that bring visitors to explore the old sections of the city. The evening walking tour, which is operated by inbound tour operator Going Places Tour, is conducted in English and runs from 16.00 to 19.30 daily, except Sundays.
It includes two food stops where guests can get a taste of authentic Malaysian dishes and local drinks. Both places cater to customers on gluten-free diets. The walk ends at Jalan Alor, famed for its local street food. Over here, Jane regaled us with fascinating tidbits of the road’s rich history, and we also glimpsed an insight into the daily lives of people who live and work in this area.
Verdict
Excellent tour on foot. The rich history and culture is brought to life by a knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide who is also extremely well-connected to the fabric of the city. Not only did the tour indulge all my five senses, it also acquainted me with places in the heart of Bukit Bintang that was completely off my radar.
Rate: RM300 per person (US$73) Contact Email: info@kualalumpurheritagewalks.my
