Amadeus Travel API. This NDC-enabled solution will give travel agencies worldwide access to new content and fares from our airline driver customers via an NDC connectivity.
Amadeus has launched a new enhanced version of its flagship Web Services solution called Amadeus Travel API, which integrates with travel agencies’ existing systems and allows agents to build their own customised travel booking applications.
Set to be rolled out globally on a gradual basis, this NDC-enabled solution – co-designed with Travix, a driver customer of Amadeus’ NDC [X] programme – will give travel agencies worldwide access to new content and fares from Amadeus’ airline driver customers via an NDC connectivity.
Amadeus Travel API will give travel agencies worldwide access to new content and fares from airline driver customers via an NDC connectivity
In addition, the solution will offer greater functionality for Amadeus’ travel agency customers in the following ways:
Access to new airline content and fares via an NDC connectivity, alongside content from traditional technology such as EDIFACT, and other APIs. NDC is an integral part of the Amadeus Travel Platform – a platform which brings together all travel content from multiple sources in one place.
Simplified workflow of shop, order, pay, ensuring a smoother experience which mirrors the consumer journey.
Cross-sell of ancillary services and up-sell of branded fares.
Change and cancellation functionalities to include refund, void or exchange options.
Acceptance of both credit card and cash payments with integrated reconciliation to mid and back office technology, ensuring NDC bookings are fully integrated in the down-stream processes of agencies.
Optimised to work across multiple interfaces so customers have the flexibility to start a booking on a mobile device and can choose to finish the booking on a desktop, or vice-versa.
Some early adopters include AERTiCKET, American Express Global Business Travel, BCD Travel, House of Travel, and TUI.
In the coming months, Amadeus will also be launching the NDC-enabled version of its leading cloud-based travel agency solution, Amadeus Selling Platform Connect.
Cross Hotels & Resorts, recently rebranded from BHMA Hotels & Resorts, has signed a hotel management agreement with Three Land for its third Phuket property.
Set to open in mid-2021, the X2 Vibe Phuket Patong Center will offer 323 guestrooms, alongside facilities such as an all-day dining restaurant, gym, kids’ club, meeting rooms, and a swimming pool with underwater speakers.
Phuket Le Coral
It will be located in the centre of Patong Beach, a 50-minute drive from Phuket International Airport and a 10-minute walk to Patong Beach and Bangla Walking Street.
The latest signing follows the May 2019 announcement of Away Phuket Le Coral, which is currently undergoing renovation with completion scheduled for late this year. Located on the beachfront of Natai Beach in Phang Nga Province, the 58-suite hotel is a 40-minute drive from Phuket International Airport.
Cross Hotels & Resorts CEO Peter Lucas said the signing of three hotels in Phuket within the past 12 months is reflective of the company’s “development aspirations of acquiring quality hotels with large inventories in the world’s most popular visitor destinations and gateway cities”.
“Phuket has been clearly identified as a key target destination for Cross Hotels & Resorts now and into the future,’’ he added.
Cross Hotels & Resorts currently operates 25 hotels across three brands; X2, X2 Vibe and Away in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Radisson Hotel Group has introduced a new multi-brand global website RadissonHotels.com, which will be complemented by a mobile app launching by the end of July 2019.
The enhanced site allows access to the group’s entire portfolio of over 1,100 hotels worldwide, spanning across seven brands – Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, as well as the art’otel brand managed by PPHE Hotel Group.
Members of the hotel’s Radisson Rewards loyalty programme will also be able to check and redeem their points and benefits via the platform and app.
The full website will initially be available in English, Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, simplified Chinese, Spanish and Swedish. Additional language support will be brought online progressively.
The Radisson Hotels App has been developed for Android and iOS devices, and will be available globally on Google Play and App Store.
A 67m-long dragon will light up Hong Kong’s night sky this coming September 12-14, as the destination celebrates the three-day-long Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, part of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
There will be some 300 performers holding the dragon aloft, its spine ablaze with 24,000 incense sticks. Made with a mixture of rattan, hemp and pearl straw bindings, the dragon’s head alone weighs over 70kg.
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance
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Spectators will be able to see the dragon swooping and swerving through the streets of Tai Hang amid the beating of drums and banging of gongs, as performers pass the orbs of incense from one person to the next.
This performance has been around for 130 years and was inscribed on China’s National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011. The event began in 1880 as a ritual to drive away a dangerous plague that had devastated the Tai Hang community.
The Spanish-born hotelier has been with Meliá Hotels and Resorts for the past 15 years, steadily rising through the ranks before becoming acting resident manager at Gran Meliá Fenix in Madrid, and resident manager at TRYP Palma Bellver By Melia in Mallorca.
In 2014, Ferriol was appointed director of operations at Meliá Hanoi, the Spanish group’s flagship hotel in Vietnam, and spent two years as general manager at Meliá Danang prior to his latest appointment.
Australian coach tour company AAT Kings, owned by parent company The Travel Corporation (TTC), is establishing a team based in Singapore on the back of its expansion into the Asian market.
Led by YK Wong, senior sales manager wholesale, Asia, AAT Kings will promote its bespoke tours and services to Asian travellers, who are becoming increasingly “discerning”, said Wong at a trade outreach session in Singapore last week on July 18.
Aside from day tours, AAT Kings also organises multi-day itineraries, that the Asian market may not be too familiar about; Uluru in Australia pictured
Wong explained that a majority of the Asian market are familiar with AAT Kings’ day tours, but not much is known about its longer and multi-destination itineraries.
As such, the new team aims to raise awareness in Asia of such products, as well as their ability to execute highly customised and luxury tours. Besides a 20-seater coach with leather-bound seats, AAT King’s tours offer experiences such as visiting Aboriginal villages and dining at Uluru.
TTC’s managing director Asia Nicholas Lim told TTG Asia: “AAT Kings has always been known for its day tours, but we want to show the trade that we can do much more, especially for travellers who want to spend a few more days (on the road).”
Lim shared that the company will now focus on building brand awareness in this region, which will ride on other already-known TTC brands such as Contiki and Trafalgar. For example, a booking made on Trafalgar could be tied in and fulfilled through AAT Kings’ services.
Lim also expressed that the coach tour operator has been “buoyed” by an “encouraging” year-on-year growth of 36 per cent, as well as Asia’s market potential.
After Singapore, AATKings will conduct a similar trade outreach session in Manila, before returning to Singapore to participate in the NATAS Holiday Fair on August 2-4.
Tourists milling about an outdoor market in Bangkok
Thailand’s new tourism and sports minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan, who replaced Weerasak Kowsurat, has prioritised the setting of safety standards to regain the confidence of foreign tourists to the country, according to a Bangkok Post report.
Speaking in his new capacity when he assumed his role last week, Pipat said the ministry would launch an initiative later this year to engage volunteer police in communities to supervise visitors in each tourism area.
Tourists milling about an outdoor market in Bangkok
The new tourism chief also plans to promote medical marijuana tourism, especially Thai traditional medicine and message, reported Bangkok Post.
Tourists from Europe and the US, who have a positive perception about medical marijuana, would be key targets for these marijuana tourism packages.
The report added that Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, is ready to implement medical marijuana tourism promotion to build quality tourism because the target segment tends to spend more than average tourists.
Pipat is a key Bhumjaithai Party leader, who party campaign promises included the liberalisation of marijuana cultivation for medicinal purposes as well as the legalisation of ride-hailing and home-sharing apps and sites.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is expected to work with the Transport Ministry to legalise ride-sharing services, following the presentation of the party’s policies to the prime minister.
In light of the strong Thai baht which has made the country more expensive for foreigners, Pipat also intends to talk to the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Thailand about reducing the currency strength.
According to the Bangkok Post report, Pipat also plans to talk to the private sector about enhancing tourism attractions in all provinces, and pushing local tourism to the forefront as well.
Attracting big sporting events and tournaments to Thailand would be encouraged too, said Pipat.
Kiong: there will always be a market for serviced residences despite homesharing enroachment
Home-sharing platforms have been steadily gaining traction since its commencement as an affordable “couch-surfing” accommodation option. It has become one of the preferred ways for the “I want to live like a local” traveller demographic – the group of travellers who wish to experience how the people of the destination live, and become one of the locals.
However, governments and the hospitality industry were unprepared for this rapid growth in home-sharing platforms. Rules had to be enforced, but how and what to put in place was a concern. Existing residents were raising complaints against strangers entering their residences. And most importantly, security has been an ongoing issue for the guests. In fact, a recent report by Investment Property Exchange Services found that one out of 10 home-sharing guests have found a hidden camera during their stay.
From licensing to the minimum-stay period for rentals – countries in South-east Asia have been setting strict regulations on home-sharing platforms. But hospitality industries need to work in tandem with the governments as well.
The need for hospitality players to step up As hospitality players, it is important for us to understand travellers’ psychographics and preferences. Knowing and catering to guests’ needs is one of the key driving factors of industry growth.
Today, people travel for work, for leisure or for memorable family staycations – the reasons vary. And hotels need to recognise these different profiles in order to stay relevant.
Take, for instance, a family of six travelling for two-weeks in Singapore. Chances are, a standard hotel room will be too small, and an extra room will be costly. But this doesn’t mean that this family needs to turn to a home-sharing platform. Instead, they can consider a serviced residence.
Changing the perception of serviced residences Many view serviced residences to be for business or relocating travellers, but they aren’t limited to just these profiles.
They can be for anyone who prefer more space, less amenities that they do not need, and a bit more privacy than from hotels.
By 2030, it is predicted that travellers will travel to experience life as a local for a unique and personalised trip. A growing number of travellers prefer an accommodation that makes them feel at home while having the comfort of a hotel.
Serviced residences are one growing accommodation option that can provide guests the “home-away-from-home” sentiment. Simply put, they offer guests the chance to live like a local, with more freedom to stay as they would at home. They have the room to cook, do laundry, personalise the space as if they are continuing on with their daily routine, all with security as a standard.
Serviced residences are also unique in the sense that it serves different target markets and opens up new expansion opportunities for the industry. They can be catered towards modern travellers and offer contemporary living spaces. Or, for travellers who are conscious of their wellness, there are serviced residences that provide amenities such as fitness centres, tennis courts and swimming pools for use.
“Better safe than sorry” Countries like the US, Canada, France, England may be more welcoming to home-sharing platforms because they have the space to host. However, home-sharing platforms bring about an immense challenge in Asia, largely because there is an uneven playing field.
Asia has strict property regulations due to our environment. There is limited land to build residential areas, and owning property is scarce and viewed as a privilege. As such, these nations often have strict minimum rental periods – not just for tourists, but for citizens as well.
So, for anyone planning a trip to Asia any time soon, remember this – no one has the answer to how long home-sharing platforms will be regulated. But we do know that our industry is, and always will be, legal.
Agarwal: excited about the potential impact that Oyo's continued expansion will bring
Oyo Hotels and Homes’ founder and CEO Ritesh Agarwal will be investing US$2 billion, through the entity RA Hospitality Holdings (Cayman), to increase his stake in the startup he founded.
Agarwal will be buying shares from existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sequoia India, which will remain backers of the startup, the company said in a statement.
Agarwal: building a brand that is focused on bringing a better lifestyle for the common man
The deal is currently remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Agarwal said in a statement: “It is a very exciting time for Oyo right now as we make great living spaces come alive across all corners of the world from Texas to Tokyo. Our endeavour continues to be to become the most loved hospitality brand in the coming years.”
Both Lightspeed India Partners Advisors and Sequoia Capital have voiced their support for the move, and have indicated they remain committed to supporting Agarwal and his company.
This year, the India-based company has seen a 4.4 times year-on-year growth in revenue in June 2019 (vs June 2018), with one million rooms under management across hotels and homes; with over 200,000 rooms in India.
Earlier this month, Oyo published a statement hailing itself the world’s third largest hotel chain by room count as of June 2019, where its portfolio comprises more than 23,000 hotels and 46,000 vacation homes.
AirAsia and AirAsia X will appeal against the High Court ruling on July 18, 2019 to pay the outstanding passenger service charges (PSC) to Malaysia Airports (Sepang) (MASSB).
In a statement issued last Friday, AirAsia founders Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun have indicated that they will be appealing the court’s decision, and apply for a stay of execution to “challenge MASSB’s and its parent Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAHB’s) actions”.
AirAsia planes at klia2
The monies being claimed against AirAsia by MAHB were to be collected from the passengers. AirAsia has said it did not collect the differential amount or withhold its payment to MAHB.
MAHB had imposed a new PSC of RM73 (US$17.80) for passengers using klia2 to destinations out of South-east Asia effective July 2018. This amount is RM23 higher than the previous rate of RM50 that AirAsia has continued to collect from passengers.
“AirAsia has since the beginning opposed this increase in PSC arguing that passengers using the inferior klia2 cannot be forced to pay the same charges as that of the better-equipped and more luxurious KLIA. On that principle, AirAsia has not collected the extra charges imposed by MAHB,” they said.
Both founders also stated that they have sought help from the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), but Mavcom “refused to intervene”, insisting that this “goes against the provisions of the Mavcom Act”.
AirAsia X’s CEO Benyamin Ismail said: “MAHB is painting an inaccurate picture to the Malaysian public by suggesting that klia2 and KLIA are on par in terms of quality and service. Anyone who has used both terminals knows that this is an untruth and an attempt to justify higher earnings for MAHB, whose profits have been growing considerably because of such arbitrary decisions.
“AirAsia has also been facing numerous operational issues with klia2, including frequent unplanned runway closures, uneven aprons and taxiways, and a poor airport design that requires long walks to gates causing passengers to be delayed or lose their way,” Ismail added.
“We would like to reiterate that these legal challenges are not simply a matter between AirAsia and MAHB. In the event we lose in the highest courts of appeal, it is passengers especially Malaysian travellers who will have to pay the differential MAHB is charging. We believe that the people of Malaysia should have the right to a fair deal,” Fernandes and Meranun stressed.
There will be some 300 performers holding the dragon aloft, its spine ablaze with 24,000 incense sticks. Made with a mixture of rattan, hemp and pearl straw bindings, the dragon’s head alone weighs over 70kg.
Spectators will be able to see the dragon swooping and swerving through the streets of Tai Hang amid the beating of drums and banging of gongs, as performers pass the orbs of incense from one person to the next.
This performance has been around for 130 years and was inscribed on China’s National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011. The event began in 1880 as a ritual to drive away a dangerous plague that had devastated the Tai Hang community.