Step in and be greeted by the grandiose new lobby, with the chandelier centrepiece, inspired by the gold and crimson colours of the Phalaenopsis orchid. The two original tropical landscape murals in the lobby since its opening are preserved and reinterpreted with a sepia effect. The scent of leaves permeating the lobby immerses one in the Garden City.
Deluxe King in Fiery Red, Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore
In the guest rooms, pops of colours jump out from the calming palette of wood and grey. Think fiery red for Deluxe rooms, cobalt blue for Premier rooms and sunflower yellow for Royal Club Premier rooms. Thoughtful touches such as USB ports near the bedstands are introduced to fit in the modern lifestyle. There’s no need to bring the bulky travel adaptor around! Wall pieces of Singapore’s old shophouses add a nostalgic yet contemporary graphic element to the scheme. Hop under the steaming rain shower and relax with the refreshing citrus-scented shower set for a restorative shower experience. With functional detailing and honest design, stays will feel comforting like a breath of fresh air, even when one is staying in the heart of such a vibrant shopping district like Orchard Road.
Free Pocket WIFI for All Guests, Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore
In addition to the brand’s signature perks, free in-room minibar, Nespresso coffee and hotel WIFI, RP is extending the free WIFI beyond the walls of the hotel. Guests get to enjoy free high speed WIFI even when they are on the move. RP is the first hotel in Singapore to throw in unlimited mobile data with free usage of pocket WIFI devices that connect up to five devices.
Churrasco, Carousel, Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore
Carousel, the hotel’s award-winning buffet restaurant, is not left out of the fun. These are brand new and exciting additions such as Churrasco – authentic Brazilian barbecue, Asian hotplate – local delights like barbeque stingray and fried carrot cake and Garden desserts – sweet treats enriched with nutrients from parsnips, beetroot or basil. Floor to ceiling window panes are dressed with colourful rows of old shophouses that add a sense of Singapore heritage to the dining experience.
It’s not just the hotel’s hardware that is being refreshed. The Chief Experience Officers (CEOs), the hotel’s talents, who hold the keys to make every stay a memorable one, also embraced the vibrant vibes of the rejuvenated brand in a series of playful workshops. The combination of bright cheerful elements of the hotel’s design and experiences delivered by CEOs, sets out to colour the stays of guests.
Take up to 12% off your next stay in Singapore and be the first to hear from us when it comes to exclusive deals. For more information, head over to http://bit.ly/2Xo27Dr.
Tourism is becoming a stronger force for change in Cambodia as locals take the front seat and devise innovative tours and activities showcasing a more authentic side to the country.
In recent years, more locals are taking the lead in Cambodia’s growing crop of community-based tourism products, a contrast to barely less than a decade ago when the majority of such products were headed by foreigners and NGOs.
Ecotourism projects in Banteay Srey, near Siem Reap, allow visitors to see the agricultural lifestyles of the local communities
“In my experience, tourism is definitely being driven more locally,” said Miles Gravett, Khiri Travel Cambodia general manager. He added that while NGOs and foreign organisations still play an instrumental role in helping initiatives with the initial set-up, many of the operations have today been handed over to locals. “This is great,” remarked Gravett.
Chi Phat is a shining example of how community-based tourism is empowering local communities. Started in 2007 under the guidance of wildlife NGO Wildlife Alliance (WA), the aim of the community-based ecotourism project was to equip locals living in the remote village with an alternative form of income.
Nestled in the heart of the Koh Kong jungle, the area was notorious for illegal logging and poaching activities. WA set about training the village’s hunters and loggers in tourism, helping them open homestays, lead treks and hikes through the jungle, and roll out a series of activities that offer visitors an authentic glimpse into life in this remote part of the Cardamom Mountains.
The project is now entirely run by the community, comprising more than 40 homestays, plus trekking, cycling and kayaking adventures led by knowledgeable villagers. “This project has proven to be very beneficial to the community,” said Chin Meankung, CEO of Cambodian Experiences. “It is a good example of tourism providing extra income and protecting the forests and wildlife from deteriorating.”
Cambodian Rural Development Team (CRDT) is another pioneering locally-led initiative. The NGO was founded in 2001 as a voluntary university student initiative and has grown into a locally-driven organisation working with communities across the country’s north-east to help eradicate poverty and protect the environment.
As part of its mission, it provides tourism and hospitality training for underprivileged youth living in Kratie and the surrounding areas and operates Cambodian Rural Discovery Tours (CRDTours), which are led by local guides and take visitors on a range of locally driven rural trips such as homestays in villages and Mekong islands and visits to family-run businesses and workshops.
The development of these community-based initiatives are also helping to drive visitors to new destinations away from the well-trodden tourist trail. For example, German NGO GIZ has helped communities across remote parts of Siem Reap to develop homestays and other tourist-related activities. It is also currently working with communities in Preah Vihear. After helping with the set-up, the organisation hands over operations to locals.
While agreeing that community-based tourism initiatives help to open up new destinations and encourage longer stays, Gravett remarked that most of such itineraries remain a hard sell for a majority of travellers, “who come to Siem Reap and stay in a five-star hotel for two to three nights and then leave”.
“It’s a constant fight trying to build new destinations,” he added.
That is not deterring Liger Leadership Academy student Samnang Nuonsinoeun, who launched Journeys of Change with fellow students in September 2017. It currently offers bike trips around the outskirts of Phnom Penh, led by students, and is gearing up to launch a market tour and responsible shopping trip.
“Tourism has the potential to (drive) change,” said the 17-year-old. “It’s important that we have really good tours capturing (the essence of) Cambodia and its people. We are seeing more and more Cambodians lead this… they are the ones who live here and can show tourists the authentic (aspects of life); it makes tourists feel more connected and empowers communities.”
Despite the community-driven tourism landscape gaining momentum in Cambodia, Gravett thinks a real challenge for many locally-led initiatives is marketing. “That falls back on us as DMCs to be able to market these projects to foreign travel agencies and tour operators,” he shared.
“The industry has to help a lot of these community-based tourism projects with marketing and driving business. It takes time to develop a new destination and that is what a lot of these projects are doing.”
Coralie Romano, Diethelm Siem Reap branch manager, notes a rise in clients requesting community-based tourism activities.
“We have quite a few people who want to experience at least one night in a homestay and local activities,” she said. “We are seeing more and more visitors wanting sustainable tourism experiences and to give back to communities when they visit.”
Also helping drive the popularity of homestays are the availibility of more comfortable options. While many homestays still remain basic – something Romano says can “surprise” guests – cleanliness and hygiene is on the rise. “The options are much better these days,” she added.
Meankung feels that the new wave of responsible tourists that the community-driven sector tends to attract is also helping Cambodia clean up its reputation as a sex tourism destination. “(The image) is much more positive now,” he stated. “It is still seen as a cheap destination, but that is also changing.”
The merits of locally-led tourism product development extend beyond the industry. Gravett said: “Tourism can play a huge role in preserving cultural and natural heritage and developing communities in Cambodia.”
While high airfares continue to hinder domestic tourism, the Indonesian hotel industry is generally upbeat about business prospects this year, finding bright spots in the crop of new air connections which are expected to open up new markets to the destination.
Indonesia’s domestic market has been a traditional stronghold for the hospitality sector, although surging domestic ticket prices this year have affected the travelling patterns and demands on the homefront.
A deluxe room in Jambuluwuk Thamrin, Jakarta
Sudarsana, general manager business development of Santika Indonesia Hotels and Resorts, said: “The airfare hikes have particularly affected our properties outside Java, such as in Makassar, Bangka and Belitung.
“Business travellers (from Jakarta) used to travel twice to three times a month now they travel once a month. Some even make a visit once every two months,” she added.
The high domestic airfares pose a particular challenge for Lombok, where domestic travel still remains stymied following last year’s natural disaster, noted Made Pudjayanti, group director of marketing and communications at Jayakarta Hotels & Resorts.
“Luckily for our hotel on the island, we are strong with the government meetings,” she remarked.
But Indonesian hoteliers are finding positive momentum in the new air connections coming into the country, especially Bali.
Aeroflot and Rossiya Airlines have earlier launched their joint services between Moscow and Bali. Virgin Australia has commenced its seasonal Darwin-Bali service on April 10, and VietJet started its five-weekly flights from Ho Chi Minh City to the island on May 29. Coming up, Turkish Airlines will commence its Istanbul-Bali service in July.
Bali, Lenny Willyana, director of sales and marketing at Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel in Bali, hopes that the crop of new direct international connections will encourage longhaul customers to stay longer in the destination. “Travellers will have more days and choices to explore more parts of the island.”
Mella Purwanaika, vice president marketing of Jambuluwuk Hotels & Resorts, is “excited” about AirAsia’s Perth-Lombok service commencing on June 9.
“We are hoping this would give good impact to Jambuluwuk Gili Trawangan (during the summer peak season), as the island is recovering (from natural disaster last year),” she noted.
Traffic from the UK market is starting to pick up for Jambuluwuk, while in Bali the hotel group is working with inbound operators specialising in the Indochina market to capture new markets, Mella shared.
Meanwhile, having identified India as a new source market, Jambuluwuk Hotels & Resorts is now expanding into India.
Mella explained: “Apart from China, the Indian market to Bali has been growing (in the last couple of years), so we started participating at SATTE since last year.”
Santika Indonesia Hotels and Resorts, on the other hand, is looking to Eastern Europe as part of its market diversification strategy.
Among its new openings this year, the Kayana Lombok – an upmarket villa resort under Santika’s Royal Collection brand – will launch in July to coincide with the European summer high season, Cita Dewantoro, general manager corporate sales and marketing told TTG Asia.
“This is a resort targeted for the European market. Samaya Ubud and Anvaya Seminyak, which are also part of the Royal Collection brands in Bali, are popular with this market,” said Cita.
Seeing the healthy growth of the Middle Eastern market, Jayakarta Hotels & Resorts is tapping the Iranian market, particularly for its Bali property as well as The Jayakarta Inn & Villas Cisarua, Mountain Resort & Spa near Bogor – the latter is a popular destination with the Middle East market – according to Made.
She also sees opportunities for properties in Lombok and Labuan Bajo (Komodo) with the European and Australian markets, thanks to the improved accessibility in West and East Nusa Tenggara.
Grab will offer car rentals, with drivers and guides, to tourists visiting Indonesia
With Grab having participated in the Series A funding round of London-based startup Splyt Technologies, the two mobility companies are now enhancing their collaboration to expand into travel markets around the world.
Grab and Splyt already enable international travellers to book Grab rides across 336 cities in eight South-east Asian countries through their preferred apps.
Beyond the Splyt app, Grab rides will also be available on the apps of particular Splyt partners like Crip and AliPay
As Splyt works with big travel players to integrate mobility directly into platforms, more travellers will be able to access Grab’s range of transport options without having to download a separate app.
For example, Ctrip and AliPay customers visiting South-east Asia can already take Grab rides through their own apps, via a solution powered and enabled by Splyt.
Splyt is also working with Booking Holdings to integrate ride-booking into their OTA platforms. Booking.com consumers will be able to book Grab rides through the Booking.com app by 3Q2019.
Targeted for completion next year, the second phase of the partnership will integrate Splyt and Grab’s global network of mobility partners into the Grab app.
Grab users travelling beyond South-east Asia can continue to book rides through the Grab app, and have them fulfilled by Splyt’s partners.
Travellers can use their app in their native language, and even pay in their home currency. Grab also plans to add features such as in-app travel tips, restaurant reviews and attraction recommendations, to offer an even richer travel experience to its users.
“This partnership will unlock a world of options for the increasingly well-travelled South-east Asian, letting them roam easily across the world through an app they already know and trust,” said Mark Porter, chief technology officer for transport.
Following Grab’s investment into Splyt as part of the latter’s recent US$8 million Series A funding round, Porter also joins Splyt’s board of directors and will bring his experience shaping Grab’s technology and strategy to Splyt’s 50-strong team.
Fresh funds will be used to accelerate Splyt’s expansion into new markets, improve its proprietary technology, and strengthen its wide network of institutional demand and supply partners for ground-based transportation.
The round is considered the largest Series A funding within the transportation connectivity platform segment, and brings the total raised by Splyt to over US$14 million.
“We see this investment from Grab as a natural next step in developing and deepening our strategic partnership. As a global leading mobility marketplace, Splyt will continue to maintain its neutrality and agility, while leveraging on Grab’s regional footprint to enhance our capabilities. This will take both companies further in our journeys to solve existing pain points for travellers,” said Philipp Mintchin, Splyt’s CEO.
With Gillian Tans the new chairwoman of Booking.com, Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking Holdings, will take on an expanded role that includes CEO of Booking.com, effective immediately.
Tans was most recently Booking.com’s CEO, a title she’s held since 2016. Prior to that, she served as Booking.com’s president and COO since 2011. She previously held other positions at the helm of Booking.com’s global sales, operations, IT, content and customer care departments.
Gillian Tans is now the chairwoman of Booking.com; she was previously its CEO
Booking.com is one of six online travel brands under Booking Holdings, alongside Agoda, Priceline, Kayak and more.
Fogel will continue to serve as CEO and president of Booking Holdings, while taking over the responsibilities of CEO at Booking.com.
Prior to becoming CEO, he served as head of worldwide strategy and planning, a position he held from November 2010 to December 2016. Before that he served as executive vice president, corporate development, responsible for worldwide mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances. He joined Booking Holdings in February 2000.
“Booking.com has become an industry leader with more than 17,500 employees across more than 190 offices all over the world who serve Booking.com’s growing base of global customers and partners,” Fogel said.
“I am excited by the opportunity to guide our largest business and drive even more alignment across the Booking Holdings brands as we continue on our mission to help people experience the world. We are executing against a large market opportunity with a clear strategic roadmap. Working with the full Booking.com global team, I believe we can identify ways to drive more collaboration and integration to strengthen the company’s positioning for long-term success.”
Sri Lanka's minister of tourism, wildlife and Christian religious affairs, John Amaratunga (centre) joined by SLTPB representatives
Some three months after the deadly Easter Sunday bombings that dealt a severe blow to the country’s tourism sector, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has now begun its global efforts to revive inbound tourism, starting with a first stop in India, its nearest neighbour and biggest source market.
A delegation, led by Sri Lanka’s minister of tourism, wildlife and Christian religious affairs, John Amaratunga, was in India this week to hold discussions with key trade and media representatives in the cities of Mumbai and New Delhi.
Sri Lanka’s minister of tourism, wildlife and Christian religious affairs, John Amaratunga (centre) joined by SLTPB representatives
India is the first country that the tourism board has visited post the terrorist attack. Part of its recovery strategy for this market include plans to introduce discount tour packages.
Key tourism bodies including SriLankan Airlines, The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators have also joined hands to come up with attractive discounted tour packages for the Indian market.
These B2B packages offered by SriLankan Holidays – the leisure arm of SriLankan Airlines – are said to be 30 to 60 per cent cheaper than the normally publicised packages.
While addressing the Indian media during a news conference in New Delhi, Amaratunga added that that Sri Lanka may consider introducing visa-on-arrival facility for key source markets such as India and China in the near future.
In addition, SLTPB has appointed a UK-based marketing communications agency, and is planning to appoint several PR representatives in key markets.
“We have appointed J Walter Thompson to help us ideate a new set of strategies covering our key source markets. Considering the sentiments that have surfaced post April 21, it demands a different approach. We are presently brainstorming what changes are required, and will be working with the agency over six months to aggressively promote our tourism products,” said Kishu Gomes, chairman, SLTPB.
The tourism board has also revised its targets for 2019, fearing a decline of 30 per cent in inbound arrivals compared to last year – Sri Lanka welcomed 2.3 million international tourists in 2018. However, with key source markets including India, China, the UK, Italy, Australia, France and Germany relaxing its travel advisories, the tourism board expects that the sector will recover gradually.
“There was a decline of about 70 per cent in the number of tourist arrivals in May, soon after the terrorist attacks. However, in June we are seeing an increase in demand and are confident about prospects in the future with travel advisories being lifted,” said Nalin Jayasundera, managing director, Aitken Spence Travels.
Bringing optimism to Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality stakeholders are numerous sporting and MICE events taking place as scheduled in coming months. These include an international baseball tournament, surfing competition and logistics conference.
“The international surfing federation did an independent security audit and concluded it is safe to visit Sri Lanka. The logistics conference taking place in Colombo will see participants from 100 countries. The United Federation of Travel Agents Associations is also organising its annual general meeting in Colombo in two months time,” elaborated Gomes.
“This is a reflection that things have normalised and international community is supporting Sri Lanka,” he stressed.
Cross Hotels & Resorts, formerly BHMA, has a trio of brands: X2, X2 Vibe and Away Resorts & Villas
BHMA Hotels & Resorts has been rebranded as Cross Hotels & Resorts as it continues to grow its management portfolio.
In a statement, the hotel management company said that the new name marks the company’s successful transition into the global Flight Centre Travel Group business.
Cross Hotels & Resorts, formerly BHMA, has a trio of brands: X2, X2 Vibe and Away Resorts & Villas
The rebrand is expected to pave the way for “a further escalation of the company’s portfolio of rooms under management focusing on South-east Asia, Australia, Japan and the Pacific before branching into other international destinations”.
CEO Peter Lucas said Cross Hotels and Resorts was building off a strong base, having increased its operating portfolio of hotels by 39 per cent, and entering three key target destinations – Phuket, Vietnam and Bali over the past 12 months.
Recent highlights have included the opening of the X2 Bali Breakers in Uluwatu and Away Bali Legian Camakila; X2 Vibe and Away branded properties in Phuket and the newly opened high-design X2 Oceanphere Residences in Pattaya.
Having opened eight new hotels open across three brands in FY2019 and achieving a consolidated hotel revenue increase circa 80 per cent in the past 18 months, Cross Hotels and Resorts will sign four more properties in Vietnam’s resort destinations this year.
Cross Hotels and Resorts currently operates 25 hotels across three distinct brands – X2, X2 Vibe and Away – in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Cross Hotels & Resorts has also benefited from strong managerial appointments over the past six months including Paul Wilson as executive vice president commercial and hotel executive Jens Reichert as chief development officer.
SIA and Malaysia Airlines have agreed to strengthen ties
Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) have entered into an MoU yesterday, as both carriers look to explore a wide-ranging strategic partnership to build on their existing codeshare agreement covering flights between Singapore and Malaysia.
Enhanced ties could include a significant expansion of codeshare flights beyond Singapore-Malaysia routes, as well as enhancements on the frequent flyer programme front.
SIA and Malaysia Airlines have agreed to strengthen ties
Other potential areas for cooperation could involve cargo as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul services. All these are subject to obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals.
“SIA and MAB operate in a region with a rapidly growing air travel market, presenting significant growth opportunities for both carriers. Both airlines have extensive operations within ASEAN, as well as large networks that cover many other parts of the world. We are proud to announce this MOU to expand the scope of our cooperation, increase global connectivity for Malaysia and Singapore, and enhance our service offerings for our customers,” said SIA’s CEO Goh Choon Phong.
A formal agreement is intended to be finalised in the coming months and will also include SIA subsidiaries SilkAir and Scoot, as well as Firefly, the sister airline of MAB.
Malaysia Airlines’ group CEO Izham Ismail said this partnership, which will mark the first time that all five airlines are involved, is set to add “more value to the customer proposition”.
From leftL Michelle Gregory,director of Marketing, Sunway Lagoon Malaysia,Calvin Ho, Fredrik Kasiepo and David Wooi. Ho and Kasiepo hold up the MoU agreements they had just signed.
Sunway Lagoon Malaysia has inked an MoU with Garuda Indonesia as it targets a 20 per cent growth of its Indonesian visitor volume.
Indonesia’s national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and Sunway Lagoon Malaysia signed the MoU on behalf of Sunway Lagoon while Garuda Indonesia was represented by Fredrik Kasiepo, general manager of Garuda Indonesia (Malaysia).
From left: Sunway Lagoon Malaysia’s Michelle Gregory, Sunway Theme Park’s Calvin Ho; and Garuda Indonesia’s Fredrik Kasiepo and David Wooi
Calvin Ho, senior general manager of Sunway Theme Parks, shared: “We wanted to make visiting Sunway Lagoon more appealing for our neighbours from Indonesia, which led to this development with Garuda Indonesia.”
Under the new agreement, Garuda Airline passengers flying into Malaysia will get to enjoy a 20 per cent discount off published admission rates into Sunway Lagoon. The offer is valid through November 2020.
The deal will be promoted through the airline’s website, inflight magazine as well as at the back of boarding passes, Garuda Indonesia’s account manager sales & marketing, David Wooi, said.
To enjoy the offer, passengers need only to show their boarding pass or GarudaMiles card at Sunway Lagoon’s ticketing counter within seven days of arrival to Malaysia.
According to Ho, the theme park was not just eyeing the leisure FIT and family segment, but also Indonesian business travellers and the MICE market.
In 2018, tourist arrivals from Indonesia to Malaysia grew by 17.2 per cent to 3.3 million, while in 1Q2019, tourist arrivals from Indonesia recorded a growth of 17.1 per cent over 1Q2018, to 924,916 arrivals. Ho shared that Indonesian visitors to the park contributed between 20 to 30 per cent of the 1.4 million total visitors received last year.
“This is the beginning of a relationship which we hope to expand further to also cover Sunway Lost World of Tambun in Ipoh as well as Sunway Medical Centre and the hotels at Sunway City,” Ho said.
The theme park has similar agreements with Emirates, AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines.
Royal Caribbean International has announced a US$97 million modernisation of the Voyager of the Seas, which will set sail as the company’s first ship in Asia to be transformed under the Royal Amplified fleet modernisation programme come October 21.
The company revealed that the modernised ship will feature three-storey-high racer waterslides, reinvigorated Vitality Spa, and redesigned kids and teens spaces.
A close-up rendering of the Voyager’s rear
Battle for Planet Z laser tag, the glow-in-the-dark adventure that has become a staple on Royal Caribbean ships, will be introduced to the Voyager of the Seas.
In addition, younger guests from babies to teens will enjoy a top-to-bottom redesign of their dedicated spaces. A fresh take on Adventure Ocean, for kids of three to 12 years old, brings a modern, free-play approach in the form of a new, open layout with activities at every corner.
In addition to a new nursery for babies and tots, the ship’s hangout area for teens will be updated, along with the addition of an outdoor deck.
Moreover, the Vitality Spa and Fitness Center will be enhanced and relocated to the aft of the ship, offering a signature menu of services including massages, acupuncture, manicures, fitness classes and personal training.
The poolside Solarium for all-day, adults-only tranquil vibes will also be refreshed.
Other highlights of the transformation include 72 new inside and balcony staterooms, a Suite Lounge and outdoor area – exclusively for guests in Grand Suites and above; and the Diamond Lounge for members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty programme.
As well, travellers can enjoy a better app experience, with mobile check-in and other on-board conveniences such as itinerary planning, management of bookings for dining, shore excursions and show reservations.
Voyager of the Seas will be the fourth ship reimagined as part of the Royal Amplified fleet modernisation effort built on research and guest feedback.
The cruise line’s investment of more than US$1 billion spans 10 ships in four years.
The newly transformed ship will set sail on a series of three- to five-night South-east Asian itineraries with seven sailings from Singapore to Penang, Phuket and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang). This is followed by a season down under with nine- to 12-night South Pacific cruises from Sydney, starting on November 30.
