Best Western Hotels & Resorts has signed a new hotel in Bangkok’s Sathorn Soi 11, scheduled to open its doors in 2021.
The new-build Best Western Click Sathorn 11 Bangkok is located close to the Silom shopping and entertainment district, Chao Phraya River, and two BTS skytrain stations – Surasak and Chong Nonsi.
Best Western Click Sathorn 11 Bangkok will open in 2021
The hotel will feature 119 rooms and suites, swimming pool, fitness centre and a cafe for all-day dining.
Best Western already has six hotels operating across the city. Its latest Sathorn signing is with Wealth Plus Property Company.
A year into its acquisition of Routehappy, the first in its 54-year history, ATPCO announced that integration is complete, marked by a bolstered leadership team and a new retailing solutions product line.
By integrating and aligning ATPCO’s flagship pricing data with Routehappy’s rich content, ATPCO says it is “vastly expanding its value to the industry”. This combination enables ATPCO to better provide modern retailing solutions including dynamic pricing, branded fares, rich content, IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) and other distribution capabilities along with the new Next Generation Storefront solution.
ATPCO has bolstered its retail solution with the complete integration of Routehappy
“ATPCO continues to evolve with marketplace needs, with a current emphasis on transforming from a company known for airline fare filing to one that provides innovative solutions that help the entire industry modernise,” said Rolf Purzer, CEO of ATPCO.
According to Purzer, the company’s top priority is leading airlines, systems, and channels into the next generation of retailing. “We will provide solutions that help airlines modernise offer management and product display in all channels.”
With the expanded focus on retailing, ATPCO has announced key leadership changes to its executive team.
Transitioning from their roles at Routehappy are Robert Albert, Routehappy founder and CEO, who has assumed a new role as executive vice president, retailing; Jonathan Savitch, Routehappy sales head, has been named chief commercial officer; and Jaivin Anzalota, Routehappy product head, now appointed chief product officer
In addition, Tom Gregorson has been named chief strategy officer; John Murphy, chief information officer; and Priscilla O’Donnell, chief human relations officer.
The newly constituted team reports directly to Purzer. More than 155 people have joined the company since October 2016, fuelling new collaborative energy working together on the company’s products that power flight shopping globally.
All former Routehappy staff have accepted roles within ATPCO, focusing on retailing.
The new Retailing Solutions product line brings together ATPCO’s Optional Services and Branded Fares with Routehappy’s Amenities Hub, UTA Hub, and UPA Hub.
ATPCO Retailing Solutions helps airlines create, manage and distribute differentiated products through all channels, enabling them to integrate and display differentiated airline products to consumers.
ATPCO’s innovative Next Generation Storefront solution, which provides channels a better way to display flights, will be incorporated into Retailing Solutions after incubation.
Retailing Solutions has had important recent customer wins, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates and Japanese GDS Infini. The new Retailing Solutions team is working on launching codeshare UPAs (Universal Product Attributes) for more partner airlines and expanding UTA (Universal Ticket Attribute) content coverage. All ATPCO Retailing Solutions rich content subscriptions will continue to be sold under the Routehappy brand name.
Industry players such as IATA have reacted positively to the integration. Aleks Popovich, the association’s senior vice president, financial and distribution services, said: “IATA has been encouraged to see ATPCO drive initiatives like Next Generation Storefront (NGS) that are moving the industry forward, where retailing is a priority and can work for all – airlines, channels and consumers alike.”
The Galle Face Hotel in Colombo now has a new resident manager and head of sales & marketing.
Gaffoor (leftmost) and McDougall (second from left), together with other new appointments at Galle Face Hotel
Mubarak Gaffoor is the hotel’s resident manager, overseeing operational departments including the rooms division and F&B.
Gaffoor has been a part of the Galle Face Hotel family since 2014 when he joined as a director of sales, before being promoted to director of group sales & marketing.
Narelle McDougall is the new head of sales & marketing for the Galle Face Hotel and Ceylon Hotel Corporation (CHC), overseeing sales and marketing, revenue and reservations, catering sales and public relations.
McDougall has had years of experience in the region including Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Maldives with leading brands such as InterContinental, Le Méridien and Anantara.
Indonesia’s tourism minister Arief Yahya says Mandalika, Lombok could take advantage of the MotoGP race event in 2021 to position itself as a sports destination.
The minister’s statement followed by news that the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the management of the Mandalika integrated resort development, will host the MotoGP race for three years from 2021. The promotor’s agreement was signed with Dorna Sports SL.
Indonesia will host the 2021 MotoGP race in Lombok
Last week, Indonesia also submitted a bid to host the 2032 Olympics, demonstrating an intention to attract more major sporting events after playing host to the Asian Games last summer.
Speaking during his visit to Lombok yesterday, Arief said: “With plans to host MotoGP and the development of golf courses in Mandalika, I suggest for Mandalika to position itself as a sports destination.
“Indonesia will host MotoGP race for the first time in 2021 in Mandalika and this will strengthen the position of West Nusa Tenggara as a destination. The race is expected to attract some 100,000 international travellers.”
The race in Mandalika will be a street race concept like the ones in Singapore and Monaco. The planned circuit will be 4.3km long with 18 turns, complete with a paddock with 40 garages and a grand stand of 93,200 seats, plus an area for 7,700 standing spectators.
As part of its support to the organising of MotoGP and its commitment to make Mandalika a sports destination, the Ministry of Tourism will allot a fund of one million euros (US$1.1 million) to help ITDC obtain the hosting licence.
Arief was in Lombok for the ground breaking of the 24-villa Ama-Lurra Resort on Gili Air. The net zero carbon emission concept resort will take an investment of US$2.2 million in two stages.
The tourism minister expressed his appreciation for the West Nusa Tenggara government and tourism stakeholders recovering from the natural disaster that struck the destination of Lombok.
The Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) is increasing its marketing spend in Israel by 20 per cent as it aims for 20 per cent from the emerging market this year, tourism undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr disclosed.
Total arrivals from Israel to the Philippines topped 20,000 last year, representing a 15 per cent jump from 17,446 in 2017 and more than double that seen in 2014.
Palawan will be among destinations actively promoted to Israeli travellers
While the numbers are small, there are strong growth potentials, making Israel an opportunity market for the Philippines, Bengzon said.
“We see arrivals from Israel potentially growing by 20 per cent but this will require stepping up marketing and promotions,” Bengzon told TTG Asia. Efforts will include fam trips for travel agents and media and advertising through different platforms.
He said various Philippine destinations will also be promoted more actively for adventure travellers including Palawan and Sagada, the top destinations for Israeli travellers, as well as beaches and other parts of the country.
Bengzon also noted that the Philippines had a more active participation in the recent International Mediterranean Tourist Market (IMTM) held in Tel Aviv on February 6 and 7, with 22 delegates from 15 tourism-related companies.
To further boost the market, the travel trade of both Israel and the Philippines are clamouring for Philippine Airlines (PAL) to mount flights from Manila to Tel Aviv, although Bengzon clarified that “nothing is definite yet”.
It is understood that PAL is still studying the possibility of being the first carrier to connect Tel Aviv directly to Manila, given the increasing inbound and outbound tourist traffic between the two destinations and the growing number of overseas Filipino workers in Israel.
Historically, the nations enjoy a friendly relationship as the Philippines welcomed over 1,000 Jews during the holocaust. It was also the only Asian country that voted for the creation of the state of Israel in the 1947 United Nations General Assembly.
Malaysian-based WA Hospitality has announced plans to set foot in Sihanoukville following the recent signing of a management contract with Cambodian real estate developer Won Majestic to manage the 150-key Won Majestic Casino Hotel & Resort Cambodia, which is under construction and is targeted to open in 1Q2021.
When it opens in 2021, Won Majestic Casino Hotel & Resort Cambodia will target upscale FITs from Asia
The property is strategically located in the heart of Sihanoukville and opposite the renowned Sokha Beach Resort.
This is the first overseas management contract won by WA Hospitality, which was established in 2015 as a subsidiary company of World Avenues, established in the UK in 1995.
WA Hospitality’s executive director, Ally Bhoonee, shared: “It is not your typical casino hotel as this one will be right next to the beach and it will be an upscale, five-star property. The hotel concept is to provide entertainment and excellent personalised service.”
He said based on projections, the property is looking at an 80 per cent occupancy in the first year of operations.
Hotel features will include a KTV lounge with advance karaoke system, five F&B outlets that offer a wide variety of food, from Chinese to Western traditional and fusion dishes, an infinity rooftop pool and a 24-hour fully equipped gym overlooking the beachfront.
Ally said: “We are targeting upmarket FITs from China and South-east Asia.”
India-based franchising and hospitality company Oyo has forayed into Japan’s housing rental market through a joint venture with Yahoo Japan Corporation to form Oyo Technology & Hospitality Company.
Japanese entrepreneur and former Japan market leader for Handy and Booking.com, Hiro Katsuse, appointed as CEO of the newly formed company.
The joint venture will see Oyo bringing its housing rental product, Oyo Living, from India to Japan from March 2019. To be-christened as Oyo Life in Japan, the entity aims to enter the housing rental segment in the country by providing “upgraded living experiences at an affordable price”, targeting Japanese citizens, students and young professionals, the company announced in a statement.
As the latest addition to Oyo’s portfolio, Japan will make up the “third and potentially the largest home market” for the fast-expanding company, which counts India and China as its home markets, announced Ritesh Agarwal, CEO & founder, Oyo Hotels and Homes.
The partnership is expected to combine Yahoo’s marketing and distribution capabilities with Oyo’s ability to transform and manage rental housing properties with the help of technology.
In his newly appointed CEO role of Oyo Technology & Hospitality Company, Katsuse added: “With the launch of Oyo LIFE, we are all set to leverage Oyo’s hospitality experience to offer a first-of-its-kind, end-to-end fully managed housing experience. I look forward to leveraging our partnership with Yahoo! Japan and Oyo’s expertise from across the world to scale Oyo Life, a product built in Japan for Japanese customers.”
Pre-registration is now available for stays starting March, he announced.
The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), South Asia’s largest hospitality company which owns the Taj chain of luxury hotels, has launched Ama Trails & Stays as the first branded product in the homestay market in India.
Ama Trails & Stays are a group of heritage bungalows, guesthouses and homestays at unique locations across the country.
IHCL has added heritage bungalows into its portfolio with the launch of Ama Trails & Stays (photo credit: Taj Hotels’ Facebook page)
The company has signed a management contract for nine heritage bungalows with Tata Coffee in Coorg and Chikmagalur, and is adding two of its own bungalows in Goa by mid next year under the Ama umbrella.
“IHCL has launched Ama Trails & Stays in response to evolving guest needs for local, immersive and authentic experiences. We are delighted to partner with Tata Coffee for the first collection of plantation trails leveraging Tata Group synergies,” said Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and CEO of IHCL.
“With India’s rich diversity we are confident that we will be able to scale this product to the first 100 units before the end of 2020 and bring distinctive offerings for our guests across the Indian sub-continent,” he added.
Guests will be able to earn and burn loyalty points through the Taj InnerCircle Loyalty Programme. Bookings open effective March 1, 2019.
Sabre has appointed Sean McDonald as vice president, online travel for its Travel Network business.
In this role, McDonald will lead worldwide sales, commercial operations, business development, and solution delivery for OTAs, metasearch engines and other digital travel companies.
Sean McDonald
Based in London, the seasoned travel technology executive will report to Roshan Mendis, COO of Sabre Travel Network.
The seasoned travel technology executive comes to Sabre from a COO role at BD4travel, a technology company. Prior to that, McDonald was chief sales officer at Secret Escapes, and has also served as senior vice president sales at Expedia Affiliate Network.
