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Asia/Singapore Sunday, 14th December 2025
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MATTA, CLIA join forces to grow cruise tourism in Malaysia

By TTG Asia
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MATTA's Tan Kok Liang (left) and CLIA's Andy Harmer sealing the deal at WTM London

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have inked an MoU to collaboratively drive emerging cruise tourism in Malaysia.

The MoU signing ceremony was completed by MATTA president, Tan Kok Liang, and CLIA senior vice president, membership and director UK & Ireland, Andy Harmer, and witnessed by Malaysia’s minister of tourism, arts and culture Mohamaddin Ketapi at WTM London.

CLIA’s Andy Harmer (left) and MATTA’s Tan Kok Liang sealing the deal at WTM London

Tan said: “Cruise is one of the fastest-growing leisure travel segments globally and has been picking up steam in Malaysia. According to CLIA’s Asia Cruise Trends Report 2018, Malaysian cruise source passenger count nearly doubled in 2017, an increase of 87,000 passengers, or about 88 per cent up year over year.

“Meanwhile, the number of international cruise call to local ports has grown to 599 at 2017 compared to 435 at 2016. The number of intermediate stops by international cruise holiday ships is expected to grow to 628 by year 2020.”

The cooperation will focus on the development and sustainable growth of the cruise tourism in Malaysia through education and awareness to members, Tan added.

He further expects that members of both associations will be able to leverage each other’s technical knowledge, expertise and experience for expansion and growth.

“We are optimistic that this strategic cooperation will create favourable conditions for the continuous growth of cruise tourism in Malaysia and enhance members business offerings and services to consumers.”

Kazakhstan’s next steppe for PATA Travel Mart 2019

By TTG Asia
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Astana, capital city of Kazakhstan

PATA Travel Mart will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan come September 2019, marking the first-ever PATA event in Central Asia.

The event will be hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh Tourism National Company JSC, the key tourism organisation promoting Kazakhstan.

Astana, capital city of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s vice minister of culture and sport, Yerlan Kozhagapanov, said: “We are positioning Astana as a MICE hub for Central Asia and looking forward to welcoming PATA members, hosted buyers and visitors at PATA Travel Mart 2019.”

Bordering China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan received a total of over 7.7 million total visitors in 2017, according to UNWTO.

The country’s fast-growing capital, Astana, is also known as the ‘Singapore of the steppe’, and has played host to the Expo 2017 world fair.

Special discounts are available for sellers located within Central Asia, while early bird discounts are available for those registering before December 31, 2018.

For more information or to register for PATA Travel Mart, visit www.PATA.org/PTM or email PTM@PATA.org.

Royal Brunei Airlines plots Borneo onto destination marketing strategy

By S Puvaneswary
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Chand: taking the lead in destination marketing with digital strategy as well as a multi-destination drive that packages Brunei with East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah

Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) has rolled out a B$5 million (US$3.6 million) destination marketing campaign as part of a fresh strategy to boost inbound arrivals into the sultanate and drive yield and load for the airline.

Since the campaign’s launch in late September, the airline had taken a lead in international destination marketing with the multi-destination approach of promoting Brunei with the East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, RBA’s CEO Karam Chand told TTG Asia on the sidelines of the 10th APG World Connect in Monaco.

Chand: taking the lead in destination marketing with digital strategy as well as a multi-destination drive that packages Brunei with East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah

This marks a change from previous campaigns by Brunei Tourism where the sultanate was promoted as a mono destination.

Furthermore, RBA’s Borneo strategy is expected to get a boost from the upcoming Kuching service – which will resume from December 28 following its suspension in 2011 – to target longhaul leisure travellers transiting in Bandar Seri Begawan on its London-Melbourne route.

RBA has introduced its non-stop flight to London from Bandar Seri Begawan since end October, reducing the journey time by 3.5 hours each direction as the airline no longer flies via Dubai. It has also recently expanded its flight network to Taipei, Narita, Changsha, Nanning and Kuching.

Karam said: “We are running a 100 per cent digital campaign for at least two years. We have engaged M&C Saatchi Singapore to be the advertising agency and drive the initiatives forward… We are also targeting millennials through digital marketing campaigns.”

The campaign is led by James Millett, who joined the airline as head of digital and marketing in August. He was previously the director of marketing, digital and brand at EasyJet.

As the airline secures the “right people” to make a push for the destination, Chand remarked that the airline is looking forward to the NTO “to get their funding and skill sets sorted out”.

For now, the airline and Brunei Tourism are working collaboratively, with the latter overseeing the training of tourist guides, licensing matters and the setting of standards for the industry.

Karam said the airline will also organise travel trade missions in targeted markets with the relevant private sector stakeholders.

Thailand waives VOA fees for two months

By TTG Asia
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Chinese tourists outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok

Thailand will waive visa-on-arrival fee for visitors from 21 countries for two months in hopes of stimulating tourism, following consecutive months of year-on-year declines in Chinese arrivals.

Chinese tourists outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok

The Bangkok Post reported that the cabinet agreed with a draft ministerial regulation to waive the 2,000-baht (US$61) fee from December 1 to January 31 for visitors staying for up to 15 days.

China, India and Taiwan are on the list of countries, which also includes Andora, Bulgaria, Bhutan, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

The move is expected to boost tourist numbers by at least 30 per cent, The Bangkok Post article shared.

Carnival’s China JV sails off; two Costa ships to be transferred

By TTG Asia
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These agreements were signed on behalf of CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping by Costa Group's Michael Thamm; Yang Jincheng, president of CSSC; and Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, during the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai

Carnival Corporation has formally launched its cruise joint venture with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), under the name CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping, which will begin serving Chinese cruise passengers with its own fleet by end-2019.

CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping will purchase two existing ships from Carnival Corporation’s Costa Group. The 85,861-ton, 2,210-passenger Costa Atlantica, is scheduled to be transferred to the new Chinese cruise line by the end of 2019, while sister ship, the 2,114-passenger Costa Mediterranea, will be transferred at a later date.

These agreements were signed on behalf of CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping by Costa Group’s Michael Thamm; Yang Jincheng, president of CSSC; and Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, during the China International Import Expo in Shanghai

The new China-based cruise company has also signed a contract to finalise its previously announced agreement to order two new cruise ships that will be built in China and serve the Chinese cruise market.

The two new cruise ships will be constructed by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), with the first ship expected to be delivered in 2023. The agreement also gives CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping the option to order four additional China-built cruise ships to serve growing demand from Chinese consumers.

CSSC, China’s largest shipbuilder, and global shipbuilder Fincantieri have established a separate joint venture to grant a technology license of the ship model platform and to provide technical and project service support to SWS throughout the shipbuilding process. The two new ships will be built with a design tailored for the new joint venture and the specific tastes of Chinese travellers.

Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, commented: “The official launch of our cruise joint venture in China is a significant milestone in the strategic development of a strong and sustainable cruise industry in China.”

Lei Fanpei, chairman of CSSC, said the partnership with leading international cruise enterprises will foster the development of a whole industrial chain and an ecosystem that will “nurture the sustainable growth of the cruise industry”.

“Our cooperation continues to receive great support from the Chinese government at both the central and local levels,” Lei added.

GHM names new CEO to drive expansion

By TTG Asia
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Luxury hotel group GHM has appointed Tommy Lai as its CEO to drive its next phase of expansion, the 26-year-old luxury hotel group .

The Singapore native will assume some responsibilities currently managed by GHM co-founder and president Hans R Jenni, but Lai’s primary role is to spearhead the development opportunities and to drive GHM’s overall growth ambitions.

“We’re on the verge of some significant new developments, which we’ll be announcing in the coming months,” said Jenni. “Tommy’s appointment is both timely and strategic. His experience and knowledge, especially with regard to the North Asia markets and our widening ambitions across the region, align nicely with our plans.

Lai joins GHM after six years with the Thailand-based Onyx Hospitality Group, where he led their North Asia operation from Hong Kong. His well-rounded understanding of the hospitality industry, complemented by his purposeful professional pursuits throughout his career, has led him to this choice candidacy, the company said in a statement.

Dorsett unveils new rewards programme

By TTG Asia
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Programme members can enjoy room upgrades at Dorsett hotels, in addition to offers by programme partners across industries

Dorsett Hospitality International will pilot its new loyalty programme in 15 hotels across Asia, Europe and Oceania under its Dorsett and d.Collection brands.

Members of the Dorsett – Your Rewards programme will be able to enjoy tailored rewards, including through the hotel group’s partnerships across industries such as transport, beauty and more.

Programme members will be able to enjoy rewards at Dorsett hotels, in addition to offers by programme partners across industries

In addition to birthday offers, other Dorsett – Your Rewards benefits include free room upgrades to suites, complimentary breakfast, and guaranteed late check-out times of up to four hours.

A defining feature of the programme is its ‘part-cash, part-points’ model which allows members to redeem rewards any time they wish, no matter how many points they’ve amassed.

There are four tiers of membership – Classic, Silver, Gold and Platinum – and members will be automatically upgraded as they accrue more room nights stayed per year.

To celebrate the programme’s debut during the Christmas season, guests who sign up between now and December 31 will receive a free automatic membership upgrade to Silver and be able to access all the benefits exclusive to the tier on their next stay with Dorsett throughout the world.

Dorsett is also offering a platinum membership for two influencers per region.

The Peninsula Hong Kong now offers yacht experiences

By TTG Asia
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The Peninsula Yacht

The Peninsula Hong Kong is bringing its hospitality to the seas with the introduction of a new Sunseeker Manhattan 60 yacht.

With the introduction of The Peninsula Yacht, the hotel says it has become the first luxury property in Hong Kong to offer a trinity of deluxe transportation options, including its fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms and a customised helicopter.

The Peninsula Yacht

The Sunseeker Manhattan 60 is a 19m cruiser for up to 15 passengers. On the two-hour Harbour Sunset Cruise, guests depart in the evening to witness the Symphony of Lights show on the Victoria Harbour.

The package includes canapés and unlimited consumption of house Champagne, wine and other beverages, available from 18.30 to 20.30 nightly, priced at HK$1,400 nett (US$179) for adults and HK$600 nett for children.

The Peninsula Yacht will also serve as a new venue for events, managed by the hotel. Guests will enjoy the added option of a charter for their private functions, family celebrations, cocktail receptions, elegant pre-wedding photoshoots or an onboard massage therapy session by The Peninsula Spa.

For a fully personalised experience, the entire yacht can be chartered for HK$15,000 nett per hour with a minimum engagement of four hours.

The events team can customise any event by adding the guest’s choice of signature Peninsula experiences, each priced separately.

Skål Hua Hin & Cha Am relaunches

By TTG Asia
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Richard Mehr (far right) and supporters of the relaunch, including president of Skål Thailand, Wolfgang Grimm (centre in hat), Skål International's Phuket/Thailand secretary Heike Garcon (next to Mehr) and Thailand vice president Kevin Rautenbach (front row, third from left)

Skål International Hua Hin & Cha Am was relaunched last week, with association members and guests gathered in celebration of the event at the Oceanside Restaurant at Putahracsa Resort, Hua Hin.

The relaunch was the vision of Richard Mehr, general manager at Putahracsa Resort, who will be acting president of the club. He will work alongside Stacey Walton, general manager of Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin, and acting vice president of the newly relaunched club.

Richard Mehr (far right) with supporters of the relaunch, including president of Skål Thailand, Wolfgang Grimm (centre in hat), Skål International’s Phuket/Thailand secretary Heike Garcon (next to Mehr) and Thailand vice president Kevin Rautenbach (front row, third from left)

The reinstatement of the club, first inaugurated 11 years go, is “long overdue” for the hotel, golf and tourism industry, according to a Skål statement.

At the event, Mehr thanked club representatives and the 18 founding members from Hua Hin and Cha Am – which included general managers of Hyatt, Marriott, InterContinental, Avani, Anantara, G Resort and Marrakesh – for supporting the relaunch.

Walton, a founding member of Skål International Hua Hin & Cha Am back in 2007, said: “It was unfortunate that the group dissolved a few years ago. I shared the same vision as Richard that there has been a need for an international association where like-minded professionals in hotels, golf courses, travel and tourism can gather and exchange information, share ideas and keep up to date on events and activities in Hua Hin & Cha Am in a sociable environment.”

The next club event will take place at the award-winning Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin on November 20, 2018 offering a green fee of 2,200 baht (US$67) on the day for Skål members and their guests. To make a tee time, contact reservations@banyanthailand.com.

And for 1,000 baht (members) and 1,200 baht (guests), a welcome drink will be served at Mulligan’s Pub at 18.30 followed by dinner at The Terrace Restaurant. To RSVP, contact gm@putahracsa.com.

Webjet acquires Dubai-based Destinations of the World

By TTG Asia
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Destinations of the World, based in Dubai (pictured), will give WebBeds 5,600 unique direct hotel contracts

Webjet has entered into an agreement to acquire Destinations of the World (DOTW), bringing the Dubai-based B2B platform into the WebBeds portfolio comprising JacTravel, TotalStay, Sunhotels, Lots of Hotels and FIT Ruums.

The company is buying DOTW from Gulf Capital, the largest private equity firm in the Middle East, its founder and its management team, who will retain a shareholding in the enlarged Webjet Group.

Destinations of the World, based in Dubai (pictured), will give WebBeds 5,600 unique direct hotel contracts

In a statement, Webjet said the DOTW acquisition will significantly enhance WebBeds’ Asia-Pacific and Americas businesses, while further expanding its presence in the key European and MEA regions to solidify its position as the “B2B player globally”.

While WebBeds’ main focus is on the long-term benefits of the acquisition, the acquisition is also expected to deliver considerable cost and revenue synergies over the short to medium term.

The acquisition is expected to significantly expand WebBeds’ portfolio with a 24 per cent increase in direct contracts. Of DOTW’s portfolio of 12,300 directly contracted hotels, 5,600 are unique to WebBeds, thereby increasing WebBeds directly contracted inventory pool to over 28,500 hotels. Additionally, the 6,700 overlapping hotel contracts will deepen WebBeds’ room allocation and availability at key hotels around the world.

As well, adding DOTW to the WebBeds family will boost annual total transacted volume to over A$2 billion (US$1.4 billion, proforma for FY2018), representing an increase of 54 per cent and will increase the global footprint with offices in 36 locations.

Following the acquisition, WebBeds will have more than 2,100 employees. It will feature a portfolio of more than 250,000 hotels in all regions of the globe, of which 28,500 are directly contracted.

Webjet’s managing director, John Guscic said Webjet and DOTW will be working to integrate our businesses “over the coming weeks and months”.

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | Building a new world
TTG Asia | Salter Brothers Hospitality names Chris Curran as COO
TTG Asia | Le Méridien Putrajaya welcomes new GM