The Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui will soon be closed for upgrades and renovations.
The 23-year-old property will stay open until June 1, and reopen only in 2020.
During the revamp, all rooms and suites will undergo a redesign, while the property will see the addition of luxury villas as well as dining concepts and services.
Four Seasons has appointed Alejandro Bernabé as the new general manager of its Seoul property.
Prior to joining Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, the Spaniard was group director of Avani Hotels and Resorts in Thailand, and was later promoted to its vice president operations.
The seasoned hotelier’s career first began in Asia as a restaurant manager at Colombo Hilton in Sri Lanka, before moving to Kempinski hotels where he took up his first general manager posting at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Gozo in Malta.
Bernabé rose up the ranks over the two decades with Kempinski Hotels to become vice president South-east Asia in 2013 and then CEO in 2014.
Buyers from emerging European markets are seeing increasing demand for South-east Asia, as travellers in these markets are drawn by the exotic allure of the Far East and affordable ground costs.
Tomasz Brych, executive manager at Adventure Travel, Poland, shared: “Year-on-year, we saw a 25 per cent increase in demand for leisure and business events to South-east Asia. Seven-day incentive programmes or a one-week stay for leisure travellers to South-east Asia are popular.”
Viktorila Buzova, CEO, Team Link, Ukraine is recording greater demand for corporate incentive travel and teambuilding activities, especially to Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.
“In terms of pricing, the airfares (to South-east Asia) are higher than to Western Europe, but the ground costs, including hotels, meals and activities, are much lower. Overall, the total costs work out to be the same as having (programmes) in Western Europe,” she said.
Picking up on the trend for “fancy” holidays in his market, Radek Madera, manager at Czech Republic’s Arcadia Air, remarked that Asian destinations present opportunities for him to offer clients aspirational trips for the same budget.
“Travel preferences in the Czech market are changing every year. Our clients follow lifestyle and travel trends. It’s now going towards fancy travel, fancy style and fancy luxury. Before, travellers opting for Asia were content with more rugged trips and ask for cheaper or regular hotels, said Madera.
“Now, they want more luxury and more expensive experiences – not only for hotels, but also services. With the same travel budget, in Asia, they can buy more things, opt for more luxurious hotels, and enjoy higher-end service.”
Madera is also planning to incorporate more off-the-beaten-path destinations into itineraries. The launch of Hôtel de la Coupole – MGallery by Sofitel, the first international brand luxury hotel in Vietnam’s Sapa, presents an example of a destination that can fulfil his clients’ preference for luxury and hidden gems, he said.
ATF sellers from South-east Asia have also registered keener interest from emerging European markets.
Henry Wong, executive director at Discovery Overland Holidays in Malaysia, shared that while business from Eastern Europe has increased, travellers are generally new to the offerings in this part of the world, and are more likely to seek out expertise of travel agents.
He said: “The FIT segment (from Europe’s emerging markets) is not as adventurous as Western Europeans such as the UK and Germany who tend to design their own itineraries. Travellers from Eastern Europe are more comfortable buying a package from a reliable travel agent.
“Many are also first-timers to the destination. As such, everything is new to them and they are open to new experiences,” said Wong.
“Traditional European markets on the other hand, tend to be repeat visitors and are more precise on what they want to see and do.”
Elsewhere in the region, Bali-based Manumadi Travel is also starting to receive bookings from the Baltic states, a new market the company is targeting, shared Siggi Neuhaus, general manager of Caraka Travelindo (sister company of Manumadi Travel).
Additional reporting from Yixin Ng and Mimi Hudoyo
Buddhist tourism has strong growth potential in South-east Asia, but more needs to be done in order to develop this sector.
Home to an estimated 156 million Buddhists, South-east Asia is “replete with Buddhist religious activities, ceremonies and festivals”, as well as “many cultural, architectural and historical monuments and relics”, according to Victor Wee, secretary-general of ASEAN Tourism Research Association (ATRA), which comprises 16 public and private universities in South-east Asia.
However, Wee said that there has not been much attempt to consider how Buddhist sites and relics across the region could be used to develop and promote tourism centred on Buddhism.
These findings were part of an ongoing study on Buddhist tourism on eight countries in South-east Asia – with the exception of Brunei and the Philippines – which was presented by ATRA to South-east Asian NTOs at ATF in Halong Bay last week. The complete findings are expected to be published later this year.
Wee elaborated: “(The study) examined the programmes, policies and infrastructure that could be developed in order to capitalise on their tangible and intangible heritage of Buddhism.”
The study also examined destination management strategies at iconic sites to relieve congestion and improve sustainability in terms of tourism dispersal strategies; carrying capacity; and management of visitor impacts.
It also gave recommendations on what was needed for Buddhist tourism to gain traction in the region. This included the training of tourist guides to equip them with better and in-depth storytelling; development and improvement of infrastructure and amenities without causing negative impact to local communities and the environment; and sustainable development of tourism attractions, products and services.
Wee added that the study will form part of the UNWTO study on Buddhist tourism in Asia, adding to the growing religious tourism research the global tourism body has undertaken in the region.
Asnawi Bahar and Ben Sukma have abruptly stepped down from their respective positions of chairman and advisory board chair of the Association of the Indonesia Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA).
The resignations were announced at the ASITA Plenary Meeting in Jakarta last week.
Budijanto Ardiansyah, vice president of ASITA, said: “Asnawi resigned to focus on his nomination as a member of the Regional Representative Council of Indonesia in the West Sumatra electoral district.”
The association says Ben Sukma is stepping down to go into retirement.
TTG Asia, however, understands that both executives were discharged from their positions following a no-trust motion by the regional chapter boards.
Denying the news, Budijanto said: “That is not true. Yes, there was a friction, which is common in any organisation, but it had been resolved well before the plenary meeting.”
Budijanto was appointed acting chairman of ASITA and an Extraordinary Assembly will be held in Jakarta on February 26-28 to elect a new chairman.
He assured: “During this transition period it will be business as usual for ASITA, with all complete board members until the election of the new chairman.”
Hasiyana Ashadi, ASITA’s Jakarta chapter chairman, added that a steering committee and organising committee have been formed to hold National Assembly.
She said candidates running for the post of chairman should have served in the ASITA chapter and central boards for at least one term.
“The most important thing is the person must stay in Jakarta because ASITA needs to work together with government. Whoever the new chairman will be, I expect the person can make ASITA better, and support the development of Indonesian tourism.”
Over half of the robots at Henn-na Hotel have been rendered jobless, with humans being hired to replace the androids after they failed to live up to standards.
According to a report from The South China Morning Post (SCMP), the hotel replaced the androids because they suffered frequent breakdowns, required costly maintenance and were unable to field more complicated questions from guests such as local attractions or access to airports.
Humans were also on stand-by every time a guest’s passport needed to be registered. In addition, robot luggage carriers were not able to reach all of the rooms in some hotels, and broke down when they got wet, while the in-room assistant Churi struggled to understand accents.
However, a company official confirmed that the chain is pushing ahead with plans to develop a new generation of robot employees and plans to open new properties across Japan, the SCMP reported.
A new startup that gives independent hotels access to a loyalty programme – a sell-point traditionally seen as the domain of chains – is looking to grow its membership in Asia.
Loyal Guest, which launched in 3Q2018, says independent hotels can enjoy loyalty opportunities without having to forsake control over management or branding, according to Chatuporn Ruttalaungsak, the company’s Thailand general manager.
“So far, we don’t see any others like us who offer a loyalty programme for independent hotels. Chain hotels have their own programmes (and a larger portfolio of participating hotels)… It is difficult for independent hotels without being part of a similar (programme to entice guests), she told TTG Asia at ATF last week.
“And we are not like hotel representation or management companies (in that) our members get to run things however they like, except they gain access a loyalty programme,” she added.
The Singapore-registered company allows guests to earn and redeem points at member hotels.
From an independent hotel standpoint, loyalty opportunities may be considerable now given the size of Loyal Guest’s current portfolio, which spans 85 independent hotels in Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Vietnam.
But as the startup grows, it remains to be seen if its value proposition to hotels would continue to be as strong.
Chatuporn told TTG Asia that the business model is not limited to hotel membership. It is currently also pursuing tie-ups with attractions and tours.
“We are not only for hotels but also for tourist attractions, car rentals, departmental stores or any business related to hospitality. We are looking for opportunities to tie up with tours and activities,” shared Chatuporn.
South-east Asia’s ministers have pledged to work together to implement a raft of measures targeted at raising the nations’ tourism profiles and solving various issues.
For instance, the push for a single entry visa, ramping up of marketing and promotions, and tackling overtourism were some of the issues discussed during the ministers’ meetings at the recently concluded ATF.
Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Vietnam’s minister of culture, sports and tourism, also added that festivals, Buddhist tourism and cruising will be developed and promoted, as part of a united drive to diversify tourism products.
He noted that while a single visa would boost cross-country travel throughout South-east Asia, the decision does not fall within the ministry of tourism’s remit. However, members have pledged to take up the issue with their governments.
Thailand’s minister for tourism and sports, Weerasak Kowsurat, added: “We (ASEAN ministers) have agreed to go back to our cabinets and see what can be done, so that the single visa dream we have been having together gets closer.”
Combatting overtourism was another issue discussed, with new measures outlined to disperse visitors – such as identifying 55 new destinations in the region which will be actively promoted throughout 2019.
“This is not just for international visitors but domestic travellers too. We are learning that overcapacity is becoming one of the major issues, and we are all going to pay a lot of attention to it,” Weerasak said.
Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, the Philippines’ secretary of tourism, pointed out that setting a carrying capacity is one way to deal with overtourism. One example is the recently-reopened Boracay, and it will soon be rolled out to other popular tourist destinations in the Philippines.
“For us, it’s not the numbers that matter now. It’s balancing business opportunities with social responsibility,” she concluded.
Dream Hotel Group – comprising brands Dream Hotels, Time Hotels and Unscripted Hotels – has extended its 12 per cent group commissions through 1Q2019 for select properties in Asia and the US.
This applies to its Dream Bangkok hotel in Bangkok.
The latest deal is an extension of its earlier April 2018 offer, which saw the group increase its group commissions from 10 per cent to 12 per cent for qualified groups and meetings that were booked and actualised in 2018.
Reservations must be booked and actualised by March 31, 2019, with a minimum of 10 rooms on the peak. The offer is not valid for any business previously booked or consumed and is subject to availability, cancellation or extension at any time.
Vietnam’s diverse cultures have been highlighted in a new book, seeking to inspire fresh wave of visitors.
Tourism Stories – the Vietnam Edition was officially launched at last week’s ATF in Halong Bay. Produced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the UNWTO, the book features 20 stories from grassroots tourism players.
Zhu Shanzhong, UNWTO executive director, shared that the book helps tourists to understand the locals’ perspectives, and how the tourism dollar can “positively impact livelihoods”.
Le Quang Tung, vice minister of culture, sports and tourism, added the book, complete with a range of colourful images, highlights Vietnam’s diversity. He opined: “The interesting stories bring a unique perspective to Vietnam’s tourism.”
