Lanson Place Hospitality Management (Lanson Place), the hospitality arm of Wing Tai Properties, has appointed Michael Hobson as CEO.
Prior to joining Lanson Place, Hobson was chief marketing officer of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and has played a pivotal role in their global development and brand efforts over a career spanning 25 years.
The recent move by casino operator Genting Malaysia to sue Twenty-First Century Fox and its soon-to-be owner Walt Disney for more than US$1 billion is not seen as a setback for the country’s tourism, say inbound travel agents.
Genting Malaysia in November 2018 accused the two of terminating a contract related to the construction of the first Fox-branded theme park in Genting Highlands.
Last month, Genting Malaysia’s chairman and CEO Lim Kok Thay told Singapore’s Business Times that the theme park “remains very much part of our plans”, while describing the theme park as “only a small part” of expansion plans for Resorts World Genting.
The opening of the branded theme park, originally scheduled for 2016, had been delayed numerous times. This led some inbound agents such as Azizi Borhan, managing director, Asutra Convex, to not promote the attraction even before news of the theme park potentially not materialising.
World Avenues’ executive director, Ally Bhoonee echoed similar sentiments: “We never promoted the Twentieth Century Fox World theme park because we didn’t want to take a risk. There were delays and no clear indication of when it would open. Our overseas agents have also not asked about it.”
He further remarked that the country has “plenty of other theme parks” that agents can include in itineraries.
Moreover, agents emphasise that theme parks are just one component of more extensive itineraries in Malaysia.
In Azizi’s experience, tourists typically spend just half a day in a theme park, with the rest of the itinerary packed with other activities such as shopping and sightseeing.
Ally added: “Even without a branded theme park, Resorts World Genting will still have its destination appeal. People go there for a change of weather, and the shopping, food and entertainment experiences.”
On the other hand, Raaj Navaratnaa, general manager, New Asia Holiday Tours & Travel, opined: “(Losing the theme park) will affect (potential) arrivals from Asian markets to some degree as there is no new international attraction of that class in Malaysia. We have to find other ways to attract weekend holidaymakers to Malaysia.”
For example, he shared that the company has developed edu-tourism packages to attract students from regional markets such as Vietnam and Thailand to take up short language courses in Malaysia, in addition to being the groundhandler for the Kabaddi World Cup from April 2 – 15.
Uzaidi Udanis, president, Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, agreed that the theme park would have had a positive impact on arrivals. However, he stressed: “We cannot depend solely on a single product or be over-reliant on man-made theme parks. We need to create ‘natural theme parks’ in the forests, mountains and rivers.
“We are planning to have an inbound tourism boot camp in Langkawi from January 15 to 17 followed by one in Lahad Datu, Sabah in February. Through these camps, we intend to gather the inbound players together to identify new products that we can promote to overseas markets. We need to leverage our strength in culture and ecotourism and come out with more packages to attract international markets. This is our long-term strategy.”
Guests at the Regent Taipei can leave their selfie sticks at the door without falling behind on the gram, as the hotel introduces what it says is an industry-first Photography Butler service.
Available by advance reservation only, Photography Butlers will accompany guests to popular Instagram check-in spots in the hotel, tourists attractions and “insider photo locations” across the city and take photos for guests.
Currently, photo location options include more than 30 Instagram-worthy spots within Regent Taipei; while scenic locations near the hotel will be available in the following phase. Routes and itineraries may be customised based on time available, season and number of people in the guest party.
The hotel added that travellers in Taipei who are unfamiliar with the city will be able to fully enter exploration mode without a selfie stick or having to hand their phones to strangers for photo-taking.
Photography Butlers are Regent Taipei employees who are “like-minded” and trained, and photo locations are selected based on research done on Instagram.
Alex, Regent Taipei’s chief concierge, Taiwan’s Golden Key society president and Regent Taipei employee photography club president, said: “By providing the Photography Butler service, surpassing the industry standard, we were already able to secure a major client’s return stay due to enhanced customer satisfaction.”
While Photography Butlers responds to the needs of guests in an always-on, snap-happy generation, the hotel admits it also serves as a strategic marketing tool by directly encouraging social media posting.
Regent Taipei managing director Simon Wu elaborated: “Enhancing guest satisfaction and driving digital engagement are continuous goals for us. Following the increase in FIT customers and the inseparable relationship between photography, social media and travel, the services we provide must also reflect these trends.”
The hotel had previously introduced other personalised services in the form of Wedding Butlers and Shopping Butlers.
Okura Nikko Hotel Management, a subsidiary of Hotel Okura, will soon open two Hotel Nikko-branded properties in Cambodia and Thailand.
Slated to open in 2022, Hotel Nikko Phnom Penh will be the first Hotel Nikko-branded hotel in Cambodia. There will be 201 guestrooms in total, occupying floors 14-22, with a standard area of 36m2. Facilities include a wide range of restaurants including Japanese cuisine and all-day dining, as well as a sky bar on the 23rd floor.
Managed by UY United, the hotel will occupy the upper level of the tentatively named Japan Trade Center, a mixed development project currently under construction in Phnom Penh’s Toul Tum Poung district.
Thailand’s third Hotel Nikko will open in 2021 in Amata City Chonburi Industrial Estate, around 60km south-east of Bangkok. The hotel will be built on a site of approximately 21,000m2, near the entrance to Amata City Chonburi, a 4,000ha smart city that is already home to 750 international companies, of which 450 are Japanese enterprises.
Hotel Nikko Amata City Chonburi will offer around 250 guestrooms, each measuring 32m2. Amenities will include access to golfing facilities at the nearby Amata Spring Country Club, gym, public bath, banquet hall and restaurants.
These slated openings are part of Okura Nikko Hotel Management plans to expand the group’s global portfolio to 100 properties, primarily in Asia, by 2020.
ACTS Group, a Hong headquartered property developer, is launching a lifestyle brand, Canvas, which places community-centric, networking and cultural initiatives and values at the heart of its properties.
With flagship properties in Bali, Hua Hin and Bangkok, each Canvas product is meant to showcase its locations, while building “approachable and inclusive networks” and raising awareness of sustainability and cultural preservation, ACTS Group said in a statement.
The brand encompasses three components: Canvas Place, a hospitality and real estate development arm; Canvas Belong, with options for individual and corporate membership; and Blank Canvas, a platform for creative minds to gather.
Under the Canvas Belong programme, Canvas Citizens will enjoy a range of benefits from a welcome life coaching session, stays at new Canvas Place resorts in Bali and Hua Hin, cultural experiences and lifestyle offerings in dining and wellness in five cities, to enriching events with influential CEOs, entrepreneurs, designers, wellness and sports champions from around the world.
The membership programme will launch in Hong Kong on January 23, 2019, then Bangkok and Shanghai the following month.
Founder of ACTS Group, Carl Gouw, said: “Canvas seeks to inspire and nurture connections between people and cultures. Through the different components of Canvas, we are weaving together the story of creative ideas, cultural diversity and originality.”
Edouard Demptos has joined Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok as general manager.
Prior to his move to Thailand, Demptos was hotel manager at Grand Hyatt Singapore, where he has been since June 2016.
The Frenchman first joined Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in 2004 and has since worked in Morocco, Spain, the Philippines, China and Singapore. He first arrived in Asia in May 2009 as director of F&B at the Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila, and subsequently joined Hyatt on the Bund in April 2011 in the same capacity, before he was later promoted to executive assistant manager F&B and hotel manager.
Brought to you by Indonesia Tourism
From the east to west of our incredible archipelago, you can indulge in these stunning beaches that are ready to captivate you. Slather on your sun block, get out your coolest sun hat…..here are 6 Instagramable beaches to put on top of your best beaches bucket list in Wonderful Indonesia!
Apart from its unique and pristine beaches, visitors to Lengkuas Island in Belitung are also intrigued by the island’s lighthouse. This is just one historical landmark you can find in the area dating back to the Dutch colonial era when they built it in 1882. The 62-meter high lighthouse still operates to this day. The beaches and the lighthouse will make a sure hit for your Instagram feed…..
Jogan Beach is approximately 70 kilometers or around two-hour drive from Yogyakarta. What’s so special about this beach? It hosts a stunning waterfall with a cliff standing around 10-12 meters high, the water flows directly from the cliff to the sea. A heart-stopping view! To reach the waterfall, the track is quite challenging. But don’t worry, once you reach the waterfall, all the challenges you went through will be worth it and make your photos even more memorable…
A Jurassic park experience in Bali? You heard it right. The cliff on Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali, has a peculiar shape. The cliff is formed like a T-Rex’s pinkie and definitely a crowd pleaser. The lush of green covering the lands, the T-Rex shaped cliff, the turquoise colored water that graces the astonishing white sands is simply a natural perfect picture that would blow you away.
Komodo Island is an official UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located west of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara, and is most famously the home of Komodo dragons, the world’s largest lizards. The pink hues of this beach are said to be the result of microscopic animals called Foraminifera, which produces red pigments on the coral reefs. When these tiny fragments of the red coral are mixed with the sands on the shoreline, it naturally generates soft pink color. An automatically Insta-favorite view!
Bawana Beach is located in Kodi, Southwest of Sumba, around a 90-minute drive from the town of Tambolaka. Itis the home to the iconic giant hole in the rock wall situated on the shoreline of the beach. The rock’s hole is an insta-favorite as it generates a dramatic view for those beachgoers seeking for the perfect picturesque snapshots especially during sunset. When the tide is high, you can also enjoy the beach view from Mareha hill. Simply gorgeous!
These are only a glimpse of many other splendors that await you in Wonderful Indonesia when you explore in our site. Click Indonesia.travel to find what you are looking for. Come visit soon, choose your adventure and experience be inspired by Wonderful Indonesia!
Find Paradise in Every Part of The Indonesian Archipelago!
All Images Sources: Shutterstock
Louis T Collection has appointed Chaivaree Chitrakorn as general manager of Mantra Samui Resort in Koh Samui.
Her second posting with the hospitality management company, Chaivaree joined Louis T Collection in June 2017 as hotel manager for Hotel Bocage, a six-room boutique hotel in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin.
The Thai national spent most of her career – as an attendance management executive – with Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong, before relocating back to her homeland in 2017 to join Louis T Collection.
Bedsonline is offering an additional three per cent discount on all accommodation sales worldwide until January 17, 2019.
The deal is valid for all travel agents that work with Bedsonline on a commissionable basis.
This follows news announced in September 2018 that Bedsonline’s sister companies, TravelCube, TravelBound and GTA’s retail brand would all become part of the Bedsonline platform and brand, with customer migration now well underway.
Alistair Rodger, retail travel agents director, said: “Until January 17, all travel agents customers worldwide that work with Bedsonline solely in the discount model will have the opportunity to increase their profits, while benefiting from our global portfolio of more than 170,000 hotels, 18,000 activities and 24,000 transfer routes.”
Vietnam’s Quang Ninh – home to Halong Bay – has welcomed the opening of an airport, a cruise port and a highway, major infrastructural developments expected to boost tourism to the province as well as create new opportunities for international trade and economic cooperation.
After two years of construction, Van Don International Airport opened 50km from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay in Quang Ninh province.
This is the first international airport in Vietnam to be developed by a private company, namely, Sun Group, a Vietnamese developer of tourism, leisure and entertainment-focused properties and projects.
With a total investment of nearly 7.5 billion Vietnamese dong (US$310 million), the airport was constructed with the assistance of NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants).
As a new gateway for both domestic and international travellers visiting Halong Bay, the airport is expected to receive an estimated 2-2.5 million passengers annually for the next two years and five million per year by 2030.
On the same day, Sun Group officially unveiled the new Halong-Van Don Highway and Halong International Cruise Port in Quang Ninh.
The new four-lane, 60km-long highway is said to reduce travel time from Van Don Airport to Halong city to under 50 minutes.
With total investment of over one billion dong, Halong International Cruise Port is the province’s first cruise port dedicated to receiving international cruise ships.
Located in Bai Chay ward, Halong City, the port can accommodate two cruise ships (up to 225,000 GRT each) at the same time and a total of 8,460 passengers, including crew.
The port terminal, designed by Bill Bensley, is pegged to be a new landmark for the city province.
