New hotels: Shinta Mani Wild, Awei Pila and more

December 7, 2018

Shinta Mani Wild – Bensley Collection, Cambodia
This luxury tented camp experience, which lies three hours drive south of Phnom Penh, is home to 14 one-bedroom tents (100m²) and one two-bedroom tent (140m²) nestled amid a 350ha valley between the Phnom Bokor and Kirirom National Parks.

After arriving at this gate lounge by road or helicopter, guests can enjoy an adrenaline-filled entry to the resort via a 380m-long zipline over rivers and waterfalls, or simply opt for a jeep transfer.

Amenities at this remote outpost include the Waterfall Restaurant, Landing Zone Bar and Boulders Spa, while an extensive list of adventures – from hiking and expedition boat journeys to accompanying rangers and full-time researchers on field research – can be had.

Awei Pila, Myanmar
This exclusive resort, set on a remote tropical island in Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago, will open its doors to guests on December 15. The newly-constructed property on the island of Pila – a two-hour speedboat ride from mainland – will feature 24 air-conditioned tented villas fronting a white-sand beach. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, spa and swimming pool. Water activities include kayaking, snorkelling, and diving are on offer, alongside island excursions and cooking classes. The property will open seasonally (closed June to September every year).

Hotel Nikko Bangkok, Thailand
The soon-to-open Hotel Nikko Bangkok stands at 27 Sukhumvit Soi 55, within walking distance from the BTS Skytrain Thonglor station. The five-star hotel offers 301 guestrooms and suites, including 10 extended stay rooms featuring a kitchenette. The hotel will have four restaurants and lounges, and offer over 1,800m² of meeting space including the Fuji Grand Ballroom which can host up to 1,250 in a standing-cocktail setting.

Shama Hongqiao Shanghai, China
Thailand-based Onyx Hospitality Group has opened its 50th property, Shama Hongqiao Shanghai, in the Hongqiao business district. The property offers 132 apartments in six categories from studios up to two-bedroom residences. Each apartment is fitted with a customised Shama Slumber bed, fully equipped kitchenette, ample storage space, dual laundry washer and dryer, LED TV with international channels, Wi-Fi Internet access and a work desk. Amenities on-site include a gym and yoga room, business centre, and a breakfast outlet.

Ascott Sudirman Jakarta, Indonesia
The 43-storey serviced residence offers business travellers 192 units, ranging from studio, one-, to three-bedroom apartments. Each apartment comes with a fully-equipped kitchen, living room and dining area, bathrooms with bathtub and rain shower. There is also complimentary Internet access, LED smart TV with home entertainment system, washing machine and dryer. A swimming pool, all-day dining restaurant, gymnasium with steam and sauna facilities, outdoor tennis court, business centre and meeting rooms are among the facilities available at this property.

Santa touches down in Singapore on his Finnair sleigh

By TTG Asia

December 7, 2018

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To spread the Nordic Christmas cheer in Singapore, Finnair has flown Santa Claus from his hometown in Rovaniemi all the way to Singapore in the tropics.

Upon touch down at Changi Airport on December 5, Santa made his rounds across the arrival hall and mingled with passengers who were taking the night flight out to Helsinki, and handed out piparkakut (traditional Finnish gingerbread cookies).

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Santa will also visit the inaugural Nordic-Asia Christmas Festival – a festival that showcases products from Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Estonia – at Millenia Walk, where Finnair will also have its own Christmas Challenge video booth, a lucky draw, photo opportunities with Santa, as well as a line-up of kid-friendly activities.

Other highlights in Finnair’s four-day tour of Singapore with Santa Claus include joining the Embassy of Finland for a celebration of Finnish Independence Day, participating in the Finnair Football Fiesta community event, spending time with the school kids at GEMS World Academy Kindergarten and the Overseas Family School, and making the holidays extra special for the sick children at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Asian travel wholesalers form coalition

By TTG Asia

December 6, 2018

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A new travel wholesaler alliance has emerged in Asia as four major regional players band together to share hotel and travel supply.

The newly formed Opp Alliance comprises AntaVaya, Hotelpass Global, WebBeds and Westminster Travel – wholesalers that collectively generate over 2.2 million room nights.

Each member will remain fully independent, with WebBeds acting as the alliance’s central coordinator, providing central support and coordination and enabling partners to leverage its technology and global platform to optimise distribution.

The coalition comprises an initial four travel wholesalers in Asia

AntaVaya will be responsible for procurement in Indonesia, Hotelpass Global will cover contracting in destination South Korea and Japan, and Westminster Travel will have responsibility for Greater China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. WebBeds will concentrate on Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, levering the strength of Destinations of the World, which was recently acquired by WebBeds’ parent company, Webjet.

In a statement, the coalition touted more effective distribution for hotels through a single partner.

Opp Alliance added that members will enjoy benefits comparable to airline and hotel alliances, an expanded network, centralised coordination and the ability to offer a stronger proposition to their respective clients.

By exchanging best practices and business intelligence, the coalition also expects to drive innovation and efficiency, while being better able to anticipate and serve the needs of the travel industry across Asia.

“We are aiming to improve the direct relationships with our hotel partners and bring them closer to the action in the world of travel distribution. The alliance’s initial target is to sign up to 2,000 new hotel contracts in the first six months and promote these hotel partners aggressively to our respective distribution networks. Hotels across Asia will enjoy widespread global distribution with dynamic contracts, rate parity and improved pricing capabilities. We are very excited to be part of such a pioneering collaboration,” commented Brian Lee, CEO, Hotelpass Global.

“We know from speaking to our hotel partners that one of their major goals is to achieve more widespread distribution more effectively – including penetration into Asia’s emerging markets. Opp Alliance will enable this through a coalition of highly respected market leaders, which creates an unprecedented regional force,” added Larry Lo, CEO, Westminster Travel.

Looking ahead, Opp Alliance will continue to seek new members in other Asian markets, and across the world, “as long as they do not overlap with existing members”.

New deal to bring Klook activities to Shangri-La hotel guests

By TTG Asia

December 6, 2018

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Travel activities and services booking platform Klook and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts have entered a partnership that will see the Klook Concierge rolled out to hotels under the luxury hotel group.

This month, the Klook Concierge service will debut at Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore and Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong.

Klook Concierge to debut at hotels including Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong (pictured)

Guests can discover and book Klook experiences throughout their stay via a tablet at the hotel concierge, even at the last minute, and redeem via a QR code or e-voucher.

In addition, Shangri-La’s Golden Circle members can earn Golden Circle Award Points for each experience booked through the Klook Concierge.

The partnership will also give Shangri-La’s Golden Circle members the option to redeem their points for selected Klook experiences in Singapore, Bangkok, Beijing and Shanghai in December 2018.

This will expand to over 60,000 Klook experiences in quarter three 2019, from food and tours to local transport and popular attractions.

The Klook activity redemption initiative with Golden Circle members is said to be a first for a luxury hotel group.

“By delivering additional hotel and in-destination features, we are strengthening the value proposition for guests in line with their widening needs and giving them more inspiring choices during their travels,” said Irene Lin, Shangri-La executive vice president – marketing.

Anita Ngai, chief revenue officer at Klook, added: “The luxury traveller is more tech-savvy than ever as they are seeking smart, convenient, and cash-free solutions, and we’re continually enriching Klook’s services to make the platform suitable and engaging for all types of travellers.”

In 2019, Klook and Shangri-La will jointly launch various marketing initiatives, as well as make Shangri-La experiences available on the Klook platform.

Red Planet pumps US$194m in Japan expansion through GreenOak JV

By TTG Asia

December 6, 2018

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red planet nagoya nishiki — Red Planet Nagoya Nishiki

Red Planet Japan (RPJ) will add six new hotels in Japan over the next two years, with an investment of approximately 22 billion yen (US$194 million) through a joint venture with funds managed by GreenOak Investment Management K.K., the Japanese arm of GreenOak Real Estate.

GreenOak will invest up to five billion yen, and RPJ up to 555.6 million yen, with non-recourse debt.

Through the new venture, Red Planet Japan plans to build hotels across major Japanese city centres, commencing with a 160-room hotel in Hiroshima.

Both parties expect to expand the scope of the venture over the following two years to keep pace with the tourism boom Japan is undergoing.

Red Planet Japan’s CEO, Tim Hansing, said: “This partnership enables major expansion of our hotel footprint across Japan’s urban centres, solidifying our position as the leading Asian budget hotel chain to meet increasing demand from, above all, the booming tourism surge into Japan.”

GreenOak has operated in Japan since 2010 and has US$10.6 billion in assets under management worldwide.

Tokyo-based GreenOak partner, Dan Klebes, commented: “Through this venture, GreenOak seeks to invest in a sought-after asset class with a brand which appeals to the regional value-seeking traveller visiting Japan today. The Japanese hospitality market enjoys high occupancy rates and rising rooms rates, providing high yields and substantial asset appreciation.

Simon Gerovich, chairman of Red Planet Japan, commented: “Having created the brand, infrastructure, and technology platform to realise substantial increases in revenues, margin expansion, and profits, we are now accelerating the pace of our roll-out. We regard this venture as the first of a series of asset developments with GreenOak over the coming years. The market is substantial, and growing rapidly, and we are well poised to scale up our presence accordingly.”

With the new hotels, Red Planet Japan will operate 2,500 rooms across Japan and the Philippines, boosting the total number of rooms operating under the Red Planet brand in Asia to 7,452 over the next two years.

Next PATA Destination Marketing Forum headed for Pattaya

By TTG Asia

December 6, 2018

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pattaya-city — Pattaya's host city status comes as Thailand works to position the destination as a MICE-friendly city while Eastern Economic Corridor development gets underway

The next PATA Destination Marketing Forum (PDMF) is set to take place in Pattaya, Thailand, from November 27 to 29, PATA CEO Mario Hardy announced at the conclusion of this year’s edition in Khon Kaen.

PDMF 2019 will be hosted by the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) with the support of Pattaya City.

Pattaya’s host city status comes as Thailand works to position the destination as a MICE-friendly city

All parties agreed that the event will contribute to the city’s maturity as a MICE destination.

Said Hardy: “With plans for the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), Pattaya is looking to reimagine itself as an international MICE City. Our aim for the event is to help understand their challenges and opportunities in reaching these goals.”

During PDMF 2018, Sutham Phetchgeat, deputy secretary of Pattaya City, said: “Pattaya City is going to become a regional, national and international MICE City. Special emphasis is placed on environment, security, infrastructure, and up-to-date means of mass communication.”

Supawan Teerarat, TCEB senior vice president – strategic business development & innovation, stated: “The event, which will serve as a driving force for international MICE events in Thailand, contributes to implementing the government’s policy of stimulating and developing the regional economy.”

She described Pattaya City as having “strong potential and readiness to host international conventions to world-class standards”.

“The event will contribute greatly to raising visibility and awareness of Pattaya City and other regional MICE cities as international MICE destinations.”

In addition to enhancing the city’s MICE status, Srisuda Wanaphinyosak, TAT deputy governor for international marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and the Americas), said that the selection of Pattaya as the next year PATA Destination Marketing Forum venue is an opportunity to position it as a high-end destination with its convenient accessibility, new luxury accommodations and activities.

“Also, it supports the TAT Hub and Hook Strategy, with Pattaya as the region’s leading travel hub and hook to lesser known destinations in the East, such as Rayong, Chantaburi, Trat and eastern islands through tourism activities, fruits & foods, as well as, local experiences,” she added.

Taweebhong Wichaidit, acting director general of DASTA stated that the team has been working with local stakeholders in Pattaya for several years to gain their participation in learning, thinking, planning, implementing, and obtaining tourism benefits equally to ensure sustainable tourism management.

“Pattaya has become one of our proud destinations for sustainable tourism management based on Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) which help repositioning Pattaya towards a Greenovative city with facilities for Tourism for All,” he said.

First Parkroyal in Bangkok to open in 2019

By TTG Asia

December 6, 2018

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Phachara Suites in Bangkok will be rebranded into a Parkroyal Serviced Suites property, Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s (PPHG) first in the city, come 2019.

After undergoing an extensive refurbishment, it will reopen with 194 suites, with options for Executive Studios (50m2) and Two-Bedroom Executive (130 m2). All units will come equipped with a kitchenette, washer and dryer.

The existing Phachara Suites located on Sukhumvit Soi 6

Parkroyal Suites Bangkok will feature an all-day dining restaurant, meeting facilities, fitness facilities including a swimming pool.

Lothar Nessmann, CEO, PPHG said this will mark the group’s return to Bangkok, where it used to operate a serviced suites product.

The property is located at Sukhumvit Soi 6, which runs through the city’s tourist, commercial and residential areas. The nearest station, Nana BTS skytrain station, is a three- to five-minute walk away.

Parkroyal Suites Bangkok will join Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s portfolio of serviced suites in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Ningbo and soon-to-open ones in Jakarta and Johor.

Scheduled for opening in 2019, the 205-unit Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Puteri Harbour in Johor will be a 10-minute drive from Singapore via Tuas Second Link, with attractions including the Ascendas Nusajaya Tech Park, Pinewood Studios, and Legoland in the vicinity.

Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Jakarta, comprising 181 units, will open in 2020 in Indonesia 1, the tallest twin tower in the country. And by 2022, Parkroyal Hotel Jakarta and Parkroyal Serviced Suites Jakarta will open as part of a new mixed-use development in Thamrin Nine.

Design Hotels unveils new exec board, membership option

By TTG Asia

December 6, 2018

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design-hotels-Peter-Cole-Serdar-Kutucu- — Peter Cole (left) and Serdar Kutucu now on the executive board with CFO Sascha Wolff

With Marriott now a major shareholder, Design Hotels recently unveiled a new executive board as well as an additional membership option for hotels.

On December 1, 2018, Marriott’s former managing director of business integration, Peter Cole, assumed his new role as CEO of Design Hotels, and sole member of the management board.

Design Hotels’ founder Claus Sendlinger will continue his involvement with the company as advisor and mentor to the executive board.

Peter Cole (left) and Serdar Kutucu now on the executive board with CFO Sascha Wolff

In his most recent role at Marriott, Cole led the company’s integration of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, overseeing activities including hotel operations, organisational design, talent management, loyalty programmes, system integration, financial management, and unit growth.

In previous roles, Cole was also CFO for the Americas for Marriott, as well as global CFO of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

As COO, Serdar Kutucu is now working closely with Cole to further drive innovation and building engagement. In 2014, he became vice president brand, marketing & communication, and in 2017, as executive vice president brand & strategy.

The next member of the executive board is CFO Sascha Wolff. Wolff joined the predecessor company of Design Hotels, lebendsart global networks AG in February 2000 – right after the company’s IPO in December 1999. He now leads the company’s administrative, financial and legal affairs and handles all investor relation matters.

It was also announced that at the beginning of 2019, Design Hotels will allow participating member hotels to get access to Marriott’s distribution channels, the new Marriott loyalty programme, which unites SPG, Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and a standardised set of products and services. Design Hotels will continue to offer its classic membership.

Member hotels will have the opportunity to choose the best option for their business, Design Hotels said in a statement.

Aviation roundup: Garuda Indonesia, Bangkok Airways and more

By TTG Asia

December 6, 2018

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Garuda Indonesia opens Singapore-Bandung route
Garuda Indonesia has opened its direct flight between Singapore and Bandung which will be served four times a week with its Boeing B737-800 NG.

Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, the flight will depart Singapore Changi Airport at 11.00 and arrive at Husein Sastranegara International Airport in Bandung at 12.00. The return flight will depart from Husein Sastranegara International Airport in Bandung at 12.50 and arrive at Singapore Changi Airport at 15.55.

Bangkok Airways goes to Nha Trang
Bangkok Airways will offer four flights a week (Monday, Wednesday Friday and Sunday) with a 144-seater Airbus A319 aircraft, starting from January 25, 2019.

The outbound flight PG993 will depart Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) at 10.20 and arrive Cam Rahn (Nha Trang) International Airport at 12.05. The inbound flight PG994 will depart Cam Rahn (Nha Trang) Airport at 12.55 and arrive Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) at 14.40.

AirAsia launches Krabi flights from Hong Kong, Macau and Chongqing
AirAsia has commenced flights from Macau and Hong Kong to Krabi in Thailand.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, FD770 departs Krabi at 09.00 and arrives at Macau International Airport at 13.25. FD771 then departs Macau at 13.50 to arrive back in Krabi at 16.30.

On the Hong Kong route, FD520 leaves Krabi at 09.30 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays for arrival in Hong Kong at 13.40. FD521 departs Hong Kong at 14.40 to arrive back in Krabi at 17.35.

Starting December 7, 2018, AirAsia will add seven flights a week from Krabi to the Chinese city of Chongqing.

Jetstar ups frequency on Singapore-Naha route
Jetstar Asia has entered its second year of operations between Singapore and Naha, Okinawa with an increased frequency, from three to four flights a week.

The new service, which began operation on November 15, operates on Thursday, departing Singapore Changi Airport at 02.00 and arriving at Naha, Okinawa at 08.00. The return flight departs Okinawa (Naha) at 09.00 and arrives in Singapore at 13.25.

New cluster manager for Hilton in Myanmar

By TTG Asia

December 5, 2018

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Hilton has appointed Veronique Sirault as cluster general manager of three hotels in Myanmar – Hilton Nay Pyi Taw, Hilton Ngapali Resort & Spa and Hilton Mandalay.

With 17 years of experience under her belt, the seasoned hospitality professional will be responsible for the growth and operations of Hilton’s properties in Myanmar. She will also provide support and oversight to the Hilton Vocational Training Center in Nay Pyi Taw.

Sirault began her hospitality experience in the F&B and rooms division in her native Belgium. From there, her career has taken her across the globe, from Europe – where she was based in the UK and Germany – and to Asia where she worked across China and India. Before moving to Myanmar, she spent nearly a decade in Thailand.

New hotels: Shinta Mani Wild, Awei Pila and more

Santa touches down in Singapore on his Finnair sleigh

Asian travel wholesalers form coalition

New deal to bring Klook activities to Shangri-La hotel guests

Red Planet pumps US$194m in Japan expansion through GreenOak JV

Next PATA Destination Marketing Forum headed for Pattaya

First Parkroyal in Bangkok to open in 2019

Design Hotels unveils new exec board, membership option

Aviation roundup: Garuda Indonesia, Bangkok Airways and more

New cluster manager for Hilton in Myanmar

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