Hotel Maya Kuala Lumpur has appointed Teekay Goh as general manager.
Goh embarked on his travel career with Mayflower Acme Tours and thereafter built up a career in the hospitality industry in the following two decades.
His vast hospitality experiences encompass a spectrum of hotels, resorts and serviced suites, including various senior sales positions with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts, Pangkor Island Beach Resort, Lanson Place Ambassador Row Kuala Lumpur and Parkroyal Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur.
Brought to you by Shangri-La
Rasa Ria Reserve, a 64-acre nature reserve situated in Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, relaunches this October with new adventure and cultural experiences. Established in 1996 to protect and educate visitors about Malaysia’s Sabah culture and indigenous animals and flora, the expanded innovative recreational proposition enhances the reserve’s conservation and education programme.
Rasa Ria Reserve boasts distinct experiential activities to encourage residents and hotel guests to explore, engage and connect with the abundance of wildlife. The protected 64-acre nature reserve is nestled within Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa’s 400 acres site which is watched over by Sabah’s iconic Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to long-tailed macaques, western tarsiers, bear cats and the famous huge-eyed slow loris, plus over 60 species of birds, 100 species of butterflies, pangolins and a wide spectrum of native plants.
Guests are now able to choose from a variety of new and enhanced experiences in the nature reserve including the creation of a Discovery Centre which educates wannabe explorers about the indigenous wildlife and plants through interactive exhibits. Constructed with environmentally sustainable materials and designed to capture the essence of the rainforest the Discovery Centre sits at the heart of Rasa Ria Reserve and is the gateway to the reserve’s unique trail system that covers five miles of walks through the tropical jungle. Six walking trails individually showcase a different side to the tropical jungle from entomology to herbs, native, adventure, wildlife and canopy, offering up to two hours per walk of exploration, learning and fun.
A new natural rain watering hole enhances the local wildlife’s habitat as well as provides the perfect look-out spot in which to see nocturnal animals including the adorable pangolin. Set in the midst of the Rasa Ria Reserve, the watering hole encourages local wildlife, which roam freely across the 64-acre reserve, to feed and drink allowing guests to get close to a multitude of creatures thus creating a truly magical experience.
The Ria Lookout summit platform with views of Mount Kinabalu has been extended and doubled in size to offer more guests the chance to experience the early morning sunrise hike. Serving continental breakfast on the summit deck, guests will have stunning views across the Tambalang River and Shangri-La’s very own 18-hole championship golf course, Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club. For those who want a wedding breakfast with a difference, couples can now enjoy an intimate celebration for up to 20 guests.
Youngsters love Rasa Ria Reserve with perennial favourites like Ranger for the Day allowing children to feed animals and help the team monitor flora and fauna whilst learning about the jungle. To add to the experience for mini adventurers, the handcrafted Rasa Ria Playground, inspired by the reserve, offers children the ultimate place to run wild. Home to play sculptures which represent some of Sabah’s famous wildlife, net tunnels with zip line, tree trunk climbing zone, large basket swing and a sandpit for mini-archaeologists to go hunting for dinosaur bones.
Book a stay at Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa for 3 nights and enjoy the ‘Closer to Kota Kinabalu’ package, offering guests access to Rasa Ria Reserve, daily buffet breakfast and return airport transfers. Offer includes a jungle walk, night tour, ranger experience and adventure playground. Available until 23 December 2018.
Reporting by Raini Hamdi and Feizal Samath
The Maldives President’s Office has ordered the newly-opened Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi to remove life-size human-form sculptures that form an underwater art installation at the resort, citing “significant public sentiment” they constitute idol-worship.
The nearly 30 sculptures were created by renowned British environmental sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor for the resort’s Sculpture Coralarium which – aside from the unique value as being the world’s first semi-submerged underwater art gallery – is intentioned by the artist and the Accor hotel as a deeper dive into the connection between man and the environment. It is also a coral regeneration project that sees art & design aiding coral rehabilitation.
“Our marine environment is really changing rapidly and there is really a need to start to protect it…the overall aim of this work is to sort of connect visitors to the sea, and to kind of open up a portal to this incredible world which is still very little understood,” said the artist in a short video that’s part of a press kit given to TTG Asia by the resort during an interview at ILTM Asia Pacific in Singapore in May.
But Islam, the official religion of the Maldives, prohibits the creation of images of sentient beings, and this latest incident once again reflects the uneasy co-existence that may arise between religion & culture and travel & tourism.
That said, industry members interviewed largely believe this order was politically motivated, i.e. the government is playing to religious sentiments in light of presidential elections next month.
Many are baffled, as a project such as this, weighing over 200 tonnes in all, would not be installed had it not have received a series of approvals from the authorities, they said.
Said Hussain Sunny Umar, CEO of Maldives Getaways: “Religious issues have been surfacing recently as we are moving towards the election period (September 23). Sections of the public have taken the underwater museum phenomenon to social media using an absurd comparison relating it to mannequins in clothing stores and selling alcohol and pork in resorts.
“Although certain rules are black and white – for instance, selling alcohol and pork are haram (forbidden) by law in the Maldives – it is available on resort islands throughout the history of tourism.
“I truly believe Fairmont would have taken the necessary approvals from the required institutions and it’s sad to see this unfortunate event has cost them dearly.”
Said a local hotelier on the condition of anonymity: “This is due to a religious uproar and because elections are in September, the government is playing to religious sentiments. If the claim is that it is sensitive to Islam and that idol-worship is not permitted, then why are resorts selling alcohol and pork, which are banned in Islam? Also, people are not supposed to live together unless they are married, according to Islam, but this is permitted in resorts, whether it is locals or foreigners is immaterial.
“This will be negative to the country as Fairmont has spent a lot on its investment on this world’s first undersea museum.”
It is however unclear if the installation has been or is being removed. TTG Asia understands the owner of the hotel, and even the tourism ministry, are “checking the facts”.
Accor has declined comment “until we know more about the situation”. At present, however, the Sculpture Coralarium does not appear anywhere on the hotel, Fairmont or Accor websites, or the artist’s website.
The President’s Office on July 27 issued a statement that it had consulted with the tourism ministry and asked the ministry to facilitate the removal by July 28. It added the ministry was working with the resort management on the removal from the lagoon of the resort island.
Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi opened in April, while the Sculpture Coralarium was launched in May. “As the location for the Maldives’ first underwater art installation we hope to raise awareness that encourages long-term reef protection and sustainable tourism,” its general manager, Denis Dupart, said in May.
The semi-submerged building is cube-shaped, six metres tall and reached through guided tours led by the resort’s resident marine biologists several times a day. The design of the walls is based on natural coral structures and is porous to allow the tides, current and marine life to pass through it and the structure to “breathe” within its location, the artist described.
“The complex structural formation is designed to dissipate oceanic forces while creating a protective space that encourages nature to colonise and seek refuge. The construction, using high grade, polished, marine stainless steel aims to reflect and mirror the surrounding blues of the coral atoll and the sky above. A mirage on the horizon, that over time will take on the patina of the sea as it becomes colonised by algae and weathers within the environment,” he said.
“It is an immense challenge, and the first time a building like this design has ever been attempted,” said deCaires Taylor who felt a great responsibility to produce something that is worthwhile and meaningful for such a spectacular environment as the Maldives.
The race to provide visitors with unique experiences continues in the Maldives, where overwater accommodations and six-star villas are no longer differentiators.
Aside from the Sculpture Coralarium, Conrad Maldives Rangali is now taking bookings for its US$15 million undersea residence, believed to be the world’s first, for stays starting in November. The villa can accommodate nine guests.
In March, Jumeirah Vittaveli inaugurated the first ice rink in the Maldives with a celebrity performance by Russian Olympic Gold medallist Evgeni Plushenko. The resort said the country’s first ice skating rink was manufactured using Glice, a novel material from Switzerland that allows for eco-friendly ice rinks, eliminating the need to keep the ice rink cold.
“This enables guests to experience a world-first at Jumeirah Vittaveli when they go for a swim in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean, followed by a quick stroll across the beach to put on their ice skates and glide along the picturesque backdrop of a tropical winter wonderland,” it said.
Indonesia’s MG Bedbank is spreading its wings in South-east Asia by opening offices in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila and Vietnam this year.
Raymond Djani, founder of MG Holiday Group, said: “We have been successful in establishing our Indonesia domestic bedbank and now we need to expand.
“Globalisation has allowed international players to (set up) business here in Indonesia. If we do not (step up to the) next level and become a player on the regional level, we will be left behind.”
According to Djani, the company started penetrating these markets in late 2016 by appointing representatives, and business has picked since.
“Indonesia is the second biggest market for Singapore after China, and Orchard Road is a popular stretch where Indonesians like to stay. This gives us a competitive edge to grab the market.”
In newer markets like the Philippines, MG Bedbank saw a higher growth rate than in Singapore and Malaysia, although the market is still small in terms of volume.
“The market opportunity is huge. We are not only talking about Indonesians buying hotels overseas with us, but also regional or international travel companies buying international products.
“Although we are an online company, having physical presence in the market is important to build trust with the business partners,” Djani added.
He shared that the representatives in these offices are currently focussing on contacting with hotels, but would soon recruit sales and marketing staff to work with travel companies in each country.
As part of activities to promote regional hotels, MG Bedbank recently organised its first table top session in Jakarta that brought hotels in South-east Asia and Hong Kong together with outbound travel companies in Indonesia.
“We are planning to organise similar events once a year to allow travel companies and suppliers to communicate and get updates on each other,” Raymond said.
The HNA Group is selling Radisson Holdings to a consortium led by China’s state-owned Jin Jiang International.
Reports had earlier named Jin Jiang International a potential bidder in the sale by the cash-strapped HNA Group.
As part of the deal, the consortium will buy 51.15 per cent of Radisson AB from Radisson Hospitality, according to a statement from Radisson Hospitality. Bloomberg estimates the total purchase to amount to three billion Swedish crowns (US$332 million), valued at 35 Swedish crowns per share.
Under an agreement with HNA Sweden, an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of HNA Tourism Group, the consortium will additionally acquire up to 18.5 per cent of the outstanding shares and votes in Radisson AB that HNA Sweden previously pledged and transferred to a lender as security for a loan.
Following the share purchase, the consortium would acquire 100 per cent of Radisson Holdings for an undisclosed amount.
The transactions are expected to complete by end-2018.
Sabre has enlisted four travel companies as launch partners of its Beyond NDC initiative, one of whom has also joined Amadeus’ NDC-X programme.
The four launch partners of Sabre’s Beyond NDC initiative are American Airlines, American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Flight Centre Travel Group.
Along with Sabre, each of the four companies will participate in the solution design process, leverage beta testing capabilities and establish their position as drivers of NDC.
Sabre said in a statement that it will announce additional participants in the Beyond NDC programme throughout the remainder of this year and beyond.
Dave Shirk, Sabre president of travel solutions, said: “Launching this programme with such heavyweights illustrates that we are looking past the near-term goals of NDC to define the future of intelligent airline retailing at scale in both direct and indirect channels.”
Beyond NDC is Sabre’s collaborative innovation initiative chartered to drive the industry forward through the development, integration and testing of end-to-end capabilities to process NDC-enabled offers and orders.
Meanwhile, Amex GBT will also help pilot Amadeus’ NDC-X programme.
The managed travel company will use Amadeus’ solution to test and familiarise itself with the new NDC flow of “shop, order, pay”.
This is expected to help prepare Amex GBT for implementation of the industrialised version of the solution, which will include servicing capabilities, come 2019.
The deal between Amex GBT and Amadeus will also give the former access to NDC content, in addition to GDS content.
Amadeus’ NDC-X brings together all NDC initiatives across the company – as an IT provider and an aggregator – and Amadeus is working with several airlines and travel sellers to drive the adoption of NDC across the industry.
Royal Caribbean International is launching a series of private island experiences under the umbrella of Perfect Day Island Collection for its cruise passengers.
The first offering in the collection is Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, which will be opening in phases from November this year until December 2019.
The pier at Perfect Day at CocoCay will be the first facility to be ready. At press time, Up, Up and Away helium balloon, Chill Island and Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool are scheduled for completion in December 2018; Thrill Waterpark, the Zip Line, Splashaway Bay aquapark, Captain Jack’s dining, Skipper’s Grill dining and Captain Jack’s Galleon in May 2019; South Beach, Coco Beach Club and the overwater cabanas in December 2019.
Numerous Royal Caribbean ships will call at Perfect Day at CocoCay, with sailing duration ranging from three to nine nights. They include Navigator of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, among others.
Describing the Perfect Day Island Collection as an “exciting development” for cruising in the Caribbean, Sean Treacy, who has recently left the company’s Singapore office to take on the new role of associate vice president strategic planning for international at Royal Caribbean Cruises’ headquarters in Miami, believes that these private island experiences will “resonate with the Asian market”.
He explained that while Asian cruise demand is good for longhaul sailings in Europe and Alaska, interest is relatively weaker for the Caribbean. The Caribbean currently gets 10 per cent of the cruise line’s Asian fly-cruise bookings.
But Treacy hopes the Perfect Day Island Collection would “grow Asian interest by some 10 per cent especially for markets in Asia-Pacific which have a higher interest for the Caribbean sailings”.
He noted that cruise itineraries outside of Asia are typically booked by Asian experienced, repeat cruisers.
“As the number of our guests in Asia grows, we will be seeing more bookings for sailings in other regions,” he said.
Vynn Capital, a South-east Asia-based early-stage venture capital firm, and UNWTO have entered into a partnership to facilitate entrepreneurship and innovation in the region’s tourism sector.
The two will collaborate to create a framework and policies to support technology startups that are addressing opportunities and challenges in South-east Asia’s tourism.
Both parties will also work together to encourage traditional industry players such as hotel groups, property groups and food companies to adopt digital strategies, as well as to encourage more investment by the private sector into technology companies.
“The tourism sector represents a huge opportunity for South-east Asia, where we see the emergence of a strong middle class. Vynn Capital has identified tourism as a key investment space and we will continue to work with entrepreneurs and industry players to promote the region’s tourism sector,” said Victor Chua, founding and managing partner of Vynn Capital and chairman of the Malaysia Venture Capital & Private Equity Association.
UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili commented that Vynn Capital “will help us to create real solutions for the much-needed digital transformation of tourism”.
“Such partnerships are key to continue generating opportunities all through tourism, and prove that venture capital has a role to play when we want to advance sustainable development,” Pololikashvili added.
Archipelago International has unveiled its first wholly budget brand, Nomad Hostel, which made its debut in Jakarta last week.
The Indonesia-based hospitality management company’s latest brand provides dormitory-style shared rooms and bathrooms as well as communal facilities such as a lounge, restaurant, laundry facilities and high-speed Wi-Fi.
Some Nomad Hostel properties will provide additional facilities, such as multifunctional spaces with connecting games rooms, vending machines, coin-operated laundry facilities and a public coffee shop.
Launched on August 8, Nomad Hostel – Kemang will offer 14 rooms, four room types, and 192 beds. The hostel will also feature common rooms with table tennis, billiards and a lounge, a coffee shop & bar, a basketball court and a Jacuzzi.
President and CEO for Archipelago International, John Flood said: “We are extremely excited to be breaking new ground with the launch of Nomad Hostel. Not only will Archipelago International be embarking on an entirely new venture, we’ll also be increasing our international presence with our sights set on the overseas market in the future.”
Nomad Hostel joins the groups’ other segments, including the select-service favehotel and Hotel NEO, the economy Quest Hotel and Harper, and the upscale Aston, Alana, Aston Heritage Collection and Kamuela.
Behold the Nevis Catapult, a world-first experience for thrill seekers launched by bungy pioneer AJ Hackett Bungy.
The Catapult exposes adrenaline junkies to 3G of force and speeds of almost 100km per hour in 1.5s, propelling them 150m out across a ravine before their sudden drop towards the valley floor, ending with a series of jaw-dropping bounces.
Housed in a pod and between a series of cables, alongside the Nevis Swing, the Catapult is a combination of height, flight and speed using a high-speed winch system.
The launch brings to fruition “three decades of planning and development” by AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand co-founder Henry van Asch and the New Zealand team.
Van Asch said he first came up with the idea when travelling around France during the 1980s with friend turned Bungy co-founder, AJ Hackett.
He remarked that the new product is an apt celebration of the company’s 30th anniversary. “In 1988 we took Bungy to the world, and put New Zealand on the world adventure tourism map. Thirty years on it’s wonderful to still be pushing the boundaries globally.”
According to a statement, technology for the multi-million-dollar Catapult was developed with the company’s research team before being built in an accredited testing facility in Christchurch and then brought to site for full scale installation, testing and commissioning.
Testing has been conducted out-of-sight over the past nine months – beginning with weighted barrels, before moving on to a test dummy phase and finally human testing.
The Catapult is developed to internationally recognised global safety standards and regulated under New Zealand adventure tourism and amusement device standards, the same statement highlighted.
