Hundreds of climbers remain trapped at Mount Rinjani
At least 14 people were killed and more than 160 missing when a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake yesterday struck Lombok, with a three-day state of emergency declared for the popular tourist island next to Bali.
The quake was followed by 124 aftershocks in the same area, with the epicentre 50 kilometres north-east of the city of Mataram.
Hundreds of climbers remain trapped at Mount Rinjani
Other areas including popular tourist area of Senggigi reported strong shocks. The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Bali.
“We estimate the number can still go up because we are not done collecting data,” said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the Disaster Mitigation Agency.
Mount Rinjani, a popular trekking destination, has been closed due to landslides. A 30-year-old Malaysian woman, who was with 17 other Malaysians on a mission to scale the mountain, was among those killed.
About 300 climbers are still trapped by the earthquake, according to Mount Rinjani National Park Office.
“The process of evacuation of climbers is still ongoing,” Sutopo said.
No damage was found at the Bali and Lombok airports, with both in operations as usual. The surrounding airports of Komodo Labuan Bajo, Waingapu and Tambolaka are not affected by the earthquake and continue to operate normally.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism has activated the crisis management team to monitor the situation and coordinate with the local government and ground-handlers to ensure that all visitors impacted by the quake are well taken care of.
Guntur Sakti, director of public communication, Ministry of Tourism, said: “We encourage visitors to stay alert, follow government instruction and always update themselves with information only from official social media or website of the Indonesian government.”
Hyatt has indicated its interest to acquire the Spanish hotel operator ; NH Collection Madrid Gran Vía pictured
Hyatt has indicated its interest in acquiring NH Hotel Group, as the latter mulls an offer from Thailand’s Minor International, an existing shareholder, Bloomberg reports.
After increasing its shareholding in NH Hotel Group in June this year, Minor International has entered a Share Purchase Agreement for 22,496,064 additional shares, representing 5.7 per cent shareholding, subject to the approval of Minor’s shareholders at the EGM on August 9.
The Spanish hotel operator has a portfolio spanning Europe, the Americas and Africa; NH Collection Madrid Gran Vía pictured
If approved, the purchase would give Minor International control of 172,379,103 shares, amounting to 44 per cent shareholding.
Bloomberg reports that NH Hotel Group now has an additional option to Minor International, after Hyatt sent a letter of intent expressing its interest in acquiring the Spanish hotel operator.
In Ras al-Khaimah, the Jebel Jais mountain is home to the world’s longest zipline
Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah are fast emerging as sought-after destinations on UAE’s tourism landscape, as visitors to the region look to explore beyond the established cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
In Ras al-Khaimah, the Jebel Jais mountain is home to the world’s longest zipline
While the neighouring GCC countries are significant feeder markets for these northern emirates, emerging too are markets from farther afield like China and India.
“Tourists from both India and China are looking for experiential travel. They are drawn to our tradition and heritage,” Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), told TTG Asia on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2018. “We expect the numbers from both these markets will continue to grow strongly this year as well.”
Sharjah welcomed 138,000 hotel guests from India and 126,000 hotel guests from China in 2017, posting growth of 32 per cent and 45 per cent respectively over the previous year.
Feedback from the UAE tour operators attending ATM 2018 also spoke of an uptick in foreign arrivals to the nothern emirates.
The expanding tourism infrastructure has been a key driver of rising visitor interest, noted Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO of Cozmo Travel. “New luxury property openings and a host of new attractions have boosted international tourist arrivals to the northern emirates, (evident) from the strong double-digit growth in international tourist visitation to Sharjah,” he said.
“In winter, there is good MICE movement to Sharjah from India, and the government’s visa-free policy for China has helped to grow the Chinese market as well,” he added.
“Northern emirate destinations like Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah are becoming more popular among Indian travellers. Sharjah attracts Indian tourists looking for cultural tours, while adventure tourism is picking up in Ras al-Khaimah,” said Kulwant Singh, CEO, Lama Tours.
The SCTDA, meanwhile, also has its sights set on expanding into new Asian markets like Malaysia and Indonesia as it aims to attract 10 million international tourists by 2021. The authority is currently developing market intelligence on these markets to back its promotion and marketing strategies while shortlisting key outbound travel agencies in Malaysia and Indonesia to partner with.
Khalid elaborated: “We are looking at ways to reach out to Malaysia and Indonesia where at present we’re attracting a small number of tourists. There is a lot of potential in these two markets, considering their sizeable Muslim populations. We will promote Sharjah by showcasing our rich Islamic culture.”
Naveen Saldanha, managing director, Royal Arabian, agreed: “There is a significant number of tourists from Asian markets like Indonesia who transit in the UAE when visiting Saudi Arabia for Islamic pilgrimages. If a segment of these transit travellers can be attracted to visit northern emirates, the tourist numbers will grow significantly.”
Lama Tours’ Kulwant added that he expects Sharjah will attract a “good number of Indonesian travellers” moving forward, attracted by Sharjah’s Islamic heritage.
Other northern emirates Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah are clearly not resting on their laurels either.
Like Sharjah, India and China will be focus markets for the Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Authority, according to coordinator, marketing and exhibitions Omar Bani Hamour.
“We will be opening our representation office in India and China within the next two years. We aim to increase international tourist arrivals to one million in the next four years,” he shared.
Last year, Fujairah recorded 700,000 international tourist arrivals, a growth of four per cent over the previous year, while Ras al-Khaimah achieved a 19 per cent growth in tourist arrivals.
With plans to welcome one million visitors this year, the destination is focusing on adventure tourism, following the opening of the world’s longest zipline on Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest mountain. An observation deck with viewing spots and picnic areas is currently under development in the mountain.
RevPAR in Gold Coast, host of the XXI Commonwealth Games in April, was up 24.2%
Hotels in the Asia-Pacific region posted growth across the three key performance metrics during 2Q2018, according to data from STR, with notable peaks seen in Australia, Indonesia and Singapore.
The regional occupancy level was at 70.4%, up 1% from the previous quarter. Average daily rate (ADR) rose 3.1% to US$105, while revenue per available room (RevPAR) was up 4.1% to US$73.95.
RevPAR in Gold Coast, host of the XXI Commonwealth Games in April, was up 24.2%
In Australia, the 73.2% (+1.3%) absolute occupancy level was the highest for any 2Q on record in the country, STR reported. That came even with 2.1% more room nights available compared with 2Q2017. ADR was at A$178.60 (US$131.70) (+1.5%) and RevPAR A$130.71 (+2.8%).
Gold Coast, host of the XXI Commonwealth Games in April, was the standout Australian market with RevPAR up 24.2% to A$138.40 for the quarter.
STR further observes that performance growth was stronger outside of the capital markets as supply growth had a greater effect on RevPAR comparisons in Perth (-4.5% to A$113), Sydney (-2.1% to A$174.70) and Hobart (-0.7% at A$125.50). However, in absolute values, Sydney remained the top performer in the country.
Another market with notable performance is Indonesia, whose 60.6% (+2.5%) absolute occupancy level was the best the country has since for 2Q since 2014. ADR grew 3.5% to over one million rupiah (US$69.40), and RevPAR was up 6.1% to 629,693 rupiah.
STR analysts note that performance increases were seen in Bali (+9.1%), Jakarta (+4.1%), Surabaya (+7.4%) and Yogyakarta (+8.7%). In June specifically, Bali’s RevPAR grew 15.9% to over Rp1.2 million rupiah, with demand lifted by Eid al-Fitr and the school holiday.
Turning to Singapore, occupancy rose 2.9% to 81.3% – the highest for 2Q the city has seen since 2013 – even with significant supply growth (+4.5%). ADR was up 0.9% to S$263.60 (US$193.40), and RevPAR grew 3.8% to reach S$214.40.
June was the strongest month of the quarter with RevPAR up 6.9% to S$217. According to STR analysts, the country’s demand was boosted by the North Korea-US Summit on June 12. Hotels in the Orchard Area, specifically, reported high ADR premiums and three consecutive days with double-digit RevPAR growth from June 10 to 12.
Hotels that have signed up include Anantara, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt and Marriott International
The Phuket Hotels Association will inaugurate a new annual forum to support the South-east Asian hospitality industry in its fight for a sustainable future.
Co-organised by C9 Hotelworks and Greenview, the first edition of the Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism (PHIST) forum will be held at JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa on September 24, 2018.
Hotels that have signed up for the inaugural forum include Anantara, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt and Marriott International
The programme will feature a series of expert panels, themed talks, technical workshops and roundtable discussions covering topics such as sustainable operations, destination development, ocean health, corporate sustainability, community tourism and responses to overtourism. All the sessions will be free to attend.
The forum will also include a Green Suppliers’ Exhibition.
Phuket governor Norrapat Plodthong will open the event, and speakers will include Six Senses’ chief executive Neil Jacobs; Yaana Ventures’ CEO Willem Niemeijer, C9 Hotelworks’ managing director Bill Barnett, and Greenview’s founder and CEO Eric Ricaurte.
“Island tourism in South-east Asia is at a critical juncture; we simply cannot continue overlooking the impacts. Risks are real and sustainability must be the driving force behind future growth. But how do we change and adapt to the challenges we face, then catalyse solutions across the region? Education is the key and PHIST will create a forum for positive action,” commented Greenview’s Ricaurte.
According to a joint statement from the organisers, PHIST is of particular relevance to hotels in tourist island hotspots such Phuket, Bali, Boracay and Koh Samui, as well as up-and-coming destinations like Phu Quoc.
Among the hotel groups that have already signed up for PHIST are Anantara, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt and Marriott International. Other global organisations in attendance will include the World Wide Fund for Nature, the World Bank and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The Phuket Hotels Association will also use PHIST 2018 as an opportunity to showcase its “People.Planet.Phuket” campaign, which aims to educate local island communities and visitors about the importance of the “Three Rs” – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
“Environmental destruction is a crisis without borders and the hospitality industry needs to collaborate, find answers and come up with a regional action plan,” said Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks.
The event is supported by major tourism organisations, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand Convention and Events Bureau, the American Chamber of Commerce and Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Pkfarer, a customer service chatbot rolled out to the B2B travel marketplace
Global travel B2B marketplace Pkfare has launched its customer service robot.
Named Pkfarer, the bot leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver 24/7 customer service in real time.
Pkfarer, a customer service chatbot rolled out to the B2B travel marketplace
In a statement, Pkfare says the tool will also enable customers to reach online consultants without leaving the human-machine platform and provide global travel players with more seamless customer service.
“In the future, we will deepen the application of AI and machine learning technology, propel the disruptive innovations of (those technologies), and consistently optimise our products and services with simple and smart solutions to satisfy the personalised needs of our clients.” said founder and CEO of Pkfare, Jason Song.
Artist impression of the 225-room Hotel Indigo Auckland
Come 2021, the City of Sails will soon be home to New Zealand’s first Hotel Indigo.
The 225-room Hotel Indigo Auckland will be part of a mixed-use development in a coveted Auckland Central location and its design will be inspired by the local scene.
Artist impression of the 225-room Hotel Indigo Auckland
The hotel will feature its own all-day dining and bar, meeting space and gym, and a majority of rooms will offer stunning views of the city and Auckland’s harbour.
Hotel Indigo Auckland will also provide convenient access to Sky Tower, the new NZ International Convention Centre, Sky City Casino, CBD office buildings, and entertainment precinct of Britomart and Viaduct.
Cooking classes added to the Himalayan Explorer package (photo credit: Como Uma Paro)
As part of the Himalayan Explorer package, which includes stays at both Como Uma Paro and Como Uma Punakha, guests can now also enjoy a half-day Bhutanese cooking class, using techniques and ingredients native to the Himalayan country.
Guests will be taught to make authentic Bhutanese dishes such as ema datshi, a fermented yak cheese and chilli dish; dau, a yak milk yogurt; Bhutanese buckwheat noodles; and momo dumplings filled with minced yak meat, which are dipped in etsay, a very hot chilli sauce universally loved by all Bhutanese people.
Cooking classes added to the Himalayan Explorer package (photo credit: Como Uma Paro)
Participants will also be guided through making tshome – a wooden pounding utensil, similar to a pestle and mortar, found in every Bhutanese homestead.
The cooking class will take place in the valley of Punakha, where local fresh and organic vegetables are available to use, sourced from nearby farms. Guests will be met by Como Uma Punakha’s chef for a guided walk around the lodge’s organic vegetable garden, before learning to prepare a full meal in the al fresco open kitchen. After the class, the meal can be enjoyed on the terrace overlooking the Mo Chhu river.
The class will be offered as part of the six- or seven-night Himalayan Explorer package, which also includes the following:
• Accommodation at Como Uma Paro and Como Uma Punakha on a full board basis, including picnic lunches during excursion days (excluding beverages)
• Privately guided excursions, taking in the highlights of the Paro, Thimphu and Punakha valleys
• Services of an English-speaking Bhutanese guide
• One 60-minute Como Shambhala body treatment
• Complimentary use of the library, swimming pool, steam room and gym at Como Uma Paro
• Private airport transfers and transport around Bhutan
• All Bhutanese government visa and royalty fees, service charge and sales tax
• All museum and visitor centre entry fees and road permits
• Complimentary one-hour daily yoga class whilst at Como Uma Paro (except Sundays)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout Como Uma Paro and Como Uma Punakha
The six-night Himalayan Explorer starts at US$6,617 and the seven-night Himalayan Explorer starts at US$7,746 for two people.
The hospitality industry has evolved significantly over the past decade, evidenced by new customer segments, expectations and lifestyle habits, along with an industry-wide trend towards a greater emphasis on the overall well-being, enrichment and experience of travellers. With today’s travellers placing greater value than ever on authenticity, customisation and flexibility; hotels are also moving away from cookie-cutter, white-glove delivery to genuine and heartfelt service where each guest is treated as a unique individual.
Guests are gravitating towards brands that listen to them and offer unique values, which is perhaps not always so immediately apparent in some of the bigger hotel chains. Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has taken steps to position itself for sustained growth into the future and to meet the needs of its guests tomorrow.
Pan Pacific Melbourne, newly refurbished, is the latest addition to the sophisticated city of Melbourne
Pan Pacific Hotels Group embarked on a brand refresh journey, which started naturally with, asking its customers what they want – today, and then five to ten years down the road. After consulting with more than a thousand guests, partners and frequent travellers, the recurring theme which emerged was the importance of trust. Taking great care to perpetuate this enduring value in its business conduct and operations — which is crucial in today’s ever-changing and fast-paced world— into its refreshed philosophy, Pan Pacific also introduced and revitalised its corporate bookers and guest loyalty programmes as part of its marketing initiatives.
Pan Pacific DISCOVERY
As a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of hotel brands, PPHG offers membership to DISCOVERY, which provides a special selection of benefits and personalised services and entitles the member to intriguing Local Experiences to make the travel unforgettable.
In June, PPHG private-labelled this loyalty programme to become Pan Pacific DISCOVERY. Along with that, PPHG introduced more meaningful benefits to members including an exclusive members’ rate, late check out till 3pm and upgrades to the next room category with direct bookings.
Joining the programme in August are the Serviced Suites under the Group, which will offer members’ privileges which are customised to their guests. These include a range of benefits including airport transfers, complimentary laundry and branded toiletries.
View from the infinity pool of Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road, Singapore
Pan Pacific Connections
Launched in May, Pan Pacific Connections is a by-invitation only bookers’ programme to recognise, retain and reward loyal corporates bookers for booking rooms, meetings and events at all properties under the Group. Membership is open to both corporate accounts and individual booker accounts, where members earn points for every eligible stay and meeting.
Delivered through a seamless digital platform, members will be able to log-in to their account round-the-clock and book negotiated corporate rates or special corporate rates directly through the website, www.panpacificconnections.com. Members are able to enjoy instant reward points for their bookings, which can be used to redeem a rich selection of rewards from hotel stays, dining, wellness, lifestyle and shopping products.
Ms Cinn Tan, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, said: “The brand refresh arose from our desire to engage our customers more actively and to meet their needs, which are constantly evolving. Aligned with our aspirations of sincerity in service, we developed these loyalty programmes from inside out by first looking at the rewards and benefits which are most meaningful to our customers – both B2B and B2C. We hope to generate more brand love and loyalty to our hotels through these efforts, and will keep innovating and improving to always stay top-of-mind as our partners’ preferred hotel brand in the region.”
Whether you’re planning your own vacation or making a booking on someone’s behalf, Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s loyalty programmes open up a world of exclusive benefits across 40 hotels, resorts and serviced suites located in Asia, Europe, Oceania and North America. Click here to find out more: Panpacific.com/discovery and www.panpacificconnections.com
As an international corporation, Avis is committed to both corporate and employee involvement in civic as well as charitable activities. Our corporate responsibility extends beyond philanthropy and volunteerism to include consistent adherence to business practices that are friendly to customers, employees, and or course, the environment.
Avis in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, has introduced numerous measures to ensure a greener fleet is available to our customers. Globally, we have introduced a rigorous check between rentals to ensure vehicles run at peak efficiency. To ensure fuel efficiency, the fleet is rapidly replaced which ensures the use of the newest and most fuel-efficient engines.
Our fleet includes hundreds of new, environmentally-friendly cars that run on fuels other than petrol or diesel. We continue to work with car manufacturers so that our customers can choose the cleanest vehicles around, including the Mercedes-Benz Blue EFFICIENCY vehicles across Europe and more than 400 Flexifuel/BioPower vehicles in Scandinavia.
We are happy to share energy-efficient and eco-driving tips with you and your customers to ensure that we all play a part to protect our Planet Earth. In addition, how we drive not only helps us get the best out of the existing car but it is also good for our back pockets too!
1. Avoid Quick Acceleration and Aggressive Driving
When we step on the accelerator, our car is expending energy as heat and noise. It produces high pollution rates and wastes fuel. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, one second of high-powered driving can produce nearly the same volume of carbon monoxide emissions as a half hour of normal driving.
2. Stick to the Speed Limit
Drive within the speed limit. Higher speed means more energy spent on overcoming friction and maintaining the momentum. Instead of driving at 120 km/h (75 mph), if we drive at 105 km/h (65 mph), our fuel economy will improve by about 10% and tailpipe pollution will decrease. Cruise control will help maintain a steady, constant speed, which will reduce the need for acceleration and braking.
3. Avoid Rush Hour
The stop-and-go driving of rush hour burns fuel and increases emissions of smog-forming pollutants – not to mention the effects of road rage on our health. It would be worthwhile to plan our schedule to avoid driving during peak traffic times or use a GPS to find a less busy route.
4. Avoid Hard Braking
Anticipate rather than breaking hard! This will prevent increased pollution, wasted gas and wear on the breaks. This is especially true for congested, high traffic areas.
5. Do Not idle for more than a minute
The philosophy of managing the engine extends to idle time too. An idle but turned-on engine generates more pollution than driving, and it wastes fuel too.
6. Use an Electronic Toll Collection System, where available Avise-TollTM avoids cash payment lines at toll booths in the USA and Canada. Studies have found that paying tolls electronically reduces hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide emissions by 40%-63% and reduces emissions by 16%.
7. Benefit from a GPS Navigation System
The GPS navigation from Avis, provides real-time traffic alerts to help avoid traffic jams and road construction. It also guides drivers to their destination without getting lost, eliminating the extra driving that could result when they do get lost. Besides saving on fuel, money and driving time, anxiety and stress levels are reduced too!
So, be a Green Driver and make the most of the mileage for the money spent, save on fuel and reduce the overall environmental impact!
Extracted from avis.com Photo Sources: Avis, Getty Images, Pixabay
About Avis Avis Car Rental and its subsidiaries operate one of the world’s best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,500 locations in more than 170 countries. Avis has a long history of innovation in the car rental industry and is one of the world’s top brands for customer loyalty.
We are happy to share 
3. Avoid Rush Hour
7. Benefit from a GPS Navigation System
