TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Saturday, 11th April 2026
Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | Macao travel expo opens with strong international turnout
TTG Asia | Macao’s safety record strengthens appeal to cautious travellers
TTG Asia | Thailand pushes year-round tourism in new cabinet policy statement
Page 1379

Best Western unveils two new boutique brands

By TTG Asia
0

Best Western Hotels & Resorts is introducing a pair of boutique franchise brands, Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel, in the upscale and upper midscale segments respectively.

The conversion brands could help reposition existing properties to improve their performance and enhance their asset value, in addition to broadening their customer base, according to Best Western.

Sadie Hotel will be positioned in the upper segment

In particular, the brands will offer hoteliers a design and renovation programme, while allowing them the chance to incorporate the local flair of their respective market.

David Kong, president & CEO at Best Western Hotels & Resorts, said: “Both Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel present the opportunity for independent hoteliers or developers with branded hotels to reposition their property in a unique way, taking advantage of our cost-effective, turnkey and customised design and renovation programme.”

“A dedicated onboarding team will ensure these repositioned hotels are quickly integrated with Best Western’s powerful revenue engines intended to drive a fast ramp-up in business.”

Every hotel will be on boarded with “near immediate access” to Best Western’s website, global partnerships and sales team, and revenue management system.

Aiden Hotel will be positioned in the upper middle segment

Hotels will also have access to a revenue manager to maximise revenue and reduce operating costs, as well as the Best Western Rewards programme.

Moreover, a marketing and PR playbook will also be provided to help each hotel to drive social media visibility and buzz.

Each Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel will feature a multi-functional public area with either a café or bar; modern seating areas; and mobile check-in.

With the launch of Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel, Best Western now features 13 brands in its portfolio.

SIA inks new three-year deal with Tourism Australia

By TTG Asia
0
SIA currently services six cities in Australia; Yarra river in Melbourne pictured

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Tourism Australia have signed a three-year strategic marketing deal worth A$11 million (US$8 million) as both parties reaffirm their commercial ties.

The agreement will see the two parties jointly fund a range of tourism campaigns and promotional activities in eight of Australia’s key inbound markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, India, Japan, Germany and the UK.

SIA currently services six cities in Australia; Yarra river in Melbourne pictured

Tourism Australia’s managing director, John O’Sullivan, said in a statement: “The eight markets covered by this agreement represented four million international visitors and A$22 billion in collective spending last year, which is a measure of the importance of our ongoing partnership with SIA. The strength of their network and the quality of their product are significant assets that we know resonate strongly with the type of high-value traveller that we are targeting in both Asia and Europe.”

SIA currently operates more than 130 scheduled flights per week to Australia, serving Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. This represents eight per cent of all Australia’s international arrivals. Together with subsidiary airlines SilkAir and Scoot, the SIA Group has close to 170 weekly flights to Australia.

China, US, India top tourism powerhouses: WTTC

By TTG Asia
0
China tops

China, the US and India took the top three spots in the WTTC’s new Power Ranking, released ahead of World Tourism Day celebrations.

The three countries ranked top in terms of absolute growth in the past seven years, combining tourism’s contribution to GDP, international visitor spend, domestic tourism spend and capital investment.

China tops WTTC’s power ranking; domestic Chinese tourists in Shanghai pictured

WTTC explained that the inclusion of domestic spend and investment in the ranking allows for “a more rounded measure of performance and prioritisation” than the more usual measures of GDP contribution and international spend.

Other countries that saw the greatest absolute increase are, in order, Mexico in fourth place, the UK, Spain, Turkey, Canada, Indonesia, followed by Australia and the UAE tied in tenth place.

On the Performance Ranking, which looks at growth rate as opposed to absolute growth, Myanmar, Iraq and Georgia came out tops.

These are followed by Rwanda, Iceland, Nicaragua, Qatar, Congo, Armenia and Ivory Coast.

WTTC president and CEO Gloria Guevara commented: “Notably, G20 countries dominate the league, representing 12 of the top 20 countries, displaying once again the importance of travel and tourism both to mature markets and the global economy. Then, the emergence of up-and-coming countries highlights the central role that tourism can play within developing economies.

“WTTC advocates that such growth is driven by strong travel facilitation policies, sustainable and proactive planning, and robust infrastructures that can withstand crises. Under such management, travel and tourism can thrive, as in the case of Indonesia where radical visa reform has been matched by a rapid growth in international tourist arrivals in the last seven years.”

Vertical Line’s travel agent licence revoked

By TTG Asia
0
Vertical Line in Singapore
Vertical Line in Singapore

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) yesterday revoked the travel agent licence of Vertical Line (travel agent licence number 01656), in accordance with the Travel Agents Act (Chapter 334).

Vertical Line’s travel agent licence was revoked for its failure to conduct the business of a travel agent, according to STB, which noted that the company has been in liquidation as of June 29, 2018.

The latest list of licensed travel agents in Singapore can be found on the Travel Related Users’ System (TRUST) website, https://trust.yoursingapore.com. Travel agents may also email the STB for related licensing queries at stb_ta@stb.gov.sg.

New hotels: Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc, Hotel Cozi Oasis and more

By TTG Asia
0

Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Standing on Phu Quoc’s north-western coast, the property on Bai Dai beach offers 514 villas, rooms and suites. Rooms start from 45m2 and go up to the villas at 635m2. The villas, along with the executive rooms, executive suites, one bedroom suites and two bedroom suite, offer access to the Alumi executive lounge.

Other F&B establishments on-site include all-day dining restaurant Avenue, a poolside bar and a lobby lounge. Guests will also have direct access to an adjacent complex, where facilities include a 26 treatment-room spa and wellness centre, gym, water park, convention centre, shopping centre, restaurants, theatre and Vietnam’s first casino to permit domestic entry. An amusement park, 18-hole golf course and safari conservation park are also on the resort’s doorstep as it is part of an integrated resort.

Hotel Cozi Oasis, Hong Kong
Located in the territory’s Kwai Tsing district, Hotel Cozi Oasis offers 583 guestrooms ranging from 16m2 to 38m2. The brand’s third outpost in the city features a restaurant, bar and lounge, meeting and conference facilities, gym, and Lafayette Spa complete with a Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. In addition, Elite Floors guests will have exclusive access to the Elite Lounge offering daily complimentary snacks and refreshments.

Jumeirah Nanjing, China
Standing on the banks of the city’s Yangtze River in Nanjing’s Hexi New District, the hotel occupies the 39th to 67th floors of the International Youth Cultural Centre’s North Tower. Jumeirah Nanjing offers 212 rooms and 49 suites, a function room on the 67th floor, as well as six restaurants and bars. Recreational facilities include the Talise Spa with saunas, massage rooms, hot tubs, Jacuzzi and steam room; gym; and a Sky Atrium Pool.

Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, Singapore
Rebranded from Orchard Parade Hotel, Orchard Rendezvous Hotel is the second property under the Rendezvous brand in Singapore. As the original hotel was developed on a pepper plantation, elements of the pepper plant have been incorporated into all 388 rooms of the property during the refurbishment. Room sizes start from the 26m2 Superiors and go up to the 76m2 One Bedroom Deluxe Suites. Amenities on-site include a club lounge, outdoor swimming pool and lobby bar.

Retrace the footsteps of Marco Polo with Costa Venezia

By TTG
0

Brought to you by Costa Cruises

Save your dates and start planning for the trip of a lifetime aboard Costa Venezia (135,500 gross tonnage; 5,260 total passengers) – Costa Cruises’ newest ship designed to immerse guests in the fantasy and romance of Venice.

Scheduled to depart on 8 March 2019 from Trieste, Italy, Asian travellers will have the opportunity to be the first passengers to explore the world with Costa Venezia.

Retracing the footsteps of Marco Polo, guests will embark on a 53-day journey from the West to the East, travelling to vibrant and exotic destinations like Greece, Croatia, Israel, Dubai, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Taipei before arriving to Tokyo. During the expedition, cruisers will enjoy the warm Italian hospitality while relishing the magnificence of Venice brought to life through meticulous details onboard, from the ship interior to diverse entertainment to gastronomic offerings. For a taste of ‘home’ onboard, passengers can head to the Volare KTV Karaoke, Lu Hot Pot and Yan Teppanyaki to unleash their musical talent and satisfy cravings for comfort food during their travels.

Costa Venezia – The Ultimate Voyage of Discovery from West to East

With an itinerary that explores 16 countries across three continents and four seas, guests will embark on the trip of a lifetime packed with unforgettable memories capturing the experiences of the starkly different cultures, landscapes and flavors of each port of call. Travellers have the option to experience the full journey or opt for different legs of the itinerary that would best suit their interest and schedule:

20-day cruise leg from Italy to Dubai – departing from Trieste, the Italian seaport inside the Slovenian border, guests will be enthralled by the thousand years of history in the first leg of the cruise alone, as Costa Venezia sails through Dubrovnik, Croatia; Corfu, Greece; Aqaba, Jordon; Salalah, Oman and many other culturally rich cities before arriving at Dubai, U.A.E.

Prices start from US$1,099 per person (Twin sharing)

18-day cruise leg from Dubai to Singapore – kickstarting the adventure in Dubai, the ultra-modern city, cruisers will travel along the coast of Malacca, European cathedral architectures, and shopping paradises at Khor Al Fakkan, U.A.E; Cochin, India; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Langkawi, Malaysia. Guests will disembark at the vibrant lion city of Singapore.

Prices start from US$949 per person (Twin sharing)

11-day cruise leg from Singapore to Hong Kong – experience the vibrant Asian coastal cities during the last leg of the itinerary which will depart Singapore and visit Laem Chabang, Thailand; Phu My and Chan May Port, Vietnam before arriving at Hong Kong.

Prices start from US$899 per person (Twin sharing)

47-day Marco Polo itinerary from Italy to Hong Kong – explore these highly revered destinations and fascinating hidden gems completely hassle free on Costa Venezia’s inaugural journey. The well-curated itinerary will keep you busy with a wide range of activities and entertainment options available onboard and ashore to ensure an memorable journey as you sail across the continents.

Prices start from US$2,749 per person (Twin sharing)

Immerse in the Sophisticated Beauty of Venice and Embrace the Thrill of the City of Water

Upon stepping foot on Costa Venezia, guests will be virtually transported to Venice, the romantic and mystical lagoon city. At the Piazza San Marco lobby inspired by St Mark’s Square, guests will be greeted with the finest Italian hospitality under the iconic winged lion statue. Costa Venezia was especially designed with a wide array of irresistible dining and entertainment offerings for Asia vacationers with a Venice flare to immerse guests in the holistic experience.

Palate-Pleasing Culinary Offerings

At the Canal Grande Restaurant onboard, guests will find themselves enjoying supper with their loved ones along the man-made canal and Bridge of Sighs, while musicians on gondolas serenade them with tunes of true love.

To celebrate new friendships made along the remarkable journey, have a drink or two at Lounge Delle Stelle, where movie-themed parties will keep the night alive every day.

Costa Venezia will feature many specialty restaurants to cater to different palates and occasions, including La Fiorentina Steak House, Yan Teppanyaki, Frutti di Mare Seafood and Lu Hot Pot. Guests can also feast at the Lido Market Place Restaurant, where thematic cuisines from the ports that the itinerary calls at will be served.

Exhilarating Entertainment for All Ages

Celebrating the world-famous Venetian event, Costa Venezia will be hosting the Carnival of Venice with dazzling masquerade balls in elaborate costumes, parades, live bands and more. Guests will dance to their hearts’ content at the most remarkable party at sea.

Guests can also join the Golden Party, inspired by the color symbolizing fortune and wealth in Chinese culture, for a chance to win surprises and gifts every 10 minutes.

To recharge from the parties and dancing, guests can soak up the sun or take a dip at the pool on the tranquil Lido Deck.

For young cruisers, Costa Cruises has partnered with Juventus Football Club to bring a wide range of activities onboard including the Juventus Academic for rising football stars to pick up a trick or two from Juventus-trained coaches.

More lively and exciting entertainments are provided onboard for guests of all ages and interests, from pampering treatments at the Bellezza Spa to endless designer labels and ‘Made in Italy’ shopping at San Moise Boutique and Galleria Shopping Mall to marvelous East-meets-West theatrical performances at La Fenice Theater; guests will never want their trip to come to an end.

For more information
Emaill: info-pao@costa.it
Customer Services Hotline: +86 21 5351 9509

Thai boutique hotels get in bed with Airbnb

By TTG Asia
0
Airbnb's Mike Orgill and TBAA's Suparerk Soorangura signing the MoU

Airbnb is partnering the Thailand Boutique Accommodation Trade Association (TBAA) to bring local boutique hotels onto its platform, on the heels of a partnership to upskill and onboard local homestays.

The new deal will provide travellers with access to more than 50 boutique hotels across 15 provinces such as Bangkok, Chantaburi, Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, Prachuab Kiri Khan, Ratchaburi and Sukhothai.

Airbnb’s Mike Orgill (left) and TBAA’s Suparerk Soorangura signing the MoU

As part of the agreement, training workshops will be conducted to equip TBAA members with Airbnb platform know-how, and the digital skills to create, manage and promote their own listings.

The partners also hope to empower Thai boutique hospitality entrepreneurs with global hospitality standards, amplify the creative design of Thai boutique hotels on the global stage as well as revitalise local neighbourhoods by driving tourist footfall outside of traditional tourist districts.

During the launch, Airbnb and the TBAA also announced the inaugural Airbnb x TBAA Thailand Neighbourhood Guide. The 17-page guide spotlights five under-the-radar neighbourhoods in Thailand, each with its distinct blend of traditional heritage and new creative spaces.

In the past year alone, Airbnb’s host community in Thailand welcomed close to 1.7 million guests into their homes, creating a combined four billion baht (US$119 million) in income for local Thais.

“Thailand is one of Airbnb’s largest markets in South-east Asia, and our partnership with the TBAA marks a significant step forward for our business and community here. Boutique hotels play an increasingly key role in driving the tourism ecosystem through their authentic host-led hospitality and distinctive local design,” said Mike Orgill, Airbnb country manager for South-east Asia.

Tansorn Pornpanyapat, assistant director and senior urban designer of the Urban Design and Development Center, is hopeful the Airbnb-TBAA partnership will encourage the growth of local micro-entrepreneurs in the tourism industry, and further elevate the standards of Thai boutique hospitality and creative design.

“As boutique hotels continue to grow, we are confident this will drive tourist footfall and expenditure outside heavily touristed areas and promote greater urban rejuvenation in local communities,” he said.

Maldives smashes ‘offensive’ Coralarium statues

By TTG Asia
0

A gallery featuring semi-submerged sculptures – ruled anti-Islam under outgoing president Abdulla Yameen – was torn down in dramatic fashion last Friday.

Images circulating on social media and news outlets show police demolishing the sculptures using saws, axes and ropes on the eve of the presidential election, which Yameen lost to a liberal candidate.

Photo credit: Twitter/@PoliceMV
1 of 3

The gallery opened at the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi in July, featuring a series of statues named the Coralarium.

The artwork designed by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor were touted to marry art and marine conservation, but Yameen ruled them offensive to Islam and ordered for their destruction.

Travel industry players TTG Asia spoke with in July had suggested that this was a political play rather than a reflection of public and religious sentiment.

Fortunes on the rise for Macau hotels

By Prudence Lui
0
Melco Resorts’ Morpheus is a new entrant to Macau’s luxury scene

Despite a new swathe of rooms coming on-stream this year, hoteliers in Macau remain confident that demand will continue to outpace supply and prop up business.
This could be attributed in part to the rebound of visitor arrivals. For 1H2018, Macau’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals totalled over 2.6 million in June 2018, up 9.4 per cent year-on-year.

Melco Resorts’ Morpheus is a new entrant to Macau’s luxury scene

Overnight visitors in 2017 grew by 7.2 per-cent year-on-year to pass 1.4 million, according to DSEC figures.

Meanwhile, occupancy rates for all hotel types reached 89.8 per cent, an increase of 4.3 per cent. Room rates grew 7.1 per cent from MOP$1,252 (US$154) to MOP$1,342 during the same period.

Occupancy wise, five-star hotels performed well to record a 7.8 per cent uptick, while the three-star category was the only one to have experienced a decline (-2.1 per cent).
Crowne Plaza Macau, for instance, continued seeing high occupancy in 1H2018, and a double-digit growth in average rates.

General manager Dominique Berhouet explained: “Although Macau is questioning the issue of oversupply, (new openings such as) Morpheus and MGM Cotai are targeting the casino market, a different market from what Crowne Plaza Macau (is going after).

According to Macau Government Tourism Office, mainland China is still the top visitor market to Macau, and most of the new rooms have found utilisation with casino goers or junkets.

Moreover, the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai Bridge, which is approaching completion, represents an important new gateway to Macau and “should help to further develop the Hong Kong and Guangdong area market,” said Berhouet.

Sharing similar views, vice president of operations at JW Marriott Hotel and The Ritz-Carlton, Rauf Malik, said both properties have not had to adjust rates despite the new openings as demand for rooms remains high.

“If visitors from these other cities grow two to three per cent each year, then already there won’t be enough rooms to accommodate the influx of visitors,” said Malik.

“We continue to see tremendous demand from China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan, all of whom are interested in the newly developed Cotai area. Even with the addition of new hotels, we remain optimistic about occupancy rates,” he added.

Mandarin Oriental, Macau, as the only non-gaming international hotel located on Macau Peninsula, has seen significant increases in its performance indicators since January 2018 compared to 2017.

Director of commercial strategy, David Lam, said the luxury hotel’s target market is different from others located in Cotai, drawing guests seeking pampering experiences and personalised services.

Like Berhouet, Lam expects the soon-to-be-operational Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to be one of the key developments for Macau’s tourism.

“This is expected to (bring in more) double and multiple-destination tourists arriving at Hong Kong International Airport.”

Mobile Wi-Fi solutions connect agents on the go

By Pamela Chow
0
Service includes Wi-Fi connectivity for to up to 64 tourists via their guide's portable station, a directional finder device to locate specific tour members, and more

Travel technology suppliers are rolling out mobile Wi-Fi solutions targeting travel agents amid surging demand for on-tour connectivity.

“The first thing our customers want when they arrive for a tour is Wi-Fi or data connection, and it can be a hassle to purchase SIM cards,” shared Jarvis Fong, founder & director of Tripneasy, speaking to TTG Asia at the recent PATA Travel Mart in Langkawi.

More Internet on-the-go options for travellers

While youths make up most of his groups, Fong explained that elderly tourists are also shunning SIM cards because of the difficulties in communicating with local telecommunication shops.

“As tour agents, having a Wi-Fi egg is giving them a level of convenience and customer service,” he told TTG Asia.

Exhibiting at PATA Travel Mart are two mobile Wi-Fi providers: GlocalMe and iFree Group. Both players offer SIM card-free devices for 4G networks that can support multiple device connections.

iFree has been working with Malaysian travel agents and aviation partners – such as Hong Kong airlines, Tigerair, Thai Airways and China Airlines – to push its mobile Wi-Fi product. Its most recent office has opened in Jakarta.

Under its promotional campaign, iFree is distributing reusable SIM cards to its partners for their travellers. Partners can earn five per cent of the value topped up into each SIM card.

1...1,3781,3791,380...2,913Page 1,379 of 2,913

Tried and Tested

What to Buy Now

 
Subscribe To
Advertise With Us
 
Asia-Pacific's Leading Travel Trade Business Resource Since 1974

  • All Rights Reserved

Copyright TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd © 2025-2026
Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | Thailand pushes year-round tourism in new cabinet policy statement
TTG Asia | Macao’s safety record strengthens appeal to cautious travellers
TTG Asia | Macao travel expo opens with strong international turnout