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Asia/Singapore Tuesday, 23rd December 2025
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Lufthansa Group steps up push into SE Asia

By TTG Asia
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From left: Stefan Molnar and Matthias Burkard

Having reported its “best financial result in history” for 2017, Lufthansa Group now has sights on growing its presence in Thailand, Vietnam and the Mekong region through introducing new products, routes and digitalisation initiatives.

At its recent AGM, Lufthansa said group revenue rose by 12.4 per cent to 35.6 billion euros (US$41.6 billion) in 2017 and shareholders profit saw 60 per cent higher dividend.

From left: Stefan Molnar and Matthias Burkard

After the brand relaunch in February this year, Lufthansa Group’s modernisation journey continues with three core strategic pillars – the Network Airlines, the Eurowings Group and Aviation Services – continuing to invest in digitalisation with a focus on cost savings and efficiencies.

Recognising the importance of personalisation and digitalisation, the carrier will partner Siam Commercial Bank to launch a project in the next few weeks, said Stefan Molnar, general manager Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and the Mekong Region. No further details on the project were provided at press time.

Austrian Airlines has also successfully upgraded all its 11 longhaul aircraft early this year with Premium Economy seats. This new seat class is already available on the Bangkok-Vienna route, offering travellers with improved seats, two pieces of check-in luggage and meal inclusions. Bangkok is the only South-east Asian destination that Austrian Airlines serves.

Lufthansa also launched its Dream Collection on Business Class from and to Bangkok. In addition to a new pillowcase and a large, warm blanket, the Dream Collection delivers a mattress topper and a new sleeping shirt from Van Laack.

The group will also introduce operational updates for winter 2018/2019. While Eurowings recently launched its latest longhaul flight from Munich to Bangkok twice a week this summer, during the winter season Eurowings will consolidate its longhaul operations focusing on flights out of Düsseldorf instead of various outbound German cities. With this change, Eurowings will serve Bangkok four times per week from Düsseldorf to provide an additional 25 per cent of frequency compared to now collectively.

Edelweiss, sister company of Swiss International Air Lines, will also commence its Zurich-Ho Chi Minh City route from November 15, adding to the existing route between Zurich and Phuket for the winter.

Overall, Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, Edelweiss) offers 29 weekly flights from Thailand to Europe; and 31 weekly flights from Thailand and Vietnam to Europe in the winter schedule this year.

Mt Agung erupts again, forcing airport closure and flight cancellations

By Mimi Hudoyo
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Impact of Mount Agung's eruption on Bali's tourism segment is being keenly felt

Mount Agung in Bali erupted and emitted smoke up to 23,000m above its peak yesterday, triggering events leading up to a slew of flight cancellations beginning last night.

Volcanic ashes being blown northwest of the mountain has forced the airport authority to issue NOTAM to close Ngurah Rai International Airport as of 03.00 until 19.00 on Jun 29.

Mount Agung erupted again yesterday

Evaluation on the situation is to take place at 12.00 today for further determination.

In a statement from Angkasa Pura I Airport authority, corporate secretary Israwadi appealed to passengers to monitor the situation and contact airlines on their flight status.

Some airlines have cancelled their flights to and from Bali since last night, and more cancellations ensued with the closure of the airport this morning.

Indonesia AirAsia last night announced 27 domestic and international flights were cancelled. These flights were from and to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Perth.

Jetstar also cancelled four flights from Perth and Singapore last night.

The Bali & Beyond Travel Fair is ongoing and ends tonight. Business appears to be as usual on the mart floor.

Management of Regent Singapore to change from Four Seasons to Capella in 2019

By TTG Asia
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Regent Singapore had been managed by Four Seasons since 1992

Capella Hotel Group will take over the management of Regent Singapore from January 1, 2019, following Four Seasons’ conclusion of its management of the luxury hotel on December 31, 2018.

Four Seasons has been managing the hotel – owned by Pontiac Land Group – in the last 26 years since 1992 under the Regent brand. However, both Pontiac and Four Seasons have mutually agreed not to extend the current management agreement when it expires on December 31.

Regent Singapore had been managed by Four Seasons since 1992

In a statement, Nicholas M Clayton, CEO of Capella Hotel Group indicated that the group will work closely with the property and further plans for the hotel will be unveiled before the end of this year.

Capella Hotel Group’s portfolio of luxury properties comprises nine hotels in operation, with an additional 10 more under development. The company’s geographic footprint is spread across countries such as China, Indonesia, Singapore and the US, with additional hotels planned for Australia, China, Indonesia, Maldives and Thailand.

Bali’s Badung Regency enhances infrastructure and access to attract tourists

By Mimi Hudoyo
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Ngurah Rai International Airport

Badung Regency, a fast-growing and most-visited region in Bali, is improving its infrastructure and accessibility to keep up with the tourism boom.

Covering some of Bali’s most popular tourist regions, Badung Regency stretches from southern Nusa Dua, Uluwatu and Jimbaran to Seminyak and Canggu along the west coast, up to Mengwi and Plaga in the northern part of the territory.

Ngurah Rai International Airport’s parking stands are in the process of being increased

State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura I, which manages Ngurah Rai International Airport, is expanding the airport’s apron to allow 11 additional parking stands, bringing the available slots up to a total 63 aircraft. This development is currently underway and is expected be ready in time for the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in October.

Improvements are being made to the regency’s infrastructure. The 712m-long Ngurah Rai Underpass – set to be ready in August – will reduce traffic congestion around the Ngurah Rai Statue roundabout by 50 per cent, while a nine-km outer ring road connecting Nusa Dua and Jimbaran is currently under development.

The regency is also developing itself into a ‘smart city’. A project, which involves the installation of 385 CCTV cameras in 986 locations across the regency, as well as a Wi-Fi network, is scheduled to be completed by October.

Addressing the media at the ongoing Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2018 in Bali yesterday, I Made Badra, Badung Regency’s head of tourism, said: “The CCTV cameras are placed at tourist attractions and other strategic locations to provide safety and security for travellers and the community alike. The Wi-Fi network will be available across the regency free of charge to (enable tourists to stay connected).”

Badung will also boast a new landmark in Bali once the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue at the GWK Cultural Park is completed. The world’s third tallest statue at 121m tall, the statue will be inaugurated by president Joko Widodo in August.

International tourism exceeds expectations, with APAC leading growth

By TTG Asia
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International travel saw strongest growth in seven years
International travel saw strongest growth in seven years

International tourist arrivals grew six per cent in the first four months of 2018, compared to the same period last year, exceeding UNWTO’s forecast for 2018.

Growth was seen in all regions, led by Asia-Pacific (+8%) and Europe (+7%). Africa (+6%), the Middle East (+4%) and the Americas (+3%) also recorded sound results. Earlier this year, UNWTO’s forecast for 2018 was between 4-5%.

Growth in Asia-Pacific was driven by South-east Asia (+10%) and South Asia (+9%), while the increase in Europe was pulled ahead by the destinations of Southern and Mediterranean Europe, as well as Western Europe (both +8%).

In the Americas, strongest results came from South America (+8%). The Caribbean (-9%) is the only sub-region to experience a decrease in arrivals during this period, weighed down by some destinations still struggling with the aftermath of the hurricanes of August and September 2017.

UNWTO commented that even with limited information coming from the Middle East and Africa, the results were signs of rebound in the former region and consolidation of growth in the latter.

“International tourism continues to show significant growth worldwide, and this translates into job creation in many economies. This growth reminds us of the need to increase our capacity to develop and manage tourism in a sustainable way, building smart destinations and making the most of technology and innovation”, said UNWTO secretary-general, Zurab Pololikashvili.

Meanwhile, confidence in global tourism remains strong according to the latest UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts survey. The panel’s outlook for the May-August period is one the most optimistic in a decade, led by particularly upbeat sentiment in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

GOeureka wants to use blockchain to benefit hotels

By TTG Asia
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In an OTA dominant age, blockchain hotel booking platform GOeureka has big plans to “create a symbiosis where hotels maintain control over their brand while unlocking value for consumers on its platform”, according to CEO Manraj Rai.

“We provide an affordable and efficient platform for hotels and consumers to directly engage and transact with each other, removing the inequitable commissions to OTAs that ultimately decrease hotels’ margins and increase consumer prices,” said Rai.

GOEureka wants to be the new disruptor in hotel bookings with the help of blockchain and cryptocurrency

Using blockchain technology, the soon-to-ICO GOeureka hopes to benefit hotels and customers by introducing commission-free bookings, accepting payment through cryptocurrencies that are devoid of merchant fees, and transforming traditional brand loyalty programmes.

Currently in the works at GOeureka are a re-booking function that helps customers secure lowest rates even after their initial booking as well as an interoperable loyalty programme.

“We are introducing a patent-pending Re-Booking function for customers to obtain the best value for rooms. When the hotel rate drops, the Re-Booking feature will automatically detect and rebook an existing booking at the lower rate,” Rai elaborated.

The company is also proposing an inter-operable loyalty programme that promotes the hotel’s own loyalty rewards programme with the option to convert hotel loyalty points into GO Credits that can be used on the platform.

“For consumers who subscribe to multiple loyalty programmes, GO’s solution could facilitate instant redemptions and exchange for multiple loyalty point currencies on a single platform,” Rai explained.

Krabi to get Cosi by 2020

By TTG Asia
0

Cosi Krabi Ao Nang Beach is set to open by 2020 as Centara Hotels & Resorts’ third Cosi in the south of Thailand, following a management agreement sealed with Chuan Development Hotel Company.

The brand debuted on Thailand’s Samui Island last December, and earlier this year broke ground on its second property in Pattaya.

The Krabi hotel will feature 142 rooms – each with either king or twin beds, and five USB ports – a swimming pool and laundromat.

Launched to “capture a new generation of freedom loving, tech-savvy travellers”, Cosi hotels have self-serve kiosks in place of the typical lobby counter. And instead of restaurant and banquet facilities, Cosi hotels offer a 24/7 social and media café where guests can grab a bite and connect with friends. Guests get daily credits to use for food and drink any time at the Hub’s WYSIWYG Café.

Ecolodge staff undergo hospitality training for love of environment

By TTG Asia
0

A Bangkok university this week delivered a series of hospitality workshops to staff of an ecotourism outfit at Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand.

Over two days, Assumption University’s Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management trained 22 employees of the eco-friendly Aurak Community Lodge, comprising front office personnel, housekeepers, waiters and back of house staff, all from local villages.

Workshop attendees

The training was led by project coordinator Scott Smith from the university and sponsored by Bangkok-based Yaana Ventures.

Ahead of the workshop, Smith prepared a service audit and worked with management and staff to develop a training programme to meet the needs of the lodge, whose guests are mostly from Europe, the US and Singapore. These visitors typically want informed, zero-impact nature activities such as forest hiking and kayaking in the park.

Willem Niemeijer, founder of Yaana Ventures, commented: “Khao Sok boasts some of Thailand’s most stunning scenery and is home to incredible biodiversity. We therefore share the responsibility to ensure tourism is developed in a sustainable way, showing that it can make a positive contribution to conservation that involves and benefits the local community.”

Anurak means “to conserve” in Thai language. Accordingly, Anurak Lodge operates as an eco-friendly retreat with 18 comfortable bungalow-style rooms. The lodge serves as a jump off point for tours and activities in Khao Sok National Park and to the nearby Cheow Lan Lake.

New hotels: Morpheus, InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort and more

By TTG Asia
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Morpheus, Macau
The Zaha Hadid-designed, US$1.1 billion luxury Morpheus hotel in Macau is Melco Resorts’ latest venture. There are 772 rooms, suites and villas in the high-rise, alongside two restaurants by Alain Ducasse, a Chinese fine diner and a Pierre Hermé patisserie in the lobby. There is also a club lounge, a spa with six treatment rooms, an outdoor pool on the 40th floor, a fitness centre and an art gallery.

InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort, Vietnam
The 459-key resort on Phu Quoc Island is nestled near the tail end of the 20km-long Long Beach, with an exclusive private beach for guests. Recreational facilities include Harnn Heritage Spa, gym, yoga and pilates classes, water sports activities and four swimming pools. Six F&B venues are available on-site, ranging from Ink 360, the highest bar in Phu Quoc, to the fine-dining seafood and speciality restaurant Lava. The resort boasts its own conference centre with over 2,000m2 of indoor event space, a 870m2 grand ballroom, a purpose-built auditorium and multiple breakout rooms.

Sanctuary by Sirromet, Australia
Family-owned Sirromet Winery, located 30 minutes from Brisbane at Mount Cotton, has launched 18 glamping tents for overnight guests. Each air-conditioned tented pavilion – made of double-layered all-weather campus – features a private balcony complete with day chairs, an ensuite bathroom, and is furnished with king beds and free Wi-Fi. Facilities on the eight-hectare grounds include three F&B options: The Cellar Door Café for casual dining, Italian restaurant Tuscan Terrance and fine-dining restaurant Lurleen’s.

Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing, China
Located in the heart of the Wangjing CBD is the first Hyatt Regency in China’s capital. There are 348 rooms available, ranging from 30m2 to 290m2. Each offers a separate workspace, flatscreen TV, standalone bathtub with Portico and Comfort Zone toiletries, and high-speed Wi-Fi. Amenities on-site include five F&B options, a 25m-long heated indoor pool, hydrotherapy areas with saunas and whirlpools, and a 24-hour fitness centre. Event planners can avail the 5,600m2 of function space which includes the 1,370m2 pillar-free Regency Ballroom.

Fraser Place Binhai Tianjin, China
Frasers Hospitality’s second property in the north-eastern Chinese port city offers 224 keys in several configurations, ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments, as well as smart meeting spaces and function rooms. Other facilities include an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby bar, a swimming pool and a gym. Guests will also enjoy complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, 24/7 room service and a free shuttle service.

Hyatt Regency returns to Philippines with new hotel in Clark

By TTG Asia
0
A residential area in Angeles City, the Philippines

The Hyatt Regency brand is making a comeback to the Philippines, with the 350-room Hyatt Regency Clark slated to open within a 309ha mixed-use project come 2022.

The result of a management agreement between a Hyatt affiliate and Donggwang Clark Corporation (DCC), Hyatt Regency Clark will be part of DCC’s D’ Heights Resort project, which includes two 18-hole golf courses, a duty free shopping mall, an indoor water park, residential towers and an IT park.

A residential area in Angeles City, the Philippines

The hotel will feature bars and restaurants, a large ballroom, fitness centre, and swimming pool.

Located less than 113km northwest of Metro Manila, Hyatt Regency Clark will sit within the Clark Freeport Zone, where more than 700 corporations had set up offices in 2017. The government is planning to link Clark with Metro Manila by 2022, which will reduce travel between the two cities to an hour.

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | PATA Singapore Chapter debuts industry dialogue on hot issues
TTG Asia | Hilton teams up with Explora Journeys to expand loyalty programme to luxury ocean voyages
TTG Asia | Cross Hotels to develop Bali Uluwatu Resort