Onyx Hospitality Group has appointed Phan Ing Pai as vice president, operations – Greater China. Based in Shanghai, Phan will report to Gina Wo, senior vice president & head of Greater China.
He will be responsible for leading the operations team in the Greater China region, providing support to all operational properties across the region and ensuring all properties are in line with the group’s established operational standards. Phan will also work closely with the sales & marketing team by offering commercial support to the property teams, ensuring optimum hotel performance and business returns.
Prior to joining Onyx, Phan was area general manager, North China for Frasers Hospitality.
He has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality and serviced apartments industries and a deep understanding of the Chinese market. Phan has spent the past 14 years in China, where he also held senior level positions with Swiss-Belhotel International.
Khiri Travel founder and CEO Willem Niemeijer celebrates the milestone with a spirited bang of the drum
DMC Khiri Travel last Friday evening marked its silver anniversary with a cocktail party in Bangkok, with company employees, travel industry leaders and guests gathered at The Glass House, Nai Lert Heritage House to celebrate the positive impacts the Bangkok-based DMC has made in many aspects of its business and operations over the last 25 years.
The celebration featured traditional Thai puppetry by Joe Louis Theatre, a ‘memory lane’ display featuring photos and memorabilia that marked Khiri Travel’s transformation over time (including the original table when the company was still a one-room office), and staff dressed in traditional attire from its eight countries of operation.
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Khiri Travel founder and CEO Willem Niemeijer celebrates the milestone with a spirited bang of the drum
Niemeijer (middle) and family
A Thai puppet show in action
Getting down to business in a panel (from left): PATA's Mario Hardy, Global Sustainable Tourism Council's Randy Durband, Hot Heads Innovation's Stu Lloyd, Niemeijer and QUO's David Keen
A panel discussion entitled The Next 25 Years in Travel also saw industry veterans Mario Hardy, CEO of PATA; Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council; and David Keen, CEO of QUO; together with Willem Niemeijer, CEO of Khiri Travel, presenting different viewpoints about overtourism, authentic travel, elephant riding and plastic usage, among others.
Sustainability has been a key theme for Khiri Travel since it was founded by Niemeijer in Bangkok in 1993 to arrange travel to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia at a time when the Mekong region was opening to tourists.
A quarter century later, responsible travel remains at the core for Khiri Travel which has now grown in a DMC with 230 employees and 17 offices across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
The sustainable tourism pioneer has a long history of giving back, with guests at the anniversary event encouraged to support the trio of projects initiated by its charity arm, Khiri Reach: help for the victims of the recent Lombok earthquakes, clean water wells in Myanmar, and a children’s foundation in Vietnam.
Integrity, inclusion and respect for local culture will continue to define Khiri’s commitment to responsible travel as the company expands further. “We’re always looking at sustainable long-term growth for Khiri,” said Niemeijer.
“Khiri Travel will continue to support the sustainable development of travel beyond Asia’s hubs,” he remarked. “As a CEO, the joy for me is when we work with local people at grass roots to help them realise their hopes for their families and communities. For me, this will not change in the next 25 years.”
PATHANAMTHITTA, INDIA - AUG 17:People watch the rescue process in the flooded area on August 17,2018 in Pathanamthitta,Kerala, India. Kerala was badly affected by the floods during the monsoon season
The tourism sector of Kerala, already reeling under pressure in the wake of the Nipah virus outbreak in the state, received another jolt when the recent torrential rain resulted in floods.
“Kerala, which is generally one of the hotspots for both domestic and international tourists, has had a bad time these last few months. First it was the Nipah virus (though it was confined to certain parts of North Kerala) that affected the domestic tourism season of May and June, and now it is the devastation caused by the floods,” said Kapil Goswamy, managing director, Trans India Holidays.
Kerala has been badly affected by the floods during the monsoon season
“During the monsoon season (July, August and September), Kerala normally gets a good number of domestic tourists, a small number of international tourists, and a significant number of Ayurveda or wellness seeking international tourists. The last month or so have unfortunately, been a washout for tourism, and even though the situation is improving now, it will be a few months before we see any upswing in tourism numbers,” he added.
Access to many of the tourism destinations like Munnar, Idukki and Periyar has been severely affected because of the worst floods in a century in the state. Kerala’s busiest and biggest airport in Kochi has been shut from August 16 and will be opened on August 29.
GDP generated by the state is expected to fall to 6.5-7 per cent from the budgeted 7.6 per cent this fiscal year, according to a report by Care Ratings. The tourism and hospitality sector contributes 40 per cent of the state’s GDP.
“The ongoing floods will have a deep impact on the tourism business to Kerala and everybody will wait for the situation to improve. The tourists who had booked their tours for the coming few months will definitely either change the destination or postpone their visit. This all depends on the situation after the flood water recedes and the situation becomes clearer,” said Arun Anand, managing director, Midtown Travels.
Tour operators have already started receiving cancellations. “From international markets we are experiencing cancellations from travellers booked during the months of late September to November, and from the domestic market there are hardly any queries for travel to Kerala during the coming months. All of us in the tourism industry hope that Kerala recovers soon,” added Goswamy.
Despite the devastation wrecked by the floods, Kerala-based EM Najeeb, senior vice president, Indian Association of Tour Operators, remains positive for the coming inbound season prospects.
“Our expectations are still high and our outlook of a productive season is intact despite many challenges. The tourism industry feels that the season would go normal without much damage, unless there are last-minute cancellations closer to the season,” he said.
Some tour operators see an opportunity to combine Kerala with neighbouring states in their tour packages. “The situation in Kerala calls for a greater innovation and efforts to sell the destination. We have to include other states or innovate with itineraries and ensure to convince international tourists to place their trust in this region, but we are determined to sell Kerala and support are partners there,” said Rajat Singhal, director, Leisure World Tours.
The Swiss hospitality management school will set up an international campus in Singapore
While international visitor arrivals into Singapore grew by 7.3% year-on-year to reach 4.6 million in 1Q2018, tourism receipts dipped marginally with declines seen in shopping, accommodation and F&B expenditure, according to the Singapore Tourism Board’s 1Q report.
The destination’s top five visitor-generating markets in the quarter were China (0.9 million), Indonesia (0.7 million), India (0.3 million), Malaysia (0.3 million) and Australia (0.3 million). Combined, they accounted for 54% of total arrivals.
Tourists spending less on shopping, F&B and accommodation
China (+10%), India (+22%) and Indonesia (+4%) registered the largest absolute year-on-year growth, while Germany (-7%), Australia (-3%) and the Philippines (-4%) posted the largest declines.
Tourism receipts for 1Q2018 were down 0.5% to S$6.7 billion (US$4.9 billion). While sightseeing, entertainment and gaming (+6%) and other tourism receipt components (+22%) grew, shopping (-9%), accommodation (-13%) and F&B (-16%) declined.
Gazetted hotel room revenue for 1Q2018 however was up 8.5%, coming in at an estimated S$1 billion. Average occupancy rate was 86.1%, a 1.4 percentage point increase.
Average room rate increased 2.3% to S$222 while revenue per available room increased 4% to reach S$191 in 1Q2018.
A train of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. Photo: GovHK
With confirmation that the long-delayed Hong Kong section of the high-speed rail service will be operational on September 23, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is intensifying efforts to promote the city as part of multi-destination itineraries.
Along the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the line running between Guangzhou Nan and Shenzhen Bei opened in December 2011, and completion of the Hong Kong extension was originally scheduled for 2015.
A train of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. Photo: GovHK
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, recent agreements that transferred operating rights to MTR Corporation were accompanied by the announcement that travellers will get direct access from the West Kowloon station to 44 locations across the border, up from 20 announced earlier.
Peter Lam, chairman of the HKTB, said: “The commencement of the high-speed rail will reinforce Hong Kong’s position as China’s southernmost gateway by connecting Hong Kong to the mainland’s national high-speed rail network.”
The development is allowing HKTB to step up its ongoing efforts to promote multi-destination travel. Leveraging the tourism resources along the rail line, more business opportunities could emerge for the travel trade in Hong Kong and mainland, Lam remarked.
“Riding on the commencement of the high-speed rail, the HKTB is in discussion with the travel trade in Hong Kong and the mainland to launch tourism products featuring the high-speed rail, such as rail-cruise products jointly developed with cruise companies; as well as high-speed rail tours,” said Lam.
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, in partnership with MJets, has launched private jet experiences taking guests from Bangkok to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
The new offering combines private jet transportation with stays at the Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas and Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort in Sri Lanka.
Larger groups will cruise in the Gulfstream V jet, with a three-zone cabin environment for working, dining, entertaining and resting. Amenities including shower facilities, fully reclining beds, entertainment systems and two flight attendants.
Interior of MJets’ Gulfstream V private jet
Cessna Citation X, which carries up to eight passengers, has features including fully reclining body club seats, entertainment systems and one flight attendant.
Upon touching down at Colombo International airport, guests are transported via private limousine to a private ocean-view villa at Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle on Sri Lanka’s southernmost shore.
Activities at the resort range from Aryurvedic wellness journeys to surfing and personalised spa experiences. After dining on sustainably sourced cuisine, brought from farm to cliff side table by a private chef, guests may also take a class in Sri Lankan cuisine.
From here, guests have the option to jet off to the Maldives. At Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, they will stay in overwater villas, which feature a two-tiered deck with shaded swinging daybed, dining area and ocean hammocks above, and a lower deck that steps into the lagoon.
Day-time activities include diving, snorkelling with mantas and whale sharks and enjoying the aquamarine lagoon of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. At night, guests can stargaze in the only observatory in the southern Indian Ocean.
The Anantara Private Jet Experience can be tailored to suit each guest or scaled to accommodate larger groups.
Best Western Hotels & Resorts will introduce its new soft brand, BW Signature Collection by Best Western, to Asia for the first time this year, following the signing of a lakeside resort in Thailand’s Prachinburi province.
Tawaravadee Resort, owned by My Green Resident, is scheduled to launch in 3Q2018.
Nestled in verdant countryside about 160km from Bangkok, the low-rise resort features 199 rooms and suites, ranging from traditional Thai rooms to larger lakeside suites.
Guests can choose from an all-day dining restaurant specialising in Thai, pan-Asian and international cuisine with views of the pool, and the Lobby Lounge. In addition, the karaoke rooms are ideal for evening parties.
The hotel also features facilities such as an outdoor pool, fitness centre and spa, while activities available to guests include tennis, badminton, cycling, snooker, and a golf driving range.
For meetings and events, the hotel offers an 800-guest convention hall and several other meeting rooms that can cater for between 10 and 200 delegates.
In a statement, Best Western said it has identified Thailand as one of its key target markets. At present, the company operates nine hotels and resorts across the country, covering five of its brands: Best Western, Best Western Plus, Best Western Premier, BW Premier Collection by Best Western and SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western.
Best Western has 17 new properties in the pipeline for Thailand. In addition to BW Signature Collection by Best Western, the company will introduce Vīb, its millennial-focused hotel concept, to Thailand later this year.
The deal gives Peakwork customers access to shop, book and manage more than 330 LCCs and more than 25 NDC full-service carriers
Making further strides in the industry-wide flight content revolution, global travel software specialist Peakwork has partnered flight content aggregator Travelfusion.
Travelfusion is a flight content aggregator and innovator of direct connect distribution solutions. Headquartered in London with offices in Shanghai and Thessaloniki, Travelfusion aggregates over 330 LCCs from around the world and 25 NDC full-service carriers.
The deal gives Peakwork customers access to shop, book and manage more than 330 LCCs and more than 25 NDC full-service carriers
Peakwork and Travelfusion have implemented technical connectivity that allows Peakwork customers to source flight content from Travelfusion’s portfolio.
Travelfusion creates flight offers in Peakwork’s EDF data format where flight bookings are directly channelled from the Peakwork network to Travelfusion’s booking interfaces.
Jonathan Penn, senior vice president sales at Travelfusion, commented: “Peakwork customers… now have access to shop, book and manage more than 330 LCCs and more than 25 NDC full-service carriers from around the world. Our rich data includes support for all ancillaries, branded fares, post booking and special fares to enhance the tour operators’ competitive offerings.”
Christian Andersen, director flight at Peakwork, added: “Travelfusion contributes an immense flight portfolio to the Peakwork network. The connectivity of both technology partners brings fast and flexible flight sourcing for all partners in the Player Hub Network.”
Travelfusion benefits from the quickly expanding Player Hub Network as a new distribution platform. More than 100 tour operator brands, about 50 airlines and flight offer providers as well as 45 accommodation providers now sell their offers in the network and source additional services.
Global Internet companies and metasearchers also connect APIs to receive offers for leisure travel sales. Peakwork technology connects travel providers such as TUI, Thomas Cook and Lufthansa, to digital global players including Google, Facebook, Kayak and Trivago.
Didi Chuxing is China's largest online ride-hailing platform
Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing has suspended its Hitch carpool service after a female passenger was raped and killed by a Didi Hitch driver.
The company announced it was suspending its Hitch system for review as the most recent incident revealed problems in its customer service system. The vice president of Didi Hitch, which pairs car owners and passengers, has also been fired.
Didi Chuxing is China’s largest online ride-hailing platform
The suspect, named only as Zhong, had a previous complaint made against him by a passenger alleging that she was driven to a remote location by Zhong.
In the most recent case, BBC reported that on Friday, the 20-year-old passenger entered Zhong’s vehicle in Wenzhou at 13.00. She messaged a friend for help an hour later before losing contact.
Police on Sunday detained the 27-year-old driver, who confessed to raping and murdering the passenger.
In May, a 21-year-old flight attendant died after using the service in Zhengzhou.
The transport ministry was reported to have said that the two incidents brought to light operational loopholes of the platform, and urged the company to take steps to ensuring passenger safety.
Didi is said to have completed more than one billion journeys in the past three years, more than any other ride-hailing companies in the world.
LOCATION
Signiel Seoul packs 235 guestrooms on the 76th-101st floors of Lotte World Tower – South Korea’s tallest skyscraper and the world’s fifth-tallest building – in the premium district of Jamsil.
The hotel is directly connected by underpass to Jamsil Station, as well as Lotte-brand siblings, Lotte World, Lotte Department Store and Lotte World Mall.
Signiel Seoul
ROOMS
There are nine room types, crowned by five suite categories. All rooms offer sweeping views of the city skyline and the Han River.
I stayed in the cosy yet spacious Grand Deluxe Room on the 91st floor that pampered me with a host of treats such as free access to the Salon de Signiel lounge, premium bedding, Diptyque toiletries and an automatic bidet.
Tall windows flood the room with the glow of daylight, illuminating its subtle Korean aesthetics: a cherry blossom mural painted and embroidered by hand, and framed by blue accents.
F&B
Apart from the rooms, lobby and Salon de Signiel, Stay restaurant on the 81st floor affords panoramic vistas of Seoul and its surrounds. It is run by three-Michelin-star chef Yannick Alléno, who brings a creative blend of modern French cuisine to the restaurant.
Epicureans will be delighted to learn that chef Alléno also directs the hotel’s entire F&B division, from banquets to in-room dining.
For my breakfast at Stay, I was given an à la carte menu from which to order my main course, and I helped myself to a buffet line of cold cuts, cheese and oats. I was then presented with my own basket of fresh fruits to end the meal with.
Also situated on this level is Bar 81, which serves more than 80 varieties of champagne and chef Alléno’s contemporary Parisian menu. One-Michelin-star Korean cuisine restaurant Bicena has also recently moved into Signiel Seoul.
FACILITIES
I was treated to a multisensory therapy session at the signature Evian Spa on the 86th floor. The massages are indulgent, and incorporate French skincare and ambient audio and visual immersion into the entire treatment experience.
In between appointments, I lounged in the quiet and private Salon de Signiel, which is fully stocked with beverages and afternoon snacks, including tasty green tea cookies.
Signiel Seoul also houses a gym and studio, an indoor pool and a sauna.
SERVICE
Every staff member is attentive and amicable. From entering the lift lobby to my room, I was escorted by name, served welcome tea and offered assistance if needed. The concierge was also helpful in calling for taxis and advising about travel around Seoul.
VERDICT
A truly opulent yet modern retreat in a comparatively quiet district of a busy global city.
No. of rooms 235 Rates From 380,000 won (US$340) Contact details
Tel: (82) 2-3213-1000
Email: concierge.signiel.se@lotte.net
