Conrad Centennial Singapore has appointed Timothy Tan as director of business development.
Reporting to Heinrich Grafe, the hotel’s general manager, Tan will lead efforts to increase revenue, individual and group reservations as well as event sales through new business and the expansion of existing partnerships.
Prior to joining Conrad, he was director of sales for Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central and The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central.
Tan has garnered two decades of experience in the travel and tourism industry, having worked with major hotel companies and tour operators – such as Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific, and HPL Hotels & Resorts – in Singapore and Australia.
In 2012, he also served as a member of the regional council of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).
Things are looking up for Bali's hoteliers; Tanah Lot pictured
Bali hoteliers have seen a gradual restoration of confidence, with both leisure and business traveller numbers on the rise. This comes after the destination reported numerous trip cancellations following Mount Agung’s eruption earlier in November, resulting in low occupancies in its typical peak months of November and December.
Anton Adijaya, director of Bali Rani, said: “Some hotels were forced to ask staff to take leave as occupancy was so low (November up to mid-December), but the situation started to improve during the Christmas and New Year period.”
Things are looking up for Bali’s hoteliers; Tanah Lot pictured
He shared that European buyers at ATF 2018 were expecting demand from their customers to pick up due to promotional fares offered by some airlines between January and June this year.
“We are looking at some form of promotion so that we can boost traffic,” Anton said, and revealed bookings at Bali Rani were picking up from April onwards.
Peter Arya, director of Maya Resorts, shared: “Our European clientele knows Bali well. They are aware that our hotels are far away from the (volcano).
“Last year, we were doing very well with the (European) market, and this year we can at least reach the same level as we did last year.”
Similarly, Alpha Hotel Management (AHM) and Bali Villa Properties (BVP), which manage several hotels and villas in Bali have also seen the market bounce back.
Gufron, managing director of BVP, said: “Indonesian president Joko Widodo’s visit to Bali (around Christmas 2017 when he called at several tourist attractions) has really boosted the confidence of the (inbound) markets.”
“Some of our hotels are actually performing better this January compared to the last,” added Wayan Supandi, managing director of AHM.
Meanwhile, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali and Bali International Convention Centre told TTG Asia that it has received some last minute business, allowing the resort to run at full capacity through the end of January.
Saraswati Subadia, director of MICE sales, said: “There are fewer leads, but we have seen last-minute bookings coming in. Earlier this month we received a group from an MLM company in China with 1,300 pax, booked with only two weeks’ lead time.
“We are getting some domestic (corporate groups) and a small one from India taking 50 rooms next week.”
Explaining the surprise surge in bookings, Saraswati said corporate groups have been “holding back” during the Mount Agung eruption, and are now “finally deciding to go ahead” with their events.
She, too, believes that the Indonesian president’s visits has a part to play in the brisk return in traveller confidence, and added that IMF’s and World Bank’s move to confirmed their annual meeting in Bali further reassured event planners.
“They now see that the island is safe,” she remarked.
At press time, Mount Agung volcano is calmer and the hazard zone has been reduced from 12 kilometres to just six kilometres.
ATF will be rotated to Vietnam next year; Cai Bau Pagoda in Quang Ninh Province pictured
Preparations are well under way for Vietnam to host ATF 2019 in Halong Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh.
Vietnam’s minister of culture, sports and tourism, Nguyen Ngoc Thien, told TTG Asia: “The people of Quang Ninh province are ready to welcome delegates and guests.”
ATF will be rotated to Vietnam next year; boats sailing in Halong Bay pictured
Planning for the event has been ongoing since 2009, with a swathe of new products created in the province to host delegates and guests.
This includes Quang Ninh Exhibition of Planning and Expo Centre, which will host the event and features 21,000m2 of floor space.
Nguyen added that the highway connecting the capital of Hanoi with the province, which is home to World Heritage Site Halong Bay, is slated to be finished ahead of ATF, cutting transport times from about four hours to 1.5.
And, as previously reported by TTG Asia, Van Don International Airport is slated to welcome its first flights ahead of ATF.
Hopes are also high that Vietnam will reap the rewards of hosting the event, with it showcasing to ASEAN that it is capable of putting on large-scale conferences in a destination he described as “very active”.
He said: “By organising ATF, we hope to increase connectivity and flights between Vietnam and the ASEAN member states, and aim to drive sustainable tourism.”
Nguyen also predicts a rise in domestic and intraregional tourism in the wake of the event.
“The tourism industry will be further and wider promoted, and (travellers from) ASEAN countries will visit Vietnam more and more,” he said. “It will also help to promote further the image of our country, the people and culture, and Vietnam will be known more to friends and tourists across the world.”
After Vietnam, Brunei will be the host of ATF 2020 as the annual tourism event rotates around the ASEAN 10 member countries according to alphabetical order.
Tiki will be used as a tool to help agents better understand the style of their clients
Travel expert Contiki has launched a youth-oriented chatbot named Tiki on Facebook messenger, aimed at allowing agents to suggest trips that suit traveller style and interests based on the brand’s eight travel styles.
According to a statement from Contiki, the eight travel styles launched in 2014 have been received well with agents and travellers alike, providing them with an easy way to match a traveller to trips and receive experiences that better match their expectations.
Tiki will be used as a tool to help agents better understand the style of their clients
With a quirky tone of voice, Tiki steps users through a set of questions about their personality, travel preferences and tastes, doing so through a mix of pop-culture references and internet memes.
Contiki says the bot’s responses – or “bot-banter” – addresses some of the stilted experiences lamented by chatbot users, creating something which is entertaining and engaging,
Once Tiki has identified the users’ travel style, it suggests a number of trips within that style that best suits them, before handing the remaining customer service to Contiki agents.
“Tiki is a tool that can be used to bring some fun into the research phase of travel,” said Alexis Sitaropoulos, group marketing director of Contiki Holidays. “It will also help agents to better understand their clients’ style, and give them a leg up on suggesting experiences that suit their motivations, tastes and preferences.”
Blacklane, which provides on-demand chauffeur service, says it has raised its largest investment to-date through a Series D round, and will channel the funds into expanding to new cities as well as global airport concierge services and product innovation.
The funding round was led by Alfahim – a UAE-based automotive, hospitality and travel, real estate and industrial conglomerate – which will join existing Blacklane investors Daimler AG, through subsidiary Daimler Mobility Services, and European venture capital firm btov Partners.
This round of funding will fuel growth in the Middle East & Africa
Blacklane’s global network of professional driver partners covers more than 250 cities and 500 airports in 50 countries. This year, Blacklane will reach more than 300 cities, with growth focused on the Middle East and Africa.
“Combining our nationwide expertise and diversity with Blacklane’s reinvention of the professional driver industry for the benefit of travellers, drivers and partners, will bring innovative luxury services to the Middle East and Africa,” said Ahmed AJ Al Fahim, chairman of ALFAHIM.
Blacklane will also launch Blacklane Premium Airport Services & Solutions worldwide. Having acquired Solve last October, Blacklane is able to offer travellers curbside booking, planeside meet-and-greet, connecting flight assistance and airport lounge services.
Sabre apparently best delivers the lowest air fares among its GDS competition, at least according to a study it commissioned.
Marketing and consulting firm, Dr Fried & Partner, conducted the “wide-scale qualitative and quantitative competitive GDS study” across 18 countries. While Sabre has been benchmarking its low-fare search performance for several years, this year’s study also included extensive interviews with travel professionals as well as a “best fare” assessment comparing low fare efficacy, bookability, response time, diversity and ancillary content data, Sabre said in a statement.
Study finds that Sabre is the global leader in best fare flight search options
According to the research, Sabre surpassed its competitors in all regions, finding the lowest fare 10 per cent more often than Amadeus and seven per cent more often than Travelport, on average.
In addition, the study found that 75 per cent of bookable air content in Sabre offers a branded fare or ancillary option, versus 59 per cent in Amadeus and 55 per cent in Travelport.
But price is not the sole determinant of a good fare. Depending on the traveller profile and the type of journey they are undertaking, the study indicated that travellers are willing to pay up to 25 per cent more for added value.
While the lowest price remains top of mind across all customer segments, the research suggests that there are pronounced differences between leisure and business travellers. The survey found that the former have considerations including flexibility when it comes to travel dates or destination, price and baggage inclusion; while refundability or factors like shorter travel durations are less important.
Business travellers are also price-conscious, but their needs extend more beyond price considerations, to include short travel duration, airline brand, amenities like more legroom, priority boarding and lounge access, and fares that deliver convenience and flexibility within the confines of their corporate travel policies
Markus Heller, co-founder, Dr Fried & Partner, observed: “As airlines continue to unbundle their offers and provide a wider range of branded fares and ancillaries, travellers appreciate individual services and amenities more than when they were included. Our research suggests that, as rich content gets more and more into travellers’ focus, it will present a significant opportunity for differentiation to travel agents.”
Singapore Flyer has suspended its flights operations since last Thursday morning after it experienced a “technical issue”.
According to Singapore Flyer’s Facebook page, a “thorough check” will be conducted of the observation wheel before flights are resumed.
The Singapore Flyer has been grounded
The Straits Times reported that Straco Leisure, which owns the Singapore Flyer, is conducting a probe and updates will be made through the attraction’s online channels.
The observation wheel remains closed at press time.
Picture: L/R: Mrs. Srisuda Wanapinyosak, Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); Mr. Santi Laoboonsa-ngiem, Vice Governor, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand; Mrs. Supawan Teerarat, Senior Vice President – Strategic Business Development & Innovation of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB); and Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA.
The PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2018 (PDMF 2018), formerly known as PATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum, will be held in Thailand’s north-eastern city of Khon Kaen from November 28 to 30 this year.
Held under the theme “Growth with Goals”, the event will be hosted by the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
(From left) Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Srisuda Wanapinyosak;Khon Kaen Province’s Santi Laoboonsa-ngiem; Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s Supawan Teerarat; PATA’s Mario Hardy at the media briefing during the recently-concluded ATF 2018
PATA CEO, Mario Hardy, commented that putting the spotlight on Khon Kaen is in line with the association’s advocacy for tourism dispersal to secondary and tertiary destinations.
Added Supawan Teerarat, TCEB’s senior vice president – strategic business development and innovation: “The event, which will serve as a driving force for international MICE events in Thailand, contributes to implementing the government’s policy of stimulating and developing the regional economy.
“In order to further stimulate Thai participation, TCEB has negotiated waivers of registration fees for Thai operators and relevant government agencies for the event,” she continued.
PATA will offer complimentary registration to all interested parties who wish to attend.
New UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili has appointed Shanzhong Zhu as executive director of UNWTO for a two-year term starting January 1, 2018.
A Chinese national, Zhu also served as UNWTO executive director in the team of the former secretary-general Taleb Rifai.
Shanzhong Zhu
He was previously the vice chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) from late 2008 to 2013, overseeing international relations, marketing and promotions in domestic and overseas markets, tourism information centre, tourism security and the establishment of a public service network. .
Joining CNTA in 1989 to 2008, he has served the Chinese NTO in different capacities, namely as director of CNTA Sydney Office, director of CNTA New York Office, deputy director-general of international marketing department and director-general of the marketing and communication department of CNTA.
Prior to that, he was department manager of China International Travel Service.
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has appointed Brice Borin as the general manager of the 105-villa Mövenpick Resort & Spa Kuredhivaru Maldives, which will open this year as the brand’s first property in the country.
Prior to joining Mövenpick, Borin was the general manager of the Soori Bali.
With almost three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, the French hotelier spent more than 20 years working for hotel groups in Asia-Pacific such as Regent Hotels & Resorts and Anantara Hotels & Resorts.
