TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Wednesday, 20th May 2026
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New Korean tour company offers cute ‘oppas’ for hire

By TTG Asia
0
Rent an oppa!

Rather than dream of meeting an oppa in South Korea, you can now hire one as your personal tour guide.

Popularised by the K-wave, the term oppa is used by Korean women to address older family members or friends, or romantic interests.

This tour service targets foreign visitors hoping to find their own “oppa” when visiting South Korea

Inviting tourists to “rent a Korean oppa for a dating tour” on Facebook, the Oh My Oppa platform did a test run of its service in February and is now accepting online reservations ahead of an official launch in April.

“We thought we would present these tourists with men we can be proud of. Although it was a joke at first, we followed up with an actual website and the social media reaction has been beyond our expectations,” Lee Joon-woo, CEO of Winwincook, the software company behind the tour service, was quoted as saying in an article from The Korea Herald.

The website currently presents seven oppas for visitors to choose from. Visitors first choose based on the names and beauty shots of their potential oppas. They then click on individual profiles to view details including what language(s) the oppa can speak in, his interests and a brief itinerary.

Apart from market or village tours, oppas may also “cut up steak, take flattering photographs and offer encouraging comments”, according to The Korea Herald article.

Traveltek hires tech exec to pursue SE Asia’s cruise growth

By TTG Asia
0

Traveltek Group has appointed Adam Tan as business development manager (BDM) in South-east Asia to drive demand for its cruise dynamic packaging technology.

An experienced travel technology professional, Tan joins from Sabre Travel Network (APAC) where he was an account manager for five years. In his new role, he will team up with current BDM, Javine Tan, at Traveltek’s Singapore office, which was launched in October last year.

Adam Tan

As Traveltek is introducing cruise packaging technology that is new to market, Tan’s remit is to maximise opportunities in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand – a region where cruise demand is currently experiencing record double-digit growth – the company stated in a press release.

The UK-based travel technology firm forayed into North Asia with a new regional office in Hong Kong last year.

Sydney next in line to get a splash of Indigo

By TTG Asia
0

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Watson Elite have signed a management agreement for Hotel Indigo Sydney Central, which is targeted to open in 2021.

Located in Sydney’s central precinct, opposite Capitol Square, Hotel Indigo Sydney Central will have 168 rooms including five suites. Other facilities include a restaurant, cafe and bar, as well as a gym, and rooftop terrace for meetings and events.

The Sydney property is the third Hotel Indigo signing for Australia

The hotel decor will reflect local culture by integrating materials, colour palette and custom pieces from local artists, photographers and furniture makers. From the outside, a wing cantilevered out over the adjacent heritage-listed Corporation Building and a grand artwork are set to be distinctive external features for the hotel.

Hotel Indigo Sydney Central marks the the third Hotel Indigo signing for Australia, following Hotel Indigo Brisbane Fortitude Valley and Hotel Indigo Melbourne Docklands.

The brand was first launched in Asia-Pacific with the opening of Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road in January 2015, followed by Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong in July 2016 and Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach in late 2017.

Singapore’s RevPAR finally poised for growth this year

By Pamela Chow
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Continued growth in tourist arrivals could help RevPAR recover from 'devastating' conditions in recent years

After enduring three years of sliding RevPAR, Singapore hoteliers are expecting the tide to turn in their favour this year.

RevPAR fell consecutively in recent years, from S$204 (US$156) in 2014 to S$183 last year. However, hospitality players and experts at the recent Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) 2018 expressed confidence that numbers will pick back up.

Continued arrivals could help RevPAR recover from ‘devastating’ conditions in recent years; pictured, guests at hotel lobby in Singapore

“The environment is starting to get better. The past few years were devastating, and it was on the back of the government believing that demand (for rooms) would continue to come in, and this resulted in a big imbalance,” commented Gerald HK Lee, CEO of FEO Hospitality Asset Management.

“I think that will be addressed this year, as we clocked in about six per cent of arrivals last year. If we can achieve (more) growth in arrivals, at least the equation will be turned around,” he surmised.

Chee Hok Yean, managing partner, Asia Partner, HVS, concurred. She predicted: ”This year, occupancy will probably inch up, room rates will probably stay flat, and the refurbishment of major hotels bodes well for performance.”

Experts and operators predict that RevPAR growth will bounce up to three per cent from last year. This recovery is also anticipated due to lower operating costs, including labour, speculated Lee.

The industry has already seen a “good trend for the first months of 2018”, said KC Moy, executive vice president, Capella Hotel Group.

Since 2014, there has been little deviation in Singapore’s average occupancy rate, with 84.7 per cent recorded for last year. Meanwhile, total gazetted hotel room revenue hit a five-year high of S$3.7 billion last year.

Biometrics the future for air travel: SITA

By TTG Asia
0

Sixty-three per cent of airports and 43 per cent of airlines plan to invest in biometric ID management solutions in the next three years, according to a new report published by SITA, Biometrics for Better Travel: An ID Management Revolution.

With passenger numbers rising, the use of biometrics to check passenger’s identity is expected to become more commonplace worldwide as a way to power faster and more secure self-service processes at airports.

Biometric ID technology on the cards for airlines and airports

Sean Farrell, director, strategy & innovation, SITA, said: “Airlines are required to check that passengers are who they say they are and that they have the right travel documents. This is a fundamental element of securing the travel process which cannot be eliminated. With passenger numbers set to double by 2036, airlines and airports need to be able to move passengers through these checks as securely and quickly as possible.

“Efficient identity management is essential for better security while at the same time improving the passenger experience. Biometrics is the technology that can deliver this.”

SITA said the good news is that passengers are happy to use biometrics, a technology that’s becoming a fixture in people’s lives. For example, more than 75 per cent of smartphones are expected to have fingerprint sensors by 2020.

Farrell elaborated: “Passengers are ready and want to use biometrics. The easiest way for airlines and airports to make this happen is to use technology that integrates easily with their existing infrastructure – kiosks, bag drop, automated boarding gates. Moving to single token identity management where passengers can simply use their biometric, such as their face, at every checkpoint on their journey will speed passengers securely through the airport.”

SITA’s report further outlines how airlines and airports must have a global consensus on how to securely resolve passenger identity issues as an integral part of the next generation of self-service systems. All industry stakeholders have a role to play, and the air transport industry must collaborate with governments to ensure scalability and interoperability across borders.

Indian association connects members with new distribution technology

By Rohit Kaul
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TP Connects free to use for TAAI members

The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has linked arms with travel technology provider, TP Connects, to launch a new initiative to digitally empower its membership base of about 2,500 across the country.

Launched on the sidelines of the last week’s TAAI Convention in Srinagar, TAAI Connect allows travel agents to have their own website, booking engine, mobile application, corporate booking tool and decide their commission directly with 39 suppliers integrated into their platform.

TP Connects free to use for TAAI members, says Narula

TAAI Connect will also allow agents to book directly with airlines using IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC), in addition to integrating content from GDSs as well as hotel suppliers, consolidators, car rentals and cruises, according to TAAI’s vice president Sanjay Narula.

“TAAI Connect will allow our member travel agencies to be able to research and compare on one particular platform, rather than multiple platforms which is happening currently,” he added.

Rajendran Vellapalath, CEO, TP Connects, declared: “Unfortunately at this stage all the GDS companies in the industry have a technology that is old. As we are using the latest technology, airlines will be able to push any particular offer to the customer through a travel agent using our channel.

He elaborated: “As a travel agent I don’t need to worry about what is going to happen in technological advancement in terms of maintenance, development or upgrade. These aspects will be taken care by TP Connects as a technological provider.”

The technology is offered free of charge to TAAI members but TP Connects will charge agents a fixed nominal amount per transaction.

Some 120 travel consultants have already signed up for TAAI Connect, with the technological solution finding favour especially among the SME agencies.

Neeraj Malhotra, CEO, Ganpati Travels, said: “TAAI Connect offers an opportunity to small travel agencies that can’t own an online booking portal to own one. Moreover, the platform offers more suppliers than any GDS companies. We expect to grow our business through TAAI Connect.”

Gurmeet Singh Vij, proprietor of Nagpur-based Nova Tours & Travels, added: “I operate from a tier-II city which means that we have to generally depend on our counterparts in metro cities for booking travel-related services and pay a mark up fees to them. With TAAI Connect we will be directly dealing with suppliers, thus it will result in cost benefit to us.”

Singapore Flyer resumes operations

By TTG Asia
0
Singapore Flyer spinning again with technical glitch out of the way
Singapore Flyer spinning again with technical glitch out of the way

The Singapore Flyer reopened on April 1, more than two months after its suspension in late-January, The Straits Times reported.

The decade-old attraction was forced to suspend operations after a “technical issue”. It is understood the problem was traced to a glitch in the mechanism which allows the wheel to rotate. Located at the base of the wheel, it did not affect the observation wheel or any of its 28 capsules structurally.

Singapore Flyer announced on March 31 that it had received approvals from the relevant authorities to resume operations, and that the “necessary safety checks and tests have been carried out to the satisfaction of the Building and Constructions Authority”.

SkySea Golden Era will cast off for final time on August 29

By TTG Asia
0

SkySea Cruise Line’s final voyage will take place on August 29, 2018 with a four-night cruise sailing between Shanghai and Fukuoka, Japan.

SkySea Golden Era, which will reposition to homeport in Xiamen from April 19 through May 23 for four- and five-night cruises to Japan and the Philippines, will officially begin her final season festivities when she repositions back to Shanghai to offer four- and five-night sailings to Japan from May 27 through the final voyage of August 29.

The Golden Era is ready for its swan song on August 29

The company will offer a final season of unique theme cruises, promotions and special onboard activities and entertainment to its guests.

On every voyage from May 27 through August 29, SkySea will treat guests to a SkySea ‘Golden Memories’ champagne reception; special farewell dessert made by the ship’s executive chef; a commemorative gift for each guest, a coupon book with special offers for purchases made onboard; and a 10 per cent discount on the cruise ticket for any past passenger of SkySea Cruise Line who books through the cruise line’s call centre or website.

Guests can also expect to be entertained by the third annual SkySea Voice competition and interactive performance of SAMAJAM@SkySea taking place on every cruise, as well as SkySea Forums covering health and wellness, acting, sports and wine tasting.

Commenting on what the China-centric brand has achieved in its few years of operation, Ken Muskat, CEO of SkySea Cruise Line, said: “We will have a legacy of being remembered as a major contributor to the increased awareness and growing consumer demand for cruising in the China market as well as helping evolve the way cruises are marketed and sold.”

He added: “We have introduced cruising to hundreds of thousands of consumers who have never cruised before and they walked away with incredible satisfaction which is now helping build repeat business. We look forward to continuing to provide the service and experience that makes SkySea special for the balance of our sailings and encourage those who haven’t sailed with SkySea to take advantage of this opportunity.”

By the time of her final cruise, SkySea Golden Era would have hosted nearly 500,000 guests on close to 300 cruises from the homeports of Shanghai, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Qingdao and Zhoushan, with visits to over 30 destination ports in Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Virtuoso steps up Asia focus with two key promotions

By TTG Asia
0
(From left) Evan Pierce, Cristina Magni and Michael Londregan

Global luxury travel network Virtuoso has made two key promotions to support its Australian base while expanding further into Asian markets.

Evan Pierce will relocate to Singapore to become the regional director, Asia, and lead the Asia team in Virtuoso’s expansion into China, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.

(From left) Evan Pierce, Cristina Magni and Michael Londregan

Meanwhile, Cristina Magni Cristina will remain in Sydney as regional director, Australia and New Zealand, where she will continue to drive the growth of the member network.

Virtuoso Asia-Pacific managing director, Michael Londregan said: “Virtuoso has witnessed strong performance in the Asia-Pacific region over the past five years and Virtuoso has made the commitment to reward this success by further investment in our in-market resources.

“In 2017 we saw more than 20 per cent growth in our regional network, much of which was the result of existing members growing their business through expansion, acquisition and efficiencies.”

Photo caption: (From left) Evan Pierce, Cristina Magni and Michael Londregan

Ritz-Carlton heads to Japan’s Nikko

By TTG Asia
0

Come 2020, a Ritz-Carlton hotel owned by Tobu Railway is expected to open in Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Northern Kanto region of Japan.

Plans are for The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko to offer 94 guestrooms and suites, each providing a view of either Lake Chuzenji or Mount Nantai. Dining options are expected to include an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar, as well as a Western restaurant.

Artist impression of the property in Nikko

The hotel will also feature facilities such as a spa with treatment rooms and a private onsen (Japanese hot springs).

The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko is slated to be located along the East end of Lake Chuzenji and South of Mount Nantai, providing guests with easy access to attractions including Nikko’s National Park and the UNESCO World Heritage designated area.

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGassociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | voco Amritsar appoints new leadership team
TTG Asia | Fuel shocks reshape airline economics
TTG Asia | Oliver Schwartz leads as GM at Parmelia Hilton Perth