Terry: knowledge exchange to help TMS serve global companies
Continuing its global expansion, TMS Talent, a recruitment firm backed by Bangkok-based investor Steven Hamblin, has purchased UK-based New Frontiers Recruitment.
TMS Talent has grown in Sydney and in the past 12 months opened offices in Brisbane, Melbourne and Bangkok.
Terry: knowledge exchange to help TMS serve global companies
Commenting on the purchase, TMS’ managing director John Terry said “the parallels between the two businesses are remarkable”. TMS Talent and New Frontiers were formed within a year of each other in the mid 1990’s and have both been serving the travel and hospitality markets within their own regions for over 20 years.
“The opportunity for us to share knowledge and experiences across the world will not only help to grow our business but also help to serve a number of global companies we currently partner with,” he said.
New Frontiers has been a key travel recruitment firm in the UK for over 24 years. Founder Julia Feuell said the decision to sell was not easy, but with her other company, Online Travel Training (OTT), growing fast, she “has had less time to focus on New Frontiers and the time has come to hand over the reins”.
“The reality is I have been absorbed for the last few years on OTT, which has experienced phenomenal growth and success. TMS Talent was looking for a London operation and I thought the match was perfect. As travel recruitment is increasingly international, a global branch network will be more and more relevant,” she said.
Location Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver at West Georgia Street, the hotel is hard to miss, not only because it’s the second tallest building in Vancouver (188m, 69-storey high) but because of its twisting shape, quite a statement made by Canadian architect Arthur Erickson. The link to Trump also draws attention as there are always passers-by who can’t resist a photo of themselves with the name Trump behind them.
Suite at the hotel
Room I expected a Trump hotel to be somewhat over the top. In fact, the lobby is small and simple. The hotel has well-trained young front office staff like Sarah, who light up my arrival with their youthful vigour, friendliness and efficiency.
My corner suite 1906 silences my prejudice about a Trump hotel being possibly outlandish. Perhaps it’s the L-shape layout or the warm colours and sleek design, it certainly feels more like the residential unit of someone with very good taste than a standard hotel room. Floor-to-ceiling windows afford views of the city’s gleaming buildings and a bit of the harbour. I love the wide and long balcony, the free-standing V+A bathtub, the Nublado Italian heated marble bathrooms. Quality never fails to shine through, I’m reminded. Then there’s modern comfort – towel warming racks, Crestron touchpad controls for thermostats, lights, shades and blinds, although I wish the work table is a little bigger.
Facilities The hotel’s Asian ownership brings to Vancouver the city’s only fine-dining Chinese restaurant, the award-winning Mott 32 which originates in Hong Kong. The place is packed for dinner, and I’m astonished by the details employed by renowned Hong Kong interior designer Joyce Wang to mesh New York industrial style with Chinese imperial elements. The result is a contemporary East-meets-West fusion, which to me is in character for a destination such as Vancouver. The food, said to be based on traditional recipes passed down from generations, is simply delicious. My favourite is the crab leg pumpkin.
Lobby
Another F&B concept at the hotel is Drai’s, one of North America’s largest nightlife brands. It is Vancouver’s only poolside lounge and, by night, the indoor pool transforms into a dance floor and there are two bars, an outdoor hot-tub and lounge.
Other facilities worth noting are a Trump Champagne Lounge Bar, The Spa by Ivanka Trump and 1,394m2 of meeting and event space, all of which are well-designed.
Service The hotel employs people of many nationalities and picks youthful ones who seem to love interacting with guests. I’m impressed, for example, by a Chinese staff who happens to be cleaning the elevator, chats with me and recommends that I eat at Mott 32, which she says is very good. That’s a great elevator pitch by a staff that’s not from F&B!
Verdict Neither twisted nor presidential, in fact, this Trump hotel is insanely chic and homely.
Zamora was played in the Premier League with clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Fulham
From October 2 to 5, a Kempinski-managed resort on Beijing’s Yanqi island will host football camps run by Premier League striker Bobby Zamora and offer stay packages for the families of young participants.
Kids aged five to 18 years may apply for a place in the camps, which comprises four sessions led by Zamora and two professional UK coaches. The camps can also be packaged with a three-day villa stay for the whole family.
Zamora played in the Premier League with clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Fulham
The camp was conceived by Brice Pean, general manager of Yanqi Island, managed by Kempinski, who explained: “Most VIP personal appearances are short, media focussed affairs, but what we’re aiming to do is to offer the players and parents the opportunity to genuinely interact and connect with Bobby.”
Thai mourners waiting outside the Royal Palace to pay tribute in August
The cremation ceremony for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, taking place in Bangkok from October 25 to 29, is expected to see business closures and traffic disruption in central Bangkok.
DMC Destination Asia Thailand, for example, notified partners that it will not operate its Royal Palace and City and Temple tours over the period. It added that traffic disruption is expected as it was likely that roads would be closed and crowded with people during the ceremony.
Thai mourners waiting outside the Royal Palace to pay tribute in August
Bob Daniel, manager – product development, individual and group tours at the New South Wales-based Guidepost, said: “We are wary of October 26, as we expect many businesses in Bangkok especially to be closed. We will (try to) avoid Bangkok on this day.”
The agency will be relying on partners in Bangkok to advise on any disruption that may warrant itinerary adjustments, Daniel added.
However, Malinee Nitikaset Sunthorn, director, the Americas division, Tourism Authority of Thailand, stressed: “Thailand will be open to all tourists during the five-day period. There is misconception… that it is compulsory for foreign tourists to wear black during the period. We, Thais, will be wearing black to mourn (but) we don’t think tourist arrivals will be affected.”
Buyers interviewed at last week’s PATA Travel Mart 2017 were also doubtful that travellers will be deterred from visiting, while being mindful about conveying the solemnity of the occasion to clients.
Manila-based Shroff Travel managing director, Arjun P Shroff, said: “We have a small incentive group combining Bangkok and Chiang Mai during this period. We will inform them about the late King’s cremation ceremony and advise them to dress respectfully. Our ground operator partner in Bangkok will know which roads will be closed and how to get to places using alternative roads.”
John Ching, COO of Singapore-based Albatross World, added that the ceremony may even bring tourists with special interests and Thai expatriates living in Singapore to Bangkok.
Alliance initiated by the China Tourism Association
China has initiated the formation of a new international tourism organisation which it says will complement the UNWTO in driving global tourism exchange and cooperation at the governmental and non-governmental levels.
The new grouping, World Tourism Alliance (WTA), is the first China-initiated, global, comprehensive, non-governmental, not-for-profit international tourism organisation, a statement on the website of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) said.
Alliance initiated by the China Tourism Association
It was kicked off on September 11, with CNTA chairman Li Jinzao, who is director of the organising committee for the establishment of the WTA, attending and addressing the first general assembly.
According to the statement, there are 89 members in its first general assembly, from the US, France, Germany, Australia, South Africa, Japan and Brazil. Among them are NTOs, tourism companies, think-tanks, international organisations, retired tourism officials and noted scholars.
Li said: “Amid the complex international political and economic landscape, WTA rises in response to the soaring global tourism development and expectations of countries and the global tourism community.
“Believing that tourism makes the world a better place, the alliance is aimed to promote development, poverty reduction and peace through tourism by extending consensus, sharing experience and deepening cooperation in driving the sustainable, inclusive development of the global tourism industry.”
The goal is for WTA to grow into a platform for developing and issuing international tourism standards, facilitating international tourism investment and cooperation, promoting international tourism products, studying the development of global industry, and offering membership services.
Li also hopes the alliance would adhere to China’s Tourism Plus strategy and drive the integration of tourism and related industries, as well as contribute to its Belt and Road Initiative.
WTA comprises the general assembly, a board of directors and a secretariat to be headquartered in China in an unspecified city. Its working languages are Chinese, English, French, Russian, Arabic and Spanish, the statement said.
Nepal arrivals expected to cross the million mark this year
With Nepal already well established as a destination for trekking and mountaineering expeditions, the NTO is now moving on to promote the destination for culture, soft adventures and corporate incentives to widen its market and achieve less seasonal footfalls.
Nepal Tourism Board’s CEO, Deepak Raj Joshi, said: “Our aim is to promote Nepal as a very high value, unique experiential destination. We also want to grow tourist arrivals in line with the new National Tourism Strategy 2016–2025 which targets 2.52 million tourists annually by 2025.”
Nepal arrivals expected to cross the million mark this year
This year, Deepak expects Nepal to breach its one-million arrival mark for the first time in the country’s history.
From January to June 2017, arrivals rose by 41.5 per cent to 460,237 tourists.
Deepak said: “Tourism in Nepal has completely recovered from the earthquake of 2015. Part of the reason for the strong growth is that tourists who had held back their holiday plans to Nepal after the earthquake were finally back this year.”
In line with its new vision, Nepal Tourism Board is conducting more promotions towards niche interest groups such as bird watchers, photographers and pious Buddhists.
Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is also attracting Buddhists from around the world who begin their religious circuit from Nepal to India.
Marketing efforts will also play up Nepal’s culture, its national parks and local cuisine.
Sanjay Mathema, president at Travel World Experiences, a DMC, believes that Nepal Tourism Board is on the right track.
He said: “Nepal has always been associated with mountaineering because of Mt Everest. It is the right move to change the perception of people and to make known other products that the destination can offer.”
Travel World Experiences has seen growing interest from the silver-hair markets of Japan, the US, the UK and France. These travellers are interested in soft adventures and unique, luxurious experiences in Nepal.
Nanda Kumar, managing director, Hidden Asia Travel & Tours based in Kuala Lumpur, is also seeing keener interest in Nepal among his Malaysian corporate clients.
Kumar said: “We see clients increasingly asking for exotic destinations to incentivise their top achievers, and Nepal falls into this category. A popular activity is a helicopter tour to see Mt Everest up close and the surrounding mountains. This is symbolic, as the client’s top achievers have been to the tallest mountain in the world. The sky is the limit for their future achievements.”
Tom Wolber has succeeded Edie Rodriguez as president and CEO of Crystal Cruises.
Wolber brings to Crystal over three decades of experience in general management, operations, new-build construction and business development as the company undergoes its most significant expansion since its founding in 1988.
“Tom’s proven leadership skills will be invaluable to Crystal as the line takes delivery of four river ships in 2017 and 2018 as well as the first of the ‘Endeavor Class’ expedition yachts in 2019,” said Lim Kok Thay, chairman of Genting Hong Kong and Crystal Cruises. “His leadership will be key to the finalisation of specifications and design for the new ‘Exclusive Class’ oceangoing vessels.”
Wolber was most recently from the Walt Disney Company, where he served in various executive roles for 28 years, 10 of which as senior vice president of operations at Disney Cruise Line.
Wolber was involved in the transformation of Disney Cruise Line from a Port Canaveral based vacation provider to a global cruise line with itineraries covering North America, the Mediterranean and the Baltic. During his time at Disney, Wolber also assisted with the design and launch of new builds including Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
Eapen: agent renumeration in form of cancellation, refund, rerouting, date change penalties, which airlines didn't previously shared with agents
IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) has launched an i-Top (Indian Travel-Agents Own Portal), which it hopes will result in better remunerations for small and medium members at a time of dwindling airline commissions.
i-Top allows agents to book directly with airlines using the latest New Distribution Capability (NDC) from IATA. The GDS connectivity is being offered through Galileo with the association also in talks with Amadeus and Abacus to bring them on the platform.
Eapen: agent renumeration in form of cancellation, refund, rerouting, date change penalties, which airlines didn’t previously shared with agents
Biji Eapen, national president, IAAI said: “i-Top is the first platform in India that will offer travel agents an option to book tickets through IATA’s NDC. Presently, we are negotiating with airlines that are offering zero commission to agents. In fact two leading carriers in India have shown interest to come on board i-Top.”
“Today, in this ‘zero’ commission scenario, i-Top will provide users a guaranteed opportunity to earn substantial commissions for the sale of NDC airline tickets and also significant remunerations for other services like cancellation, refund, rerouting, date change etc, for which airlines used to charge penalties without giving a share to travel agents,” he added.
IAAI has signed an exclusive contract with Verteil Technologies for access and distribution of NDC-listed airline products through its direct connect platform, VDC (Verteil Direct Connect), which is integrated with i-Top.
IAAI is also holding talks with major consolidators like Riya Travels and Akbar Travels to integrate their offerings on the i-Top platform. In the coming days, IAAI members will also be able to book forex, insurance, hotels, tour packages, rail and bus tickets on i-Top.
“This technology solution is going to be a game changer for small and medium travel agents as… they will be able to access rates from different suppliers and book accordingly. Moreover, collectively we will be able to negotiate better commission rates with suppliers who will be interested to promote their products on the platform,” said T.U. Shamsuddin, director – Travel & Tour, Speedwings Travel & Cargo.
“Apart from new avenues of revenue generation, the platform will also offer recognition to small and medium agents who are now booking air tickets with consolidators. But with i-Top we will have an option to book directly with airlines thus bringing recognition to them,” said Rajiv Shroff, director, Kwik Fly Travels.
Boeing’s Kevin McAllister (left) and Peter Bellew at the signing ceremony in Washington DC
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has signed an MoU with Boeing for 16 airplanes, including eight 787-9 Dreamliners converted from an existing order of eight Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, and eight additional purchase rights for the 737 MAX 8s.
Also part of the agreement is Boeing’s Global Fleet Care service to maintain the national carrier’s current and future Boeing airplanes.
Boeing’s Kevin McAllister (left) and Peter Bellew at the signing ceremony in Washington DC
“New widebody aircraft are a key to making Malaysia Airlines a premium airline offering a five-star product again. The extraordinary range of the 787-9 gives an ability to operate to any point in Europe and some US destinations from Kuala Lumpur in future,” commented Peter Bellew, managing director and CEO of Malaysia Airlines.
He added: “The MoU with Boeing on their Global Fleet Care programme will allow the two companies to build a world-class MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) for the 737 MAX, 787 and 737NG based on Malaysia’s existing facilities in Kuala Lumpur.”
MAS currently operates more than 50 Next-Generation 737s and has an additional 25 737 MAXs on order, including 10 for the new 737 MAX 10.
Barr: greater autonomy and independence in individual markets
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) CEO Keith Barr said he is not de-prioritising AMEA with his move to create a new mega region that combines AMEA with Europe based in the UK.
In fact, he wants to bring resources closer to the markets, Barr said in a phone interview from London.
The intention, according to Barr, is not to have a big office in Europe running the business but “to have more resources going into the markets close to the hotels and owners (and) to enable the markets have more autonomy and be a bit more entrepreneurial to drive performance. So we’re moving resources around while maintaining centres of excellence on development, luxury, F&B, operations, in Asia.”
Barr: greater autonomy and independence in individual markets
Barr recounted that was how he ran Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific years ago. “I was a fairly independent business; I wasn’t dependent on Singapore. I had development, sales & marketing, revenue management, I ran my own business, and I had the ability to make decisions on how we partner, how we negotiate a deal, and that’s what I want to see. I want to empower southern Asia, India, and so forth. Sure there are some things we can’t do from a back office perspective such as Finance or HR which are more process-related.”
He’s looking at how best to structure EMEAA on a market basis, he said. Macpherson will have accountability for the overall strategy of EMEAA, and there will be leadership in each of the markets who will be accountable for operating the hotels, opening hotels, growing the business. “We’ll work through who should be in those roles going forward. We have a number of people in place and we have to look at which other leaders we want to have in place going forward,” he explained.
He reiterated: “There’re going to be resources in Singapore, it’s a huge important part of the world for us. There will be resources in other important markets for us and we’ll be more focused on putting resources in markets that have the highest potential, based on pipeline, relationships with have with owners and our competitive positions too.”
Asked why this model is relevant for IHG today, Barr said: “The business has got scale now. Where we didn’t have scale in many of those markets in the years past, it did make sense to do everything out of Singapore. But now that we have scale in those markets, the best way to drive performance for owners is to grow more resources in those markets.”
Each market, he reminds, is fundamentally different. Australia/New Zealand has lots of institutional funds compared with southern Asia, which has lots of high net worth individuals, managed luxury and upscale business, he points out. “So no one size fits all,” he said. “I want to make sure we’ve got the right go-to-market strategy.”
Regions are just constructs that companies make, says Barr. What’s important is “how to ensure we have the right operating model in the markets and not be constrained (by traditional ways), how we look at using technology, new ways of working and leveraging our scale”.
