Genting Cruise Lines and China Southern Airlines have signed an MoU to work together to market the fly-cruise concept in China and develop Guangzhou into a world-class cruise homeport and travel hub.

Both parties will channel resources towards product development, sales, marketing and promotions to create new products, such as the new Air + Cruise + Travel programme targeting MICE, group and individual travellers.

They will also further develop promotional opportunities through loyalty programmes, such as exclusive access to VIP lounges and express check-ins; affiliate rewards programs, express luggage portal service and more.

The agreement will be rolled out in two phases: the first involves cross-promotion to corporate staff and affiliates of both parties, followed by a full-fledged promotion campaign in the market to drive domestic and international travel across all sales channels.

Kent Zhu, president of Genting Cruise Lines, said: “It is our goal to expand the source market of Guangzhou, propelling the advancement and development of the cruising industry in the country.”

This strategic partnership is also supported by the Tourism Administration of Guangzhou Municipality.

Mantra Group is consolidating its multi-branded portfolio – Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree – across Australia, New Zealand, Bali and Hawaii into a new single consumer brand, Mantra Hotels.

All 128 properties, as well as travel agent log-ins, access to BizBeds and Mantra Group’s affiliate programme have transferred over to MantraHotels.com. The group’s newly launched and revitalised loyalty programme, Mantra+, is also located on the new website.

Commenting on the reimagined brand identity, Mantra Group’s COO Tomas Johnsson said: “Our new Mantra Hotels masterbrand reflects our intent to encourage guests to live life outside the square and reaffirms our commitment to facilitating genuine and trusted experiences in a meaningful way.”

As part of the rebranding, the group has launched a new Mantra Hotels logo emphasising the brand’s holistic, organic approach to servicing the needs of travellers, which will be used across all consumer communications channels.

A HK$7 billion (US$897.5 million) enhancement and expansion project has gotten underway at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), scheduled for completion in 2020.

Fred Lam, CEO of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA), said: “The enhancement projects for Terminal 1, together with the three-runway system in 2024, will increase the airport’s handling capacity, as well as bringing a fresh look and feel.

Artist impression of Sky Bridge 

AA has revealed plans to build the 200m-long Sky Bridge connecting Terminal 1 and the North Satellite Concourse, which will reduce passengers’ travelling time and the need for shuttle bus transport. Rising 28m above ground, the footbridge will allow the largest A380 aircraft to taxi underneath.

The area north of Terminal 1, facing Car Park 4, will be expanded to accommodate 40 new check-in counters with self-bag drop facilities as well as two additional baggage reclaim carousels. Seats, shops and catering outlets will also be added to the expanded Arrivals Hall on the landside.

Moreover, an extension building adjacent to the existing Car Park 4 will provide approximately 1,400 additional parking spaces, premises for the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy and HKIA Preschool and staff-related facilities.

Meanwhile, new features in the expanded East Hall of Terminal 1 will include a roof garden and a children play area spanning two levels in the restricted area, in addition to a recreational zone featuring new technologies.

Ongoing enhancements include the refurbishment of the main food halls in the restricted area and the opening of new anchor retail shops. The food hall in the East Hall area will be revamped as well.

New anchor duty-free shops for liquor, cosmetics and accessories will be open for business soon, presenting novel experiential concepts such as interactive zones and a whisky bar.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has revealed plans to launch a new midscale brand priced US$10-15 under Holiday Inn Express hotels. The name, logo and other brand elements will be announced later this year.

The new line of hotels will target the “vastly undeserved segment of the US midscale market” of 14 million guests, worth an estimated US$20 billion in annual industry revenues, according to IHG.

Picture credit: Project Horizon brand book on IHG microsite

IHG expects the brand to be franchise-ready in the fall of 2017 with the first hotels beginning construction in early 2018 and opening in 2019. Initial development will be focused in the US market.

The prototype design features 95-100 keys with a minimum of three stories. Guest rooms will be a mix of 20.4m² king (65 per cent) and 25.5m² queen/queen (35 per cent), featuring a built-in work space, open closet storage with luggage shelf, a shower and smart TV.

Hotels will be designed for new build construction to provide an average lot size of approximately 6,070m².

Pool and porte cochere are optional based upon market dynamics, while other planned features include a cloud-based next generation reservation system, mobile check-in and check-out and IHG Connect enhanced Wi-Fi.

Complimentary breakfast will be available in the form of brand-name items offered at the lobby.

UK tourism appear to be relatively undaunted by recent terror incidents, according to ForwardKeys.

As of June 17, bookings for July and August were 12 per cent ahead of what they were at the same time last year, a more positive position than the European average (7.8 per cent ahead).

Prior to the London Bridge attack on June 3, forward bookings for travel to UK in the same two-month period were 16 per cent ahead year-on-year.

There was no significant wave of cancellations after the incident, ForwardKeys stated, although there has been a slow-down in new bookings.

ForwardKeys emphasised that the stall in bookings could also have been influenced by the June 5 holiday in most major European countries, when fewer people book flights (the holiday fell a week earlier in 2016); and the dramatic impact of the Qatar travel blockade which led to mass cancellations by those flying to the UK via Doha.

Following the Westminster attack on March 22, the year-on-year increase in bookings for London slowed from 16.5 per cent (prior to the incident) to 7.3 per cent.

Enthusiasm for the UK seemingly waned further following the Manchester bombing on May 22, as the rate of bookings for London fell 3.5 per cent on last year.

Looking at arrivals from the beginning of June to bookings for the rest of June, ForwardKeys’ latest assessment is that June will still show double-digit growth on last year, 11 per cent ahead.

ForwardKeys stated that London and UK booking figures reflect a near-identical trend.