MITA Travel Fair 2016. Credit: MITA Travel Fair Facebook

The Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA) is expanding the scale of its second edition of the MITA Travel Fair next week to provide a B2B networking component as well as sale of domestic and South-east Asian travel packages.

This is a change from its inaugural edition in January last year, which was a purely domestic consumer fair.

MITA Travel Fair 2017’s organising chairman, Adam Kamal, said MITA would be hosting 100 buyers from South-east Asia, China, the Middle East and Europe for a business networking session with Malaysian inbound players on February 24. Hosted buyers include Panorama Tours Indonesia, Vietwings from Vietnam, Mekong Discovery from Cambodia, and Gandawun Shwe Bagan Travel from Myanmar.

He feels that “this is the best platform for the buyers to see all that Malaysia has to offer”.

There will be 600 booths, almost four times that of the inaugural fair. Also a first this year is the participation of foreign National Tourist Offices from Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. There will also be 11 state tourism boards from Malaysia present as exhibitors.

Adam elaborated: “This year, we are promoting both domestic and South-east Asian tour packages – the latter in conjunction with the 50^th Anniversary of ASEAN. AirAsia will also be offering exclusive fares at the fair through their appointed sales agents to domestic and South-east Asian destinations.”

Several new programmes will debut at MITA Travel Fair 2017, including a Malaysian food festival, which will showcase delicacies from various states; an arts and crafts section; and a one-day seminar on agro tourism.

An inbound tour operator from Terengganu, Ping Anchorage Travel & Tours CEO, Alex Lee, said his company would be at the fair to sell 101 tour packages solely on Terengganu. He hopes to double last year’s sales of more than 100 packages during the three-day event.

The MITA Travel Fair will be held from February 24-26 at the Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre Kuala Lumpur.

Home-sharing platforms like Airbnb face an uncertain future as the Singapore government passed a legislation last week enforcing a pre-existing guideline by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) that prohibits short-term rentals under six months.

Under URA’s guidelines, home-owners found in violation of the rules face a fine of up to S$200,000 (US$141,400) or jail time for up to a year.

Speaking to parliament, minister for national development, Lawrence Wong, said: “Private residential properties should not be used for other purposes without planning approval, as there is a need to safeguard the living environment of residents in the neighbourhood.”

Saravana Chandrasekar, director of sales at Josco Gsa Travel, feels that this move has been long overdue.

Chandrasekar said: “We recently saw an increase in the number of passengers using these short-term home rentals (and) we have lost revenue from hotel bookings. Operationally, we also had difficulties arranging transfers for guests who were staying in (residential) places in Singapore. We are slightly relieved (about) this act and hopefully sales of hotels and travel agents will increase.”

Millennium Tours and Travel’s director Balaji Narayanan, commented that although the ban of short-term rentals gives them an increased avenue for selling accommodations, players like Airbnb are just one of the many increasing competition they face online.

“Today, (short-term rentals) come on the same platform such as Booking.com and Agoda.com, where they are able to offer competitive rates,” said Narayanan.

However, not all is lost for owners of private residences who still want to home-share.

Wong said: “We do see a role for home-sharing platforms to continue operating in Singapore, so long as they are properly regulated and there is a level playing field between them and similar entities that provide short-term rentals like hotels and service apartments.”

He added that URA is looking into creating a new category of private residences that could host short-term rentals.

OSIM Sundown Marathon 2015. Credit: OSIM Sundown Marathon

Singapore is sprinting after ‘run-cations”, i.e. vacations planned around running events, as the Lion City witnesses a jump in lifestyle and thematic runs.

According to Sports Singapore (SportSG), the country’s governing body for sports, the number of lifestyle and thematic runs in the city rose from 70 events in 2013, to 125 in 2016.

SportSG and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) work closely with stakeholders such as the Singapore Sports Hub, local sports associations and event organisers to attract both local and foreign participation comprising competitors, family and friends of competitors, officials, volunteers and spectators and business.

Peter Tan, managing director of JustConnect, managing JustRunLah! a leading running and fitness portal in Asia, said run-cations now appeal strongly to an international audience as more runs feature themes, fitness components such as dancing or yoga, and new concepts. The Performance Series, for example, brings runners to various venues across the island.

HiVelocity Events, organiser of Sundown Marathon, also partners STB, travels agents and hotels to “sell Singapore as a travel + run-cation destination” to an international audience, said managing director, Adrian Mok.

“Singapore is growing to be a regional sports hub, especially with the recent proliferation of sports facilities across the nation. We have a scenic CBD area, where most of the big races run pass (and) tourists get to visit our iconic landmarks while running in a race.”

He added the OSIM Sundown Marathon 2015 – Asia’s largest night run – attracted 10,000 ‘run-cation’ fans and anticipates a stronger international presence this year with the debut of a night festival featuring a variety of other activities, such as basketball tournaments and pilates workouts.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has signed a letter of intent with Boeing comprising 39 firm orders plus six options for each aircraft type, which if exercised will enlarge the deal to 51 aircraft.

The proposed order is valued at US$13.8 billion.

Twenty 777-9s are due for delivery from the 2021/22 financial year, and nine 787-10s from the 2020/21 financial year. The order includes flexibility for the SIA Group to substitute the 787-10 orders for other variants of the 787 family.

The General Electric GE9X is the sole engine type for the 777-9s, which are intended primarily for use on longhaul routes. SIA has selected the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 to power the 787-10s, which are to be operated on medium-range routes.

Currently, SIA has more than 50 current-generation 777 aircraft in service. Subsidiaries SilkAir, Scoot and SIA Cargo are also operators of Boeing aircraft, with 737-800s, 787-8/9s and 747-400 Freighters in service, respectively.

This is the SIA Group’s first order for the newest 777 variant that is currently under development, the 777-9. SIA is already the launch customer for the 787-10, which is also currently in development, having placed an initial order in 2013 for 30 aircraft for delivery from the 2018/19 financial year.

In addition to its 30 previously-ordered 787-10s, SIA has outstanding orders with Airbus for five A380-800s and 57 A350-900s. SilkAir has outstanding orders with Boeing for 37 737 MAX 8s, while Scoot has orders with Boeing for eight 787-8/9s and Tigerair has orders with Airbus for 39 A320neos.

Malindo Air’s upcoming services connecting Kuala Lumpur to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Guangzhou, China will alleviate capacity strains during peak periods, said inbound agents.

In the first 10 months of 2016, arrivals from China registered a 27 per cent increase to 1.75 million while those from Saudi Arabia rose 23.5 per cent to 111,248.

The twice-weekly Jeddah route will be launched on February 21 and will go daily from March 26. Daily services to Guangzhou will begin on March 15.

Ally Bhoonee, executive director at World Avenues, said: “The Jeddah route would assist the inbound market especially during the peak season from June to August.

“The largest number of arrivals from the Middle East to Malaysia is from Saudi Arabia. During the summer holidays, there (tends to be) insufficient seats. The greater availability of seats could create more interest in Malaysia,” he added.

Similarly for the new Guangzhou flights, Mint Leong, managing director at Sunflower Holidays, said: “There is usually a shortage of seats during the Chinese New Year period and school holidays in July and August. The direct flights will help the national agenda, which places emphasis on getting more arrivals from China.”

Leong however wished the schedule is better. Flights depart Guangzhou at 03.10 and arrive Kuala Lumpur at 07.30. For business events, this is “not good”.

“Incentive (travel) recipients will regard their organisation as being thoughtless if they were put on this flight,” she said.

Taj Tashi in Bhutan

While other hotel chains keep launching new brands, Taj is doing the opposite, throwing its Vivanta by Taj and Gateway brands out of the window and concentrating everything under a single brand, Taj Hotels, Palaces, Resorts and Safaris.

CEO and managing director Rakesh Sarna said: “The new brand identity honours the renowned legacy of the Taj in a structure that will create greater brand resonance with our guests and also allow for considerable value creation for all our stakeholders. Taj as a brand truly speaks to the nation’s pride and the redesigned architecture is a tangible step in celebrating our heritage while recognising the need to prepare for the bright future of India’s tomorrow.”

Taj Hotels will include lobbies reminiscent of “cosy living rooms”, concierge service, all-day dining, fitness centres, spas and signature Taj cuisine options.

All Taj Palaces will continue to emphasise a regal history and offer royal-styled experiences including themed suites that can be completely personalised to guest preferences and a dedicated butler service for suites.

The design of Taj Resorts will aim to accentuate the surrounding nature. Resorts will also offer complete personalisation for suites, sustainable food menus and signature Jiva Spas inspired by the ancient healing traditions of India.

Taj Safaris will put sustainability principles at its core, operating with lighter carbon footprint and championing local community engagement. Experiences will include adventure trails, breakfast in the woods and other unique dining experiences guided by a farm-to-fork concept.

The transition of all hotels to the new architecture is expected to completed by December.

From left: Peter Henley; Douglas Martell

A leadership transition is occurring at ONYX Hospitality Group with CEO Peter Henley, chief commercial officer Duncan Webb and chief people officer Anand Rao retiring from the Bangkok-based hotel chain effective end-June.

Henley will be succeeded by current COO Douglas Martell who joined ONYX in mid-2014. Webb, who has been with ONYX for 28 years since its early Amari days, is succeeded by Debrah Pescoe who came onboard ONYX in early 2012 as vice president sales, and Rao by Suganya Wiwitwanit who joined in March last year as senior vice president human resources.

Henley counts succession planning, along with building a strong team and culture, as among his biggest achievements in the nine years with the company. “That we have managed to assemble such a strong team and culture, that we have achieved what I said we would back in 2008. That when three senior members the team retire at the same time, we have three fantastic replacements ready to step up,” he said.

Henley grew ONYX to 42 hotels. A second ‘strategic road map’ called Delivering Success, to be led by Martell, targets at least 99 operating properties by 2024 but, beyond numbers, will focus on further growth, operational excellence and owner, guest and employee satisfaction, Henley said.

When asked if he was retiring completely, he said: “I am glad to say yes although I am sure my new boss (his wife) will have certain duties for me to discharge!”