Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) achieved record high per capita spending at the park and its second highest number of international guests in FY2016, but continues to net a loss for the year.

HKDL reported that it welcomed 6.1 million guests in FY2016, contributing to a total guest count of 64 million since it opened in 2005. Local visitors accounted for 39 per cent of total attendance, while mainland and international visitation made up 36 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.

Hotel occupancy was similar to last year’s at close to 80 per cent.

Meanwhile, the resort generated revenues of HK$4.8 billion (US$618.5 million) with a net loss of HK$171 million, after being impacted by “a slower Hong Kong tourism market and an unfavorable comparison against fiscal 2015, which benefited from an additional week of operations”, according to HKDL.

A year-over-year decline in attendance was also observed both halves of the year, but this eased in 2H2016. HKDL stated that park attendance benefited from the launch of the Star Wars: Tomorrowland Takeover attraction and marketing and sales initiatives.

The resort’s improved performance continued into FY2017, with first quarter financial results above the prior-year period.

In 2Q2017, the resort opened Iron Man Experience, which helped boost Chinese New Year Holiday attendance 13 per cent above the prior-year period – with growth in local, Guangdong and international guests – and occupancy 97 per cent.

The 750-room Disney Explorers Lodge will open on April 30.

The world’s first Pullman, the Pullman Bangkok King Power, has completed its revamp.

All 354 guestrooms, including the 18 new Deluxe With Balcony rooms, have been redesigned. Each comes with complimentary Wi-Fi, USB charging points, a rain shower with bathtub, and New York’s C.O. Bigelow’s bath and skincare products. Guests are also given vouchers at King Power Duty Free.

As well, the revamped lobby now comes with three separate zones – Welcoming, Meeting, and Food & Beverage. Amenities onsite include a spa, pool, five F&B options such as the Cuisine Unplugged restaurant with a menu centred on green and organic ingredients.

New meeting facilities include 20 function rooms, as well as the Eternity Daylight Ballroom that features a customised open kitchen.

Pullman Bangkok King Power is situated between Soi Rang Nam and Sri Ayudhya Road next to King Power Duty Free Downtown Complex. Transfer to or from Suvarnabhumi Airport is about 45 minutes via the nearby Suvarnabhumi Airport Link.

A number of industry members from Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia became victims of a fraudulent travel mart that was supposed to be held in Jakarta today.

A fraud event organiser called Sampoerna Events, managed by Simon Leung, Ernawati and Joshua (who was also known as Rian), promoted the ASEAN Travel Mart (ATM), slated to take place in Jakarta on February 22-23.

Adri Rivai, director of sales and marketing of Royal Tulip Saranam, Bali, who was one of the victims, said: “The proposal sent looked professional and the way they promoted the show was also convincing. The organiser promised there would be around 80 sellers from Indonesia and twice the number of buyers from ASEAN countries.

“My suspicion came when they still had not sent the list of buyers last Friday and by Monday the website could not be accessed any longer and the phones could not be reached,” he shared.

After Adri arrived in Jakarta yesterday for the booth setup, not only did he find out that the venue under renovation, the hotel also did not receive any payment despite receiving bookings from the organiser.

“The hotel told me the participants from Vietnam and Malaysia had to pay on their personal account in the end,” he added.

A similar story was related by Meitta Purwasanti, director of Pelayaran Wisata Maritim, who arrived in Jakarta three days before the show. “We (sellers) met (yesterday) to find solution to the problem,” she said.

The representatives from 18 exhibiting companies met with the board members of Indonesia Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) yesterday and together made a report to the police.

This is the first time such a modus operandi took place. Thirty-four sellers were registered for the show and they suffered a loss of some 400 million rupiah (US$30,769).

GIPI chairman Didien Junaedi expects all event organisers to report their events to the association and approved events will be uploaded on the GIPI website for participants to check.

Vietnam Airlines will begin a thrice-weekly service between Sydney and Hanoi from March 28.

To be operated on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, the flight departs Hanoi every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday at 23.55 and lands in Sydney at 13.15 the next day (12.15 for Sunday departures).

It then returns from Sydney at 15.15 (14.15 on Monday departures) and arrives in Hanoi at 20.50.

Ticket sales are now open on Vietnam Airlines’ website.

On the heels of Air Canada launching daily Montréal-Shanghai services on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft last week, Tourisme Montréal and Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration (SMTA) this week signed an MoU to boost tourism performance.

The tourism organisations anticipate a significant increase in tourist traffic between Shanghai and Montréal thanks to the new connection, Air Canada’s first to Asia from the French-speaking municipality.

With Tourisme Montréal projecting 110,000 Chinese arrivals in 2017, a 30 per cent increase over the previous year, Yves Lalumière, president and CEO of Tourisme Montréal, said: “We’re encouraging local business operators and hotel owners to prepare for the influx of visitors from this market.”

The MoU was signed during a tourism mission to China led by tourism minister, and will see Tourisme Montréal and SMTA discussing strategies to increase reciprocal tourist numbers, promote urban tourism and develop the business travel market by attracting international events and conferences.

The two organisations will also share their respective knowledge on topics such as performance indicators, statistics, strategies and technology tools to improve their respective operating procedures.

The Air Canada service departs Montreal at 13.30 daily and arrives in Shanghai at 16.40 the following day. It returns from Shanghai at 18.15 and lands in Montreal at 18.35. There will be slight differences in the flight schedule from March 12 onwards.

Hard Rock Hotels will open its first hotel in China, the Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen, in summer this year.

Located in Guangdong’s Mission Hills Centreville, the hotel’s 258 rooms – spanning categories such as Studio Suites, Rock Royalty Studio Suites and Rock Star Suite – will boast a mix of music-inspired décor and modern Chinese elements. As well, the hotel offers in-room Fender guitars and DJ equipment via its music amenity programme.

In line with its lineage, guests at the Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen will be able to peruse memorabilia from legendary music icons on display. Facilities onsite include a fitness centre, kids’ club, four F&B options, as well as 1,000m² of meeting facilities.

Emirates has rolled out advanced seat selection and payment based on its branded fares on the Travelport platform.

Previously offered only on the Emirates website, the paid seat selection applies to certain economy fares and is now available to over 68,000 Travelport-connected travel agencies and TMCs in over 180 countries.