Eileen Khew has been appointed director of sales and marketing for Marina Mandarin Singapore.
Khew joins Marina Mandarin Singapore following four years as area director of sales and marketing at Far East Hospitality, where she led strategic sales, marketing and revenue generation efforts for the organisation’s three key hotels in Singapore – Orchard Parade Hotel, The Elizabeth Singapore and The Quincy Hotel.
She is an industry veteran with over 25 years in the hospitality sector.
Best Western Hotels & Resorts has promoted Ron Pohl from senior vice president of brand management to senior vice president and COO.
Joining the company since early 2007, Pohl serves on the company’s executive committee and leads the brand’s operations and development efforts for North America and Asia.
His responsibilities include overseeing key departments within the hotel company, and he was instrumental in repositioning the three core brands, Best Western, Best Western Plus and Best Western Premier, as well as launching the new Vīb, Glō, BW Premier Collection brands and the SureStay Hotel Group.
Coral World Park
Viacom International Media Networks has revealed plans to partner with Coral World Park Undersea Resorts to build its first undersea attraction in Coron, a municipality in the western Philippine province of Palawan.
The brand’s first themed resort in South-east Asia, the 100ha Nickelodeon Resort and Attraction is expected to open in 2020 with 70ha for accommodation and 30ha for the themed attraction.
The destination will showcase themes centred on Nickelodeon’s iconic characters including SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora the Explorer. It will also feature underwater restaurants and lounges located six metres below sea level with views of the ocean.
The Nickelodeon complex will be part of Coral World Park (CWP), a 400ha undersea-themed development spread across a cluster of 16 islands, which are five to 20 minutes apart by speedboat.
CWP will open in phrases starting from 2018, and developers say visitors can expect “a multi-island experience” that includes island hopping, lagoons, hot springs, an animal reserve, shipwreck diving and the largest coral reef conservation programme in Asia.
This announcement marks Nickelodeon’s expansion into Asia, following last year’s opening of Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon, the first Nickelodeon theme park in Asia at Sunway Lagoon, Malaysia.
SuperStar Virgo
Star Cruises has announced the triple homeport deployment of its flagship SuperStar Virgo in Hong Kong, Manila and Kaohsiung with the launch of the Golden Triangle Journey package.
From March 17 to May 31, 2017, the 935-cabin Superstar Virgo will offer a 6D/5N loop cruise that calls upon these three Asian cities. It will mark the first time a Star Cruises ship is homeporting in Manila.
Welcoming the deployment, Benito Bengzon, Jr, undersecretary for the Philippine Department of Tourism, said: “We are confident that the inclusion of the Philippines in the itinerary of SuperStar Virgo will help strengthen the country’s position as a competitive cruise destination in the region.”
Packages start from US$490 per person, based on a twin share for an Inside Stateroom.
Singapore’s prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysia’s prime minister Najib Razak at the opening of the Agrobazaar Malaysia outlet at Sultan Gate
Inbound agents want the Perak Plate Programme to be sustained and evolved into a lasting platform to better promote the north-western state in Peninsular Malaysia.
The Perak Plate Programme was launched last month by the Perak state government at the Agrobazaar Malaysia in Sultan Gate, Singapore, as a prelude to the Visit Perak Year 2017 campaign. Currently underway until January 15, this initiative introduces Perak’s local delicacies and popular dishes to consumers in Singapore.
While agents believe that Perak cuisine is strong drawcard for this event, the scope of attractions need to expand beyond food to lure Singaporeans to visit the state itself.
“You’ve got to give them reasons to visit Perak. Food alone will not see them travelling there,” said Raaj Navaratnaa, general manager, New Asia Holiday Tours & Travel, commenting on the myriad holiday destinations that Singaporeans can choose from with a strong currency.
“The state government and Perak Tourism should involve the local agents to showcase the state’s ecotourism products, historical sites and cultural attractions,” she added.
Kingston Khoo, senior product development/contracting manager at Discovery Overland Holidays, suggested: “There could be variations to this programme to introduce Singaporeans to local seasonal fruits or even offer orchard stays during the durian fruiting season. Homestays will appeal to the youth segment from Singapore and offer them a taste of village life.”
Travel operators have given a guarded welcome to Japan’s legalisation of casinos as part of the government’s raft of new measures to promote tourism, warning that gambling alone is unlikely to prove a strong drawcard for visitors to a country hitherto known for its cultural offerings.
Since the law came into effect on December 26, the Japanese government has set up a panel to draw up additional legislation to regulate the operations of casinos by end-2017, with the hopes that the first integrated resorts will be operational before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Tokyo’s Odaiba waterfront has been earmarked as a potential site for the capital’s first casino, while similar proposals have also been put forth in Okinawa and Osaka.
Domestic travel giant HIS, which has also indicated its intention to set up an integrated resort, is considering utilising land at its Dutch-themed Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Nagasaki Prefecture.
Pankaj Pradhan, managing director of Beauty of Japan, sees casinos as a way to grow tourism revenue and jobs. “Most likely, this will also increase the flow of Chinese tourists and alter the image of Japan to a more versatile country that caters to a wide range of visitors,” he added.
But he cautioned that casinos could also take Japan’s image “in the wrong direction”, away from the unique culture, heritage and landscapes that the country is renowned for.
Carl Kay, president of Tokyo Way, pointed out that the majority of his clients, most of whom hail from North America and Europe, visit Japan “for its culture” and are unlikely to select Japan solely because of its legalised gambling opportunities. Gambling visitors are more likely to choose Las Vegas or Macau over Japan, he added.
NATAS Travel Fair
Almost 20 travel agencies will return to the NATAS Travel Fair next month, in a turnabout of a two-year dispute that saw the splintered faction launching a rival fair and new outbound travel association.
The NATAS fair, in its 50th edition this year, will see the comeback of major players like Dynasty Travel, CTC Travel and Hong Thai Travel.
Steven Ler, deputy president of NATAS, commented: “NATAS offers participating exhibitors the most favourable terms and value proposition to make participation a commercially viable business decision.”
In 2014, key outbound agencies left NATAS fair to begin Travel Revolution Fair in 2015, citing issues such as lack of transparency, booth rentals and entrance fees.
Dynasty Travel Singapore’s marketing communications director Alicia Seah said with these issues now ironed out, the agency has decided to return to the NATAS fair.
Meanwhile, big names such as Chan Brothers Travel, SA Tours and Apple Holidays will continue to feature in Travel Revolution, organised by Singapore Outbound Travel Agents Association (SOTAA).
Jane Chang, head of marketing communications at Chan Brothers Travel, cited a central venue, better value and SOTAA’s proven track record in managing the past four fairs, as factors for the agency to continue their participation at Travel Revolution.
The newer fair, however, is now expecting a more modest turnout of 11 exhibitors, about half the original number, and it will be downsized from three to two halls, according to SOTAA president Kay Swee Pin.
“We are still very confident of our fairs because we still have very strong players with us who are a good representation,” said Kay, who is also SA Tours’ managing director.
Nevertheless, Kay revealed that this move took SOTAA by surprise as she was under the impression that NATAS was still considering their proposal to hold a joint fair with them.
Both associations had discussed combining the fairs last September, but that did not materialise due to differing expectations concerning venue and appointed credit card sponsor.
Urging a resolution, Dynasty’s Seah said: “It is essential for the travel industry to come together as a united community and consumers will benefit as there is only one event to visit.
“It will also mean lower operating costs for the stakeholders especially the tourism boards as they need not spend extra monies to stage two different fairs.”
The NATAS fair will be held from February 17 to 19 at Singapore Expo Hall 4, and the Travel Revolution fair from February 24 to 26 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre. Admission to both fairs are free.
Come mid-January, cruise industry veteran Ken Muskat will assume the role of CEO at SkySea, a new cruise line focused on the emerging Chinese cruise market.
Muscat has extensive background in sales and marketing from MSC Cruises, where he spearheaded the company’s expansion in the US market. Prior to that, he was with Royal Caribbean Cruises and was also the former chairman of Cruise Line International Association’s Trade Relations Committee.
A joint venture between Ctrip.com and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, SkySea offers regular itineraries from Shanghai on its first vessel, Golden Era.
Michael Murphy has been appointed general manager at Evason Ana Mandara in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
No stranger to Six Senses, Murphy was the pre-opening general manager at Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain in China from July 2104 to October 2015. Following that, he was general manager of Vinpearl Luxury Nha Trang in Vietnam.
A Canadian national, he brings over 30 years of experience across international and independent hotels and groups with roles that include key operational positions with Sheraton in Shanghai and Tianjin, Hilton in Hong Kong and Tokyo, Lyford Cay Club in Nassau, Bahamas, Fuchun Resort Hangzhou, Cape Sol Phuket and COO at the Landison Tourism Group Hangzhou.
Princess Cruises will debut the Ocean Medallion Class – comprising a wearable technology device (Ocean Medallion) paired with digital concierge services (Ocean Compass) – that is touted to enhance guest experience with new levels of personalisation.
Set to debut on Regal Princess from November 13, 2017, followed by Royal Princess and Caribbean Princess in early 2018, the Ocean Medallion can be worn as a pendant, on a wristband, in a clip or simply placed in a pocket.
The device is said to expedite embarkation since required information is added to the guest profile at home prior to sailing. On board the ship, it also replaces the key card to unlock stateroom door and allows guests to indicate their preferences pre-boarding so their onboard experience can be personalised.
Meanwhile, the Ocean Compass digital concierge is accessible to all guests through interactive displays throughout the ship, such as on stateroom TVs or via guests’ own mobile devices.
With the technology, guests can find their way to venues around the ship; learn the whereabouts of their family; make reservations at the Lotus Spa, specialty dining restaurant and shore excursions; arrange celebrations; view photographs; learn about the destinations they will visit and activities at each port of call and more.
Princess Cruises will be the first Carnival Corporation brand to feature Ocean Medallion, powered by an interactive technology platform within the One Cruise Experience Access Network.
