Three months after its launch, GuestReady, an operator for private homes, has gotten a new round of funding amounting US$750,000 from investors Senn & Partner Holding, former Airbnb director Georg Bauser and Swiss Founders Fund (SFF), who acted as the lead investor.

“The majority of the funds will be allocated to filling vacant positions in our primary markets, as well as bringing our tech platform to the next level,” said Alexander Limpert, co-founder and CEO of London-based GuestReady.

The startup, which began operations in August, currently has offices in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris, Kuala Lumpur and Amsterdam, and has plans to roll into more markets soon.

GuestReady provides property management services for investors, homeowners and sharing economy accommodation hosts. Services include listing creation, guest communication, housekeeping, laundry, key management and yield optimisation, among others.

Homeowners and hosts can choose to engage GuestReady for a full-service Airbnb management package or pick from standalone services individually.

Qifeng Ning of Wanda will be part of the delegation

A delegation of travel industry leaders from China is set to make their way to Sri Lanka later this month as the South Asian nation seeks interest from foreign investors to build up its tourism attractions and infrastructure.

Facilitated by the Centre of Asia Hotel Forum, the delegation comprises the likes of Haibo Bai, chairman and president of HNA Hospitality Group; Yun Cai, secretary-general of China Real Estate Association Commercial & Tourism Estate Committee; Qifeng Ning, senior vice president of Wanda Commercial Properties; and many others.

During their seven-day trip, they will be introduced to Sri Lanka’s themed tourism development zones as well as attend the inaugural Asia Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (AHTIC), taking place from November 27-29 at the Hilton Colombo, and organised by Bench Events and the Sri Lanka Tourism Club.

At AHTIC, the Chinese delegates will also meet with the Sri Lankan president, prime minister and minister of tourism for further discussions.

Sri Lanka Tourism Club chairman Prabath Ukwatte said: “We will be working with government ministries to deliver themed international tourism and family entertainment zones, and to open them up for foreign investment. The conference will be an ideal opportunity to explain what we will be doing and to attract international finance.”

Besides the Chinese delegation, AHTIC will also be hosting international leaders of the hospitality industry to Sri Lanka to take part in three days of high-level discussions, forums, speeches and networking sessions.

A study conducted by medical and security specialists International SOS and Control Risks indicated that 72 per cent of over 1,000 corporate travel decision-makers perceive travel risk to have increased this year.

Despite the rise in perceived risk in travel, 44 per cent reported an increase in business travel activity in 2016 and more than 50 per cent expect further increase in 2017.

“Events of 2016 have resulted in a sense of increasing challenges in travel to places once thought secure. While risks are changing, organisations must ensure their actions to mitigate those changes are proportionate, and based on reality and not perception,” said Rob Walker, security specialist at International SOS and Control Risks.

“Issues like healthcare provision and road safety, which account for over 70 per cent of the assistance services we have provided in the past year, can often be obscured by more prominent, but less likely issues. With many organisations increasing their business travel activity, it is essential for decision-makers to be able to communicate that objective advice to their people, including in an actual crisis.”

The report further revealed that 80 per cent of organisations surveyed have modified their travel itineraries in the past year due to health and security concerns.

Meanwhile, 48 per cent of respondents state that their investment in travel risk mitigation has increased over the past year, and 47 per cent believe this will increase further in the coming year.

“Travellers are much less likely to encounter unexpected or avoidable problems if they plan ahead. Using objective advice to prepare travellers, and by staying up to date on any changes and how they might affect plans, will further reduce, both the likelihood of people experiencing problems, and the extent of the impact,” added Walker.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is offering those in the travel trade a special industry rate for bookings at Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road.

From now till December 15, bookings and stays by travel professionals start from about 3,000 baht (US$84) per night for its entry level superior rooms, compared to more than the 3,500 baht usually charged for rooms of the same category.

Prices are inclusive of breakfast and a staff ID is required upon check-in for verification.

Ascott has achieved record-breaking growth this year by securing more than 10,000 apartment units in 51 properties, bringing the company’s portfolio to more than 52,000 units globally.

Said Lee Chee Koon, Ascott’s CEO: “Of these new units, 90 per cent are located in gateway cities across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.”

Half of the new inventory are contracts in South-east Asia. And according to an Ascott statement, Vietnam is one of its best performing countries and largest market in South-east Asia with the most number of properties. The company seeks to achieve 7,000 units there by 2020.

“This year, Ascott has also opened 20 properties with more than 3,700 units, our fastest pace ever. As more of the newly signed properties come into operation, we can expect a further boost to our management fee income,” Lee added.

Ascott’s latest additions are 10 new management contracts in Hanoi, Halong City, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Manila and Cebu.

The travel trade in Cebu are hoping that the US will lift its travel advisory levied against the region’s southern territories despite businesses being unaffected.

The US issued the warning two weeks ago due to risk of kidnappings in Dalaguete, Santander and at the popular tourist haunt of Sumilon Island.

But as high season approaches and with no incidents involving tourists since then, local businesses hope the advisory can be removed so that things can go back to normal.

Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort had to issue an official statement to assure the public that “the island remains safe from any threat”. The resort said that apart from its own security detail, the Philippine Coast Guard also maintains a detachment on the island.

The Philippine National Police has added personnel in tourist areas as well, while working with their counterparts in the armed forces, navy and airforce to further intensify security protocols.

Operators such as Southwind Travel and Tours have not received booking cancellations on pre-booked tours due to the US travel advisory, but needed to take extra precautionary measures, according to its general manager Syrah Queblatin.

Two days after the advisory was made, a group of 10 bikers from Switzerland decided to go ahead with their sojourn to Siquijor, including spending two nights in Oslob and Badian, both located in southern Cebu.

Queblatin said she had to communicate with the hotel and local security forces in southern Cebu to ensure their safety, but was worth doing so to make sure nothing untoward happens.

A group of five South Koreans also went on a day tour to Badian with Southwind and returned safe and sound.

Rajah Tours sales officer Carla Molina reported that there were no tour cancellations for them as well, and that the demand for destinations like Oslob and Badian were not affected. She added that two US clients have just spent a day in Badian fully aware of the travel advisory.