JAPAN’s indefinite plan to open casinos has come under the spotlight again after a group of politicians from across party boundaries unveiled a bill to legalise gambling.

The bill calls for the ban on casinos to be lifted and to support local authorities who wish to develop integrated resorts.

Tokyo Bay

The government has stated in the past that such resorts can further boost the nation’s economic growth and provide another reason for international tourists to visit Japan.

There had been hopes that the first integrated resorts could open by the start of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games when the idea was first proposed in 2014, although that is considered an unrealistic target now.

Concerns regarding a possible rise in habitual gambling and the potential involvement of organised crime groups in the lucrative casino industry halted plans back then.

But the government now intends to overcome these concerns and forge ahead.

Said Koichi Haguida, Japan’s deputy chief cabinet secretary: “Integrated resorts are an extremely effective tool when soliciting private investment for constructing exhibition venues and other such facilities.”

Haguida, who is from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, hopes the economic prospects of the project will help push the bill through.

Currently, the Odaiba waterfront district of Tokyo has been rumored as the planned location for an integrated resort, while cities in Kyushu and Osaka have both been mooted as possible sites as well.

Operator Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which in 2014 came up with a mock-up of their planned vision for an integrated resort on Tokyo Bay, is a likely contender for the project.

Credit: Geckos Adventures

FROM 2017, all tours by Geckos Adventures will only be open to those aged 18-29, down from the previous age cap of 39.

According to Geckos, which is part of the Intrepid Group, this makes them the first tour operator catered solely to this age group of young millennials.

“This move is not about big bus tours and party trips in Europe; it’s about transforming Geckos into a brand that provides the next generation of travellers with a responsible small group alternative,” said James Thornton, managing director of Intrepid Group.

“While there are other travel brands with age limits, there is nobody offering a dedicated youth product to travellers who want an authentic experience that gives back to the places they visit and people they meet.”

On Geckos’ website, it is also stated that the change to only allow under 30s is meant to cluster together like-minded individuals of similar age. In doing so, their trips will also change to better cater to those in their 20s.

It states: “Nothing personal against the over 30s (we still love you guys) – we just realised that there wasn’t a product that catered 100 per cent for the youth market: something that offered both fun and cultural experiences, going beyond pub crawls and booze cruises (we’re not into that).

Along with the age change, Geckos will also introduce 20 new trips in 2017. These include treks to Everest Base Camp and tours throughout North America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

THE 27th annual TTG Travel Awards 2016 saw 84 of the best and brightest in the Asia-Pacific travel trade awarded accolades in recognition of their contribution to the industry.

This year, 14 new winners emerged across various categories. Notable inaugural honoraries include Sebastien Bazin, CEO of AccorHotels, Brett Tollman, CEO of The Travel Corporation and Yaana Ventures. They are among TTG’s editorial’s handpicked recipients of the Travel Personality of the Year, Travel Entrepreneur of the Year and Most Sustainable Travel Company title respectively in the Outstanding Achievement Awards category.

In the voting categories, Bangkok Airways (Best Regional Airline); One Farrer Hotel & Spa (Best New City Hotel); Korea MICE Bureau (Best Convention & Exhibition Bureau); Philippine Department of Tourism (Best NTO); and Khiri Travel (Best Travel Agency – Indochina) are some of the first time winners.

Meanwhile, Lufthansa, Emirates and AirAsia reclaimed their respective Best European Airline, Best Middle Eastern Airline and Best Asian Low-Cost Carrier titles.

The 2016 awards also welcomed the return of past recipients Worldhotels (Best Hotel Rep Company), Pacto Indonesia (Best Travel Agency – Indonesia), Dynasty Travel (Best Travel Agency – Singapore), Vietravel (Best Travel Agency – Vietnam), Thailand (Destination of the Year), and Brand USA (Best Travel Marketing Effort).

Six Senses Spa (Best Spa Operator) and Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong (Best City Hotel – Hong Kong) returned to add new titles to their list of accolades, having respectively won Best Spa Group and Best Business Hotel previously.

Veteran organisations such as Cathay Pacific Airways (Best North Asian Airline), Park Hotel Group (Best Regional Hotel Chain), Harbour Plaza Hotels & Resorts (Best Local Hotel Chain), Royal Plaza on Scotts (Best Independent Hotel), Resorts World at Sentosa (Best Integrated Resort) and Singapore (Best BT-MICE City) have also successfully defended their titles with consecutive wins.

There are three new TTG Travel Hall of Fame inductees this year, namely Qatar Airways, Thai Airways International and Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, placing them alongside the elite ranks of the travel trade.

The TTG Travel of Fame represents the highest honour bestowed only on exceptional organisations that have achieved the feat of staying the best in their class for 10 consecutive years.

The 27th Annual TTG Travel Awards 2016 Ceremony and Gala Dinner was held in Centara Grand at CentralWorld, Bangkok. The occasion coincides with the doublebill IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific tradeshows every year.

David Kellet (left), vice president, interim head of development and investment analysis, Europe, IHG; with David Etmenan, CEO and owner of Novum Group

NOVUM Hotel Group and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) have agreed to jointly develop and operate 20 new properties in Europe.

Markets such as Germany, Austria and Netherlands have been earmarked in an agreement that also sees the first time the two companies work together.

The deal will have Hamburg-based Novum franchise those properties developed in partnership with IHG, which views branded growth as the best strategy to expand in Europe.

David Etmenan, CEO and owner of Novum, said: “Franchise partnerships are of particular importance to our international expansion and we see IHG and its winning portfolio of brands as the optimal way to gain ground and advance our European expansion strategy.”

IHG currently operates more than 650 hotels in Europe while Novum has 99 properties in Germany.