Oakwood Asia Pacific has inked a management agreement with developers OUE Limited for a new property set to open in Singapore in mid-2017.

Oakwood Premier OUE Singapore will be located in the heart of Singapore’s CBD, offering 268 serviced residences ranging from studio apartments to one- and two bedroom apartments

They will provide a range of luxury facilities and services such as private dining, a swimming pool, fitness centre, daily housekeeping as well as concierge.

This marks the second property Oakwood will be operating in Singapore, following the announcement of the upcoming Oakwood Studios Singapore last week.

Commenting on this, Dean Schreiber, managing director of Oakwood Asia Pacific, said: “Our accelerated pace of development saw us adding 26 per cent to the existing portfolio of Oakwood in 2016 alone, and we expect to continue on this blistering pace over the next few years.”

While acknowledging the highly saturated hotel landscape in Singapore, Schreiber said further expansion in Singapore is on the cards.

“We still see a strong market in Singapore that drives business and there’s always somebody that is coming into Singapore and now that we have our first and second properties, we can already see more (on the way),” he said.

When asked about the challenges in operating serviced residences, he said: “With a serviced residences licence, you can’t maximise the occupancy as guests need to occupy for a minimum of seven days, which is a challenge if we have those who want to stay for five days for example.

“If there is a way to allow us to fill in the gaps between occupancies like allowing part of our inventory for shorter stays, I believe it will help us.”

Oakwood Premier OUE Singapore will be part of the OUE Downtown, an integrated mixed-use development set to debut next year.

Arrivals at Malé International Airport

THE Maldives has adjusted downwards its arrivals target of 1.5 million to 1.4 million this year, matching last year’s goal, with tourism minister Moosa Zameer attributing the lowered expectations to political unrests.

The country, which largely depends on tourism revenue, has been rocked by opposition protests over the past several months

Deputy tourism minister Hussain Lirar told TTG Asia in late August that Brexit and the deteriorating Chinese economy has been a drag on tourism as well.

The combined setback has put the brakes on the major Visit Maldives Year campaign promotions and publicity.

Total arrivals in January-July showed marginal 2.3 per cent growth compared to the same period in 2015 to 730,353 visitors. Meanwhile, visitors from China, the country’s largest source market, has fallen 11.6 per cent to 194,220.

AIRLINE alliance SkyTeam is now offering a self-service online crediting tool that allows its frequent flyer programme members to retroactively claim miles from one week after the date of travel.

Loyalty programme members of any of SkyTeam’s airlines can request, and get validated in real-time, for miles accrued but that didn’t register because they have forgotten to input their frequent flyer number when booking the flight.

“We are offering a fast, simple and seamless way to claim missing miles across the alliance for our more than 200 million frequent flyers,” said Michael Schutzbank, SkyTeam’s director for customer loyalty.

“Uncredited flights can make a difference when it comes to a customer’s status level or being able to claim an award ticket, but this quick and easy solution ensures our frequent flyers benefit from every mile flown.”

Most of SkyTeam’s 20 members have already implemented the system and remaining airlines will have it activated in the coming months.

BEST Western Hotels & Resorts’ newest brand, GLō, will make its Asia debut in Na Jomtien, Thailand in 2019.

GLō Na Jomtien will be located a few minutes’ drive from Pattaya, near attractions such as Cartoon Network Amazone Waterpark, Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Pattaya Floating Market, Mimosa Pattaya and Buddha Mountain.

On his vision for the new brand in Asia, Olivier Berrivin, Best Western’s managing director of international operations – Asia, said: “Along with its sister brand Vīb, GLō represents a new era for Best Western Hotels & Resorts in Asia.

“Modern, stylish and packed with state-of-the-art technology, GLō hotels will become a favourite among the millennial market. And with their bright, LED-lit facades, they are sure to become well-known fixtures within their destinations.”

Introduced in 2015, GLō is the hotel chain’s newest brand featuring a midscale line of properties distinct for their striking LED-lit exterior.

Guestrooms at the hotel boast free Wi-Fi and numerous international power outlets. In addition, the hotel lobby will be designed for flexibility, giving guests the options to work, dine or socialise. All GLō hotels will have a fitness centre.