SINGAPORE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a notice for all Singaporeans travelling to or residing in Belgium, advising them to “take all necessary precautions for their personal safety.”

The official statement, released earlier this week, comes as Belgium’s National Terrorism Threat Level remains at a high three out of four, which indicates a significant and probable threat in the country.

Police operations targeting terrorist operations are ongoing in the European nation.

“Singaporeans should remain vigilant and where possible, avoid crowded places, public gatherings, and areas where there are ongoing police operations. They should also purchase comprehensive travel insurance and be familiar with the terms and coverage,” the statement added.

The Belgian capital was attacked by terrorists earlier in March this year, and authorities have been on high alert ever since. Neighbouring France was also hit just last week, in the city of Nice, during Bastille Day, which resulted in 84 dead.

Belgium’s prime minister Charles Michel said they will be on guard during the country’s national day celebrations tomorrow, July 21.

Singaporeans in Belgium are strongly encouraged to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Those in need of urgent consular assistance may contact the Singapore Embassy in Brussels or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office.

CHEF Esben Holmboe Bang from Oslo’s Maaemo – the first restaurant in Norway to garner three Michelin stars – will be the guest chef for Resorts World Sentosa’s (RWS) third instalment of the Art at Curate dining series.

Gourmands in Singapore can expect creations from Bang such as Emulsion of raw Norwegian oysters from Bømlo, warm sauce made from mussels and dill; Scallop from the coast of Trondheim grilled in the shell over burning embers, winter apples and celeriac; Skate with fermented white asparagus, caviar and ramson. His signature dishes Langoustine “signature”, pickled spruce and rapeseed; and Brown butter ice cream, molasses and roasted hazelnuts will also be featured.

Said Bang: “During my guest stint at Art at Curate, I would like guests to experience a connection with Norway and its history. I am looking forward to bringing a taste of Norway to Singapore.”

Listed in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Chefs in the World in 2013, Bang works with seasonal produce and focuses on retaining the natural flavours, taste and quality of raw ingredients.

His restaurant, Maaemo, first opened its doors in December 2010 and earned two Michelin stars in 2012, a mere 15 months after opening. Earlier this year, it became the first and only restaurant in Norway to receive Michelin’s top rating of three stars.

Bang’s menu will run from September 16-25 at Curate, a restaurant at RWS which boasts an evolving lineup of visiting Michelin chefs from around the globe. Prices range from S$280 (US$207) for a four-course lunch with wine pairing to S$480 for an eight-course dinner with wine and champagne pairing.

Bernold Schroeder, CEO, PPHG

PAN Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has finally planted a flag in the Chinese capital, following years of operations in second- and third-tier cities in China, specifically Suzhou, Tianjin, Xiamen and Ningbo.

Pan Pacific Beijing, the newest hotel to rise in Xicheng District come 1H2017, will feature 223 spacious rooms and suites, comprehensive event venues including a ballroom with a double volume ceiling, an exclusive club lounge offering views that extend to the Forbidden City, recreational facilities and a selection of dining outlets including the brand’s signature Hai Tien Lo Chinese restaurant and Keyaki Japanese restaurant.

In an interview with TTG Asia e-Daily, PPHG’s CEO Bernold Schroeder, said the group has “always wanted to bring the Pan Pacific brand to Beijing”.

Although Beijing is already home to several international hotel brands, Schroeder is confident that the upscale property will succeed in standing out from the crowd.

He said: “While the majority of international hotels have traditionally been located on the eastern part of the city, Pan Pacific Beijing is one of the few located to the west of Tiananmen Square towards the Beijing Financial Street, where government and corporate financial institutions congregate.

“It takes just 10 minutes to walk from our hotel to reach some of the world’s largest banks. Chang’an Avenue, which forms the city’s main east-west axis, links our hotel to Tiananmen Square and puts us within a 2.5km walking radius to Beijing’s historical and cultural monuments, so we’ve really got the best of both worlds.”

Artist impression of Pan Pacific Beijing

He also believes that Pan Pacific Beijing’s F&B offerings will put the hotel in good stead among the competition.

PPHG’s entry into Beijing also signals the company’s intention to expand the Pan Pacific brand into other key first-tier Chinese cities.

Schroeder pointed out that location is key in the group’s search for a suitable destination to dive into.

“Since we’re focused on building a network of hotels in key gateway cities, location is one of the most important considerations. For instance, Pan Pacific London, which opens in 2019, sits in the CBD near Liverpool Street station.

“Should a gem of a location like what Pan Pacific Beijing has were to show up in Shanghai, one of China’s financial centres and an international gateway city in its own right, we will be excited to explore it further,” he said, adding that future openings will be a mix of hotel, serviced suites, and hybrids, the current types of properties Pan Pacific now has in China.

He acknowledges that China’s hotel market is a “challenging” one due to an “oversupply situation”.

“However, PPHG is investing for the long-term and China’s future is very bright. We are seeing a gradual increase in occupancy rates due to urbanisation, which generates a constant demand for hotels and serviced apartments especially in the first-tier cities, while inbound tourism continues to grow,” he concluded.

SENTOSA is set for revivification with a recent call for proposals to develop two existing sites on the island.

The Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) is inviting potential investors to explore the possibility of building and operating a nature-based adventure attraction at Imbiah Lookout, where a 9,420m2 forested area located on a slope stretching to Siloso Beach is available.

Explaining the move, Susan Ang, divisional director, island investment & branding, SDC, said: “As part of our periodic reviews on site use across the island, Imbiah Lookout has been identified as a potential site for further development.”

She added: “The area is home to an existing attraction cluster that offers an eclectic mix of active and passive nature and heritage-based experiences, (hence) the potential development should complement the existing offerings and showcase elements that combine nature with adventure.

“By making use of the site’s natural gradient and profile, it should preferably allow visitors to appreciate the natural settings and provide an experience that is entertaining and interactive, catering to both thrill-seekers and family guests.”

Beyond the Imbiah site, the flying trapeze and Trapizza restaurant at Siloso Beach Walk, run by Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa, will also make way for a new attraction when its lease ends in the coming months. A tender for the 2,760m² site was called last month for an attraction with ancillary F&B and/or retail offerings.

Said Ang: “With the western end of the island now easily accessible via the Sentosa Cable Car Line and it being home to a myriad of thrilling attractions and beachside dining, we hope to receive proposals that will reflect and reinforce Siloso Beach’s positioning.”

There is no timeline confirmed yet for the development of the two sites.

Applauding this “breath of fresh air”, Darren Tan, managing director of World Express, said: “There has been so much focus on Resorts World Sentosa since they opened that people have forgotten about the rest of Sentosa island.

“With the recent Underwater World Singapore (UWS) closure, it is now the right time for the island to reinvent itself especially when some of the attractions are due for a revamp.”

Last month, the UWS ceased operations after 25 years in operation.

Arief Yahya, Indonesia’s minister of tourism

ASEAN ministers and travel industry stakeholders will be unveiling a framework for the standardisation and benchmarking of skills of tourism professionals at the Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) conference set to take place in Jakarta from August 8-9.

The conference is being organised by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism with an aim to boost service standards and encourage intra-ASEAN mobility among tourism employees.

So far, 32 job profiles in the tourism and hospitality sectors have been identified for benchmarking, including those working in hotel front office, housekeeping, F&B services, tour operations, food production and travel agencies.

Arief Yahya, Indonesia’s minister of tourism, said: “The fulfilment of the MRA-TP initiative will boost the quality of services, as it will create mobile, trained and confident skilled-labour suited to travel industry needs.”

In 2002, ASEAN leaders agreed to upgrade tourism education curricula and skills as well as formulate competency standards and certification agreements that will be mutually recognised across the region.

Now, with 32 job types benchmarked, 52 qualifications initiated and 242 training ‘toolboxes’ created, and with trainers and skill assessors hired and registered, the MRA-TP process is ready to be formally ratified in Jakarta.

Registration for the conference is open.