Interior of the Serengeti Migration Camp, part of Elewana Collection

MINOR Hotel Group has added the Elewana Collection, its fifth member brand, into the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) network.

The Elewana Collection consists of 15 lodges, camps and hotels across Kenya and Tanzania.

Integration of Elewana Collection into GHA is already completed and the alliance’s Discovery loyalty programme will be recognised and rewarded for stays at any of Elewana Collection’s properties.

Chris Hartley, GHA’s CEO, said: “Elewana further reinforces our belief that truly independent brands, which represent the culture and heritage of their region, are what the next generation of travellers are looking for.”

Minor’s association with GHA dates back to 2007, when its Anantara brand was one of the first alliance members. Since then, Minor’s portfolio has expanded to include hotel brands Avani, Per Aquum and Tivoli.

DUBAI Parks and Resorts, scheduled to open in Dubai in October, has started selling annual passes for its parks, which will grant pass holders unlimited year-long access to as many as 100 rides and attractions across its three theme parks and one water park, among other benefits.

Park goers can choose from a range of eight different annual passes, including the single park pass (Theme Park Annual Pass), for each of the three parks. This will be priced at 865 dirhams (US$235.50) for Motiongate Dubai, 755 dirhams for Bollywood Parks Dubai and 765 dirhams for Legoland Dubai.

There is also the option to gain unlimited access to Legoland Water Park on top of single park access, setting buyers back by 1,095 dirhams for the Motiongate combination, 985 dirhams for Bollywood Parks and 995 dirhams for Legoland.

Visitors can also choose the Dubai Parks and Resorts Annual Pass (2,495 dirhams), which includes limitless access to all three theme parks plus the Legoland Water Park, a 15 per cent discount on food, beverages and merchandise and other purchases in the parks.

Finally, the 6,995 dirhams VIP pass offers free valet parking, unlimited express queue privileges on all applicable rides, VIP seating for selected shows, access to the exclusive VIP lounge and a VIP tour guide, in addition to access to a 20 per cent discount on purchases and unlimited access to all four parks.

The annual passes are now available for purchase at the Dubai Parks and Resorts website as well as Motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai and Legoland Dubai websites.

Dubai Parks & Resorts is encouraging sales of the passes by throwing in exclusive preview access to the parks with early purchase. In addition, those who use their passes in 2016 will be given an extended validity until December 31, 2017.

THE resurrection of Cambodia’s only passenger train needs to pick up pace if it is to hit full steam, say local tour operators.

The country’s sole passenger rail service returned last month after a 14-year hiatus and reception has been warm so far with all five restored carriages packed with passengers travelling 266km between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville every weekend.

“I think it’s a good option for independent travellers who are time-rich but sometimes cash-poor,” said Nick Ray, company advisor, Hanuman Travels. “However, the Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville option is a tough sell due to the slow journey time.”

The Royal Railways-operated train travels at speeds of 33km/h and currently takes about eight hours in comparison to the five- to six-hour journey by road. Rail is the safer option however, with the roads notorious for congestions and accidents.

“Anything that makes it easier for customers to get around is a good thing but it needs to be quicker,” concurs Paddy Robinson, owner of several hotels in Sihanoukville, adding that the train also provides a more scenic route.

Kimhean Pich, founder and CEO of Discover the Mekong, says a popular option with customers is the shorter Sihanoukville to Kampot leg, which takes about four hours.

“The train is now a novelty,” he adds. “It is slow but an enjoyable way for customers to see rural Cambodia.”

(From left) Mohd Rafin, Park Hotel Group’s chief corporate officer; Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim, director of Malaysian Investment Development Authority; Allen Law, Park Hotel Group’s CEO; Teo Chai Hock, managing director of Jaya Mapan Sdn Bhd; Kua Song Tuck, director of Jaya Mapan Sdn Bhd; and Pang Swe Haw, general manager of Jaya Mapan Sdn Bhda

PARK Hotel Group will open its first hotel in Malaysia with a Malacca property scheduled to open in the first half of 2019.

The group signed a management contract for Park Hotel Melaka with a subsidiary of Malaysian developer Jaya Mapan last Friday, marking a step forward in the group’s Asia-Pacific expansion following the opening of Park Hotel Nusa Dua in Indonesia late last year.

Featuring 245 keys over 16 storeys, the new property will sit alongside retail outlets, offices, and serviced apartments that form mixed-use development The Green, located in the entertainment and business district of Kota Laksamana.

Facilities at the new-build hotel include a bistro, rooftop bar, infinity pool, sauna, gymnasium and meeting spaces for 30-100 pax.

Attractions such as the historical A’Famosa fortress, St Paul’s Church and Baba and Nyonya Museum are 10 minutes away, while the commercial area in Melaka Raya is within five minutes from the hotel.

Commenting on the significance of Malacca in the group’s expansion strategy, Allen Law, Park Hotel Group’s CEO, said: “Malaysia’s international tourist arrivals increased from 16 to 26 million over the last 10 years… and Malacca, as its historical city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site will receive increased attention and visits as it continues to develop.”

Mohd Rafin, Park Hotel Group’s chief corporate officer, added that Malacca is a major destination that the government is “putting a lot of efforts in”, pointing to upcoming developments such as the 609-acre Melaka Gateway precinct.

As well, Park Hotel Melaka will open in time to benefit from the expected increase in tourist footfall after the launch of Impression Melaka in 2018, a famed musical production to be performed outside China for the first time, added Rafin.

The group, which operates 11 hotels in Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and Japan, hopes to grow its portfolio by “two to three hotels per year”, with Park Hotel Farrer Park in Singapore set to open this year and a new property in Australia’s Adelaide slated for 2018.

South Korea is likely to be the next market in line, shared the group with reporters last week.

LION Air has taken legal action against Indonesia’s civil aviation authority by accusing Suprasetyo, the director general of air transportation, for “power abuse”.

The action was taken following the sanction imposed by Suprasetyo on Lion Air’s ground handling agent at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for mishandling international passengers.

Edward Sirait, general affairs director of Lion Air in a press conference last weekend, said: “The government has imposed sanction without warning and even before investigation is conducted.”

He pointed out that the requirement to find a new ground handling agent within five days was also unrealistic. “The government’s role is to supervise, not to destroy (a company),” he added.

In response, Suprasetyo said he was not worried as all was done according to regulation. “We are ready to face it. The sanction we have imposed is in accordance with the law,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lion Air had submitted a request to the Ministry of Transportation to halt 93 domestic and two regional routes for one month as of May 18. The request, which was approved by the authority, took place after the sanction was imposed.

The route suspensions are not related to the sanction, according to Lion Air, but due to the seasonal shoulder period.