TODD Arthur is replacing Brett Henry as vice president of sales and market development for Sabre Travel Network Asia-Pacific, effective since June 7.
Arthur will chiefly be responsible for sales performance and business growth across Asia-Pacific and will be based in Sabre’s regional headquarters in Singapore, reporting directly to senior vice president Roshan Mendis.
He will also work closely with Sabre’s Asia-Pacific product and technology teams to drive solutions development and deployment in the region, as well as be involved in identifying and championing growth opportunities for the company.
He was most recently managing director Asia-Pacific for HRS, and prior to that, had held senior management and business development positions for companies such as BCD Travel, Advito, Finnair and Malaysia Airlines.
Arthur also represents Asia on the board of directors of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives.
PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney is running a promotion for first-time bookings of events held before July 31.
Featuring seven flexible meeting and event spaces with audiovisual equipment, the 340-room hotel now offers the Sunday and Monday Day Delegate Package at a discounted rate of only A$75 (US$55.8) per person.
The day-time package includes a sit-down buffet lunch, room hire, stationery and an onsite paging system linking delegates directly to the conference concierge. Half-day packages are also available.
Delegates will also receive complimentary Wi-Fi for the meeting; two complimentary valet parking spots for the duration of the event; and a discounted conference accommodation rate of only A$200 per night including breakfast.
And for two-day conferences for 30 delegates and more, planners can enjoy a rate of only A$85 per person.
With minimum stay of two nights, planners can choose one additional perk with a Day Meeting or two with a Residential Conference.
Perks include an additional food item at morning and afternoon tea; half-hour drinks package to use during the conference; one complimentary attendance with every 20 paying delegates booked (maximum three per day); or complimentary data projector.
Contact events.prsyd@parkroyalhotels.com or (61) 2 9260 3082.
UNDERWATER World Singapore (UWS) will cease operations on June 26, 2016 after 25 years in operation, announced operator Haw Par Corporation yesterday.
Starting from today, prices at UWS will revert back to its 1991 opening ticket prices of S$9 (US$6.63) for adults and S$5 for children. Meanwhile, free admission will be given to beneficiaries from charity partners the group has worked with in the past.
The tourist attraction has also sent its pink dolphins, fur seals and otters to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (COK) in Zhuhai, China.
The early closure, despite its Sentosa lease that will only expire in less than two years, is to facilitate the transfer of the marine animals to COK, stated Har Par Corporation in a media statement.
HOSPITALITY brand X2 has expanded into the cruising space with X2 Cruises, a luxury cruise offering on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River.
Its two-hour tours feature heritage sites along the river that highlights the significance of Chao Phraya as a waterway in the country.
All tours will be operated aboard custom-designed Italian cruisers with features including leather furnishings, air-conditioning, fridges and a sliding targa-style roof for open-air sightseeing.
Anthony McDonald, CEO and founder of X2, said: “Most people think of Bangkok as a busy city with streets full of cars, tuk tuks, buildings and malls, but actually Bangkok has other interesting sights. We see the lives along Chao Phraya River and canals as one of them.”
X2 Cruises is also available for private tours, sunset cruises and boat rentals.
THE Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) will be developing a site in San Vicente, Palawan as the country’s first Tourism Enterprise Zone.
These special zones are earmarked for their tourism potential and will be strategically developed into sustainable attractions to complement the nation’s overall strength as a destination.
“San Vicente, Palawan is identified by TIEZA as its first flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone mainly for its pristine natural attractions of forests, islands, coves, and especially its 14.7km shoreline, which is said to be the longest in the world,” said Guiller Asido, COO of TIEZA.
He further points to the robust infrastructure network, including an upcoming San Vicente Airport, as reasons for siting the first Tourism Enterprise Zone there.
Asido expects the completion of the TIEZA Field office in San Vicente to coincide with the opening of San Vicente airport in December.
A study on San Vicente was also done in consultation with the municipal government and property owners to determine possible tourism products in the area, according to Maria Victoria Jasmin, undersecretary of DoT.
The DoT is now looking for private investors to collaborate in the project.
HONG Kong International Airport will implement the controversial airport construction fee from August 1 despite earlier objection from the trade.
Airlines will tax departing passengers, including origin-destination and transit passengers, when air tickets are issued. The fee is being collected to fund the expansion of the airport, which includes a third runway.
Agents interviewed do not welcome the decision, although they predict the fee is unlikely to deter travel to and from Hong Kong.
Eastrip Travel general manager Jacky Chan said: “It’s not a good move but I think Hongkongers will get used to it eventually. We have no say anyway as it’s government policy. I also have reservations on whether we really need a third runway.”
Wing Wong, managing director of W Travel thinks it’s unfair for departing passengers to be taxed. “I think our government should bear part of the construction cost. It’s not fair for end-users to foot the bill,” he said.
Paul Leung, managing director of Holiday World Tours, is worried the fee will dent the city’s reputation as a destination.
He said: “The airport is perceived as an infrastructure funded and built by the government. Visitors may psychologically not feel good for paying for airport upgrades they can’t use now.
“Still, I personally support the idea of a third runway because of passenger saturation. Planes also have to queue longer before taking off and we need the infrastructure to fuel future growth.”
GOVERNMENT promises to help restore Koh Tao’s image as a safe destination have amounted to little following the high-profile backpacker murders in 2014, although tour operators on the Thai island say business is booming regardless.
Thai tourism minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul had announced plans to hold events to assure visitors the island was safe, but Ocean Sound Dive and Yoga’s owner Will North said “there’s been no publicity about what they are doing”.
“Koh Tao is quite a busy place and most businesses, if they know what they are doing, do it very well. We haven’t had a slow period in a long time,” North commented.
He added: “Companies that rely on booking agents may have a different opinion, but if you are doing well on TripAdvisor nothing else matters. I guess it depends on the business.”
While Tours Koh Samui manager Ron Yaary thinks there is not much to show for the promised safety push, he is pleased that the government is focusing on environmental policies.
Currently, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is promoting the Koh Tao Festival 2016, which will be conducted by the Save Koh Tao community group on June 18 and 19. There will also be activities to encourage conservation, and an attempt to make a world-record human chain with 3,000 people clasping wrists.
“When you have a festival like that, it emphasises to the operators that we need to care about the environment,” Yaary said.
A Specialty Suite at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa
A Specialty Suite at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa
Location
Shangri-La’s first Sri Lankan outpost is spread over 53ha of a former coconut plantation in the southern coastal city of Hambantota, which is a three-hour drive from Colombo via the expressway. Flying to the resort is also an option with private airline Cinnamon Air’s daily hour-long flights between Colombo’s Katunayake International Airport and Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota.
Being in close proximity to the Hambantota port, the resort can also cater to cruise passengers.
Rooms
All 300 luxury rooms and suites offer magnificent views, looking out to manicured golf lawns, sparkling lagoon, landscaped tropical gardens or the rugged waves of the Indian Ocean, with the occasional peacock spotted roaming the vast property. The rooms are spacious and located in wings which are separate for families and couples.
While the full suite of amenities were not available to me during my stay in early June, this was compensated for by the ease of connecting to the property’s free Wi-Fi network without having to trawl through passwords, codes and other complex processes endemic to most hotels.
Facilities
It will soon host the first golf tournament in this part of the country at its picturesque 18-hole, 5.6km long course featuring salt-tolerant grass, stunning ocean views, wide fairways and a lagoon that will be extensively used for water sports. All this is not done without consideration for eco-friendly measures, as the hotel uses biodegradable golf balls filled with fish feed.
The Kadamandiya Village enables guests to learn about Sri Lankan artistry, with five traditional studio huts housing artisan weavers, sculptors, painters and potters. In the evening, the village comes alive with a stage set for song, dance and drama.
Guests can be pampered at the CHI spa, which offers Ayurvedic treatments using 100 per cent organic herbs and natural products after a personal consultation.
For the little ones, the Cool Zone is the most extensive kid’s club in the country, offering activities like arts and crafts, trapeze, drone flying, trampolining, kite flying and a water park.
Meeting facilities span the 2,525m2 multipurpose ballroom, which can house up to 1,500 guests, while five other function rooms can accommodate a total of 200 people.
F&B
The main restaurant Bojunhala offers an international buffet, Sri Lankan specialities and an unbelievably large spread of food. The dessert corner had intricately carved sweets but what satisfied my palate was the made-to-order pancake with sweet and savoury fillings.
The restaurants carry Sri Lankan names: Sera features hawker-style stalls serving South-east Asian cuisine, Ulpatha is home to one of the finest selection of malt whiskies while Gimanhala serves fresh drinks after morning yoga, all-day refreshments and cocktails by candlelight.
Service
The air-conditioning at Bojunhala was malfunctioning, something the hotel promised to rectify. Overall, the staff was friendly and amiable.
Verdict
The resort opens new vistas for Sri Lanka. Being the largest property in the country, it is bound to attract leisure and business travellers, as well as corporate and MICE events. Opening flutters and teething problems aside, the Shangri-La instantly boosts Sri Lanka’s profile as the first esteemed hospitality brand to open in the country post war.
No of rooms and suites: 300 Rates: All-inclusive opening offer for two at US$247 per night, valid till December 22, 2016; normal rates start from US$216 Contact details: Tel: (94) 47 788 8888 Email:slht@shangri-la.com Website: www.shangri-la.com/hambantota
(From left) Mancy Thadani, regional manager, Sabre Travel Network India; KV Abdul Nazar, chairman & managing director of Akbar Travels of India; Jeet Sawhney, regional director, Sabre Travel Network South Asia; and Ankur Chatterjee, country manager, Sabre Travel Network India
Sabre and Akbar Travels of India signed a multi-year content and technology agreement, which saw the latter selecting a suite of technologies from the travel technology company to ride the strong aviation growth in the Indian market for domestic and global expansion.
CHINESE travellers have shown a 130 per cent increase in interest in Japan, far outpacing the the average year-on-year growth in global traveller interest to the country, which stands at 15 per cent, according to the latest TripAdvisor Inbound Study for Japan.
The next biggest source markets are Singapore, Indonesia and Taiwan, with interest growing by 37 per cent, 30 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.
The study also highlighted the top-searched Japanese cities with the highest average international traveller review ratings.
Kanazawa saw the biggest increase in travel interest from international travellers at 65 per cent, followed by Ishigaki at 52 per cent and Takayama at 44 per cent.
Cherry blossom street near Kenrokuen garden in Kanazawa, Japan
Takayama also received the highest praise from international visitors across TripAdvisor’s business categories, including eatery (4.32 out of 5); accommodation (4.18 out of 5); and attraction (4.23 out of 5).
“The study not only reaffirms China’s significance as a major source of inbound tourism for Japan, but also suggests that inbound travel is being driven by the country’s diverse tourism offerings across different regions,” said Aaron Hung, director of partnerships, APAC, TripAdvisor.
“The surging interest in Kanazawa and Ishigaki is evidence that international travellers are keen to discover more of Japan.”
In 2015, 19.73 million people visited Japan, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization, marking a 47 per cent increase from 2014. Chinese travellers accounted for one-fourth of total arrivals to the country.
