Marrakech, Morocco

MAKING hotel bookings on TripAdvisor at optimal times can result in savings of about 20 per cent for the period of June to August, according to the company’s recently released Best Time to Book report.

The research shows that the least expensive time to book hotels in Asia is within three months ahead of stay, when travellers can save about 23 per cent compared to the most expensive booking period.

As for hotels in the Middle East, the optimal booking period is within four months ahead, when travellers can get 24 per cent savings. Prices increase slightly between weeks three to four before dropping again for last minute deals within a couple weeks of the travel date.

The best time to book hotels in Europe is three to five months ahead, when travellers can save 23 per cent compared to the peak period.

In comparison, hotel prices in some regions can be relatively uniform over time.

For example, US hotel pricing remains fairly steady throughout the year, with those booking within two months of their trip saving about seven per cent.

Savings are also modest for those booking hotels in Central America. The best time to book is three months ahead, when travellers will be able to save about seven per cent compared to peak periods.

(From left) Rapil Zhoshybayev, commissioner, Astana Expo-2017 and Devinder Ohri, president, NATAS

KAZAKHSTAN’s tourism promotion body, Astana Expo-2017, has signed an MoU with the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) to promote Kazakhstan as a travel destination in the Singapore market.

“Singapore is the gateway for South-east Asia and is an important hub. With this MoU, we hope that NATAS will be able to promote Kazakhstan through its outbound travel agents,” said Rapil Zhoshybayev, commissioner of Astana Expo-2017.

Zhoshybayev, who is also a member of the senior management team at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, added that on their part, visa requirements for Singaporeans have been waived and plans to launch direct flights between Kazakhstan and Singapore are already in the works.

Kazakhstan has been gaining prominence as a tourism destination in Singapore, and the country’s National Tourism Bureau made its debut at the NATAS Travel Fair just last month.

Agents interviewed during the show stated that Kazakhstan is a draw because of its exotic nature and is one of the few places well-travelled Singaporeans have yet to visit.

NATAS, who will be hosting the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2017 in January next year, will be inviting trade counterparts from Kazakhstan to attend the annual trade show.

THE big three US airlines, namely American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, have reportedly made a silent change to its fare policies that will result in consumers paying as much as seven times more for their tickets.

According to a report by the Business Travel Coalition (BTC), a US-based managed travel community advocacy organisation, the big three US airlines have changed their airfare policy to prevent multi-city ticketing using the lowest available fare on each segment.

This results in return fares being substantially more expensive than if tickets were to be purchased as separate one-way fares.

Leisure travelers, who usually purchase the traditionally more affordable round-trip tickets, will be caught unprepared, warns BTC.

It adds that while a travel agent will be aware of the policy change, the problem is that most consumers, especially infrequent travelers who manage their own trips, will be caught unaware when purchasing tickets on the airline websites.

Small businesses who do not have managed travel programmes and access to travel agents will likely be blindsided as well.

But even big corporations with well-developed travel management programmes will be affected. Explained BTC: “(Major corporations) will be forced to purchase a series of one-way tickets as a workaround to substantially higher multi-city itineraries issued as a single round-trip ticket.

“Those travellers, and the organisations that actually pay for the travel, will face travel agency service fees on each segment, and to add insult to injury, when travel plans are modified, they will face change and cancellation fees of up to US$200 per segment.”

BTC further cautions that if this fare-rule change were to succeed, Europe will likely be hit next as carriers there will use it as a tool against the ubiquitous LCCs operating in the region.

JETSTAR Japan launched a direct route between Manila and Nagoya on April 2, hitting full passenger capacity on the first takeoff from Manila.

The first LCC in Japan to offer this route, Jetstar Japan will operate up to seven flights a week between Manila and Nagoya on the 180-seat Airbus A320. The flight time is just under five hours.

Chairman of Jetstar Japan, Masaru Kataoka, said: “Nagoya is home to the largest number of Filipinos in Japan and this service will be welcome news for family and friends of Filipinos who will now be able to travel and visit more often.”

Nagoya is the capital of Aichi prefecture, which alone is home to some 30,000 Filipinos.

“We anticipate a boost to the tourism industry in both cities as the new service will attract new travellers to explore more of Nagoya and its rich cultural history,” said Kataoka, who added that flight bookings for the new route since its launch had been “very encouraging”.

Jetstar Japan recently launched flights from Manila to Tokyo-Narita on March 15 and will be introducing services to Osaka – a destination currently served by sister airline Jetstar Asia – from April 7 onwards.

MINOR Hotel Group (MHG) is further expanding in the United Arab Emirates with two new properties in capital Abu Dhabi, both scheduled for opening in 2018.

The developments take place on Jebel Dhanna, a relatively under-developed peninsula located along the coastal area of the Al Gharbia region in Abu Dhabi, close to the ferry departure point for Sir Bani Yas Island and 240 km from Abu Dhabi city.

The Anantara Jebel Dhanna Villas will comprise 60 keys spread across three villa types: 20 one-bedroom villas, 38 two-bedroom villas and two three-bedroom villas. It will also offer two restaurants, a pool bar, gym, swimming pool and an Anantara Spa.

The neighbouring Avani Jebel Dhanna Hotel will have 230 keys consisting 170 deluxe rooms and 60 superior rooms that include a kitchenette. Multiple dining options will be available, as well as a gym and a swimming pool.

Meeting and banqueting spaces, a kid’s club and outdoor recreation areas will be shared between the two properties.

There are currently six Anantara properties in the UAE – five in Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai. In addition to the Anantara Jebel Dhanna Villas, a new Anantara resort is also under development in Ras Al Khaimah and a second Anantara resort will open in Dubai in 2018.

The newer Avani brand is set to make its first appearance in the UAE come 2018 with the opening of the Avani Deira Dubai Hotel and the Avani Jebel Dhanna Hotel.

COSTA Group has placed a more than 6 billion euros (US$6.8 billion) order with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for two new ships.

The 135,500-ton ships, with a capacity for 4,200 guests each, are scheduled for completion in 2019 and 2020. They are designed for the Chinese market and will be operated by Costa Asia.

“This new order will allow us to continue to significantly build the Chinese cruise market, which will become the second largest in the world at the end of the decade,” said Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Group.

Three Costa ships are currently deployed in China and Asia year-round, including Costa Atlantica, Costa Victoria and Costa Serena. A fourth ship, Costa Fortuna, will be added in late April 2016.