XIAMEN Airlines has commenced flights from Sydney to Fuzhou since November 29, with plans to launch a Sydney-Xiamen route from December 5. A Boeing 787-8 aircraft will operate the new routes.
According to a media statement, the new route will reduce flight time between Xiamen and Sydney to nine hours.
Services to Melbourne, Vancouver and New York will also be launched in 2016.
TRAVELPORT has increased its investment in corporate travel technology company Locomote, now taking a 55 per cent controlling share of the Australian start-up. Travelport first invested in Locomote in 2013.
Gordon Wilson, president and CEO of Travelport, said the move is part of the company’s drive to develop new digital services and mobile capabilities for the travel industry.
“Corporate travel needs and demands, content, and the demographic make-up of travellers are all changing rapidly. Travelport intends to be at the forefront of these changes as we deploy our content and technology assets to address them,” said Wilson.
“Locomote, which approached the market with a clean slate and a fresh approach, is a key part of how we envision the future.”
With this shift, Philip Weinman, founding investor and CEO of Locomote, has appointed Sandra McLeod as the company’s new CEO while Weinman steps into the position of vice chairman.
SOFITEL Bangkok Sukhumvit is offering a four-day, three-night corporate package that caters to groups of 15 to 50 people looking for a combined business and leisure trip.
The ‘Gourmet Small-Business Getaway’ deal is valid from now till March 2016, and includes three-nights stay in a Luxury Club Millésime Room, Thai- or French-themed coffee breaks and preferred pricing on spa treatments, food and beverage.
Also included in the package is an art appreciation cocktail hour at the hotel’s S Gallery, a wine and cheese pairing session at onsite cheese room La Fromagerie, a cocktail session at rooftop bar and restaurant L’Appart, a day-trip to several city sites, a long-tail boat ride as well as dinner at Asiatique Riverfront Night Market.
The deal is priced at 42,190 baht (US$1,635) per person.
EDOUARD Ettedgui, who has led Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (MOHG) as CEO since 1998, is stepping down on March 31, but will remain a non-executive director of the group.
MOHG has named James Riley, currently group finance director of Jardine Matheson Holdings, as Ettedgui’s successor. Riley joined Jardine Matheson in 1993 and has held a number of senior finance and commercial roles within the group before his current position in 2005. He has served on the board of MOHG for the past 10 years.
A senior executive at MOHG said Ettedgui would be missed, but added that as he remained a non-executive director, and his successor was not new to MOHG, continuity was assured.
MOHG chairman Ben Keswick said as much: “I am very pleased that we will continue to benefit from his knowledge and experience as he will remain as a non-executive director.”
“Edouard has led Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group since 1998, and has been instrumental in the group becoming recognised by many as the best global luxury hotel group,” he said. “It is an outstanding achievement, for which we are extremely grateful.”
CEYLON Tea Trails and Cape Weligama is incentivising agents to book its two properties by offering a 10 per cent discount on contracted rates.
Cape Weligama’s Grand Ocean Residence
The discount is extended to all bookings of Ceylon Tea Trails and Cape Weligama (minimum two nights in each property). An upgrade to next available category of room at Cape Weligama will also be offered from January 11 to March 31, 2016.
Ceylon Tea Trails offers accommodation in a tea estate manager’s home while Cape Weligama comprises individual villas in a seaside village.
COMPANIES looking to herald the Chinese Lunar Year of the Red Fire Monkey in the Malaysian capital city can consider a series of banquet packages offered by the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Available from January 25 to March 7, 2016, bookings of at least 100 pax can opt for an eight-course sit-down banquet at RM1,888++ (US$443) per table of 10 or RM188++ per person for parties with more than 300 guests.
Fu Lu Shou – which means Happiness, Prosperity and Longevity – buffet packages are available too.
Confirmed bookings made between now and December 31, 2015 will enjoy an eight per cent discount.
Executive chef, Richmond Lim, said event planners have four traditional yee sang options to choose from: Happy New Year is served with fresh salmon; Dual Happiness and Prosperity is served with jellyfish and salmon, Golden Symphony is served with fresh salmon, abalone and gold dust; Golden Year is served with fresh ocean trout.
BUSINESS event planners who take their activities to Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore next year can expect to reap greater rewards through the hotel’s new Enhanced Signature Benefits loyalty programme.
While the original Signature Events Benefits was launched at all Shangri-La hotels worldwide three years ago, Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore has created its own version that offers additional perks that grow with the number of guestrooms consumed. These perks include Wi-Fi, an hour-long open bar during dinner for groups, a dedicated two-man concierge team throughout the event, and one 44-seat bus at the group’s disposal for two days.
Christopher Kang, director of sales and marketing, expects bookings to increase once the programme is implemented in January 2016.
He explained that the improved loyalty rewards, along with the hotel’s latest hardware improvements, are among the hotel’s recent efforts to grow its MICE business.
The Tower Ballroom was upgraded following an S$8 million (US$5.7 million) renovation, while colonial-style The Pavilion was launched last year.
“The new facilities further elevate our positioning in the MICE space,” said Kang, adding that “few other hotels in Singapore own that space in the luxury MICE category while being able to support business groups that require 30 to 400 rooms”.
The hotel is also banking on its special events and hosting of power personalities such as Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, Chinese president Xi Jinping and Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou, to draw planners.
Kang revealed that the hotel’s hosting of the meeting between political leaders Xi and Ma on November 7 had resulted in “overwhelming interest” from Chinese and Taiwanese travellers who were eager to stay at the hotel, see the room where the meeting was held and taste the menu that was presented to the two heads of state.
“The Ma-Xi meeting has also raised interest among Chinese planners,” he remarked.
China is among the hotel’s top three source markets – the others being the US and the UK. To grow business from China, Kang’s team had this year collaborated with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on a number of marketing initiatives. In May it hosted a MICE fam for 35 top buyers from China-based MNCs with the tourism board, Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport Group.
Kang said the targeted growth from the top three markets is about seven per cent in 2016.
THE International Furniture Fair Singapore 2016 / 33rd ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS) will launch with a new brand identity and fresh show elements next year, furthering its commitment to promoting design within the furniture industry, and to forging relationships between exhibitors and buyers.
The event will spot a new tagline, Design, Inspiration, and Trade, which represents its mission to be the premier launch platform in Asia for the furniture industry, as well as a refreshed logo which depicts connections.
Ernie Koh, chairman of IFFS, said: “Good designs stem from inspirational experiences, and a company with a winning product understandably receives positive attention. This, in turn, leads to higher chances of success from a business standpoint. The three elements in the tagline share a synergistic relationship that ultimately promotes a thriving furniture industry. Here, IFFS plays the role of the connector that links design, inspiration and trade.”
Exhibitors and visitors attending IFFS 2016 can also look forward to a hall layout that presents both spatial and experiential elements that are specially crafted to enhance the tradeshow experience, a plethora of creative product displays that allow sellers to showcase the best of what they have through various touch points, and a series of thematic lounges for enhanced business networking experiences.
IFFS 2016 programme will feature design dialogues, business seminars and the Design STARS (formerly known as Asian STAR) showcase that spotlights a collection of pieces by rising designers worldwide.
Koh added: “IFFS 2016 will present the industry with an all-new experience, one that is not just design-centric and inspirational, but that still builds upon its traditional role as the choice business platform that connects exhibitors with buyers from across the world.”
SRI Lanka’s historic Galle Face Hotel, first opened in 1864, has completed a 30-month long restoration of its North Wing’s 72 rooms and suites, restaurants, bars, lobby, ballrooms and executive lounge.
Interiors now come with mahogany furnishings, grey marble casing in its bathroom walls as well as private balconies in 21 of the 26m2 to 60m2 rooms. There is also now a 120m2 signature suite, the Empress Eugenie, featuring a 60m2 terrace.
Other restorations of the iconic hotel include the addition of an executive lounge, The Long Room, the Verandah restaurant doubling in size, as well as the Poolside Bar and Terrace extending its open-air perch. The Americano Bar is now renamed Traveller’s Bar, a 19th century-inspired space.
The hotel last refurbished its adjoining South Wing in 2006, and is now undergoing a lower-impact redressing of the 84 rooms there.
Signing of Radisson Blu Cam Ranh Bay
CARLSON Rezidor Hotel Group will be developing the Radisson Blu Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, the first property for the group there, slated for a 1Q2019 opening.
The 290-key, new-build, beachfront resort is located four kilometres away from Cam Ranh International Airport, and will also offer 40 villas with access to a 800-meter stretch of beach.
Amenities include sea sports facilities, a pool, fitness centre, spa, grand ballroom, multiple meeting rooms, two dining options, as well as a lounge and pool bar.
