TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Wednesday, 11th February 2026
Page 1930

Scoot launches Singapore-Melbourne route

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SCOOT has commenced services to its fourth Australian destination, Melbourne, bringing its total number of destinations to 17.

A 787 Dreamliner will ply the five-times weekly route, which will rise to daily during peak travel periods from December 15, 2015 to January 6, 2016.

Flights depart from Changi International Airport at 01.00 on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, arriving at Melbourne Airport at 11.20 on the same day. Return flights depart Melbourne at 12.30 and will reach Singapore at 17.25.

Additional flights during peak periods will take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with flights leaving Singapore at 00.10, arriving in Melbourne at 10.30. Departures from Melbourne will occur at 11.45, touching down in Singapore at 16.15.

Ascott expands China footprint with four new properties

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ASCOTT has secured four new properties in China, two in Shanghai and one each in Beijing and Dalian, bringing its unit count in the country to over 14,300.

Ascott Beijing will open in 2016, in the CBD area, near International Trade Centre and China World shopping mall. Offering 162 one- and two-bedroom apartments with kitchen facilities, Ascott Beijing also provides 24-hour housekeeping services, a fitness centre, swimming pool as well as a sauna.

Also opening in the same year will be Citadines Gugeng Dalian sited in the Dalian Economic and Technological Development Zone. It will be located near shopping centres, office buildings, banks and restaurants and offers 125 studio and one-bedroom apartments.

The two new properties in Shanghai, Citadines Jinxiu Shanghai and Citadines Putuo Shanghai, will open in 2019.

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Citadines Jinxiu Shanghai will be located in the Shanghai Pudong New Area and is part of an established integrated development comprising a shopping mall and offices.

It is a 30-minute and 40-minute drive from Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao Airport respectively, and will offer 142 units ranging from studio to two-bedroom apartments. Other facilities include a meeting room, gymnasium, yoga room and a residents’ lounge.

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Citadines Putuo Shanghai is also part of an integrated development comprising high-end residences, business centers, education and other facilities. The 154-unit serviced residence will offer a range of one- to three-bedroom apartments and facilities include a gymnasium, yoga room, residents’ lounge and a children’s play area.

Carnival sets course for China with two new ships

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BARELY a few weeks after parent company Carnival Corp announced the launch of Carnival Cruise Line – alongside sister brand Aida Cruises – into China, the company has unveiled plans to deploy its first ships, Carnival Miracle and Carnival Splendor, to the region in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Both ships will be based in China year-long, offering short itineraries lasting three to five days.

Carnival Miracle is able to accommodate 2,124 guests and features four swimming pools, a waterpark for children and a communal area for guests above 18 years of age called Serenity. Over 60 per cent of rooms also include a balcony.

F&B highlights include a steakhouse, a Caribbean-themed pub and a bespoke cocktail bar. Other facilities include a revamped casino and retail stores.

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The larger vessel, Carnival Splendor, is able to accommodate over 3,000 guests and features four swimming pools, seven whirlpools, a Serenity area, and a variety of other facilities for different age groups as well as dining and entertainment options.

Carnival Miracle is expected to start accepting reservations for voyages in 2016.

Hotel onslaught brings glut of rooms to the Philippines

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HOTELIERS are facing an uphill challenge to fill rooms in the Philippines, as tourist arrival numbers are not rising quickly enough to match the supply of new hotels sprouting up across the country.

According to information revealed by Horwath HTL at the Philippines Hotel Seminar 2015 last week, the destination has added 14,389 new hotel rooms as of 1H2015, a majority of which are in metro Manila.

Thailand has also seen a similar increase in room numbers, but the Philippines’s approximately five million visitors yearly is a far cry from Thailand’s more than 20 million annual visitors, said Mina Li, senior consultant at Horwath HTL.

Chinese arrivals only account for 400,000 pax, or eight per cent of Philippine arrivals, compared with five million pax, or 19 per cent, for Thailand.

Tourist arrivals in the Philippines is “way below” its potential, Li remarked. She added that the destination is not tapping enough on the China market, as Chinese travellers are not visiting other parts of the country beyond Boracay.

Bill Barnett, managing director at C9 Hotelworks, said it is “a mistake to think that casino hotels would be the saviour of tourism”, alluding to the new integrated resorts in Manila and two upcoming properties over the next few years.

Barnett cautions the Philippines from becoming “overdependent on gaming”, pointing out that integrated resorts in Singapore and Macau were conceived to enhance the tourism infrastructure too.

Philippines AirAsia repositions, phases out AirAsia Zest brand

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PHILIPPINES AirAsia (PAA) is set to embark on a new phrase of growth as it undergoes a repositioning this month and retires the AirAsia Zest brand, following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval for a single operating certificate for both carriers.

In 2013, AirAsia Philippines signed a strategic partnership with Zest Airways, which saw the latter rebranded as AirAsia Zest with a majority stake acquired by the former.

Joy Caneba, CEO of PAA, said the market repositioning involves greater attention on China, improving flight experiences and providing halal food on all flights to attract the Muslim market.

She added that PAA will be mounting flights from Kalibo to Guangzhou in 2016, with other parts of China and Taipei in the pipeline. Last month, PAA increased frequency on the Manila-Hong Kong route from four-times weekly to daily.

Bye Abacus, it’s now officially Sabre

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AS anticipated, Sabre Corporation has rebranded all of its acquired Abacus assets in Asia-Pacific effective today.

Over 100 wholly owned and affiliated offices across the region will now operate as Sabre, with travel agency and supplier customers engaging with their local teams at Sabre Travel Network Asia Pacific and via an expanded corporate domain at www.sabre.com/apac.

Today’s brand change also coincides with Sabre’s acquisition of a third national marketing company, based in Malaysia to follow Singapore and Hong Kong. Abacus Distribution Systems (Malaysia) is now a wholly owned, integral part of one Sabre.

Hyatt jumps in on Starwood bid

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IT has been revealed that Hyatt is also in the running as a buyer for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, according to CNBC.

Talks have been going on for weeks, the financial news outlet reports, and that Hyatt would take control of the united entity should the deal go through.

Earlier last week, Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels, HNA Group, parent company of Hainan Airlines, and sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp had all showed interest in taking over the estimated US$12 billion hospitality giant.

Sources have told TTG Asia e-Daily that Wanda Hotel Group is also a contender for Starwood, which includes brands such as St Regis, W Hotels, Sheraton and Westin in its portfolio.

Nobu hopes Packer will pack a punch for its Asia-Pacific expansion

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AUSTRALIAN billionaire James Packer has bought a 20 per cent stake in Nobu Hospitality, just as the group is turning its attention on Asia-Pacific for expansion.

Packer’s Crown Hotels & Casino has reportedly paid US$100 million for a 20 per cent stake in Nobu Hospitality, joining a star-studded cast of owners comprising celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert de Niro and film producer Meir Teper.

When asked what this development might augur for Nobu Hospitality, CEO Trevor Horwell told TTG Asia e-Daily in an email this morning: “James was quoted that Crown sees an enormous upside in the hotel side of the Nobu business. He has a dynamic international reputation with extensive global relationships which Nobu can tap into, particularly Asia which is an area we want to explore further.

“Also, James stated he wants to further explore adding Nobu Hotels in Crown’s existing locations in Melbourne, Perth and possibly Sydney.”

Crown venues already host three of 35 Nobu restaurants in the world, and one of its nine hotels, the recently-opened Nobu Hotel at City of Dreams Manila.

In an interview at the recent Hotel Investment Conference Asia-Pacific (HICAP) in Hong Kong, Horwell said Nobu Hospitality was keen to establish a flagship in Asia, having done so in the US, followed by Europe and the Middle East.

“We now have 12 hotels opened or opening over the next two years. So now we are looking at Asia and we’ll be selective,” he said, referring to “the right fundamentals” such as psychographics that could support a Nobu hotel and restaurant, as well as the right partners.

No clash of egos – read the View from the Top with Trevor Horwell, TTG Asia, November 2015

[Sponsored Post] Early bird rates for CTW China 2016 ending in December

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BE the early bird that catches the worm. Register for CTW China 2016 before 31 December 2015 to receive 10% off your registration fees.

CTW China has been the market’s answer to the proliferation of business travel & entertainment (T&E) activities from Chinese-grown companies and multi-national corporations based in China. Catered to Chinese corporate travel professionals and professionals with responsibilities in China, this market-driven event features the most relevant content and topics including best global practices, trends, benchmarks and local case studies made relevant for the Chinese market.

CTW China places heavy emphasis on knowledge enhancement, as well as fulfilling sourcing and engagement objectives. In addition to its comprehensive 2-day conference programme, it incorporates a variety of platforms for delegates to interact and explore collaboration opportunities with one another such as business appointments with exhibitors to sponsored networking coffee breaks, luncheons and dinners.

Gold Sponsor AirPlus International China’s Managing Director Lucy Wang, shared her experience, “Our sponsored coffee break was an opportunity for us to engage delegates to understand more about our customers’ needs and wants.”

Dragonair, a Silver Sponsor, appreciated the opportunity to meet with potentials. Said Wendy Ge, Corporate Sales Manager, China, “CTW China is a stellar event that is rich in client potential. We value the assured direct face-to-face engagement with these delegates through our sponsorship.”

As the year’s Airline Sponsor, Song Jun Shi, Assistant General Manager of Sales Management Department, Marketing and Sales Committee of China Eastern reaffirmed CTW China’s role in spotlighting corporate travel solution providers in the marketplace, “Through our sponsorship, China Eastern was able to increase awareness of the airline amongst Chinese and multi-national corporate clients, and be seen as a true global player.”

Key attendees to the annual CTW China are planners, influencers, procurers and decision-makers of their company’s travel as well as meeting & event services, with representatives holding functions that include travel managers, travel specialists, indirect procurement, purchasing managers, finance managers, HR/ administration managers and office managers. Past participating companies include local Chinese firms, and international brands with operations in China such as 3M, Accenture, Bayer, Credit Suisse AG, DSM (China) Co. Ltd, Eli Lilly, Flextronics International, GE China, Harman to name a few.

Michelle Low, Director of SALES – Asia of Global Hospitality Services (G-H-S) attended the inaugural 2015 CTW China event as a conference delegate. “It was definitely a beneficial event in terms of knowing the key players and decision makers in the corporate sector plus networking with peers to share more ideas and experiences.”

Fellow corporate travel professional John Zhu, Director, Global Sales, Asia Pacific of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group agreed, “I met with corporate clients with future potential business opportunities, and gained new knowledge in the air ticket and airline fields.”

For more information, visit www.corporatetravelworld.com/china

Tokyo’s grande dame gets makeover

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THE icon of Tokyo’s hospitality scene, the Imperial Hotel is marking its 125th anniversary this year with a major revamp of its 31-storey Imperial Tower.

Hideya Sadayasu, president and general manager of Imperial Hotel Tokyo told TTG Asia e-Daily that the 361-room Imperial Tower is currently undergoing an extensive renovation until March 31 next year to boast new colour schemes and more convenient bathrooms.

Sadayasu said: “Overseas guests will also appreciate the new layouts in the tower which are created to highlight the views of the Ginza and the Imperial Palace grounds.”

The Main Tower, the other building of the 931-key luxury property, last saw an overhaul of its lobby, guest rooms, dining areas and wedding chapels during a major revamp in 2009.

“The efficient combination of all three segments (hardware, software and humanware) makes up a well-run hotel of high quality. It is imperative to always maintain or renew the hardware at its most efficient level of functioning,” he said.

While the hotel experienced a historic low occupancy rate of under 30 per cent immediately after the 2011 earthquake, Sadayasu said arrivals have since recovered steadily to reach an occupancy rate of 75 per cent from April to September this year.

When renovations are completed, the hotel will target an average occupancy rate of 85 per cent, he added.