Travel and tourism report warns of impending risks to the industry

July 30, 2015

A PUBLICATION on the current state of affairs of the travel and tourism industry, titled Prepare, Prevent, Pre-empt, has been launched.

Written by Imtiaz Muqbil, the report dives deep into industry-related issues and is designed to alert stakeholders to emerging threats.

Muqbil said in a statement: “If the global travel and tourism industry were to undergo a routine check-up, the first step in any health and wellness regimen, it may get a rude shock. All that size and growth may be just fat and flab. As well as being overweight, travel and tourism is a middle-age industry, looking for ways to extend its longevity.”

“To prevent and preempt future problems, (the industry) will need to heed the early-warning signs and start a health and wellness regime,” he added.

Muqbil is also the author of The Thai Tourism Industry – Coping with the Challenge of Growth as well as executive editor of Travel Impact Newswire, an online publication covering travel and tourism news.

Prepare, Prevent, Pre-empt is issued every quarter and only available upon request via email to imtiaz@travel-impact-newswire.com.

The Straits Hotels & Suites opens for business in Malacca

By S Puvaneswary

July 30, 2015

0

THE STRAITS Hotels & Suites has opened last month in Malacca. Located at Melaka Raya, it is within walking distance to Melaka Parade shopping centre and Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall.

The contemporary hotel has 352 guest rooms with four room categories.

The deluxe and luxury suites offer kitchenette facilities while the premier and straits suites feature large bathrooms with a bathtub and standing rain shower as well as a sofa set and dining area.

An infinity pool is available on the 23rd floor, offering a panoramic view of the city and the Straits of Malacca. Facilities to open by the end of this year is an all-day dining restaurant, rooftop bar and lounge, gym, sauna, a kids zone and five multi-functional rooms.

Ganneesh Ramaa, manager of Luxury Tours Malaysia, said: “This new hotel is good for the destination as it is usually difficult to get rooms in the city centre during weekends. A larger inventory also helps us to bring MICE groups to Malacca on weekdays.”

Luxury hotel group offers package for the ultra-affluent in Vietnam

By TTG Asia

July 30, 2015

0

Credit: La Residence Hotel & Spa

VIETNAM’S biggest names in hospitality have banded together to offer a luxurious holiday package for those seeking an upscale experience when touring the country.

Titled Quintessentially Vietnam, the US$19,358 bespoke package self-proclaims to target the “one per cent”, bringing two persons on an opulent tour which includes transfers in Bentleys and Rolls-Royces, stays in beachfront villas, dining in gourmet restaurants and a cruise down Halong Bay.

The package is made available by Quintessential Collection Vietnam, a collective of five of Vietnam’s biggest hotel names formed in June 2015, and will be on offer till December 22.

The five founding members of Quintessential Collection Vietnam are Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Nam Hai in Hoi An, The Reverie Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, La Residence Hotel & Spa in Hue and Paradise Cruises on Halong Bay.

Inbound travel to Singapore expected to spike due to major events: Sojern

By TTG Asia

July 30, 2015

0

Credit: Singapore GP

TRAVEL interest to Singapore is predicted to hike in Q3 due to SG50 celebrations in August and the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix held in September, according to Sojern’s Q2 Global Travel Insights Report.

According to the report, Singapore will encounter 70 per cent more inbound travel than the same week prior to August 9 (Singapore’s National Day), with most travellers hailing from Europe, the US and East Asia.

Meanwhile, outbound travel from Singapore should peak on August 7 with many travellers looking to capitalise on the long weekend break due to the national holiday.

Additionally, due to the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix in September, Singapore can expect a 28 per cent hike in travel volume in comparison with last year’s edition. This is due to travel intent increasing in origin countries such as the UK, Australia, and Italy.

Singapore also ranked as one of the top three most searched destinations in Q2 2015 by South-east Asian travellers, with Bangkok and Denpasar ranking first and second respectively.

Costa Cruises to field world’s biggest ships by 2020

By TTG Asia

July 30, 2015

0

Credit: Costa Cruises

COSTA Cruises has announced an order to Meyer Turku Shipyard to build two new cruise ships that will boast the largest guest capacities in the world.

The ships will adopt green design principles and be the first in the cruise industry (together with another two ships being built by Aida Cruises, the german brand of Costa Cruises) to be 100 per cent powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Each ship, one to be ready by 2019 and another by 2020, will exceed 180,000 gross tonnage and offer more than 2600 cabins for a total of 6,600 guests.

As a result of the deal, opportunities for Italy has opened up with 750 Italian crew members expected to be hired to work on both ships.

Indigo Pearl rolls out creative meeting ideas

By TTG Asia

July 30, 2015

0

FIVE-STAR resort Indigo Pearl has introduced Green Season Meetings, a unique art-themed interpretation of business events that removes delegates from the boardroom and immerses them in lush tropical landscapes and settings.

Green Season Meetings gives delegates the chance to hold their meetings in an exclusive and tailored setting such as going barefooted in the “boardroom” and discussing business ideas with toes in the sand.

“It’s about leaving the business clothes at home and picking up a paint brush in a tropical paradise, which will appeal to many executives and MICE planners looking for a refreshing change of direction,” said Chris Oakes, general manager of Indigo Pearl.

Delegates are also offered interesting teambuilding exercises such as Thai boxing lessons, cooking competition and mixology classes.

The Green Season Meetings package is priced at 1,350 baht (US$38.69) net per day for the half-day package and 1,550 baht net per day for a full day, with a minimum of 15 pax.

Organisers who purchase the package are eligible for a special rate of 5,600 baht per night for a Premium Pearl Bed Suite, valid for group stays between now and October 31, 2015. The deal includes breakfast for two per room and single delegate package per room per day.

Hylandia hotel takes root in Yunnan’s Shangri-La City

By TTG Asia

July 29, 2015

0

Credit: Hylandia

HYLANDIA, a 166-room hotel owned and operated by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, will be opening on August 3 in Shangri-La City, located in north-western Yunnan.

It will be the first international full-service hotel in the city, located in the city centre, and a 10-minutes’ drive from Diqing Airport.

Rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi Internet access, a pillow menu, LCD TV, toiletries, electronic safe, coffee/tea-making facilities and a minibar.

Amenities include an indoor pool and a fully equipped gym with separate men’s and women’s Jacuzzis.

Credit: Hylandia

There are three F&B options: Ani’s kitchen, which serves Chinese and international cuisines; Hotspot restaurant, which serves Yunnan and Sichuan specialties; and Shambala, which provides outdoor BBQ dining.

Credit: Hylandia

Guests looking for drinks and snacks can head to Lodger’s Lounge, which serves alcohol; Aroma Room, which serves Chinese tea; and Winter Garden, which serves light snacks and beverages.

The hotel also boasts the largest ballroom in the city and an additional four meeting rooms. All are equipped with free Wi-Fi Internet access, the latest video equipment, overhead projectors, digital signage, microphones and rostrums. Translation services are also available upon request.

To celebrate the launch, the hotel is offering an introductory rate of RMB850 (US$137) per night, excluding tax and service charges.

Manila’s new Asian Cancer Institute seeks medical tourists

By Rosa Ocampo

July 29, 2015

0

THE NEW Asian Cancer Institute (ACI) in Manila is keen to tap more medical tourists by going into partnership with the country’s Department of Tourism, said Andres Licaros Jr, president and CEO of ACI.

“We’re looking to design a medical tourism programme as we see the need for it,” said Licaros, noting that ACI, which is part of the Asian Hospital and Medical Centre (AHMC) group, is the first fully integrated cancer facility in the Philippines and has the most advanced radiotherapy equipment.

AHMC already receives lots of medical tourists from Saipan and Guam and is accredited by foreign medical insurance companies, said Licaros.

The group was also part of the original group in the early 2000s that was tapped by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), in tandem with the DoT and Department of Health, to develop and operate medical tourism centres.

Joven Jeremius Tanchuco, chief medical officer at ACI, said that they also get medical tourists through working with the Japanese government via third-party employers in the Philippines, such as Toyota.

Tanchuco added that a medical tourism programme is definitely in the cards, and hopefully they can collaborate with the DoT.

The DoT however, has not responded to questions on the state of medical tourism, which is a growing but niche market in the country.

AirAsia X launches KL-Sapporo route

By TTG Asia

July 29, 2015

0

Credit: AirAsia X

A NEW direct route between Kuala Lumpur and Sapporo by AirAsia X will take flight beginning October 1, flying four times weekly.

The flight to Sapporo is scheduled to depart from Kuala Lumpur every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 23.35, while the return flight will depart every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 09.20.

In conjunction with the launch of the new route, AirAsia X will be offering promotional all-in-fares from RM99 (US$25.98) one-way for economy or RM999 one-way for the premium flatbed.

The promotional fares are available for online booking until August 2 for the travel period from October 1, 2015 until August 31, 2016.

Philippines trains sights on France, Spain

By Rosa Ocampo

July 29, 2015

0

SPURRED by the EU’s recent decision to lift its ban on Philippine carriers, the Philippines is now keen to court travellers from France and Spain.

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) will be bidding for a marketing representative for France and Spain as part of its programme to intensify marketing and promotions in these small but fast-growing European source markets.

“They are important markets for us, with France the third biggest European market (after the UK and Germany),” said Verna Buensuceso, officer in charge of the DoT’s market development group.

Arrivals from France grew 21.7 per cent year-on-year to 22,814 in January-May this year, now comprising one per cent of total arrivals.

Neighbouring Spain also grew impressively by 28 per cent to 9,305 arrivals during the same period to account for a 0.4 per cent market share, riding high on the success of the first-ever Madrid Fusion Manila in April, which will again be hosted by the Philippine capital next year.

Buensuceso said that after participating in Spain’s FITUR early this year, the Philippines will also join IFTM Top Resa, France’s biggest travel fair, in September.

Travel and tourism report warns of impending risks to the industry

The Straits Hotels & Suites opens for business in Malacca

Luxury hotel group offers package for the ultra-affluent in Vietnam

Inbound travel to Singapore expected to spike due to major events: Sojern

Costa Cruises to field world’s biggest ships by 2020

Indigo Pearl rolls out creative meeting ideas

Hylandia hotel takes root in Yunnan’s Shangri-La City

Manila’s new Asian Cancer Institute seeks medical tourists

AirAsia X launches KL-Sapporo route

Philippines trains sights on France, Spain

Tried and Tested

Disney Adventure

What to Buy Now

Western Australia promotes caravan road trips for family travel