Credit: Alila Hotels & Resorts

ALILA Hotels & Resorts will debut Alila Solo in Surakarta Central Java this October.

A 15-minute drive from Adi Sumarmo International Airport, the hotel lies within easy reach of the city’s main attractions: two centuries-old Sultan’s palaces, Triwindu Antiques Market and the Laweyan Batik District.

Alila Solo offers 255 rooms and suites, all of which feature city views. The four Alila Suites (90m2) each extend to a private ‘hanging garden’ terrace with plunge pool, while the Presidential Suite (200m2) features a full service pantry, multi-functional room and 24-hour butler service.

F&B options include all-day dining restaurant Épice, rooftop bar Agra and the pool deck café, while recreational facilities comprise of the swimming pool, spa, gym, and children’s pool and club.

For meetings, Alila Solo provides 15 meeting spaces, and two ballrooms that can be combined to create a 2,100m2 Grand Ballroom to hold 3,500 pax. Its Executive Lounge offers full business centre facilities, secretarial services and all-day refreshments.

SERVICED residence operator The Ascott and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) have embarked on a joint venture to create a US$600 million serviced residence fund.

According to a press release by Ascott’s parent company CapitaLand, the new fund will have an initial focus on Asia-Pacific and Europe, investing in serviced residences or rental housing for 10 years, with a three-year investment period.

Ascott will have first rights to manage the properties it acquires.

The fund will primarily be used on developments in business districts which can be taken to market quickly, such as those suitable for redevelopment or refurbishment.

The real estate group is also planning to launch six new funds with up to S$10 billion (US$7.35 billion) in total assets under management by 2020.

CapitaLand said that its fund management business will play a crucial role in its plan to build up its portfolio, especially across “key gateway cities” in Asia. It aims to manage 80,000 apartment units globally by 2020.

Jin Air will start flying to Hawaii from December, making it the first South Korean low cost carrier to add longhaul international flights to its shorter services.

The airline, which began operations in 2008 and is affiliated with Korean Air, will use a 355-seat Boeing 777-200ER on the route, flying between Incheon International Airport and Honolulu five times a week.

Analysts anticipate that more of South Korea’s budget carriers will apply to operate longhaul routes.

“Hawaii is primarily a leisure destination and bargain prices are popular on that sort of route,” Geoffrey Tudor, an analyst at Japan Aviation Management Research, told TTG Asia e-daily.

“And as a subsidiary of Korean Air, that will give the parent airline the opportunity to focus on operating to destinations that are more expensive.

“We are seeing this trend of diversification emerging in the industry and it permits a parent airline to offer a wider range of products,” Tudor said.

Jin Air presently operates two domestic routes and 16 international flights to 20 cities in eight countries, including Bangkok, Manila and Hong Kong, but it is already planning to add eight more international flights from Busan and two from Incheon, the carrier said.

To keep up with demand, the airline is introducing a further two Boeing 777-200ERs to its fleet, along with four smaller Boeings designed to operate shorter routes. That will give Jin Air a total of 19 aircraft.

OPERATIONS at both Ngurah Rai International Airport Bali and Lombok International Airport are back to normal after reopening last Sunday and Saturday respectively.

However, as eruptions at Mount Raung are still ongoing, the Indonesian trasnportation authority said there is still possiblity for the airports to close again if the winds blow volcanic ashes towards the airport.

I Ketut Ardana, chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) Bali Chapter said: “It is a force majeur and the industry here is hand in hand in helping the guests as much as we can. Most airlines are helping with waiving cancellaton fees and some are giving accommodation for those who could not enter Bali.”

“We learnt of some problems with stranded passengers who did not have extra funds for extending their stay in hotels.”

Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association Bali Chapter, had issued a circular letter to the industry, including travel companies, to waive the overstay charges for stranded passengers.

“Unfortunately, we had received the notice a bit late and some clients had been charged,” Ardana said.

Nina Zen, regional director of sales and marketing, Swiss-Belhotel International said the over supply of rooms in Bali helped.

Giving an example of her hotel in Seminyak: “We are running 65-68 per cent occupancy in our hotel in Seminyak, so we can still accommodate those who are stranded while still having rooms for the ones coming.”

In the mean time, Global Travel Media reported Jetstar and Virgin Australia were operating bigger aircraft and adding extra flights to rescue thousands of passengers today. Virgin is expected to fly about 2,000 passengers from Bali while Jetstar plans to operate 18 flights in and out of Bali, which includes 10 additional services.

THE upcoming Travel Revolution 2015 from July 24 to 26 will see 37 outbound travel agencies present at the fair, up from the previous 30 in its debut fair earlier this April.

Kay Swee Pin, president of Singapore Outbound Travel Agents Association (SOTAA) said this three-day fair is targeting a total of 80,000 in visitors and S$100 million (US$74 million) in sales turnover.

The earlier instalment of the fair welcomed 76,000 visitors with an overall sales figure of approximately S$100 million.
Key outbound travel agencies like Chan Brothers Travel, CTC Travel, Dynasty Travel and SA Tours will be present. National tourism organisations from Japan, Taiwan and Korea will be promoting their destinations at the event as well.

Held at Marina Bay Sands Expo Halls D to F, this exhibition spans 17,000m2, with more than 70 exhibitors participating. Admission to the event is free and the show runs from 10.00 to 21.00 over three days.

PHILIPPINE inbound operator Uni-Orient Travel has partnered with China Eastern Airlines to launch tour packages to Russia.

Wilson Techico, vice president – business and product development of Uni-Orient Travel, told TTG e-Daily that Filipinos are looking for new destinations as they are already used to travelling around Asia.

He added that Uni-Orient has the advantage of knowing the Russian market as it is one of the most aggressive agencies handling Philippine inbound from Russia, replete with Russian staff.

While there are no direct flights between Manila and Moscow, there are currently four airlines serving the route: Aeroflot from its Hong Kong hub, partnering Philippine Airlines from Manila to Hong Kong; Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.

Techico teamed up with China Eastern Airlines because, aside from its special rates, the airline has the best air connection offering services from Manila to Shanghai, with the transit flight to Moscow only a few hours’ wait.

Unveiled during the Travel Madness Expo last week, the company’s Russia Series comprises a number of tour packages lasting five to 10 days.

Carlson Rezidor on track with development plans in India with new signing
New Delhi, July 13, 2015

CARLSON Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the signing of Radisson Resort Hosur, a new-build hotel with 120 guestrooms and suites located in Tamil Nadu, expected to open in 2018.

This signing reinforces Carlson Rezidor’s position as the largest international hotel operator in India with 117 hotels in operation and under development in the country, the chain said. Its footprint spans 45 cities, including 14 state capitals, and it is on track to meet its target of having 170 hotels in operation and under development in India by 2020.

Situated on 4.9ha of prime land in a region that is popularly known as ‘Little England’, the hotel will offer scenic views of the area and a man-made lake. It is adjacent to Pushpam Ranches, a 22.3ha high-end residential township that is being developed by the Pushpam Group.

Radisson Resort Hosur will be located less than a 20-minute drive away from the Hosur city centre and less than 30 minutes away from Electronic City, one of India’s largest electronic industrial parks. It is also within reach of several industrial and manufacturing hubs, such as areas in Hosur, Attibele, Jigni and Bomasandra.

In terms of amenities, the hotel features large meeting spaces, including a ballroom, meeting rooms, boardrooms and a business centre. Sprawling lawns also offer additional outdoor venue options. Other facilities include a restaurant, a gym and health club, a spa, a salon, an amphitheater, a cricket pitch, badminton and tennis courts, a golf academy and a driving range.