PULLMAN Bangkok Hotel G has named Tony Chisholm as its new general manager.
The New Zealander has over 20 years of experience working in the hospitality industry at a senior management level across Asia-Pacific.
Prior to this appointment, he led the preopening team at Sofitel So Singapore and secured a partnership with fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld for the hotel. He has also managed Accor properties in Brisbane, Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat.
It is Chisholm’s first appointment in Thailand.
MONTARA Hospitality Group has announced the return of Anthony Lark as managing director and general manager of Trisara resort in Phuket.
In this role, Lark will continue to provide hospitality advisory services to the group and will develop the next generation of hoteliers to steer the group’s expansion.
He joined Trisara in 2000 during its development and design period, and was the resort’s first general manager when it opened in 2004. His return coincides with the start of Trisara’s three-year renovation plan.
Lark has over 25 years of experience leading luxury hotel groups in the region. Having started his career by working his way through all departments at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, he has gone on to work at The Regent Sydney (now Four Seasons Hotel Sydney), Amanpuri and several Aman resort properties.
ABSOLUTE Hotel Services Group has announced that the second U Hotel & Resorts property, U Nimman Chiang Mai, will open in late 2016.
Situated on Nimmanhemin Road, the 140-key hotel flaunts an industrial modern design with traces of a Lanna influence.
When launched, the hotel will have an all-day dining restaurant with terrace bar, library, spa with five treatment rooms, swimming pool, gym and large garden area.
A 720m2 banquet space and 300m2 function lawn cater to events and meetings.
Guests will also have access to U hotel’s 24-hour service concept that guarantees guests have their rooms for 24 hours from check-in and breakfast anytime during their stay.
They may also pre-select amenities including pillow, tea and soap from the online U Choose programme.
WITH an eye on the small but high-potential market of South-east Asia, Paris is expanding its promotions beyond traditional markets into the Philippines and Vietnam this year.
For the third year, Paris Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (CVB) last week held a sales mission in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia and included a stop in the Philippines for the first time.
Nicolas Lefebvre, managing director of Paris CVB, said: “The size of Indonesia’s population and the economic development in South-east Asian countries are the potential we see. Apart from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, we are also looking at the Philippines and Vietnam as big markets (to nurture) next.” The CVB regards Singapore as a mature market.
Indonesian arrivals have been fewer compared to the number of tourists from Malaysia and Thailand, but Lefebvre sees growth potential in the market over the next five to 10 years. Altogether, the three countries sent 300,00 arrivals to Paris in 2014.
Apart from increasing arrivals, Paris aims to grow the average length of stay, and attracts FITs and MICE groups with new and revitalised products.
Lido de Paris, for example, is launching a new show in April, and Baroque-style Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte will recreate France in the 17th century with candlelit dinners and themed events.
Besides Paris CVB, Parisian suppliers like Azurever Tours and Activities are cosying up to the market. The company opened a Bangkok office to “get closer” to South-east Asia.
Founder and CEO, Arnaud Calteau, said the aim was to capture not just Thailand “but also other markets like Malaysia and Indonesia”.
ORIENTAL Ballooning Company is expanding into two new destinations this year, Mrauk U and Ngapali Beach, as business continues to be brisk with the continuous growth of tourist arrivals to Myanmar.
Operations manager Ni Ni Khaing told TTG Asia e-Daily that hot air balloon flights will take off in Ngapali Beach and Rakhine state’s Mrauk U in October.
“We did test flights in January in both Ngapali and Mrauk U. It’s a new experience, especially the view of Ngapali Beach – it’s spectacular,” she said. “We hope the new service in Rakhine state will draw more tourists to the region.”
TTG Asia e-Daily understands that Oriental Ballooning Company is waiting for the Department of Civil Aviation to give the green light for flights and prices. The company has also asked for permission to continue flights in Bagan during off-peak season.
Said Ni Ni Khaing: “During the monsoon period, Bagan is green and looks different from peak season. There isn’t as much rain there as in the lower part of Myanmar and weather conditions are favourable for flights, according to the test flights we did last year.”
The company has total of eight balloons: six in Bagan, one each in Mandalay and Inle Lake.
UNICORN Hospitality, a consultancy promising a ‘better, smarter and more people-centric’ approach to hospitality, has been launched in Bangkok.
The brainchild of Yann Gouriou, the Bangkok-based firm focuses chiefly on offering consulting to businesses in the hospitality industry, specialising in hotel and restaurant start-ups, launches and opening periods.
A key goal is to bring hospitality back to its roots as a people-centric industry. Gouriou said in a release: “In hospitality, your people should come first. Everything else follows. That is Unicorn Hospitality’s slogan and guiding philosophy. It should be axiomatic in hospitality, but so often is not the case.”
He added that he has no qualms about taking a ‘disruptive’ approach to the hospitality industry, which he claims takes itself too seriously and is often mired in outdated mindsets and methods.
Unicorn Hospitality is positioning itself as an alternative to traditional management consulting and provides a full range of operational, technical and development services for hotels, as well as assistance with recruitment, headhunting and the brainstorming of creative ideas to achieve improved brand positioning and profitability. “We are launching with lean, flexible fee structures that put our expertise within reach of young entrepreneurs and industry newcomers,” said Gouriou.
The consultancy will cater primarily to hospitality brands in Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui and Hua Hin.
Gouriou brings to his new venture a wealth of experience, including time spent as the recent former group general manager of AHMS The Collection, responsible for running four boutique resorts in Thailand as well as pipeline projects in Chiang Mai and Cambodia.
PLANS for Asiana Airlines’ new LCC is facing fierce opposition from other operators, who argue that the airline already has regional airline Air Busan under its wing.
The new airline is tentatively called Seoul Air and Asiana hopes to have the new carrier airborne in 2H2015.
Eastar Jet, Jeju Air and T’way Air have jointly submitted a letter to the transport ministry in Seoul, demanding that Asiana not be permitted ownership of a second LCC in order to maintain competitiveness in the market.
“Approval will only protect the interests of large commercial airlines, rather than expanding options for consumers,” they said.
LCCs claim that they are being forced out of competition from two fronts: international flight routes are monopolised by large domestic flag carriers, while shorthaul tourist routes are snapped up by foreign budget airlines.
Analysts, however, believe that Asiana’s influence on the domestic aviation scene will be sufficient to push the project through.
Geoffrey Tudor, an analyst for Japan Aviation Management Research, commented: “The South Korean market is much smaller than the Japanese market, so there will be concern among the South Korean LCCs that they are going to get squeezed out of business.
“And that’s even more likely if the giant Asiana is behind the new airline, especially for LCCs that are not affiliated with a major airline,” he added.
Tudor noted that Asiana would not be the first airline to own two budget airlines – All Nippon Airways has a stake in Peach Aviation and Vanilla Air – and that the government is likely to approve Asiana’s request.
“At the end of the day, it’s the consumer that counts and more competition is good for the people who buy the tickets,” he said.
Credit: The Straits Times
AS SINGAPORE mourns the passing of its first and longest-serving prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, the travel industry is likewise marking the loss of the senior stateman who had a hand in shaping the nation’s tourism sector.
Travel Revolution 2015, a B2C travel fair organised by the breakaway faction from NATAS, announced late yesterday that the event would be postponed to April 3-5 instead though the venue and timings remain unchanged.
The travel fair was originally scheduled to run March 27-29, overlapping with the weeklong period of national mourning which ends on Sunday, March 29.
Lee passed away peacefully at Singapore General Hospital yesterday at 03.18. He was 91.
Alicia Seah, director of marketing communications for Dynasty Travel and spokesperson for the working committee of Travel Revolution, said in a statement to the press: “(The change of dates) will also definitely affect those overseas exhibitors and partners…but we feel the need to postpone the event as a mark of respect for one great man – Mr Lee Kuan Yew who had remarkably raised this nation, Singapore, his red dot on the map of this world.
“Singapore is what it is today because of this one great man. We are proud to be Singaporean.”
Asiatravel.com has also postponed a launch event for the Roadundee mobile travel agency initially planned for March 26.
“In view of the fact that this week is national mourning week and it is inappropriate to celebrate, our management has decided to postpone the event,” it said.
Changi Airport Group also posted a heartfelt tribute to Lee on the Singapore Changi Airport website.
Lee had taken a personal interest in the airport and was the one who decided to relocate Singapore’s main aviation facility to Changi from Paya Lebar, characteristically unafraid to fly in the face of recommendations.
Credit: Changi Airport Group
Part of the tribute reads: “Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding leader and first prime minister, not only transformed this island to a first-world nation but also personally shaped Singapore’s aviation industry. To begin to understand Mr Lee’s contribution is to celebrate his political leadership, foresight and commitment to global aviation. His courage, vision and dedication to building Changi Airport remains unsurpassed and will never be forgotten.
“We continue to pursue Mr Lee’s vision to drive innovation and pursue excellence both in Singapore and overseas.
“Singapore has lost a cherished leader. Mr Lee’s legacy lives on – through Changi Airport’s international recognition as a visible extension of Singapore’s reputation for excellence and reliability. We are ever grateful for his exceptional contributions to Singapore’s aviation industry.
“He will be very dearly missed by all of us at Changi Airport.”
Singapore Airlines (SIA) chief executive, Goh Choon Phong, was reported in The Straits Times as saying: “His vision enabled Singapore to grow into a pre-eminent global air hub, and for SIA to prosper as world-leading international airline.”
The Lion City’s premier performing arts venue, The Esplanade, has also cancelled all non-ticketed performances for the duration of national mourning.
The family wake started yesterday and runs until today. The public may pay their respects from tomorrow to Saturday at Parliament House. Lee’s state funeral service will be conducted at the University Cultural Centre at 14.00 on Sunday.
VALERIE Marina Barrios has been appointed Accor’s director of loyalty and communications for Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines.
In her new role, Barrios will be responsible for Accor’s loyalty programmes and campaigns and corporate communications in the region.
She was most recently chief marketing officer of Lebua Hotels & Resorts, where she oversaw the group’s global branding, marketing and public relations.
DORSETT Hospitality International has appointed Lee Ng as general manager for Silka Cheras Kuala Lumpur.
In his new role, Ng will take responsibility for the hotel’s overall business performance, management and day-to-day operations.
Prior to his appointment, Ng was the complex director of sales & marketing at The Royal Begonia, a Luxury Collection Resort, Sanya, and has moved up the ranks within Starwood Hotels & Resorts during the last nine years.
With more than 16 years of hospitality experience, he has also worked with Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur and The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur.
