THE Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) will launch a Preferred Partner Programme (PPP) at its annual convention scheduled for March 26 to 28 in Bali.

PPP aims to provide a ‘preferred’ status to stakeholders like airlines, hotels and NTOs, which will in turn offer TAAI members benefits like better remuneration, extended payment cycle and sponsorship for the association’s events.

Said Harmandeep Singh Anand, honorary secretary general, TAAI: “It is a win-win situation for principals and our members. At a time when Indian travel consultants are facing a tough time due to shrinking margins, such initiatives will ensure healthy profit, among other benefits.

“Principals on their part will get strong support from our approximately 2,200 members across the country.”

TAAI is not looking at a specific number yet but is keen to have as many as possible stakeholders on board for PPP.

Singh added: “The managing committee will not dictate that members promote only preferred partners. However, it is natural that loyalty will be with preferred partners who will offer better margins than others.”

TAAI will place the list of PPP participants on its official website and also send related circulars to its members.

THE Kuala Lumpur City Hall yesterday launched an international online tactical campaignIAMKL, with the objective of engaging an international audience in a fun manner while creating greater awareness of Kuala Lumpur among travellers.

The campaign runs up to March 31 and utilises social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as the official campaign website (iamkl.com) to gain Internet exposure.

Foreign visitors are invited to upload ‘selfies’ of themselves with identifiable scenes of Kuala Lumpur in the background, and encouraged to share their posts with friends online, thereby creating a viral effect that will garner more awareness.

Non-Malaysians aged 25 years and above can also take part in the ‘I want to go there’ contest to stand a chance to win a return ticket to Kuala Lumpur.

Yesterday’s event also saw the launch of a free bi-monthly e-newsletter, Hello KL, a resource for all parties selling the city, allowing them to develop creative tour packages and itineraries, according to Ahmad Phesal Talib, mayor of Kuala Lumpur. Hello KL can be downloaded via Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s official website, visitkl.gov.my.

THE 313-key Ritz-Carlton, Bali has returned to the popular holiday destination with yesterday’s launch, six years since ceasing management of its property there.

Located in Sawangan, Nusa Dua, The Ritz-Carlton, Bali is a 30-minute transit away from Ngurah Rai International Airport and set on 12.7ha of beachfront and cliff-top land.

The resort offers guestrooms and also cliff-top and ocean-view villas. A 180º unobstructed view of the Indian Ocean and a 70m high glass elevator with access to the beach are other notable features of the property.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bali will house six F&B options: Bejana, an Indonesian restaurant; The Beach Grill, offering seafood and grill specialties; Raku Japanese Lounge & Bar; The Ritz-Carlton Lounge & Bar; Senses, an all day dining restaurant; and Breezes Tapas Lounge, which serves light snacks and Tapas.

Resort facilities include a play area for children, a private pool and sun deck exclusively for The Ritz-Carlton Club guests, an oceanfront wedding chapel and meeting spaces to accommodate up to 200 guests.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa is soon to open with 14 treatment rooms.

AVERAGE load factors on Tigerair’s India routes remain strong and the airline is looking to increase frequencies on the Hyderabad sector, even as it breaks off an interline agreement with SpiceJet.

The budget carrier, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, is recording an average load factor of 80 per cent on Indian routes.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily about the termination of the carrier’s interline agreement with SpiceJet, Teh Yikchuan, director, sales and marketing, Tigerair, said: “We see a low number of connecting passengers from our interline agreement with Spicejet, which is why the agreement is not continued.

“Currently nothing is on regarding any new interline arrangement in India. Our Hyderabad flight is going from five to six times come end-April, and we are looking at consolidating our position and strengthening our sales on our present capacity for the coming year.”

“Apart from (Hyderabad) we don’t have any plans to increase frequency or add any new destination in our network in India,” he added.

Tigerair offers daily flights from Bengaluru, nine times a week from Chennai, four times a week from Cochin and 12 flights from Trichi.

PREFERRED Hotel Group (PHG) has introduced a collection of villas, bungalows, condominiums at established hotels and resorts, specifically to cater to luxury consumers who cannot decide between a residence of hotel for their next trip.

“Preferred Residences allows us to satisfy a growing demand from our guests who want access to the private residence experience but are also resistant to relinquishing the convenience of staying in a luxury hotel or having to subscribe to a membership-based service,” said Lindsey Ueberroth, president and CEO, PHG.

Preferred Residences properties feature expansive living spaces, state-of-the-art kitchens and custom furnishings. Some will also offer spacious outdoor areas, private pools and free benefits such as resort car services.

Guests will enjoy priority access and privileges at each Preferred Residence property, such as reservations for prime tables at Michelin-starred restaurants.

A team of expert concierges will also support guests in matching their needs to a suitable residence and in coordinating events. Guests may also get additional benefits through the iPrefer guest loyalty programme.

The collection currently comprises 18 hotels and resorts all of which are existing members of PHG’s Preferred Hotels & Resorts or Preferred Boutique brands, including Alpina Gstaad inSwitzerland; Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic; Castello di Casole in Italy; and Essque Zalu Zanzibar in Tanzania, among others.